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| Labor caucus says yes to China-Australia free trade deal – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 11.52pm BST23:52 | |
| The Labor leader Bill Shorten is standing up in the Labor caucus room with shadow trade minister Penny Wong to declare peace in our time on the China free trade agreement. | |
| In supporting trade liberalisation and the benefits it brings, Labor’s always believed that trade should benefit all Australians, not just some people. That’s why Labor has stood up and expressed our concerns that there was insufficient legal safeguards and protections for Australian jobs, for Australian wages and conditions, for Australian skills and occupational licensing. | |
| So I am pleased today to announce that through the hard work of Penny Wong, working with minister Andrew Robb, that Labor now has achieved what we believe to be satisfactory legal protections which weren’t previously proposed, which means that Labor can now support the speedy passage of the China/Australia Free Trade Agreement. | |
| 11.48pm BST23:48 | |
| If you are just tuning in | |
| Given that run of bouncy bouncy, and in the event you are just back from the office coffee run and tuning in – a quick summary of Wednesday thus far. | |
| What you need to know: | |
| 11.41pm BST23:41 | |
| Mind the channel surf: correspondence between Andrew Robb and Penny Wong | |
| Daniel Hurst | |
| Sorry to burst in Murph. Back to Chafta very quickly. We’ve addressed the main points of the deal, now a bit of back and forward between Andrew Robb and Penny Wong. | |
| In a letter to the shadow trade minister, Andrew Robb has committed to amend project agreement and labour agreement guidelines to add extra criteria for the immigration minister to consider in approving such agreements. | |
| “These criteria include: analysis of labour market need; training plains; overseas worker support plans; and additional conditions that may be imposed by the minister,” Robb said. | |
| The government will create a new regulation “to ensure observance of the criteria”. | |
| Robb has also pledged to amend regulations for the 457 visa program to ensure that the minister must ensure the terms and conditions of employment “will be no less favourable than the terms and conditions” that would be provided to an Australian performing equivalent work at the same location. | |
| This could include looking at the terms and conditions set out in an enterprise agreement. He has also pledged to consider increasing the base rate of pay for 457 visa holders and indexing it, as part of a review to begin before the end of the year. The review will consult business bodies and unions. | |
| Updated at 11.49pm BST | |
| 11.38pm BST23:38 | |
| I did mention first up today would be brisk. Hold onto your hats. Just saying. | |
| I need to leave Chafta for a moment to look in on a press conference from the treasurer, Scott Morrison, the social services minister Christian Porter, and the childcare minister Simon Birmingham. We are back to the families package. | |
| Scott Morrison. | |
| This is about delivering the savings. If you want to do something important for childcare, you have to deliver the savings to pay for it. Jenny Macklin said you gotta pay for it somehow. | |
| Well, this is the somehow. This is the somehow. | |
| Updated at 11.44pm BST | |
| 11.35pm BST23:35 | |
| Daniel Hurst | |
| A bit of Chafta context from my colleague Daniel Hurst. Regulations versus legislation. | |
| Trade minister Andrew Robb has committed to amend regulations under the Migration Act to ensure that “the proposed party to the work agreement ... must have demonstrated that they have made recent and genuine efforts to recruit Australian workers in the occupation and location covered by the work agreement”. | |
| While this falls short of enshrining the requirement in the Migration Act itself, such regulations would be able to be struck out by the parliament, providing the Senate with the ability to step in if a minister changes the measures in future. | |
| Updated at 11.43pm BST | |
| 11.31pm BST23:31 | |
| A new deal on Chafta, main points | |
| I gather the deal between Labor and the government on the China-Australia free trade agreement is as follows: | |
| The government has agreed to reflect Labor’s concerns about the deal as it currently stands via changes to migration regulations, not legislation. | |
| Three main points. | |
| Updated at 11.42pm BST | |
| 11.23pm BST23:23 | |
| Labor say yes to the China-Australia free trade agreement (Chafta) | |
| The family tax benefits parliamentary debate has now been adjourned. | |
| Caucus has just ticked the China free trade agreement deal the shadow trade minister Penny Wong struck with the trade minister, Andrew Robb, last night. | |
| I’ll bring you details of that agreement shortly. | |
| Updated at 11.42pm BST | |
| 11.20pm BST23:20 | 11.20pm BST23:20 |
| The social services minister is currently stepping through the main points I posted a bit earlier. Looking at the big picture, Porter says the overhaul reduces the number of supplements in the system. | The social services minister is currently stepping through the main points I posted a bit earlier. Looking at the big picture, Porter says the overhaul reduces the number of supplements in the system. |
| 11.15pm BST23:15 | 11.15pm BST23:15 |
| Down in the House, the social services minister Christian Porter is introducing the revised families legislation now. | Down in the House, the social services minister Christian Porter is introducing the revised families legislation now. |
| In estimates, the treasury secretary is giving evidence. | In estimates, the treasury secretary is giving evidence. |
| John Fraser kicks off Treasury estimates with debt warning - says some govt debt globally unsustainable. Oz needs to cut debt | John Fraser kicks off Treasury estimates with debt warning - says some govt debt globally unsustainable. Oz needs to cut debt |
| 11.12pm BST23:12 | 11.12pm BST23:12 |
| Estimates also continues today – defence and treasury are fronting committees. Defence chief Mark Binskin is currently updating senators about Australia’s operations in Iraq and Syria. | Estimates also continues today – defence and treasury are fronting committees. Defence chief Mark Binskin is currently updating senators about Australia’s operations in Iraq and Syria. |
| 10.57pm BST22:57 | 10.57pm BST22:57 |
| With thanks to my colleague Lenore Taylor, here’s the main (adjusted) components of the families legislation. | With thanks to my colleague Lenore Taylor, here’s the main (adjusted) components of the families legislation. |
| 10.43pm BST22:43 | 10.43pm BST22:43 |
| The government is expected to introduce the legislation giving effect to the families package at 9am in the house. | The government is expected to introduce the legislation giving effect to the families package at 9am in the house. |
| Updated at 11.04pm BST | Updated at 11.04pm BST |
| 10.39pm BST22:39 | 10.39pm BST22:39 |
| Just before the day swallows me whole and spits me out, for people endlessly fascinated by US politics, bookmark this fun chat between Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight and the blog’s political team about Donald Trump’s chances of winning the Republican nomination. Have a read when time permits. | Just before the day swallows me whole and spits me out, for people endlessly fascinated by US politics, bookmark this fun chat between Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight and the blog’s political team about Donald Trump’s chances of winning the Republican nomination. Have a read when time permits. |
| Nate Silver: | Nate Silver: |
| If you’re being purely empirical — well, nobody quite like Trump has won a party nomination before, or even come all that close to it. So there’s some universe where his chances are 0%. | If you’re being purely empirical — well, nobody quite like Trump has won a party nomination before, or even come all that close to it. So there’s some universe where his chances are 0%. |
| Updated at 11.04pm BST | Updated at 11.04pm BST |
| 10.17pm BST22:17 | 10.17pm BST22:17 |
| Labor’s families spokeswoman, Jenny Macklin, has also been on AM about the families package. Macklin says the revised package is a significant backdown by the government, and that’s progress, but she maintains some “first read” concerns. The new package still hurts some current benefit recipients. | Labor’s families spokeswoman, Jenny Macklin, has also been on AM about the families package. Macklin says the revised package is a significant backdown by the government, and that’s progress, but she maintains some “first read” concerns. The new package still hurts some current benefit recipients. |
| We don’t believe in robbing one set of families to pay another. | We don’t believe in robbing one set of families to pay another. |
| Macklin also picks up Morrison’s point that this benefits revamp is to pay for a new childcare package. Where is it? | Macklin also picks up Morrison’s point that this benefits revamp is to pay for a new childcare package. Where is it? |
| Where is their childcare package? They announced it in May, no-one has seen it. | Where is their childcare package? They announced it in May, no-one has seen it. |
| Updated at 11.03pm BST | Updated at 11.03pm BST |
| 10.12pm BST22:12 | 10.12pm BST22:12 |
| The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has been doing the rounds of breakfast TV and radio this morning. He’s just washed up in the AM studio. Host Michael Brissenden is pressing Morrison on the losers from the revised family payments deal. | The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has been doing the rounds of breakfast TV and radio this morning. He’s just washed up in the AM studio. Host Michael Brissenden is pressing Morrison on the losers from the revised family payments deal. |
| Morrison doesn’t want to talk about losers. He wants to talk about freeing up money to spend on childcare. | Morrison doesn’t want to talk about losers. He wants to talk about freeing up money to spend on childcare. |
| The treasurer: | The treasurer: |
| What we are doing is ensuring the money we are spending on family benefits is better directed. | What we are doing is ensuring the money we are spending on family benefits is better directed. |
| Q: People expecting a bonus payment in July won’t be getting it? | Q: People expecting a bonus payment in July won’t be getting it? |
| If a payment has outlived its purpose, why would we continue to spend money on it? | If a payment has outlived its purpose, why would we continue to spend money on it? |
| Brissenden asks whether or not he has the votes to pass the package in its current form. Morrison says he’s working on it. He says everyone needs to strive to achieve the “new politics” – oppositionism is the old politics that most of us have put behind. | Brissenden asks whether or not he has the votes to pass the package in its current form. Morrison says he’s working on it. He says everyone needs to strive to achieve the “new politics” – oppositionism is the old politics that most of us have put behind. |
| I’m sorry, I know the rule of contemporary politics is we are all supposed to exist credulously in some permanent present tense, but it’s going to take me quite a while to adjust to Scott Morrison disavowing oppositionism. | I’m sorry, I know the rule of contemporary politics is we are all supposed to exist credulously in some permanent present tense, but it’s going to take me quite a while to adjust to Scott Morrison disavowing oppositionism. |
| Updated at 11.02pm BST | Updated at 11.02pm BST |
| 10.02pm BST22:02 | 10.02pm BST22:02 |
| See you Joe: a pre-valedictory round-up | See you Joe: a pre-valedictory round-up |
| Shalailah Medhora | Shalailah Medhora |
| The government’s economic team has been out in force this morning, talking up the new changes to the financial system. They’ve also been talking up the contribution of their colleague, former treasurer Joe Hockey, who will give his valedictory speech today, around 11am. | The government’s economic team has been out in force this morning, talking up the new changes to the financial system. They’ve also been talking up the contribution of their colleague, former treasurer Joe Hockey, who will give his valedictory speech today, around 11am. |
| The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, who was snapped alongside the treasurer smoking a cigar after the ill-received 214 budget, has called Hockey a “very good friend”. | The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, who was snapped alongside the treasurer smoking a cigar after the ill-received 214 budget, has called Hockey a “very good friend”. |
| “It’ll be sad to see him say goodbye to the parliament,” Cormann told ABC Radio. “I wish him and his family all the best.” | “It’ll be sad to see him say goodbye to the parliament,” Cormann told ABC Radio. “I wish him and his family all the best.” |
| The small business minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, hailed Hockey’s “stellar” career. “Not many people get to have a 20-year career in this place, and he has,” O’Dwyer told Sky News. “I think he can walk out of this place with his head held high,” she added. “I can’t speak highly enough of him.” | The small business minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, hailed Hockey’s “stellar” career. “Not many people get to have a 20-year career in this place, and he has,” O’Dwyer told Sky News. “I think he can walk out of this place with his head held high,” she added. “I can’t speak highly enough of him.” |
| The man who took Hockey’s job in the revamped Turnbull ministry, Scott Morrison, has hit back at suggestions he stabbed Hockey in the back. “That is a ridiculous question and it is quite offensive actually,” he told Channel Nine’s Karl Stefanovic. Despite the acrimonious change in leadership, Morrison insists the two have a “professional” relationship. “There is no bitterness that goes on from these things. It is not Joe’s nature, it is not mine,” he said. | The man who took Hockey’s job in the revamped Turnbull ministry, Scott Morrison, has hit back at suggestions he stabbed Hockey in the back. “That is a ridiculous question and it is quite offensive actually,” he told Channel Nine’s Karl Stefanovic. Despite the acrimonious change in leadership, Morrison insists the two have a “professional” relationship. “There is no bitterness that goes on from these things. It is not Joe’s nature, it is not mine,” he said. |
| Updated at 11.00pm BST | Updated at 11.00pm BST |
| 9.55pm BST21:55 | 9.55pm BST21:55 |
| Welcome to Wednesday | Welcome to Wednesday |
| Good morning blogans, bloganistas, and welcome to wet Wednesday. I predict today in the people’s house will be brisk. | Good morning blogans, bloganistas, and welcome to wet Wednesday. I predict today in the people’s house will be brisk. |
| Mike Bowers was up early to catch up with the former treasurer Joe Hockey as he enjoyed a morning coffee in Manuka on his last day in the parliament. | Mike Bowers was up early to catch up with the former treasurer Joe Hockey as he enjoyed a morning coffee in Manuka on his last day in the parliament. |
| Hockey was gatecrashed not only by Mikearoo, but also a couple of Labor types – Ed Husic and Jason Clare. The member for North Sydney is a convivial sort. It doesn’t look like he minded. Hockey is expected to make his valedictory speech later on today, around 11am, and we strongly suspect his next destination will be Washington, replacing Kim Beazley, who will return to Australia after a very long stint in the United States as ambassador. | Hockey was gatecrashed not only by Mikearoo, but also a couple of Labor types – Ed Husic and Jason Clare. The member for North Sydney is a convivial sort. It doesn’t look like he minded. Hockey is expected to make his valedictory speech later on today, around 11am, and we strongly suspect his next destination will be Washington, replacing Kim Beazley, who will return to Australia after a very long stint in the United States as ambassador. |
| But Malcolm Farr from news.com.au says this morning don’t expect Tony Abbott to follow Hockey anytime in the near future. “Joe Hockey today waves goodbye to 19 years in parliament, fellow Liberals are alerting each other: Don’t expect Tony Abbott to do the same anytime soon. The former PM remains angry after four weeks on the backbench and has not shed a belief he can get his old job back from Malcolm Turnbull.” | But Malcolm Farr from news.com.au says this morning don’t expect Tony Abbott to follow Hockey anytime in the near future. “Joe Hockey today waves goodbye to 19 years in parliament, fellow Liberals are alerting each other: Don’t expect Tony Abbott to do the same anytime soon. The former PM remains angry after four weeks on the backbench and has not shed a belief he can get his old job back from Malcolm Turnbull.” |
| Just me sighing? No. Excellent. Onwards, upwards. | Just me sighing? No. Excellent. Onwards, upwards. |
| Fresh from releasing its response to the Murray report yesterday, Team Turnbull is powering on today with a new offer on family benefits reform. My colleague Lenore Taylor reports this morning that single parents and single income families will get lower government benefits when their youngest child turns 13 under a revamped families package that abandons many of the cuts proposed in the Abbott government’s 2014 budget in order to get some savings through the Senate. We expect various announcements today confirming that – and we’ll see what Labor and the crossbench has to say. There’s been horse trading at 20 paces in the red room over the past couple of weeks. | Fresh from releasing its response to the Murray report yesterday, Team Turnbull is powering on today with a new offer on family benefits reform. My colleague Lenore Taylor reports this morning that single parents and single income families will get lower government benefits when their youngest child turns 13 under a revamped families package that abandons many of the cuts proposed in the Abbott government’s 2014 budget in order to get some savings through the Senate. We expect various announcements today confirming that – and we’ll see what Labor and the crossbench has to say. There’s been horse trading at 20 paces in the red room over the past couple of weeks. |
| And there is the prospect of peace on another issue. I’m told that Labor MPs have been called to a special caucus meeting at 8am to “discuss and consider our response” to the China-Australia free trade agreement. That suggests the major parties are close to coming to terms on Chafta – caucus and various trade union folks willing. I’ll keep an eye on that over the course of the day. | And there is the prospect of peace on another issue. I’m told that Labor MPs have been called to a special caucus meeting at 8am to “discuss and consider our response” to the China-Australia free trade agreement. That suggests the major parties are close to coming to terms on Chafta – caucus and various trade union folks willing. I’ll keep an eye on that over the course of the day. |
| So chop chop, let’s get chatting. The comments thread is open for your business and I’m bright eyed and bushy tailed on the twits. Mikearoo has already consumed three double-shot flat whites, so he’s good to go. You can find us there @murpharoo and @mpbowers | So chop chop, let’s get chatting. The comments thread is open for your business and I’m bright eyed and bushy tailed on the twits. Mikearoo has already consumed three double-shot flat whites, so he’s good to go. You can find us there @murpharoo and @mpbowers |
| Salute the sun. Avoid child’s pose. Here comes Wednesday. | Salute the sun. Avoid child’s pose. Here comes Wednesday. |
| Updated at 10.59pm BST | Updated at 10.59pm BST |