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| Centre Alliance to back low and middle income tax cuts – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bill Shorten again asks Malcolm Turnbull about the total cost of the company tax cut. | |
| The prime minister again launches into something that is not about the company tax cut, and Tony Smith interupts: | |
| I have a ruling I’d like to make, if that’s OK. I have been listening very carefully to the Prime Minister. I listened very carefully to the question. And whilst that is a topic of the day, the question did not relate to it. And the Prime Minister needs to address himself to the substance of the question.” | |
| We move on to a dixer where Christian Porter gets to read out the high court ruling on Katy Gallagher, and say “rolled gold” a million times. | |
| You can’t trust him on the law. You can’t trust him on the economy. You can’t trust him on the budget. It is shifty, shifty, shifty.” | |
| So now it’s confirmed -there is the Coalition’s campaign slogan. But it looks like even they have gotten bored talking about the budget. | |
| Scott Morrison gets the latest this budget is as if a tiger and a lion had a baby and the resulting liger discovered a unicorn which vomited gold dixer. | |
| You can hear him winding up to his ‘muppet’ zinger, speaking as fast as you would if you had to complete a reading of Middlemarch to the class before you can get to the bathroom. | |
| Boom - we get there - “What we see in the Leader of the Opposition is a shifty character. He’s shifty as.” | |
| Adam Bandt has today’s crossbench question: | |
| Australia has a proud history of egalitarianism and we can look after everyone in our community because of our progressive tax system, where people who earn more pay a higher rate of tax. But your new flat tax plan is the end of progressive taxation in this country. How is it fair that someone earning $200,000 a year pays the same rate of tax as someone who is just above the minimum wage? Why do you want to be the prime minister that killed egalitarianism? | |
| Malcolm Turnbull (using his “I was a lawyer, you should probably listen to me, because I’m right” tone of voice): | |
| I want to thank the honourable member for his question, Mr Speaker. Because it gives me the opportunity to remind the honourable member that at the end of the seven-year personal income tax reform plan that we are setting out, which has been set out in the budget, it’s been introduced into the House in legislation by the treasurer, at the end of it, where 94% of Australians will not have to pay more than 32.5c for any additional dollar they earn, so the marginal tax rate, which he’s objecting to – yes, he doesn’t like it – from $41,000 up to $200,000 will be 32.5c. | |
| This is the outcome. At that time, someone on $205,000 taxable income, earning five times as much as someone on $41,000 taxable income, will pay 13 times as much tax. And that is the whole point. The tax system remains thoroughly progressive in the sense that the bulk of the tax is paid by people on higher incomes. | |
| It remains the bulk of the tax, as it is now, will be paid by the few and not by the many. But, but what it will ensure is that constituents in his electorate, in every electorate in this House, who want to earn more, who want to get ahead, who want to do some more hours, who want to take on another promotion or start a business, will know that they will not be put off that or disincentivised by higher and higher marginal tax rates. It is an outstanding reform, and it speaks to the optimism, the confidence and the aspiration that underpins the strength of the Australian economy. We know what makes the Australian economy strong. It’s the optimism, the investment, the confidence of Australians. Of Australian businesses in particular. And we are backing them. | |
| Tanya Plibersek: | |
| This morning, The Australian newspaper reports economist Saul Eslake said the total cost of tax cuts over 10 years, legislated and proposed to be legislated by this government, could be even higher than $80bn. Is he right? | |
| #theprimeministerdoesnotanswerthequestion | |
| Moving on. | |
| Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: | |
| Given the treasurer has now had 24 hours to confirm the answer, I ask what is the total cost of the corporate tax cuts over 10 years from 1 July this year, both legislated and proposed to be legislated by the government? | |
| Morrison: | |
| The unlegislated tax plan that the member refers to, the cost of that is $35.6bn over the period from 2016-17 to 2027-28. To 2027-28. It’s 10 years. Count them up. Mr Speaker, what the Labor party wants to know is what is the cost of increasing tax on small business. | |
| Now, we don’t have a policy to increase tax on small and medium-sized businesses up to $50m. I don’t have such a policy. The prime minister doesn’t have such a policy. | |
| The only people who have a policy to increase taxes on small and medium businesses is the Labor party. So, if that’s their policy, Mr Speaker, they should tell Australians what it costs. | |
| Because we don’t have such a policy. It’s their policy to increase taxes on small and medium-sized businesses. So, the shadow treasurer should be talking to the 3.3m businesses out there that have a turnover of less than $50m, and he should say to the 7.2 million Australians who work for those businesses, why you’re putting up the taxes on those businesses. | |
| That’s your policy. You cost it. Do your own work. We’re getting on with the job of putting more than a thousand people in work every single day, under the policies of this government, Mr Speaker. So, it’s up to them to do their own work. | |
| But, Mr Speaker, whatever they promise tonight from the leader of the opposition, whatever rolled-gold promises he makes to the Australian people, we know, Mr Speaker, that no one can trust the rolled-gold promises of the leader of the opposition, Mr Speaker. Even those on his own side of politics can’t trust the rolled-gold promises of the leader of the opposition. The workers he used to represent when he used to bargain away their penalty rates, Mr Speaker, they couldn’t trust the rolled-gold promises of the leader of the opposition. | |
| The leader of the opposition is shifty as. | |
| Having delivered it in the same tone of voice I imagine he uses after being cut off for the fourth time in a row, while running late for the NRL grand final, Morrison runs out of steam as he uses the millennial-approved “shifty as” insult. Bill Shorten stands with a point of order: | |
| You know, the treasurer makes a mockery of doing personal explanations. We’ve dealt with that matter. He knows better. | |
| We move on to the latest THIS BUDGET IS AMAZING AND HAS GREAT SKILLS AND VOTERS LIKE BUDGETS WITH SKILLS dixer. | |
| Where we left off yesterday – Bill Shorten wants to know what the total cost of the company tax cuts are. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull opens with a prepared bit on “rolled gold guarantees”: | |
| He is a guaranteed deliverer of Olympic proportions. He gave a rolled gold guarantee that all of his members, including the ones that have just resigned, were eligible to sit in the House! And he did so – he did so after – after the high court had made it abundantly clear last year – last year – that they were not eligible. Oh, yes! He did. He kept on saying they were fine. And, of course, he was backed up by that booming advocate, the member for Isaacs [Mark Dreyfus]. A reminder, Mr Speaker, I am reminded of the late Neville Wran, when he said, “Anyone can go to jail if they get the right lawyer.” | |
| Tony Burke has a point of order: | |
| The question was very specific. If the prime minister wants to talk about what the high court will, so hold, he can do so in answer to a dixer. | |
| Turnbull gets back to it, by talking about Labor’s tax plan. | |
| Burke objects again, and says the PM has defied the order to get to the point. The Speaker, Tony Smith, rules he’s not, because he has ben “comparing and contrasting” tax plans. | |
| Christopher Pyne says something allowing the Speaker to indulge in one of his favourite QT activities – burning Christopher Pyne: | |
| His interjections are regular but they’re not persuasive. | |
| Turnbull gives the same answer he and Scott Morrison spent all of yesterday not answering. | |
| We move on to the first of “how awesome is this awesome budget” dixers. Tl;dr: Malcolm Turnbull loves this budget as much as Kanye loves Kanye. | |
| Tony Burke has announced that he has received the resignations from Justine Keay, Susan Lamb, Josh Wilson and Tim Hammond. | |
| He’ll tell us later when the byelections will be held (probably 16 June). | |
| It’s that time again. The bells are ringing and I have a box of pizza shapes. LET’S DO THIS. | |
| #QuestionTime is about to commence in the Chamber. Watch it live at https://t.co/8DB1X3AQDV | |
| Sarah Hanson-Young is not letting the change of thinking on the Murray-Darling basin plan go by without criticism: | |
| The disgraceful deal between the Labor and Liberal parties to sell out the Murray does nothing to guarantee water delivery for South Australia, at a time when our Coorong and Lower lakes are dying. We must enshrine more water for the river in legislation. | |
| The Labor party said they couldn’t support handing 70b litres over to big corporate irrigators when they supported the Greens’ disallowance in February, because of the rorting, water theft and corruption rife in the northern basin, yet the only thing that has changed in the northern basin is that Labor is now on the side of big cotton. | |
| Labor holds a misplaced belief that they’re champions for the basin – well, they’ve sold it out, and the millions of Australians who rely on it. | |
| Anthony Albanese was asked on Sky about whether or not Labor’s MPs should have resigned over the dual citizenship stuff earlier (they have officially resigned today): | |
| I don’t think the mob out there give two hoots about that. It’s a bit like having a debate after a footy game in which I always think that Souths haven’t had a fair rub of the green and whether, you know, someone dropped the ball at the right time or forward passes. | |
| That doesn’t matter. What matters is the outcome that the high court has determined means these byelections are on. This is about that, and our focus should be on the future and on our plans for Australia. This gives us an opportunity to really campaign on Labor’s vision for Australia in the lead-up to, as a bit of a dry run if you like, to the general election, whenever that may be, whether it’s later this year or early next year. | |
| And will Labor hold its seats? | |
| Labor’s been ahead of course in the national polls for some time – the famous ‘30 Newspoll’ comment that Malcolm Turnbull wishes he’d never made. It’s now up to 31 or 32 that we’ve been ahead. These are all held seats. Traditionally, byelections tend to favour oppositions and we’ve got good candidates. These people have all been good representatives. | |
| In Perth I’m sure we’ll have a very good candidate there when that’s determined. We endorsed at the ALP national executive last Saturday the other three. They are good hard-working representatives in their seats. They’re all having an impact both in their local communities [and] here in Canberra, and they’re all worthy of support and I’m sure that they will get that support. We’ll certainly be doing what we can as a movement to mobilise support for them on the ground. | |
| There is currently a giant 3-0 which has been landscaped into the parliament lawn, to celebrate the building’s 30th birthday. I guess the PMO can be thankful this building was not finished any earlier ahead of schedule. | There is currently a giant 3-0 which has been landscaped into the parliament lawn, to celebrate the building’s 30th birthday. I guess the PMO can be thankful this building was not finished any earlier ahead of schedule. |
| Labor’s disability spokeswoman Carol Brown has released a statement over the shocking footage of a boy with autism being attacked outside his school: | |
| Reports this morning of another tragic incident of abuse against a boy with autism outside a school in Melbourne are shocking and deeply disturbing. | Reports this morning of another tragic incident of abuse against a boy with autism outside a school in Melbourne are shocking and deeply disturbing. |
| Words can’t describe how appalling this kind of abuse is. The abuse of people with disability is absolutely unacceptable. I offer my sympathies to the student with disability and his family. | |
| Sadly, these shocking and harrowing cases of violence and abuse are far too often experienced by people with disability. These acts of abuse cannot be ignored. | |
| A royal commission is needed so that people with disability, their families and carers can tell their stories to the highest level of judicial inquiry. | |
| That’s why almost a year ago we announced that a Shorten Labor government would establish a royal commission into violence and abuse against people with disability. | |
| I’ve just had a word to Stirling Griff, the Centre Alliance senator, about his attitude to the government’s personal income tax cuts. The Centre Alliance has two Senate votes. Griff and his colleague Rex Patrick are on board for the tax relief for low and middle income earners, and the bracket creep initiatives, but the two are reserving their position on the flattening of the tax scales, which is phase three of the reforms. Griff tells me they will do their own modelling on the implications of dumping the 37% tax bracket. | I’ve just had a word to Stirling Griff, the Centre Alliance senator, about his attitude to the government’s personal income tax cuts. The Centre Alliance has two Senate votes. Griff and his colleague Rex Patrick are on board for the tax relief for low and middle income earners, and the bracket creep initiatives, but the two are reserving their position on the flattening of the tax scales, which is phase three of the reforms. Griff tells me they will do their own modelling on the implications of dumping the 37% tax bracket. |
| He’s perplexed about why low and middle income earners have to wait for 15 months for tax relief rather than getting it now, but says he won’t seek to change the timing. “We don’t have an issue with the proposal, it’s valid, but if you want to give people relief, don’t give them a carrot 15 months down the track”. | He’s perplexed about why low and middle income earners have to wait for 15 months for tax relief rather than getting it now, but says he won’t seek to change the timing. “We don’t have an issue with the proposal, it’s valid, but if you want to give people relief, don’t give them a carrot 15 months down the track”. |
| Griff also thinks there can be a vote on the measure by 1 July, as Scott Morrison wants. | Griff also thinks there can be a vote on the measure by 1 July, as Scott Morrison wants. |
| The Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has conceded defeat in that country’s election. Which came as a shock for a lot of people, despite his implication in the 1MDB scandal, which is explained here: | The Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has conceded defeat in that country’s election. Which came as a shock for a lot of people, despite his implication in the 1MDB scandal, which is explained here: |
| Much of the criticism of Najib has been focused on his role in the huge 1MDB scandal, where $2.6bn from a government fund he was overseeing was embezzled and spent around the world and $681m of it was alleged to have ended up in his personal bank account.” | Much of the criticism of Najib has been focused on his role in the huge 1MDB scandal, where $2.6bn from a government fund he was overseeing was embezzled and spent around the world and $681m of it was alleged to have ended up in his personal bank account.” |
| Tony Abbott however, says Australia will miss him, even if his own people don’t (right now) | Tony Abbott however, says Australia will miss him, even if his own people don’t (right now) |
| PM Najib Razak was a good friend of Australia and a voice of decency and common sense at international gatherings. On the big questions he got much right and his time in government saw strong and effective cooperation between our countries. | PM Najib Razak was a good friend of Australia and a voice of decency and common sense at international gatherings. On the big questions he got much right and his time in government saw strong and effective cooperation between our countries. |
| Australia has a new man in Dubai: | Australia has a new man in Dubai: |
| From Julie Bishop and Steve Ciobo’s statement: | From Julie Bishop and Steve Ciobo’s statement: |
| We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Halliday as Australia’s consul-general and senior trade commissioner in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, our largest investment partner in the Middle East. | We are pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Halliday as Australia’s consul-general and senior trade commissioner in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, our largest investment partner in the Middle East. |
| As the UAE continues to diversify its economy away from crude oil and traditional commodities, opportunities are opening for Australian suppliers of goods and services in education, sustainable energy, food and beverage services and infrastructure. | As the UAE continues to diversify its economy away from crude oil and traditional commodities, opportunities are opening for Australian suppliers of goods and services in education, sustainable energy, food and beverage services and infrastructure. |
| Australia’s connections are strong with the UAE and growing. Almost 25,000 Australians live in the UAE, 350 Australian companies are represented and more than 130 flights a week connect the two countries. | Australia’s connections are strong with the UAE and growing. Almost 25,000 Australians live in the UAE, 350 Australian companies are represented and more than 130 flights a week connect the two countries. |
| Prior to this appointment, Mr Halliday was managing director of Dairy Australia. He has had over 20 years’ experience as a leader in the private sector, holding senior posts with Castlemaine Foods, Kraft Foods, and Kailis & France Foods (now Vesco Foods). | Prior to this appointment, Mr Halliday was managing director of Dairy Australia. He has had over 20 years’ experience as a leader in the private sector, holding senior posts with Castlemaine Foods, Kraft Foods, and Kailis & France Foods (now Vesco Foods). |
| His experience in the commercial food and agribusiness sector in Asia and the Middle East will benefit our exporters looking to the Middle East to expand their businesses, and assist foreign investors to identify opportunities in Australia. | His experience in the commercial food and agribusiness sector in Asia and the Middle East will benefit our exporters looking to the Middle East to expand their businesses, and assist foreign investors to identify opportunities in Australia. |
| Mr Halliday’s appointment reflects the Turnbull Government’s strong commitment to growing Australia’s trade with the UAE. | Mr Halliday’s appointment reflects the Turnbull Government’s strong commitment to growing Australia’s trade with the UAE. |
| We thank outgoing consul-general and senior trade commissioner Gerard Seeber for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in the UAE since January 2012. | We thank outgoing consul-general and senior trade commissioner Gerard Seeber for his contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in the UAE since January 2012. |
| In between Ray Hadley’s/Peter Dutton’s fantasies, Barnaby Joyce’s savaging of cuisines and Pauline Hanson’s interview, the Nationals said some things. | In between Ray Hadley’s/Peter Dutton’s fantasies, Barnaby Joyce’s savaging of cuisines and Pauline Hanson’s interview, the Nationals said some things. |
| You’ll find that here: | You’ll find that here: |
| LIVE: All @The_Nationals press conference at Parliament House: https://t.co/vOvfSG22E1 | LIVE: All @The_Nationals press conference at Parliament House: https://t.co/vOvfSG22E1 |
| From the statement: | From the statement: |
| Today the governor-general put in place the final piece of the Home Affairs portfolio with the transfer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) into the Department. | Today the governor-general put in place the final piece of the Home Affairs portfolio with the transfer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) into the Department. |
| Asio’s transfer follows yesterday’s passage of the Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Act 2018. | Asio’s transfer follows yesterday’s passage of the Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Act 2018. |
| The minister for home affairs Peter Dutton welcomed the transfer of Asio saying it delivers on the Turnbull Government’s intent to bring together the management and coordination of our nation’s national security, intelligence and emergency management agencies. | The minister for home affairs Peter Dutton welcomed the transfer of Asio saying it delivers on the Turnbull Government’s intent to bring together the management and coordination of our nation’s national security, intelligence and emergency management agencies. |
| “We are now leveraging the very best of our agencies to ensure that the Home Affairs whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” Mr Dutton said. | “We are now leveraging the very best of our agencies to ensure that the Home Affairs whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” Mr Dutton said. |
| “Our agencies are among the best in the world and are focused on building a united, secure and prosperous country for all Australians.” | “Our agencies are among the best in the world and are focused on building a united, secure and prosperous country for all Australians.” |
| The Home Affairs portfolio draws together the nation’s security and policing agencies and will provide the closest possible coordination between Asio, the Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre to ensure a safer and more secure Australia. | The Home Affairs portfolio draws together the nation’s security and policing agencies and will provide the closest possible coordination between Asio, the Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre to ensure a safer and more secure Australia. |
| “Our first priority is the safety and security of all Australians – and this is what we are delivering. These new arrangements enhance the government’s ability to respond to emerging threats including from terrorism, organised crime and foreign interference,” Mr Dutton said. | “Our first priority is the safety and security of all Australians – and this is what we are delivering. These new arrangements enhance the government’s ability to respond to emerging threats including from terrorism, organised crime and foreign interference,” Mr Dutton said. |
| The Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Act 2018 also provides the attorney-general strengthened oversight of our intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies. | The Home Affairs and Integrity Agencies Legislation Amendment Act 2018 also provides the attorney-general strengthened oversight of our intelligence, security and law enforcement agencies. |
| Tanya Plibersek has released Labor’s women’s budget statement. You’ll find the whole thing here: | Tanya Plibersek has released Labor’s women’s budget statement. You’ll find the whole thing here: |
| The member for Sydney is not impressed with the government’s effort (in other news, today is a day ending in Y): | The member for Sydney is not impressed with the government’s effort (in other news, today is a day ending in Y): |
| After five years in government, the Liberals suggest they might do something about women’s economic security – but this year’s budget doesn’t say what, or whether there is funding for it. Why don’t they know? | After five years in government, the Liberals suggest they might do something about women’s economic security – but this year’s budget doesn’t say what, or whether there is funding for it. Why don’t they know? |
| The truth is that the Liberals have taken no serious action on gender equality, and they never will. | The truth is that the Liberals have taken no serious action on gender equality, and they never will. |
| After Tony Abbott scrapped the statement in 2014, Kelly O’Dwyer managed to get it back into this year’s budget. There wasn’t a whole heap of detail, but we are told that is coming in September, when O’Dwyer will make a women’s economic security statement. (FWIW, Labor continued to release its women’s budget statement from opposition despite the decision from the government to axe it.) | After Tony Abbott scrapped the statement in 2014, Kelly O’Dwyer managed to get it back into this year’s budget. There wasn’t a whole heap of detail, but we are told that is coming in September, when O’Dwyer will make a women’s economic security statement. (FWIW, Labor continued to release its women’s budget statement from opposition despite the decision from the government to axe it.) |
| One Nation has named Matthew Stephen as their candidate in the Longman byelection. | One Nation has named Matthew Stephen as their candidate in the Longman byelection. |
| Stephen ran for the seat of Sandgate in the last state election, where, the Australian revealed, he had only just avoided bankruptcy and had his trades licence temporarily suspended seven times for not paying fees or creditors. | Stephen ran for the seat of Sandgate in the last state election, where, the Australian revealed, he had only just avoided bankruptcy and had his trades licence temporarily suspended seven times for not paying fees or creditors. |
| From the Australian’s October 24 report: | From the Australian’s October 24 report: |
| Matthew Stephen, 30, had his Queensland Building and Construction Commission wall and floor tiling licence temporarily suspended seven times for not paying his fees and creditors. His most recent suspension was for February and March, while Pauline Hanson’s party was vetting his suitability to run at the next Queensland election. | Matthew Stephen, 30, had his Queensland Building and Construction Commission wall and floor tiling licence temporarily suspended seven times for not paying his fees and creditors. His most recent suspension was for February and March, while Pauline Hanson’s party was vetting his suitability to run at the next Queensland election. |
| One Nation campaign director Michael Pucci said One Nation had backed Mr Stephen because he was so open about his past financial problems. | One Nation campaign director Michael Pucci said One Nation had backed Mr Stephen because he was so open about his past financial problems. |
| “He was forthright, and the bottom line is he’s exactly what we’re talking about when we have people representing people,” Mr Pucci said. “He’s running a real business and he’s faced the real problems of everyday Aussies. He didn’t run away from it, that’s why he got the tick.” | “He was forthright, and the bottom line is he’s exactly what we’re talking about when we have people representing people,” Mr Pucci said. “He’s running a real business and he’s faced the real problems of everyday Aussies. He didn’t run away from it, that’s why he got the tick.” |
| Mr Stephen said his business was now recovering from his past troubles, after it had gone from employing 25 staff to just two – him and his foreman. Now, it employs seven full-time staff and an apprentice. | Mr Stephen said his business was now recovering from his past troubles, after it had gone from employing 25 staff to just two – him and his foreman. Now, it employs seven full-time staff and an apprentice. |
| Stephen had been open with One Nation at the time about his difficulties. This time round, Pauline Hanson says: | Stephen had been open with One Nation at the time about his difficulties. This time round, Pauline Hanson says: |
| Matthew is a strong local candidate, a fourth-generation Australian, who lives and works in the community with his wife and family. I’m very proud to say he is ready to fight for the people of Longman and I think he would make an excellent member of parliament. | Matthew is a strong local candidate, a fourth-generation Australian, who lives and works in the community with his wife and family. I’m very proud to say he is ready to fight for the people of Longman and I think he would make an excellent member of parliament. |