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Minister 'intervention' in Newstart report 'very dangerous precedent', Labor says – politics live Minister 'intervention' in Newstart report 'very dangerous precedent', Labor says – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Reece Kershaw has been named the new AFP Commissioner.
He is the current Northern Territory police commissioner. He’ll start in October, when Andrew Colvin officially stands down.
Peta Murphy:
As I now know, cancer is not just indiscriminate, it’s sneaky.
Two weeks ago, a week after being sworn in as the member for Dunkley, I received the unexpected news that my cancer had returned.
You might say ‘Murphy’s Law strikes again.’ But my mother, Jan, who is a Murphy by marriage, not birth, and therefore able to adopt a less pessimistic personal motto, would say ‘everything happens for a reason’.
I am neither unique nor alone in the fight I am about to take on. Cancer Australia estimates that in 2019, just over 19,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 145,000 people will be diagnosed with cancer.
I am neither unique nor alone, but I am someone who has a platform that I can use to benefit others.
“And as long as the people of Dunkley continue to vote for me to represent them in this place, I intend to use it.
I am going to start by saying this today. Ladies, check your breasts.
Men, don’t ignore what your body is telling you.
Fellow members of parliament, listen to experts who warn that the promise of universal health care is under threat.
Commit to the reform and funding that our heath system needs, and do whatever is required to ensure that Australia trains, retrains and invests in the health care professionals and researchers who make our system great.”
The contest to replace Mitch Fifield as a Victorian senator is shaping up as a two-horse race between Sarah Henderson and Greg Mirabella.
Fifield is jetting off to be Australia’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Henderson was defeated at the May election in the marginal lower house seat of Corangamite, after six years in federal parliament. She had risen to the ranks of assistant minister for social services and disabilities.
Mirabella, a former army officer, is married to former federal minister Sophie Mirabella, who lost the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Indi in north-eastern Victoria in 2013 to Cathy McGowan. Some insiders say he’s got a solid standing and identity within the party, separate to that of his polarising wife.
“He’s his own man,” a source told the Guardian.
Party insiders expect a tight race and the push is on for a regional-based senator because the other Liberal senators live in Melbourne.
Mirabella is from Wangaratta, while Henderson lives in Geelong.
Nominations for preselection close on Friday and 600-odd party members will vote on 8 September.
Prime minister Scott Morrison has endorsed Henderson for the Senate spot but party insiders don’t believe that will make much difference in the minds of rank and file members.
“I just think back to when [Victoria premier] Denis Napthine wrote a letter supporting [cabinet minister] Mary Wooldridge in [the state seat of Kew 2014]. [Then 30-year-old former mayor] Tim Smith won resoundingly,” the insider told the Guardian.
“I’m not sure branch members like to be told what to do.”
Asked about whether gender and the party’s push for more female talent will be a factor in the contest, the insider said: “No.”
“I just don’t think it will swing votes one way or the other.”
Other names in the mix are former Liberal senate candidates Kyle Hoppitt and Karina Okotel, former federal MP for Dunkley Chris Crewther and former state upper house MP Inga Peulich.
Another party insider says the two favourites may not necessarily win the room on the day.
The last time there was a Victorian Senate casual vacancy, former veterans affairs minister Michael Ronaldson retired from politics and James Paterson, a then 28-year-old from the Institute of Public Affairs, won the spot.
“I can’t recall James Paterson being the favourite in 2016. He performed really strongly and impressed delegates,” the party insider said.
“Delegates to a Senate preselection are often more focused on ideology.”
Peta Murphy, the new Labor MP for Dunkley, is delivering her first speech in the chamber now.
The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, was asked on Sky about the commonwealth ombudsman’s report, which revealed a litany of breaches of metadata laws, including that the Western Australian police obtained invalid warrants targeting journalists and ACT police accessed data 116 times without proper authorisation.
Asked if this showed the law’s safeguards don’t work, Dutton replied:
No it’s not, there are many cases now where Asio and the AFP have relied on those laws particularly in relation to serious matters including counter terrorism matters to keep Australians safe. There are mechanisms in place, safe checks and they should be adhered to, and if not there are consequences for that. So, take the protections very seriously but in the end the vast majority of cases – 99% of the use of these laws – will be appropriate, and they’ll be used in a way that will result in protecting Australians, that’s the reality.
The ombudsman’s report didn’t detail any consequences that accrued from the breaches by WA Police or ACT Policing – aside from a polite request to quarantine the data which in ACT Policing’s case was not immediately adhered to.
From our report:
The ombudsman recommended the AFP quarantine all telecommunications data obtained under the 116 authorisations, which the AFP accepted. ‘However it did not act to quarantine the affected data at that time, which resulted in additional use and communication of the data,’ the report said.
Despite the quarantine process beginning in February 2018, the data had still not been fully quarantined by April 2018.
So we’ll have to hear from Dutton what the unspecified “consequences” might be!
Kristina Keneally and Alan Jones have joined forces.
Yes, you read that correctly.
They have come together to try and reverse the decision which has seen a Sri Lankan family who made a home in Biloela, but who are now in detention after they were judged not to be refugees.
So far, the government has not budged on the case, despite multiple appeals from the Queensland community to bring them home.
And now, it has seen Jones and Keneally team up.
That’s how serious it is.
Why is it an issue, for Labor, that the government hasn’t taken on board all of the recommendations of the joint parliamentary security and intelligence committee on the temporary exclusion orders bill?
Ed Husic told Sky News:
Because the committee basically drops the politics, drops the politicking, thinks deeply about the advice that is given, not just from the security agencies, but from others who have a considered opinion in the community, the Law Council and others, and then frames its recommendations with a lot of consideration attached to them.
And if they say, as a result of their considerations, it would be better to strengthen the law in this way, I think the government should be made to work double time to explain why those recommendations aren’t good enough to follow.
I just think Peter Dutton has a lot to answer for, as to why so many people left, why he hasn’t brought the regime in the way that he should, why has he taken so long.
I think the other thing is the government just can’t be trusted on national security. They prioritise politics over the safety of the country, and in Peter Dutton’s case, you have to ask, if his colleagues couldn’t bring themselves to put him in a leadership position, couldn’t trust him in a leadership position, why is he being trusted with national security when so many things are going off the rails under his watch.
Rex Patrick also has concerns about the temporary exclusion order bill:Rex Patrick also has concerns about the temporary exclusion order bill:
.@Senator_Patrick says it’s ‘disturbing’ the recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security haven’t been adopted in full in relation to the foreign fighters bill. MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #amagenda pic.twitter.com/Bp2yPYKshb.@Senator_Patrick says it’s ‘disturbing’ the recommendations from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security haven’t been adopted in full in relation to the foreign fighters bill. MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #amagenda pic.twitter.com/Bp2yPYKshb
Peter Dutton was on ABC radio this morning talking about why the government rejected some of the recommendations of the security and intelligence committee:Peter Dutton was on ABC radio this morning talking about why the government rejected some of the recommendations of the security and intelligence committee:
There were 19 recommendations. We accept 17. And we’ll implement their recommendations, but the Government, at the end of the day, relies not only on the advice from the committee, made up of Labor and Liberal members, but also, of course - and predominantly - the agencies, including ASIO, ASIS, my own intelligence units within Home Affairs, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interests of the country. There were 19 recommendations. We accept 17. And we’ll implement their recommendations, but the government, at the end of the day, relies not only on the advice from the committee, made up of Labor and Liberal members, but also, of course – and predominantly – the agencies, including Asio, Asis, my own intelligence units within Home Affairs, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interests of the country.
And excluding people on a temporary basis from coming back to our country to cause harm is an absolute priority of the Government. And excluding people on a temporary basis from coming back to our country to cause harm is an absolute priority of the government.
So, we look at all of that information, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interest. There is an ability for the minister to make a decision under legislation.So, we look at all of that information, and we make decisions that we believe are in the best interest. There is an ability for the minister to make a decision under legislation.
Each decision, every decision, is reviewed by a retired judge or a member of the AAT. That process is in place. There is also an ability for matters to be heard right up to the High Court, but the Federal Court to start with. Each decision, every decision, is reviewed by a retired judge or a member of the AAT. That process is in place. There is also an ability for matters to be heard right up to the high court, but the federal court to start with.
So, there are checks and balances in place now.But you don’t have faith in a retired judge to make these decisions? Our judgement is, particularly in cases where you need to make an urgent decision, that that case is best considered by the minister, and then reviewed. We’re happy for the review to take place. So, there are checks and balances in place now. But you don’t have faith in a retired judge to make these decisions? Our judgement is, particularly in cases where you need to make an urgent decision, that that case is best considered by the minister, and then reviewed. We’re happy for the review to take place.
It’s an important check and balance. But as is the case with passport cancellations, for example, where the Foreign Minister might make a decision, that decision is made by the minister, and that’s consistent with legislation and practice under both Liberal and Labor over a long period of time. It’s an important check and balance. But as is the case with passport cancellations, for example, where the foreign minister might make a decision, that decision is made by the minister, and that’s consistent with legislation and practice under both Liberal and Labor over a long period of time.
Peter Dutton will hold a press conference at 11.45pm in the blue room - the second most fancy press conference location.Peter Dutton will hold a press conference at 11.45pm in the blue room - the second most fancy press conference location.
There is a lot of aqua in the public gallery as Zali Steggall delivers her first speech and a pretty big cheer from that same quarter when she mentions defeating Tony AbbottThere is a lot of aqua in the public gallery as Zali Steggall delivers her first speech and a pretty big cheer from that same quarter when she mentions defeating Tony Abbott
Liberal backbench senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells continues to make her push for a broader “religious freedom act” than the defensive religious discrimination act currently being developed by attorney-general Christian Porter. Liberal backbench senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells continues to make her push for a broader “religious freedom act” than the defensive religious discrimination act currently being developed by attorney general Christian Porter.
In the adjournment debate in the Senate on Tuesday night, detailed nine cases of apparent religious discrimination as she saw it. In the adjournment debate in the Senate on Tuesday night, she detailed nine cases of apparent religious discrimination, as she saw it.
The cases included those already publicly aired, including a wedding photographer sued for refusing to provide services to a same-sex wedding (the case was dropped), a student being investigated for comments about not agreeing with the “lifestyle” of a gay friend (the case was dropped), a teacher who was investigated during the postal survey for posting on social media articles about “homosexual marriage” (the case was dropped).The cases included those already publicly aired, including a wedding photographer sued for refusing to provide services to a same-sex wedding (the case was dropped), a student being investigated for comments about not agreeing with the “lifestyle” of a gay friend (the case was dropped), a teacher who was investigated during the postal survey for posting on social media articles about “homosexual marriage” (the case was dropped).
There was also a case about a Christian family being rejected for fostering children because of their beliefs.There was also a case about a Christian family being rejected for fostering children because of their beliefs.
“This is no dream; it is a reality. For those involved it has become a nightmare,” Fierravanti-Wells said. “This is supposed to be modern-day Australia, supposedly democratic and free. But this was not the case and isn’t the case for these people. You or I could be the next victims.”“This is no dream; it is a reality. For those involved it has become a nightmare,” Fierravanti-Wells said. “This is supposed to be modern-day Australia, supposedly democratic and free. But this was not the case and isn’t the case for these people. You or I could be the next victims.”
It should be noted many of these situations are something gay people also face from religious organisations. For example, the Perth case where a teacher lost employment after revealing on social media he was in a same-sex relationshipIt should be noted many of these situations are something gay people also face from religious organisations. For example, the Perth case where a teacher lost employment after revealing on social media he was in a same-sex relationship
Craig Kelly has a friend in the Australian Taxpayers’ Association:Craig Kelly has a friend in the Australian Taxpayers’ Association:
Allowing wealthy individuals who live in multi-million dollar palatial mansions to claim handouts funded by hardworking middle and working class taxpayers is an unconscionable rort that must end now if our pension system is to be sustainable in the decades to come.” ATA director of policy Satya Marar, said in a statement. Allowing wealthy individuals who live in multi-million dollar palatial mansions to claim handouts funded by hardworking middle and working class taxpayers is an unconscionable rort that must end now if our pension system is to be sustainable in the decades to come [ ATA director of policy Satya Marar said in a statement].
“The pension isn’t some entitlement you get simply because you pay into the system over your working life. It’s meant to provide a safety net for those who genuinely need it. There’s nothing cruel or unfair about requiring wealthy Australians to support themselves with their own wealth by downsizing before depending on the government. The pension isn’t some entitlement you get simply because you pay into the system over your working life. It’s meant to provide a safety net for those who genuinely need it. There’s nothing cruel or unfair about requiring wealthy Australians to support themselves with their own wealth by downsizing before depending on the government.
“Means-tested welfare is a shrewd, fair principle and pension eligibility is no exception. Means-tested welfare is a shrewd, fair principle and pension eligibility is no exception.
“Both major parties have baulked at this commonsense change out of fear of political consequences. But the consequences of doing nothing and ratcheting up billions more in tax bills or unsustainable public debt to fund those who don’t need it are far worse. We commend Craig Kelly MP for recognising the need for this timely and taxpayer-friendly reform.” Both major parties have baulked at this commonsense change out of fear of political consequences. But the consequences of doing nothing and ratcheting up billions more in tax bills or unsustainable public debt to fund those who don’t need it are far worse. We commend Craig Kelly MP for recognising the need for this timely and taxpayer-friendly reform.
Jim Chalmers on Rob Harris’s story that Paul Fletcher, the then social-services minister, intervened to remove a recommendation Newstart be raised from a bipartisan parliamentary committee report before the election.Jim Chalmers on Rob Harris’s story that Paul Fletcher, the then social-services minister, intervened to remove a recommendation Newstart be raised from a bipartisan parliamentary committee report before the election.
I don’t involve myself in the goings on of that committee, but I think what is clear from the reports that have come out today, is that the report was going to recommend working towards an increase to Newstart, the government intervened at the last minute.I don’t involve myself in the goings on of that committee, but I think what is clear from the reports that have come out today, is that the report was going to recommend working towards an increase to Newstart, the government intervened at the last minute.
“They seem to be the only ones who don’t recognise the need for consideration for a need for change here.”“They seem to be the only ones who don’t recognise the need for consideration for a need for change here.”
Linda Burney:Linda Burney:
“Not only the minister, but the then minister for social services intervened and that is a very, very, very dangerous precedent” “Not only the minister, but the then minister for social services, intervened and that is a very, very, very dangerous precedent”.
Zali Steggall is delivering her first speech in the chamber.Zali Steggall is delivering her first speech in the chamber.
Just to make it clear: a quorum for the House is 31 government MPs (moved up from 30 after an additional electorate was added at the last election). Usually, no one cares. people have meetings, the parliament runs, yadda, yadda, yadda. But given that the opposition was messed around on Monday, when the government rushed through legislation it didn’t actually have to rush through, Labor is making life a bit difficult for the government.
I imagine those quorum bells are going to ring quite a few times in the near future.
Labor’s claim that the pension assets test will be changed to include the value of the family home is a lie. It’s not our policy and never will be.
If anyone is wondering why Labor is playing hard ball in the lower house, the manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, foreshadowed on Monday that it would not play nice.The government pushed through the drought fund bill by suspending standing orders and moving straight to third reading on Monday, without giving Labor 24 hours for the bill to go to caucus – and with the consequence that MPs didn’t have time to read the bill.
On Monday Burke warned that rushing the legislation through was a “really dumb idea” and made vague threats that “if the government decides proper process in this House no longer matters” it can’t come to the opposition seeking cooperation on other procedural matters.
So this morning’s shenanigans seem like straight-up payback.
The Australian Council of Social Services has responded to this report from Rob Harris at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age:
A bipartisan call to increase the Newstart allowance was removed from a parliamentary report at the direction of the Morrison government on the eve of the federal election.
As Prime Minister Scott Morrison stares down growing demands by Coalition MPs to lift the unemployment benefit for the first time since 1994, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal former social services minister Paul Fletcher intervened in an inquiry to erase a major recommendation that would have turbo-charged the sensitive issue.
Here’s the acting Acoss CEO, Jacqueline Phillips:
It’s outrageous that a Government Minister would step in and change a Parliamentary Inquiry’s recommendations, which should be based purely on evidence presented to the Inquiry.
Rather than trying to avoid the issue, the Government should listen to the clear calls from the community, business sector and economists, for an increase to Newstart, which would reduce poverty, stimulate the economy and create jobs.
It’s telling that a Parliamentary Inquiry, made up of members from the Coalition, Labor and the crossbench, appears to have come to the conclusion, before the election, that Newstart needs to be increased.
This shows that we can achieve bipartisan support on increasing Newstart, as does the growing consensus across Parliament, including agreement from majority of Nationals MPs.
We call on the Government to urgently reconsider its position. The time to act on Newstart is now.
This has happened three times now – there have not been enough government members in the chamber for a quorum.
I take back everything I said about missing the bells.
The bells are ringing again, but not for a division. Member for McEwen @RobMitchellMP has drawn the Speaker's attention 'to the state of the House', which means a quorum is not currently present. The bells are rung, calling Members to the Chamber. pic.twitter.com/qxshBAYvDK
Member for Werriwa @AnneWerriwa has drawn the Speaker's attention once more to the state of the House. The bells ring again for a quorum call.
Member for Lalor @JoanneRyanLalor has drawn the Speaker's attention to the state of the House, prompting a quorum call.
Jim Chalmers and Linda Burney will hold a door stop on Craig Kelly’s latest intervention in just a few minutes.
Kristina Keneally was just on Sky News, talking about what she sees as the consequences of the government rejecting recommendations from the joint committee on security and intelligence:
I would say the government has sought to blow up the compact of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security.
If you will, this is the beginning, unfortunately, of the compact of a committee which has worked very well and unlike any other committee, has produced bipartisan recommendations that have improved every piece of national security legislation.
Now if the government is intent on on disregarding the recommendations and not working with the committee, it may be that some of the government’s recommended changes are sensical. It may be that in some cases they have misunderstood the committee’s recommendations, and we need to have a conversation with them. All of that has been thrown out the window, and that does, I believe, pose a risk, to the good functioning of that committee into the future.
And it is unfortunate, because I think it has been of great benefit to security agencies and to Australians generally.
Labor did not take on all of the committee’s recommendations on the telecommunications data retention bill, which the government is using as precedent for not taking all of the recommendations on this one.
Labor is supporting the bill, despite its concerns. One of those being that the minister is the power which will get to decide who the temporary exclusion order applies to, not, as it is in the UK, on which the Australian laws are based on, a retired judge, or independent judiciary member. Peter Dutton says that would undermine the intent of the bill. Keneally says the UK, which has had these laws since 2015, has not found that.
But again – it doesn’t matter, because the laws have bipartisan support to go through the parliament.
Oh lookie here.
Malcolm Roberts has the Senate matter of importance debate today and he has chosen the topic:
That the flawed and dangerous medevac legislation undermines Australia’s border security and must be urgently repealed.
Well slather me in vinegar and call me pickled – that just happens to be the very thing the government wants to talk about!
Jim Chalmer’s adjournment speech was on this very topic last night:
We’re told at least a dozen Liberals want to strip Australians of the super increases they need, deserve, and were promised.
I gave the Prime Minister multiple opportunities in this House to rule out any changes to increasing the Super Guarantee to 12 per cent and he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do it.
The Treasurer too; he was given five opportunities on Insiders.
The Trade Minister would only say they wouldn’t change it at this point in time.
The Finance Minister said they’d leave it alone – but now we hear there was a barney about it in their party room today.
The weasel words and sly language gives the game away.
Here we go again.
They’ve got form and not just on super.
It always begins with backbench extremists putting pressure on the Treasurer, and it ends with him folding.
It happened on energy and it will happen again on super.”
Anthony Albanese’s ban on the word ‘liar’ just means shadow frontbenchers and their staff have to break out the thesaurus a little more. Hence - weasel words.
The government has a majority in the House, so the motion goes nowhere.
BUT Craig Kelly’s latest thought bubble is in defiance of Scott Morrison’s order to the party room on Tuesday, to shut up.
You can’t keep Kelly down though. There is not a debate in this country that man doesn’t have an opinion on.