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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/sep/09/parliament-returns-coalition-labor-morrison-albanese-politics-live
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| Jacqui Lambie plays powerbroker as parliament returns – politics live | Jacqui Lambie plays powerbroker as parliament returns – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| And there go the bells. | |
| Huzzah. | |
| The bells are about to ring, marking the beginning of the new session. | |
| Obviously, my excitement levels are through the roof. | |
| For those playing along at home | |
| Economics Committee Chair @TimWilsonMP has announced the Committee will hear from Professor Graeme Samuel at a hearing on @APRAinfo's performance. The hearing will take place on Wednesday morning at @Aust_Parliament. https://t.co/o5Rwd1e5At | |
| Jacqui Lambie has given a press conference in which she has said she won’t support drug testing for welfare recipients unless there is infrastructure in place, and she doesn’t think that (counselling services and the like) is there yet. | Jacqui Lambie has given a press conference in which she has said she won’t support drug testing for welfare recipients unless there is infrastructure in place, and she doesn’t think that (counselling services and the like) is there yet. |
| She also wants to look more at what is happening in communities where the cashless debit card has been rolled out before making a decision on a national rollout. She plans to visit areas where it’s in place where she will chat to people on the ground. | She also wants to look more at what is happening in communities where the cashless debit card has been rolled out before making a decision on a national rollout. She plans to visit areas where it’s in place where she will chat to people on the ground. |
| Oh – and she still wants John Setka to resign. | Oh – and she still wants John Setka to resign. |
| Rachel Siewert says the Greens will continue to fight against the cashless welfare card: | Rachel Siewert says the Greens will continue to fight against the cashless welfare card: |
| This is not a government with an agenda based on evidence, it’s all ideology and it entrenches poverty and disadvantage. This most recent push is also designed as a distraction from the gathering momentum to raise the rate of Newstart. | This is not a government with an agenda based on evidence, it’s all ideology and it entrenches poverty and disadvantage. This most recent push is also designed as a distraction from the gathering momentum to raise the rate of Newstart. |
| I’m urging Senator Lambie and the opposition to listen to the community and the evidence and not to fall for this government spin. This card makes life hard for people on low incomes. | I’m urging Senator Lambie and the opposition to listen to the community and the evidence and not to fall for this government spin. This card makes life hard for people on low incomes. |
| Just last week I was in Ceduna and what we heard from the community was devastating. People can’t just get on with their day-to day-lives, they feel stigmatised, angry and depressed with simple things like using the laundry mat a major stress. | Just last week I was in Ceduna and what we heard from the community was devastating. People can’t just get on with their day-to day-lives, they feel stigmatised, angry and depressed with simple things like using the laundry mat a major stress. |
| My office deals with people daily who cannot pay their rent or bills using the card or are not able to use cash economies like markets, secondhand shops or op shops to help them make ends meets – and I heard the same thing in Ceduna last week. | My office deals with people daily who cannot pay their rent or bills using the card or are not able to use cash economies like markets, secondhand shops or op shops to help them make ends meets – and I heard the same thing in Ceduna last week. |
| In “please set everything on fire and just start again” news, the AFR’s Joe Aston reports that Scott Morrison is calling the new Australian VIP jet “Shark One”. | In “please set everything on fire and just start again” news, the AFR’s Joe Aston reports that Scott Morrison is calling the new Australian VIP jet “Shark One”. |
| PM @ScottMorrisonMP’s new VIP jet will debut on his state visit to Washington DC next week - and guess what he’s calling it? https://t.co/P7iQsNJqdr #auspol | PM @ScottMorrisonMP’s new VIP jet will debut on his state visit to Washington DC next week - and guess what he’s calling it? https://t.co/P7iQsNJqdr #auspol |
| Jacqui Lambie looks as though she’s about to speak to the media – I’ll keep you updated. | Jacqui Lambie looks as though she’s about to speak to the media – I’ll keep you updated. |
| Anthony Albanese has stopped by the doors (the doors to parliament that MPs only come by when they have something to say) to remind Scott Morrison that he won the election. I think he knows, but given that most normal people I know have completely switched off from federal politics, it is possible that there are some still out there who don’t know who the prime minister is. | Anthony Albanese has stopped by the doors (the doors to parliament that MPs only come by when they have something to say) to remind Scott Morrison that he won the election. I think he knows, but given that most normal people I know have completely switched off from federal politics, it is possible that there are some still out there who don’t know who the prime minister is. |
| Albanese’s wider point is the one he has been making since he took over the leadership – it is not all about Labor. | Albanese’s wider point is the one he has been making since he took over the leadership – it is not all about Labor. |
| This fortnight, the prime minister re-enters parliament after a break where we have had quite disturbing economic figures across the board. What we have is lower economic growth. We have a Reserve Bank governor calling for infrastructure investment to be brought forward. We have low consumer demand. We have interest rates at 1%, one-third of where they were at emergency levels. And what’s the government’s response? | This fortnight, the prime minister re-enters parliament after a break where we have had quite disturbing economic figures across the board. What we have is lower economic growth. We have a Reserve Bank governor calling for infrastructure investment to be brought forward. We have low consumer demand. We have interest rates at 1%, one-third of where they were at emergency levels. And what’s the government’s response? |
| The government’s response is to talk about everything being a test for Labor. The fact is Scott Morrison won the election on May 18. He needs to stop acting like an opposition in exile on the government benches and actually develop a plan to deal with the economic challenges that Australia is facing. | The government’s response is to talk about everything being a test for Labor. The fact is Scott Morrison won the election on May 18. He needs to stop acting like an opposition in exile on the government benches and actually develop a plan to deal with the economic challenges that Australia is facing. |
| Any website still showing footage from the Christchurch attack will be taken down today. From Paul Fletcher’s office: | Any website still showing footage from the Christchurch attack will be taken down today. From Paul Fletcher’s office: |
| The eSafety Commissioner has today issued a direction to Australia’s largest internet service providers requiring them to continue blocking access to eight websites that host video of the Christchurch terrorist attacks or the manifesto of the alleged perpetrator. | The eSafety Commissioner has today issued a direction to Australia’s largest internet service providers requiring them to continue blocking access to eight websites that host video of the Christchurch terrorist attacks or the manifesto of the alleged perpetrator. |
| Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, said that keeping Australians safe from this type of horrific content is a key priority for the Morrison Government. | Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher, said that keeping Australians safe from this type of horrific content is a key priority for the Morrison Government. |
| “Australian internet service providers acted quickly and responsibly in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch in March this year to block websites that were hosting this harmful material,” Minister Fletcher said. | “Australian internet service providers acted quickly and responsibly in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch in March this year to block websites that were hosting this harmful material,” Minister Fletcher said. |
| “ISPs called on the Government to provide them with certainty and clarity in taking the action they did, and today, we are providing that certainty.” | “ISPs called on the Government to provide them with certainty and clarity in taking the action they did, and today, we are providing that certainty.” |
| The eSafety Commissioner has consulted with the specific website administrators, providing them with the opportunity to remove this content. Most have complied and the eight remaining offending websites will be subject to the blocking directive. | The eSafety Commissioner has consulted with the specific website administrators, providing them with the opportunity to remove this content. Most have complied and the eight remaining offending websites will be subject to the blocking directive. |
| The crossbench are certainly making themselves known this parliament. | The crossbench are certainly making themselves known this parliament. |
| In case you haven’t seen it, Christopher Knaus has written about Rex Patrick’s aim to have the Timor-Leste situation addressed: | In case you haven’t seen it, Christopher Knaus has written about Rex Patrick’s aim to have the Timor-Leste situation addressed: |
| The crossbench senator Rex Patrick will push to fix a historic wrong stemming from the “shameful” treatment of Timor-Leste during oil and gas negotiations by overturning decisions that limit Australia’s exposure to international courts. | The crossbench senator Rex Patrick will push to fix a historic wrong stemming from the “shameful” treatment of Timor-Leste during oil and gas negotiations by overturning decisions that limit Australia’s exposure to international courts. |
| In 2002, the then Howard government decided to limit Australia’s acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the international court of justice and international tribunal for the law of the sea. | In 2002, the then Howard government decided to limit Australia’s acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the international court of justice and international tribunal for the law of the sea. |
| The government was at the time involved in sensitive maritime boundary negotiations with Timor-Leste that would split the lucrative oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. | The government was at the time involved in sensitive maritime boundary negotiations with Timor-Leste that would split the lucrative oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea. |
| The move effectively shielded Australia from cases lodged in the international courts about maritime boundary disputes, denying Timor-Leste an avenue of recourse it enjoyed under international law. | The move effectively shielded Australia from cases lodged in the international courts about maritime boundary disputes, denying Timor-Leste an avenue of recourse it enjoyed under international law. |
| Speaking of Jacqui Lambie, you may have seen a bit around this morning saying that she is going to support the government’s welfare legislation – the cashless debit card and the drug testing. | Speaking of Jacqui Lambie, you may have seen a bit around this morning saying that she is going to support the government’s welfare legislation – the cashless debit card and the drug testing. |
| It’s not so cut and dry as that though. The senator has been in support of the cashless debit card for some communities but hasn’t made her mind up on a national rollout, as Rob Harris for Nine newspapers previously reported Scott Morrison was eyeing off, for the future. | It’s not so cut and dry as that though. The senator has been in support of the cashless debit card for some communities but hasn’t made her mind up on a national rollout, as Rob Harris for Nine newspapers previously reported Scott Morrison was eyeing off, for the future. |
| And, on drug testing, she still wants to look through the legislation proposal. Plus, she wants the same proposed drug testing regime put in place for public servants and MPs. | And, on drug testing, she still wants to look through the legislation proposal. Plus, she wants the same proposed drug testing regime put in place for public servants and MPs. |
| A spokeswoman for the senator told me this morning: | A spokeswoman for the senator told me this morning: |
| Jacqui is supportive of the card but she doesn’t immediately support a national rollout and there are still tweaks that need to be made. | Jacqui is supportive of the card but she doesn’t immediately support a national rollout and there are still tweaks that need to be made. |
| Welcome back to parliament! | Welcome back to parliament! |
| It’s been five weeks or so since we last gathered on the hill and we can expect all the greatest hits, including “Whose side are you on?”, “How good is ... ”, “Just how safe are you?”, “It’s Labor’s fault despite not being in power for the last six years” and more. | It’s been five weeks or so since we last gathered on the hill and we can expect all the greatest hits, including “Whose side are you on?”, “How good is ... ”, “Just how safe are you?”, “It’s Labor’s fault despite not being in power for the last six years” and more. |
| I. Can’t. Wait. | I. Can’t. Wait. |
| What happened during the break? | What happened during the break? |
| Not a lot. Which is why we are back with cashless welfare card, drug testing welfare recipients and tough on crime. | Not a lot. Which is why we are back with cashless welfare card, drug testing welfare recipients and tough on crime. |
| The government want to wedge Labor on mandatory sentencing. Labor hasn’t made up its mind on that one yet but really wants to talk about the economy – the one thing the government doesn’t really want to talk about. | The government want to wedge Labor on mandatory sentencing. Labor hasn’t made up its mind on that one yet but really wants to talk about the economy – the one thing the government doesn’t really want to talk about. |
| Newspoll is out, but I am not sure if anyone is paying attention to polling just yet – you can find the results here, but Anthony Albanese’s personal popularity didn’t come off too great. Again, I am not sure if anyone is really paying attention to that right now. | Newspoll is out, but I am not sure if anyone is paying attention to polling just yet – you can find the results here, but Anthony Albanese’s personal popularity didn’t come off too great. Again, I am not sure if anyone is really paying attention to that right now. |
| Meanwhile, the Greens and the crossbench are continuing to lead the charge on a federal corruption watchdog “with teeth”. Speaking of the crossbench, it is the Jacqui Lambie show right now. | Meanwhile, the Greens and the crossbench are continuing to lead the charge on a federal corruption watchdog “with teeth”. Speaking of the crossbench, it is the Jacqui Lambie show right now. |
| The Tassie senator had the deal she struck with the government – wiping Tasmania’s federal housing debt in exchange for her support for the tax cuts – confirmed at the weekend but she is crucial for quite a few upcoming votes. One of them, the ensuring integrity bill, comes down to her and, as she told the Guardian late yesterday, she’ll vote for it if the CFMMEU boss John Setka doesn’t step down. | The Tassie senator had the deal she struck with the government – wiping Tasmania’s federal housing debt in exchange for her support for the tax cuts – confirmed at the weekend but she is crucial for quite a few upcoming votes. One of them, the ensuring integrity bill, comes down to her and, as she told the Guardian late yesterday, she’ll vote for it if the CFMMEU boss John Setka doesn’t step down. |
| Stay tuned. | Stay tuned. |
| You have me and Mike Bowers, as well as Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian brains trust. I still need a coffee, so I am working on that. | You have me and Mike Bowers, as well as Katharine Murphy, Sarah Martin, Paul Karp and the rest of the Guardian brains trust. I still need a coffee, so I am working on that. |