What happened? The policies Scott Morrison's government appears to have abandoned
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Version 0 of 1. Action to protect LGBT students, a payday lending crackdown and an integrity commission are among the Coalition’s lost causes Governments should be judged not just on what they do with their time in office but also on what they don’t do. There are only so many hours in a day, and so many parliamentary sitting weeks in a year (there were just 10 since the May election). Nevertheless it’s important to know not just what the top priorities are but also what’s been pushed to the backburner. In 2019 the re-elected Morrison government prioritised income tax cuts, which passed parliament in the first week of July, the repeal of medical evacuation provisions for people in offshore detention, which passed in the last week of parliament, and drought relief. But what were the reforms that were promised or proposed which have dropped off the political radar, stalled, or the government is accused of doing too little too late? LGBT students in religious schools What was promised: Discrimination law amendments so that no student at a private or religious school can be expelled on the basis of their sexuality. When it was announced: On 13 October 2018 – one week out from the Wentworth byelection – Scott Morrison suggested parliament could deal with the issue in the next fortnight after Labor started a push to change the laws. Why it is late: The reform stalled when the Coalition refused to agree to Labor and the Greens’ plan to protect LGBT students from discrimination unless the current legal exemptions were replaced by other protections for religious freedom. Where is it up to: The Morrison government referred the question to the Australian Law Reform Commission in December 2018 while announcing its response to the Ruddock review of religious freedom. Payday lending What was promised: To lower the cap on small amount credit contracts and introduce a new cap on total payments on a consumer lease. When was it announced: In November 2016, the then revenue and financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, committed the government to the reforms. Where is it up to: The government released legislation for consultation but never introduced it to parliament despite Malcolm Turnbull promising in August 2018 it would progress within a year. In February, Labor introduced a private member’s bill mirroring the Coalition’s proposal. Why is it late? The delay occurred after a backlash from the Nationals MP George Christensen and other backbenchers. The assistant treasurer, Michael Sukkar, said the government was trying to get “the right balance” between consumer protection and the “important role” of small amount credit contracts in the economy. “The government will progress the reforms further early in the new year.” Federal integrity commission What was proposed: Labor, the Greens and the crossbench – prompted by public incredulity there wasn’t one already – called for a federal anti-corruption body “with teeth”. What was promised: The Coalition was dragged to the promise and it showed – the integrity commission it put forward wouldn’t have the power to make corruption findings against MPs, or their staff, and investigations in the proposed public-sector division would remain secret until the end of any resulting court case. When was it announced: In December 2018. And then again in August, and then again in November. An exposure draft was promised by the end of the year and still hasn’t popped up – certainly not in time for parliament to do anything about it. Where is it up to: The attorney general’s office promises it is coming. But even if it does come out in the next week, it is likely to get little notice in a textbook case of taking out the trash in the quiet Christmas/new year period. Why is it late? Because everyone, including members of the government, like Queensland backbencher Llew O’Brien, hate it. Aged care What was proposed: In an interim report in November the aged care royal commission called for more home care packages to reduce the waiting list of 120,000. What was promised: Later in November the government promised an extra $496.3m for 10,000 home care packages. Where is it up to: The royal commission is due to report by 12 November 2020 but there might be more for aged care in the 2020 budget before then. Why is it late: The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, has said home care packages have grown from 60,000 to 150,000 since the Coalition was elected but it doesn’t want to “created a circumstance for shonky providers to come into the market” by ramping up the program too quickly, as occurred with Labor’s home insulation scheme and vocational education loans. Banking royal commission What was promised: By the end of the year more than one-third of commitments arising out of banking royal commission recommendations will be implemented or before parliament; with 90% implemented or introduced by mid-2020 and all commitments at least introduced by the end of 2020. When was it announced: The treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, unveiled the roadmap on 19 August 2019. Where is it up to: In early December, Labor’s shadow assistant treasurer, Stephen Jones, accused the government of implementing just six of 76 recommendations of the royal commission. Some commitments are already behind – the Coalition promised to introduce legislation to remove claims handling exemptions for insurance by the end of 2019 but it hasn’t been seen. Labor is also concerned that even on its own timetable the Coalition will not take action on hawking or compensation schemes until 2020. Why is it late: This is a substantial part of the government’s agenda and just takes time (says the Coalition); or the government was just never that committed to fixing the sector to begin with (says Labor). Beneficial ownership register What was promised: A register publicly listing the identities of people and entities which own shell companies and benefit from trusts to increase transparency and crack down on multi-national tax avoidance. When was it announced: April 2016, when the then financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, said the government wanted to help meet its G20 transparency commitments, and then again in December 2017, when Stuart Robert told Guardian Australia the government remained committed to the promise. Where is it up to: In February, Treasury said there was never any commitment to introduce the register. No legislation has been forthcoming. In December this year, in response to questions in Senate estimates, the government recommitted to the spirit of the original promise – “improving the transparency of information around beneficial ownership and control of companies”. Why is it late? That too remains unclear, although Sukkar told Guardian Australia the government wants to avoid placing an “unnecessary regulation” burden on business. Money laundering and terrorist finance laws What was proposed: Broadening anti-money laundering and counter-terror finance laws to take in real estate agents, lawyers and gem dealers. When it was announced: The move, known as “phase 2” in AML CTF jargon, was recommended in a review by the attorney general’s department that began in 2013 and finished in 2016. In November 2017 the government committed to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Where is it up to: After consultation closed in January 2017, nothing has happened since. A spokeswoman for the home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, said the Morrison government was “committed to continually improving” the laws but “any potential future reforms will be reviewed in a careful and considered way”. Why is it late: Not clear, although the changes are bitterly opposed by lawyers, who say it interferes with their ethical responsibilities towards clients. Director identification numbers What was promised: A unique identifier for company directors to help combat the scourge of phoenixing, a business practice in which directors wind up companies to avoid paying workers’ entitlements and other debts. When it was announced: The government announced it would consider the measure in August 2017 and opened consultation for a bill to implement it in October 2018. Why it is late: The bill lapsed at the 2019 election. Where is it up to: Sukkar reintroduced the bill on 4 December, 2019 – the second last day of the parliamentary sitting year. In the mid-year economic and fiscal update the government allocated $60.6m to modernise the Australian Business Register and introduce the director identification number. Charities donation reforms What was proposed: Nationally consistent regulations for not-for-profit and charitable fundraising activities. When it was proposed: In February 2019, the Senate select committee on charity fundraising in the 21st century – including two Liberal senators – recommended the reform be delivered within the next two years. Where is it up to: On 2 December the assistant minister for charities, Zed Seselja, told the Senate the government is “still considering and consulting with stakeholders on the report’s recommendations” and is “not in a position” to table a response. Seselja also said the government is “finalising its response” to a separate Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission legislation review that dealt with fundraising. |