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Parliament pays tribute to Tim Fischer: 'He was an Australian original' – politics live Labor targets government over state of economy – question time live
(32 minutes later)
I know that we have had a break and we are all a bit rusty at this at the moment, but someone might need to tell the government backbench that the phrases “tax a lot” and “spend a lot” are not funny on their own, and their usually needs to be an actual attempt at a joke attached, in order to make laughter make sense. Clare O’Neal to Josh Frydenberg:
(Just a reminder that the unemployment rate hasn’t changed that much between governments, and there was that whole global financial crisis thing that happened as well) Can the Treasurer confirm that under this coalition government business investment has fallen 20% to its lowest level since the1990’s recession?
Back to ‘why are you ruining the economy/no, why are YOU ruining the economy’ hour Frydenberg:
Mr Speaker, I can confirm non-mining investment is growing 1.4% through the year, compared to negative 8.4%through the year when Labor left office, Mr Speaker. So the record there is that that we have overseen a better result when it comes to non-mining investment than the Labor Party did, Mr Speaker.
Now, in terms of the mining sector, we have seen a transition from the investment stage to the production phase, and one of the positive points out of the national accounts for the June quarter was actually mining investment was up. Mining investment was up, Mr Speaker.
So the reality is, under the coalition, we are creating more than 1.4 million new jobs. We are lowering taxes, Mr Speaker, and we’re bringing the budget back into surplus. But the question I have for the member of Hotham and those opposite is why do they continue to talk down theAustralian economy, Mr Speaker?”
Anthony Albanese asks if the Opposition can answer the question. Tony Smith says sadly, no, but Frydenberg is straying off the topic and to get on with it.
Frydenberg:
As I have said, our record of investment is better than the Labor Party when it comes to the non-mining sector, Mr Speaker. We’ve created more jobs, we’re lowering taxes, and we’re bringing the budget back into surplus.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
After more than six years of this government, when growth is the slowest it has been in a decade, wages are stagnant, consumption is weak, household debt is at record highs, and productivity has actually gone backwards over the last year, why does the prime minister spend all of his time talking about Labor and none of his time coming up with a plan to turn the economy around?
Morrison:
Thank you, Mr Speaker. 1.4 million jobs created under the economic policies of this government, Mr Speaker. 75% of those full-time jobs, Mr Speaker. A budget that is coming back into surplus this year, this year, Mr Speaker. Real wage growth occurring under this government, Mr Speaker. Real wage growth occurring under this government. That’s what... Mr Speaker, people are not only earning more, they are getting to keep more of what they earn and we want them to earn more in the future.
But you won’t get higher wages with higher taxes. That’s what the Labor party never understands.
They never understand that if they want to tax people more, they they will slow the economy, which will thieve them, Mr Speaker, of their economic opportunities.
Tony Burke:
He couldn’t even get to 45 seconds before he started talking about Labor. The question is asking him what is his plan – he is meant to be running an economy.
Tony Smith:
I’m not quite sure what the point of order is. He didn’t state one. But I will just say that several of the topics in the question was Labor, so he didn’t put it there. The prime minister has the call.
Morrison:
Our plan, which is to bring the budget back into surplus this year. Our plan, which has been to deliver tax cuts to Australians. Our plan, which is to deliver hundreds of billions of dollars on infrastructure, which includes $10bn this year, which is 10% higher than the annual spend on infrastructure this year than occurred under the Labor party. So more investment in infrastructure, more investment in skills, skills expansion of our markets.
We’ve taken the trade covered by our export agreements from less than 30% to 70% and we will take it to 90%, Mr Speaker. The agricultural sector is growing at a – it will be a $100bn sector by 2030 under the plan we are putting in place. So we have a plan, Mr Speaker.
But what is happening on the side of the Labor party, and I was asked about the Labor party, is chaos. It’s chaos and uncertainty and in New South Wales, there is the big stench of corruption, Mr Speaker. What we’re seeing in New South Wales – the Leader of the Opposition’s home division – is – when I said, and I mentioned on the weekend, when I said we had to recycle plastics, Mr Speaker, I didn’t mean Aldi plastic bags stuffed full of cash. That was not my plan, Mr Speaker! But it is certainly the plan of the New South Wales Labor party.
Michael McCormack does his best impression of an unseasoned chicken wing in delivering his latest dixer answer.
Moving on.
Catherine King to Scott Morrison:
Why has the prime minister ignored seven calls from the Reserve Bank governor since the election to increase infrastructure spending?
Morrison:
Let me quote from the Reserve Bank governor, August 9, health economics committee.
The global economy is not doing well, we need ... public policy to support the Australian policy, that is not a call for the Australian government to do more now.
I am quoting the governor of the reserve bank. He said can I clarify something. I have not called on the government to do fiscal expansion, quoting the governor of the Reserve Bank, giving evidence, not some chat to a journalist, but evidence, to the House economics committee. He said I am not calling on the government to do fiscal expansion.
On 11 July he said I agree 100% with you the Australian economy is growing and the fundamentals are strong. I don’t think we should forget that more Australians have jobs today than ever before.
... The Reserve Bank on the evidence of the parliamentary committee has been very clear. What I know is I have been working with the Reserve Bank governor as both the treasurer and prime minister for four years, it is as a result of the Reserve Bank governor years ago, suggestions to us about the need to move on infrastructure, that we have the hundred billion dollar infrastructure pipeline, that has been in the budget since April of this year, and is featured in previous budgets.
I know those opposite, if they had the opportunity, would be spending, spending, spending, if they had won the election, only because they would have been taxing, taxing, taxing.
The first whiff of a surplus, the Labor party would blow it all in a heartbeat. What my government is doing is showing sober, cautious, disciplined financial management, Mr Speaker, to make sure we both achieve the first surplus in 12 years, and we deliver on the hundred billion dollar infrastructure program, we deliver on the tax cuts we promise to Australians, and we have achieved in this parliament, which those opposite fought tooth and nail to try and stop. Those opposite, we heard earlier today, that apparently they will not find out what their policies are until 2022. He will need a time machine to find out their policies. Whether you go backwards or forwards, they will all equate to economic irresponsibility.
While I continue my death to dixers crusade, you might be interested in putting in a submission to this inquiry:
#QuestionTime is under way in the House. While you’re streaming at https://t.co/8DB1X3AQDV, why not give some consideration to the ways in which you’d consider changing #QT? Submissions to the inquiry are still open at https://t.co/swSWsTiM6X
Josh Frydenberg is now talking about people coming out of the shadows.
I don’t know who writes his dixer answers, but I really, really hope they update their references soon. We don’t come out of the shadows any more, we serve the tea.
The member for Warringah, Zali Steggall, has the independents’ question.
The times are serious, peak medical bodies last week declared a health climate emergency, recognising the severe effect climate change will have on children, being more vulnerable to hypoallergenic conditions and lung disease. Today emergency services are saying the fires in New South Wales and Queensland are unprecedented this early in spring. Scientists have been warning about these dangers for years. Does the prime minister agree Australia needs a real plan to decarbonise every polluting sector by 2020, and will such a plan be presented to this parliament?
Scott Morrison:
The government agrees we need to take action on climate change and that is why we are.
We will meet the targets that were set.
When we came to government we were going to miss those targets by 700 million tonnes.
What is going to happen now? We will exceed meeting those targets by 367 million tonnes. There has been over a million tonne turnaround. As a result of the policies of this government, put in place over the last six years to make sure we are meeting and beating our emissions reduction targets, we had the plan to meet the 2030 targets as well as we set out in the last election, responsible targets, tonne by tonne, to make sure we meet our 2020 commitments.
We take these commitments seriously. We will make sure they are met. On top of that, we will have emissions per capita fall by 50% by 2030, under the policies we took to the last election, emissions per capita at the lowest level in 29 years.
We are taking the action needed to address climate change. The renewable investments per capita are currently the highest in the world, the highest in the world. We are in the middle of a renewable energy boom, that is the reason why we will be meeting our renewable energy target we should be committed to meet as a government.
Whether it’s on emissions reduction, renewable energy, the government has a plan, has committed to targets, is implementing the plan and will meet the targets. The government is taking action on climate change as we should, we will continue to take that action in a responsible way, where we don’t have to sell out the jobs for the future, to make sure we have the future of a clean and green environment.
That sound you hear is Pat Conroy screaming into the void.
We come back from the latest dixer (it sounds as if Scott Morrison’s voice is going).
Maybe he gave it to Josh Frydenberg, who, despite his talents, is yet to work out how a microphone works, in that you DON’T HAVE TO YELL INTO ONE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE AMPLIFIED BECAUSE THAT IS THE JOB OF THE MICROPHONE.
Jim Chalmers:
Can the treasurer confirmed that the Australian economy is growing substantially slower than forecast in his budget just five months ago?
Frydenberg:
I can confirm with the House when it comes to nominal GDP, it is growing above the budget forecast! Above the forecast! 5.3%, and the budget forecast was 5%. ... The reality is, we on this side of the House stand for lower taxes. We have passed through the parliament the most significant tax cuts and more than two decades. You know who oppose those tax cuts? The member for Rankin. He likes to take the...
Imagine that in all caps. Because that is how it was delivered.
Tony Burke says the question was specific, and Christian Porter says “the question went to the issue of economic growth, which relates to a wide variety of issues”. Tony Smith points out that the treasurer started to yell about tax, which is off topic.
Frydenberg comes back, with less yelling:
For the member for Rankin’s information, on average terms the economy grew 1.9% for 2018/19, the budget forecast was 2.5%, Mr Speaker. When it comes to nominal GDP, the economy grew by 5.3%, the budget forecast was 5%.
As the member for Rankin should know, as the understudy to the former member for Lilley, Wayne Swan, the nominal GDP numbers drive the budget outcomes.
We will bring the budget back into surplus for the first time in more than a decade. And you can strengthen the Australian economy by creating more jobs, by seeing the proportion of working age Australians on welfare at its lowest level in 30 years, and by cutting taxes which we have done against the will of those opposite.
I know that we have had a break and we are all a bit rusty at this at the moment, but someone might need to tell the government backbench that the phrases “tax a lot” and “spend a lot” are not funny on their own, and there usually needs to be an actual attempt at a joke attached, in order to make laughter make sense.
(Just a reminder that the unemployment rate hasn’t changed that much between governments, and there was that whole global financial crisis thing that happened as well.)
Back to ‘why are you ruining the economy/no, why are YOU ruining the economy’ hour.
Jim Chalmers to Josh Frydenberg:Jim Chalmers to Josh Frydenberg:
Can the Treasurer confirmed that on his watch Australia is experiencing the slowest annual economic since the Global Financial Crisis? Can the treasurer confirmed that on his watch Australia is experiencing the slowest annual economic since the global financial crisis?
Frydenberg:Frydenberg:
I can confirm that on our watch that the Australian economy continues to grow, Mr Speaker, and we continue to reduce taxes. Employment growth is 2.6%. Do you know what it was when we came to government? 0.7%! Less than a third of what it is today. A record number of Australians are now in work, workforce participation is at a record high, the gender pay gap has closed and the budget is coming back to surplus for the first time in more than a decade, Mr Speaker. When you look at the national accounts, economic growth was 0.5% for the June quarter, and 1.9% in terms of year average terms. The Australian economy has completed 28 consecutive years of economic growth and under our watch, more people are employed than ever before” I can confirm that on our watch that the Australian economy continues to grow, Mr Speaker, and we continue to reduce taxes. Employment growth is 2.6%. Do you know what it was when we came to government? 0.7% – less than a third of what it is today. A record number of Australians are now in work, workforce participation is at a record high, the gender pay gap has closed and the budget is coming back to surplus for the first time in more than a decade, Mr Speaker. When you look at the national accounts, economic growth was 0.5% for the June quarter, and 1.9% in terms of year-average terms. The Australian economy has completed 28 consecutive years of economic growth and under our watch more people are employed than ever before.
Both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have given updates on the Queensland and NSW bushfire situation (it is not great and won’t be for a while) and pledged support.Both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have given updates on the Queensland and NSW bushfire situation (it is not great and won’t be for a while) and pledged support.
Just a reminder that rainforest is on fire. Rainforest. I grew up in the area which is under threat in Queensland at the moment, and I have never seen this before in my lifetime and I don’t know anyone who does. Just a reminder that rainforest is on fire. Rainforest. I grew up in the area which is under threat in Queensland at the moment, and I have never seen this before in my lifetime and I don’t know anyone who has.
Bear with me, folks. The internet gremlins have been running riot all week in Guardian HQ and my backup to the backup is starting to fail, so excuse me if the blog slows down a little.Bear with me, folks. The internet gremlins have been running riot all week in Guardian HQ and my backup to the backup is starting to fail, so excuse me if the blog slows down a little.
Over in the Senate, Labor has been focusing on the economy and it looks like that is where Labor is headed in the House as well.Over in the Senate, Labor has been focusing on the economy and it looks like that is where Labor is headed in the House as well.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
I refer to his weekend boasts that he was going to wedge Labor in the sitting period. As any golfer knows, while wedges are handy, drivers are what you need to get going. Given Australia is experiencing the slowest economic growth since the global financial crisis, why is the prime minister not concentrating on economic drivers to deliver growth, productivity and higher wages?I refer to his weekend boasts that he was going to wedge Labor in the sitting period. As any golfer knows, while wedges are handy, drivers are what you need to get going. Given Australia is experiencing the slowest economic growth since the global financial crisis, why is the prime minister not concentrating on economic drivers to deliver growth, productivity and higher wages?
Morrison:Morrison:
We are focused on growing the economy and Labor wanted to put on a bunch of taxes and also there are a bunch of other economies are shrinking and Australia grew, so so’s your face.We are focused on growing the economy and Labor wanted to put on a bunch of taxes and also there are a bunch of other economies are shrinking and Australia grew, so so’s your face.
I may be paraphasing there.I may be paraphasing there.
Sussan Ley on Tim Fischer:Sussan Ley on Tim Fischer:
He travelled among us, he spoke for us and we loved him for that. Whenever I drive the back roads of my electorate, I will be reminded of the Vietnam veteran, the farmer, in the flat chat, who strode amongst us, and his passion for finding a place for country Australia on the world stage.He travelled among us, he spoke for us and we loved him for that. Whenever I drive the back roads of my electorate, I will be reminded of the Vietnam veteran, the farmer, in the flat chat, who strode amongst us, and his passion for finding a place for country Australia on the world stage.
He defined a time when the body politic was a lot kinder than it was today, in part that will be his legacy. The thoughts prayers and love of Farrer are with Judy, who taught me economics at university, Dominic and Harrison, as they face the difficult weeks and months ahead He defined a time when the body politic was a lot kinder than it is today, in part that will be his legacy. The thoughts, prayers and love of Farrer are with Judy, who taught me economics at university, Dominic and Harrison, as they face the difficult weeks and months ahead.
On @afternoonbriefing at 4pm on @abcnews TV my guests are @JacquiLambie also Labor's @Tony_Burke #auspol
Richard Marles on Tim Fischer:
He was not just an example of the electorate of Farrer, he was the very best that that community, indeed the nation had to offer.
So, as a result, his community loved him.
As did his country.
In a way which completely transcended partisan politics. But he also understood that to be a representative, is not just about reflecting the attitudes of your community at any moment in time, because he understood the role of leadership.
Leading your community, leading your country to a better place, even if that is a place which, at the beginning your community can’t quite see. It was in that spirit that has advocacy for gun law reform and aftermath of the Arthur massacre, was truly inspirational.
It places right at the centre of one of the most important legacies of the Howard government. And, in our own age of a pre-imminent, loud, self reinforcing social media, which sometimes seems to encourage populism, his making of an argument, that example is a beacon to all of us here.
About how to do our job at the highest level, and in the best possible way.
Michael McCormack on Tim Fischer:
Behind the gentle man was an absolute determination to listen, to act and deliver. Most importantly to turn up, to turn up.
Much has been said and written in recent weeks about Tim’s role with then prime minister John Howard in tightening semiautomatic and firearm controls after the horrific 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
This was all about restricting the misuse of weapons, especially across urban areas. To be effective, the actions had to stretch nationwide. We need to understand he was the leader of a party representing regional Australians, not long in government after 13 long years in opposition.
This was a time of intensive work to establish a new agenda. To establish credentials of the new government, to bring the people with them. This was not a time to rock the vote and it was particularly difficult for the National party. But the point is this: Tim Fischer and Mr Howard as well, John Anderson and others saw what needed to be done, and they didn’t flinch. They didn’t shirk. They did it.
A lesser leader might have balked, but not Tim Fischer. He was convinced that action was needed, what was right took precedence over what might have seemed less risky, less challenging.
It was a move of conviction. It was a difficult time, yes, but we had the right man in Tim Fischer. There are Australians today who are alive thanks to those reforms. There are Australians today who owe their lives to those reforms and to Tim Fischer. As we look back two decades, we see that gun control reforms have enjoyed rightly, appropriately, justly.
Scott Morrison on Tim Fischer:
Mr Speaker, Timothy Andrew Fisher was Australia all over. He was an Australian original, the boy from Boree Creek. He was loved, he was admired, he was respected, he was revered.
He became from humble beginnings in Boree Creek and at the recent memorial service which the leader of the opposition and I and many in this place had the opportunity to attend, we learned of his humble family beginning, in a very loving and hard-working family, and coming from such a modest start, to become the titan of regional Australia, was his greatest achievement.
Like Bob Hawke, who we remembered in this chamber just a few short months ago, Tim transcended the political divide probably more than any I could nominate in this place.
That’s why I think so many of us in this chamber, and those who have been in this chamber, we all have a Tim Fischer story.
If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to tour with Elvis, go on the Indian Pacific with Tim Fischer for three days. I did.
And as you walked up and down the carriages, among so many other railway enthusiasts, there was none greater than Tim Fischer.
He would stop, sit, listen to their stories, those big hands would shake the hands of his fellow Australians. And people would just light up as they engaged with him because Tim had an amazing ability just to focus all of himself on whoever was opposite him. And he made them the centre of the universe.
There was no trick to it. No performance in it. It was 100% pure Tim Fischer. They got 100% of him when he was in that moment. This is why he was so loved.
Question time is about to begin – but there are those condolence motions up first, understandably.
Mike Bowers went and saw the Spinifex Gum and the Marliya Choir perform in parliament a little bit earlier today. He said it was spine tinglingly beautiful.
Along with the condolence motion for former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer, the House will also be informed of the death of former Labor Lilley MP Elaine Darling.
Just on that review, for anyone who is interested, there is a bit of to and fro-ing going on behind the scenes over how to handle what is being called “the Queensland problem”.
The Queensland Labor government goes to an election in October 2020 – one of the first cabs off the ranks – and it is not having too great a time at the moment (largely self-inflicted). But Labor has a much better chance of winning Queensland at a state level than federal at the moment (and probably for some time).
That’s because there are enough seats in the south-east to help it hold power. But those voters tend to worry about things like climate change. Which is different from voters in central and north Queensland, who need the jobs provided by the mining industry.
So the review can’t go too hard on Queensland, either way. And that is proving a little problematic, because obviously Queensland was a big part of the election story.
It’s a balance between state and federal goals. And that is not a job I envy anyone.
Mark Butler had a bit to say about the review Labor is currently undertaking into what happened at the last election. As Katharine Murphy reports:
The shadow climate change minister, Mark Butler, has declared that after a federal election where Labor had its “backside handed to [it] by Fozzie Bear and Kermit the Frog – it’s time for some serious reflection”.
Butler, a senior Labor leftwinger and former federal party president, said on Monday the ALP should not attempt to sugarcoat the defeat in May, but instead ask itself hard questions.
“We just lost our third election in a row and the only majority we’ve won in the past 25 years was the majority of eight seats in 2007,” he said. “We got our lowest primary vote in a century, against a government the prime minister himself described as the Muppet Show.”
Butler used the opportunity of a book launch in Canberra to argue the current campaign review being spearheaded by Jay Weatherill and Craig Emerson “must be ruthless and unsparing” and include all policies, including in his portfolio area of climate change and energy.
Question time will probably be shorter than usual today, because of condolence motions for Tim Fischer.
A motion of coldolence for the death of Tim Fischer will be moved today prior to Questions on Notice. As Mr Fischer was not a former Prime Minister, the practice of the House is not to adjourn following such motions being moved. https://t.co/qOR3GJOijl