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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/feb/08/malcolm-turnbull-backs-away-from-a-gst-increase-politics-live
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| Immigration official denies five-year-old was raped on Nauru – politics live | Immigration official denies five-year-old was raped on Nauru – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.37am GMT | |
| 00:37 | |
| I will expand my thoughts on the various events of the political day beyond dot points in due course – but not right now. Need to push on with keeping you across the various threads. | |
| Also, not momentous enough to make the quick summary, but in the spirit of comprehensiveness, this also happened. | |
| Bill Shorten walks past the "poo carters" on his way to a doorstop in Yass. https://t.co/MXbQON6Rmc | |
| 12.30am GMT | |
| 00:30 | |
| Fly, fly away | |
| Daniel Hurst | |
| Over in the Finance and Public Administration estimates hearing, Senate president Stephen Parry has been facing some robust questions about his travel entitlements. | |
| Labor senators have cried foul about a push to change the procedures for approving travel by the Senate president. Previously, the prime minister was required to give “concurrence” for proposed travel. It appears Parry - who has been a strong advocate of the independence of parliamentary positions - has written to Malcolm Turnbull seeking a change to the arrangements to no longer require the prime minister’s approval. | |
| Parry provides a bit of context to the committee: “Concurrence has been granted in every occasion for 19 years bar one, so really the presiding officers, both speaker and president - when determining their own travel - the letter that comes back from the prime minister says it acknowledges the presiding officers have the right to determine their own travel.” | |
| Questions were raised after an answer to a question on notice revealed the Department of the Senate had met the $2,579 cost of an official visit to New Zealand. | |
| Labor’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, who is a member of the Senate’s staffing committee, says she believes the committee was kept in the dark: “I don’t believe there was a frank, transparent discussion about what you were proposing to change around your personal entitlements with the staffing committee and if the committee is not going to be run in that way we’ll consider our participation in it and we’ll deal with things in a different way.” | |
| Parry: “I’m very happy to be guided by the appropriations and staffing committee ... I think I’ve been more than upfront.” | |
| 12.28am GMT | |
| 00:28 | |
| Monday, thus far | |
| I think there is some merit, given the cracking pace of the morning, to post a very quick summary in the event you are just tuning in. | |
| If you are just tuning in, Monday in Canberra is: | |
| There will be more, and I will cover it as it happens. | |
| 12.13am GMT | |
| 00:13 | |
| Ben Doherty | |
| Dr John Brayley, Chief Medical Officer and Surgeon General of the Australian Border Force, has been quizzed about the impact of detention on children. “The scientific evidence is that detention affects the mental state of children, it’s deleterious. Wherever possible children should not be in detention.” He said a series of mental health tools had found significant mental health issues among children in detention on shore and offshore, but this needs to be seen “in the context of the government and the department’s concerted efforts to remove children from detention”. Department secretary Mike Pezzullo said it was the government’s policy “to do whatever possible within the ambit of the policy to get children out of detention”. | |
| 12.07am GMT | 12.07am GMT |
| 00:07 | 00:07 |
| As I know there will be a number of readers interested, just a heads up, you can now read border protection chief Mike Pezzullo’s opening statement to the estimates committee this morning in full. | As I know there will be a number of readers interested, just a heads up, you can now read border protection chief Mike Pezzullo’s opening statement to the estimates committee this morning in full. |
| Do note the language I’ve bolded below about people being returned to detention on Nauru in the wake of the high court decision. Sir Humphrey Appleby would be impressed with a formulation that reads, those people will go back, unless of course they won’t. We are very tough. Unless we aren’t. | Do note the language I’ve bolded below about people being returned to detention on Nauru in the wake of the high court decision. Sir Humphrey Appleby would be impressed with a formulation that reads, those people will go back, unless of course they won’t. We are very tough. Unless we aren’t. |
| What a complete absurdity this all is. | What a complete absurdity this all is. |
| Mike Pezzullo: | Mike Pezzullo: |
| With regards to transferees and refugees in regional processing centres, the department will continue to ensure that adequate medical services are provided to those who require it. For those transferees and refugees temporarily in Australia for medical treatment, or accompanying those in need of treatment, they will be returned to Nauru and Papua New Guinea at the conclusion of their treatment, noting that determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. As the prime minister, the minister and others have said, we will exercise appropriate discretion and indeed compassion, but will do so quietly. | With regards to transferees and refugees in regional processing centres, the department will continue to ensure that adequate medical services are provided to those who require it. For those transferees and refugees temporarily in Australia for medical treatment, or accompanying those in need of treatment, they will be returned to Nauru and Papua New Guinea at the conclusion of their treatment, noting that determinations will be made on a case-by-case basis. As the prime minister, the minister and others have said, we will exercise appropriate discretion and indeed compassion, but will do so quietly. |
| 11.56pm GMT | 11.56pm GMT |
| 23:56 | 23:56 |
| Furthermore .. | Furthermore .. |
| Immigration Secretary Mike Pezzullo denies reports of a child raped in detention - "There is no 5 year old child, it's a figment" | Immigration Secretary Mike Pezzullo denies reports of a child raped in detention - "There is no 5 year old child, it's a figment" |
| 11.48pm GMT | 11.48pm GMT |
| 23:48 | 23:48 |
| Departmental official counters rape allegation | Departmental official counters rape allegation |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| Still in estimates, Cheryl Anne Moy, first assistant secretary of community and settlement division, has told the committee the allegation which aired last week on ABC television of the rape of a five-year-old child on Nauru is reportedly “untrue”. The circumstances of this child were widely publicised around the time of the high court’s decision on detention. | Still in estimates, Cheryl Anne Moy, first assistant secretary of community and settlement division, has told the committee the allegation which aired last week on ABC television of the rape of a five-year-old child on Nauru is reportedly “untrue”. The circumstances of this child were widely publicised around the time of the high court’s decision on detention. |
| But according to the department of immigration, which investigated the allegation after it was broadcast: the child was not five, but was ‘more than double that age’. The offender was two years older, and was a fellow asylum seeker. The allegation was not one of rape, but a reported incident of ‘skin to skin contact’. The issue was raised in the Moss report into conditions on Nauru. The child is currently living in the community in New South Wales. | But according to the department of immigration, which investigated the allegation after it was broadcast: the child was not five, but was ‘more than double that age’. The offender was two years older, and was a fellow asylum seeker. The allegation was not one of rape, but a reported incident of ‘skin to skin contact’. The issue was raised in the Moss report into conditions on Nauru. The child is currently living in the community in New South Wales. |
| 11.36pm GMT | 11.36pm GMT |
| 23:36 | 23:36 |
| Ben Doherty | Ben Doherty |
| Back in estimates, immigration boss Mike Pezzullo has said that public calls to #LetThemStay “reduces our discretion” to allow people to stay in Australia longer. Pezzullo noted, articulating the rationale of Operation Sovereign Borders: “The more this is talked about publicly, the tougher we have to be.” | Back in estimates, immigration boss Mike Pezzullo has said that public calls to #LetThemStay “reduces our discretion” to allow people to stay in Australia longer. Pezzullo noted, articulating the rationale of Operation Sovereign Borders: “The more this is talked about publicly, the tougher we have to be.” |
| He said the policy was “tough”, even “harsh”, but offshore processing needed to be applied without exception, in order to deter people-smuggling operations. “It’s got to be applied universally, the moment you give a chink of light ... you open the doors to people drowning at sea.” | He said the policy was “tough”, even “harsh”, but offshore processing needed to be applied without exception, in order to deter people-smuggling operations. “It’s got to be applied universally, the moment you give a chink of light ... you open the doors to people drowning at sea.” |
| “The path [to resettlement] is shut with no exceptions,” Pezzullo said. “There is no compassion in giving people false hope.” | “The path [to resettlement] is shut with no exceptions,” Pezzullo said. “There is no compassion in giving people false hope.” |
| He said of the 267 there would be no “bulk determination” or mass return of the 267 asylum seekers. The removal of people will be “staged out”. Some may travel soon, some might be longer than six months. | He said of the 267 there would be no “bulk determination” or mass return of the 267 asylum seekers. The removal of people will be “staged out”. Some may travel soon, some might be longer than six months. |
| Pezzullo also accused sections of the media of engaging in “advocacy masquerading as journalism”. He said coverage by some media outlets of asylum issues was “essentially pamphleteering”. | Pezzullo also accused sections of the media of engaging in “advocacy masquerading as journalism”. He said coverage by some media outlets of asylum issues was “essentially pamphleteering”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.48pm GMT | at 11.48pm GMT |
| 11.24pm GMT | 11.24pm GMT |
| 23:24 | 23:24 |
| Passionate concern .. but .. | Passionate concern .. but .. |
| The prime minister is asked about the fate of asylum seekers in the wake of the high court decision. Again we get the hedged lines from Insiders yesterday. This is a delicate matter, the prime minister notes, that requires compassion .. | The prime minister is asked about the fate of asylum seekers in the wake of the high court decision. Again we get the hedged lines from Insiders yesterday. This is a delicate matter, the prime minister notes, that requires compassion .. |
| ... yes, yes, with a passionate concern for those children ... | ... yes, yes, with a passionate concern for those children ... |
| But the government can’t give people smugglers a marketing opportunity, Turnbull notes, because they will use it. | But the government can’t give people smugglers a marketing opportunity, Turnbull notes, because they will use it. |
| This situation requires a cool head and a big heart. | This situation requires a cool head and a big heart. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.49pm GMT | at 11.49pm GMT |
| 11.19pm GMT | 11.19pm GMT |
| 23:19 | 23:19 |
| The prime minister is speaking to reporters after his session with the giant dominoes and the snakes and the ladders. Currently, he’s running through his explanations from yesterday about tax reform. | The prime minister is speaking to reporters after his session with the giant dominoes and the snakes and the ladders. Currently, he’s running through his explanations from yesterday about tax reform. |
| Malcolm Turnbull points out that everyone who wants to raise the GST wants to use the revenue for something different. He says tax reform does not necessarily require any adjustment to the GST. He says however the cookie eventually crumbles, the government is not interested in increasing the overall tax take. | Malcolm Turnbull points out that everyone who wants to raise the GST wants to use the revenue for something different. He says tax reform does not necessarily require any adjustment to the GST. He says however the cookie eventually crumbles, the government is not interested in increasing the overall tax take. |
| The prime minister: | The prime minister: |
| At this stage we have not made a decision about particular tax changes. We are looking at this very coolly and very rationally. We want to drive growth and more jobs. | At this stage we have not made a decision about particular tax changes. We are looking at this very coolly and very rationally. We want to drive growth and more jobs. |
| 11.13pm GMT | 11.13pm GMT |
| 23:13 | 23:13 |
| Things that make you go mmmm. | Things that make you go mmmm. |
| 11.10pm GMT | 11.10pm GMT |
| 23:10 | 23:10 |
| Shorten is asked about Stuart Robert. | Shorten is asked about Stuart Robert. |
| I think these are very serious matters. Malcolm Turnbull’s judgment is under question now. Minister Robert has to explain what he’s done, when he’s done, what have been his transactions. Has there been any conflict between his private relationships and his public role as a minister? | I think these are very serious matters. Malcolm Turnbull’s judgment is under question now. Minister Robert has to explain what he’s done, when he’s done, what have been his transactions. Has there been any conflict between his private relationships and his public role as a minister? |
| This is a most serious matter. | This is a most serious matter. |
| 11.09pm GMT | 11.09pm GMT |
| 23:09 | 23:09 |
| Shorten adds if the GST is now off the table, the prime minister will have to explain his swinging cuts to schools and hospitals. | Shorten adds if the GST is now off the table, the prime minister will have to explain his swinging cuts to schools and hospitals. |
| It’s ok. We know what he means. | It’s ok. We know what he means. |
| 11.08pm GMT | 11.08pm GMT |
| 23:08 | 23:08 |
| Q: Malcolm Turnbull has never said a 15% GST was going to be part of his tax plan. It’s only ever been Labor who have maintained this is the only proposal there. Given we have now seen senior ministers tell the ABC that the GST increase doesn’t appear to be part of the tax plan, does that make Labor’s attack here seem fruitless? | Q: Malcolm Turnbull has never said a 15% GST was going to be part of his tax plan. It’s only ever been Labor who have maintained this is the only proposal there. Given we have now seen senior ministers tell the ABC that the GST increase doesn’t appear to be part of the tax plan, does that make Labor’s attack here seem fruitless? |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| Labor was right on day one when we said we were opposed to an increase. It was Mr Turnbull and his Liberals who said it was on the table. Australians in the last five months have seen reports from big business pushing for a GST, from some state premiers pushing for a GST, and there have been plenty of Liberals pushing for a GST. We didn’t come down in the last shower. If the Liberals think they can get away with a 15% GST they will do it. Clearly Liberal backbench MPs have been sufficiently concerned by the prospect of a15% GST that they, too, have joined the cry against a 15% GST. | Labor was right on day one when we said we were opposed to an increase. It was Mr Turnbull and his Liberals who said it was on the table. Australians in the last five months have seen reports from big business pushing for a GST, from some state premiers pushing for a GST, and there have been plenty of Liberals pushing for a GST. We didn’t come down in the last shower. If the Liberals think they can get away with a 15% GST they will do it. Clearly Liberal backbench MPs have been sufficiently concerned by the prospect of a15% GST that they, too, have joined the cry against a 15% GST. |
| I know what a Liberal government will do if they are re-elected at the next election. The 15% GST will be back on the table. | I know what a Liberal government will do if they are re-elected at the next election. The 15% GST will be back on the table. |
| If you want to stop a 15% GST on everything, you can’t trust the Liberals, vote Labor at the next election to stop a 15% GST. | If you want to stop a 15% GST on everything, you can’t trust the Liberals, vote Labor at the next election to stop a 15% GST. |
| We have been the one consistent voice in this whole debate. | We have been the one consistent voice in this whole debate. |
| 11.04pm GMT | 11.04pm GMT |
| 23:04 | 23:04 |
| Politics is a game of snakes & ladders @TurnbullMalcolm & @cpyne early childhood center CBR @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/HryuBbPbCw | Politics is a game of snakes & ladders @TurnbullMalcolm & @cpyne early childhood center CBR @murpharoo @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/HryuBbPbCw |
| These men are not laughing at waffling with bushes. That is a complete coincidence. | These men are not laughing at waffling with bushes. That is a complete coincidence. |
| Back to Shorten. | Back to Shorten. |
| 11.03pm GMT | 11.03pm GMT |
| 23:03 | 23:03 |
| Waffling, with bush | Waffling, with bush |
| I’d love to summarise the morning to date but I cant just yet because the prime minister is now beaming in a playground with kiddies in Canberra’s outer suburbs and the opposition leader is frowning in Yass. | I’d love to summarise the morning to date but I cant just yet because the prime minister is now beaming in a playground with kiddies in Canberra’s outer suburbs and the opposition leader is frowning in Yass. |
| To Bill Shorten first, on the GST. | To Bill Shorten first, on the GST. |
| Malcolm Turnbull has waffled up and down and all around the bush for the last five months. | Malcolm Turnbull has waffled up and down and all around the bush for the last five months. |
| 10.58pm GMT | 10.58pm GMT |
| 22:58 | 22:58 |
| Morrison is asked whether it is appropriate for Stuart Robert to use his prestige as an Australian government minister with his business mate in China? The treasurer is not amused. He says that categorisation is offensive and this morning’s story is a shocking beat up. | Morrison is asked whether it is appropriate for Stuart Robert to use his prestige as an Australian government minister with his business mate in China? The treasurer is not amused. He says that categorisation is offensive and this morning’s story is a shocking beat up. |
| 10.55pm GMT | 10.55pm GMT |
| 22:55 | 22:55 |
| Here's your hat Jay, what's your hurry? | Here's your hat Jay, what's your hurry? |
| Q: Do you agree with Jay Weatherill’s comments that the Commonwealth is leaving the states to hold the can on health options? | Q: Do you agree with Jay Weatherill’s comments that the Commonwealth is leaving the states to hold the can on health options? |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| Jay has been making contributions to this debate. We have always welcomed that. But if the proposition was you should increase the GST to give the states a bucket of money to spend more, that has never been a proposition I’m sure you know I or the government have countenanced. I was very clear with the treasurers when we met last year. That has never been something the government has given any comfort to. | Jay has been making contributions to this debate. We have always welcomed that. But if the proposition was you should increase the GST to give the states a bucket of money to spend more, that has never been a proposition I’m sure you know I or the government have countenanced. I was very clear with the treasurers when we met last year. That has never been something the government has given any comfort to. |
| 10.52pm GMT | 10.52pm GMT |
| 22:52 | 22:52 |
| The treasurer has moved out of the studio to the Mural Hall to speak to reporters. He notes the reform conversation remains alive. Morrison, like the finance minister, is a man in search of a landing strip. | The treasurer has moved out of the studio to the Mural Hall to speak to reporters. He notes the reform conversation remains alive. Morrison, like the finance minister, is a man in search of a landing strip. |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| Ultimately governments have to come to a landing. That hasn’t taken place yet but we are getting to the end stage of the process. | Ultimately governments have to come to a landing. That hasn’t taken place yet but we are getting to the end stage of the process. |
| Q: A week ago you were talking about ready to go into bat for unpopular changes, boat turn backs, do you feel as though the debate has shifted since then because of political reality? | Q: A week ago you were talking about ready to go into bat for unpopular changes, boat turn backs, do you feel as though the debate has shifted since then because of political reality? |
| That’s for you to commentate on. | That’s for you to commentate on. |
| What I said last week right here was the government will seek to do what’s right for the national economy. That’s where we are at. We will do what’s right for the national economy. | What I said last week right here was the government will seek to do what’s right for the national economy. That’s where we are at. We will do what’s right for the national economy. |
| 10.46pm GMT | 10.46pm GMT |
| 22:46 | 22:46 |
| Ray moves on to 457 visas. He doesn’t much like them. Then to the case of Stuart Robert. Ray senses a beat up here. Ray notes that Stuart went to China at his own expense. Morrison is inclined to agree with Ray about that, noting that Robert not only paid his own way, he was also on leave at the time. Ray notes that you tend to meet Communists when you go to China. Not too many fascists there. Treasurer: Haw haw haw. | Ray moves on to 457 visas. He doesn’t much like them. Then to the case of Stuart Robert. Ray senses a beat up here. Ray notes that Stuart went to China at his own expense. Morrison is inclined to agree with Ray about that, noting that Robert not only paid his own way, he was also on leave at the time. Ray notes that you tend to meet Communists when you go to China. Not too many fascists there. Treasurer: Haw haw haw. |
| 10.41pm GMT | 10.41pm GMT |
| 22:41 | 22:41 |
| Q: But you wanted to increase the GST? | Q: But you wanted to increase the GST? |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| Not to raise spending, to deliver tax cuts. That’s the only way it could be done. | Not to raise spending, to deliver tax cuts. That’s the only way it could be done. |
| Morrison says people should know his focus as treasurer is on the strivers – the people who go to work and run businesses. Lowering the tax burden for them wherever I can. | Morrison says people should know his focus as treasurer is on the strivers – the people who go to work and run businesses. Lowering the tax burden for them wherever I can. |
| But sometimes this can’t happen. | But sometimes this can’t happen. |
| (Presumably like when the prime minister goes on Insiders and says no, I don’t think we’ll follow that particular road map.) | (Presumably like when the prime minister goes on Insiders and says no, I don’t think we’ll follow that particular road map.) |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| On every occasion circumstances won’t allow it. | On every occasion circumstances won’t allow it. |
| 10.35pm GMT | 10.35pm GMT |
| 22:35 | 22:35 |
| The treasurer is telling Ray when it comes to increasing the GST, the government was never going to increase the GST in order to give the states the money for schools and hospitals. Morrison says he was only interested in increasing the GST to deliver sizeable income tax cuts. | The treasurer is telling Ray when it comes to increasing the GST, the government was never going to increase the GST in order to give the states the money for schools and hospitals. Morrison says he was only interested in increasing the GST to deliver sizeable income tax cuts. |
| He says if that’s no longer possible, we’ll have to go the long road. | He says if that’s no longer possible, we’ll have to go the long road. |
| 10.32pm GMT | 10.32pm GMT |
| 22:32 | 22:32 |
| Speaking of no point in yielding to emotional gestures, the treasurer Scott Morrison is speaking now to his favourite radio host Ray Hadley. | Speaking of no point in yielding to emotional gestures, the treasurer Scott Morrison is speaking now to his favourite radio host Ray Hadley. |
| Hadley sounds cranky about the Turnbull retreat in the GST. Morrison, who suggested the hike was on only a couple of weeks ago, and is now obliged to suggest that it’s off, sounds a little flat. | Hadley sounds cranky about the Turnbull retreat in the GST. Morrison, who suggested the hike was on only a couple of weeks ago, and is now obliged to suggest that it’s off, sounds a little flat. |
| Tax reform is tough, the treasurer says. | Tax reform is tough, the treasurer says. |
| The red sea is not going to part every time for you. | The red sea is not going to part every time for you. |