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| Labor asks about 'radical plan to privatise Medicare' – question time live | Labor asks about 'radical plan to privatise Medicare' – question time live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 4.14am GMT | |
| 04:14 | |
| Shorten persists by reading the relevant clause in the ministerial code of conduct. How is this not over already? | |
| The prime minister thanks Shorten for asking the same question twice. This issue was raised yesterday, I called for an inquiry yesterday, and now we’ll follow due process, the prime minister says. | |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| We’ve set in train the appropriate process. The remarkable thing about the opposition is this parallel universe in which they live. Here we have a government, presented with an issue and immediately follows the appropriate course of action under the code of ministerial standards. Exactly what we’re required to do. | |
| On the other hand, we have in the parallel universe of the leader of the opposition and the Labor party, we have a world in which trade unions can trade away, negotiate away the penalty rates of some of Australia’s lowest paid workers, in return for an undisclosed payment of money from the employer and they think there is nothing wrong with that. | |
| We are not going to be lectured on accountability and integrity by that opposition. | |
| (A little misogyny speech motif there. Nice one. Not sure the penalty rates riposte is the strongest suit though, given many in the government would like to do away with them altogether. But we get where he’s coming from.) | |
| 4.04am GMT | |
| 04:04 | |
| Bill Shorten has a question now to Turnbull. | |
| Q: The prime minister’s own statement of ministerial standards puts a blanket ban on ministers providing assistance to companies in a private capacity. It is clear that the minister for human services did exactly that. Why is the minister still on your front bench and why won’t you enforce your own standards and if you won’t do that, what exactly do you stand for? | |
| Turnbull turns rhetorical guns back on Shorten. | |
| I am sure the members of the Australian Workers Union who worked for Cleanevent know what the honourable member stood for. They know how he stood up for them! They know how well he dealt with full disclosure. They know how he took $25,000 from the employer, while he traded off their penalty rates and didn’t tell them about the payments. That is what he knows about. He wants to lecture us about due process! | |
| Turnbull says the inquiry he has initiated into Robert’s conduct will take its proper course. | |
| Mr Speaker, due process, accountability, integrity, that is what we stand for and that is what we will deliver. | |
| 4.00am GMT | |
| 04:00 | |
| Dreyfus again. | |
| Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China and his statement to the House – he was in China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. But today, the Australian Financial Review reports on the same trip the minister attended a Nimrod Resources signing ceremony, the minister met with China’s vice minister of land and resources. Did the minister meet with China’s minister as a private citizen? | |
| Stuart Robert: | |
| Let me thank the member for his question and I refer the member to my previous statement. | |
| One wag interjects: | |
| Sounds like a terrible holiday! | |
| (Diplomatic incident looms.) | |
| 3.57am GMT | |
| 03:57 | |
| 3.53am GMT | |
| 03:53 | |
| Dreyfus, on strike three. | |
| Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his official Chinese visa application form reflect the statement he has just made to the House – that he was travelling in a personal capacity? | |
| Stuart Robert: | |
| I thank the member for his question. I refer the member to my previous answer. | |
| 3.51am GMT | |
| 03:51 | |
| Dreyfus, persisting. | |
| Q: My question is to the minister for human services. I refer to the minister’s previous answer where he said he travelled to China in August 2014 in a personal capacity. Did the minister’s declaration on his outgoing Australian passenger card reflect the statement he has just made to the house, that he travelled in a personal capacity? | |
| Stuart Robert, again, declining to engage. | |
| I thank the member for his question and with great respect, I refer the member to my previous answer. | |
| 3.49am GMT | |
| 03:49 | |
| In this situation, there are two reasons to avoid answering a very direct question. | |
| The first is, given an investigation is now underway into your conduct, you have an agreed form of words and you stick to them, come what may. | |
| The second is you don’t answer the question because if you do, you will: | |
| a) have to follow your answer with resigning your position, or alternatively; | |
| b) you will risk misleading the House by failing to provide a correct answer, which is a sackable offence. | |
| That’s why we get words signifying nothing. | |
| 3.44am GMT | |
| 03:44 | |
| Directly now, to Stuart Robert. | |
| Labor’s Mark Dreyfus. | |
| Q: I refer to the minister’s trip to China in August 2014 and the statement from the minister’s office in the Courier Mail: “Mr Robert was on approved leave and attended in a private capacity”. On his outgoing Australian passenger card and on his official Chinese visa application form, what did the minister declare the purpose of his trip was? Did the minister’s declaration reflect he was travelling in a private capacity? | |
| Speaker Smith says he is going to let this one through after a rephrase, because he says Dreyfus has framed the question with reference to a public statement by Robert. He needs to tighten the question with reference to the statement. | |
| Christopher Pyne is banging his gavel again. | |
| Labor is persisting. | |
| Smith says you’ve got one more chance to rephrase. Dreyfus gives it another go. Smith waves it through. | |
| Stuart Robert reads a prepared statement that does not address the nub of the question in any way. | |
| I thank the member for his question regarding a visit I undertook over seas in a personal capacity in 2014. Can I say to the House, I am confident I have no acted inappropriately and as the prime minister said yesterday, this matter has been referred to the highest public servant in the land, Dr Martin Parkinson for review. | |
| I will fully assist the secretary in his review. | |
| 3.38am GMT | 3.38am GMT |
| 03:38 | 03:38 |
| The man of the hour, by Mr Bowers. | The man of the hour, by Mr Bowers. |
| 3.35am GMT | 3.35am GMT |
| 03:35 | 03:35 |
| Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek. | Labor’s deputy leader, Tanya Plibersek. |
| Q: My question is to the minister for foreign affairs. Is it usual for ministers to meet with ministers or vice ministers of foreign countries when travelling overseas without informing the minister for foreign affairs or her department? | Q: My question is to the minister for foreign affairs. Is it usual for ministers to meet with ministers or vice ministers of foreign countries when travelling overseas without informing the minister for foreign affairs or her department? |
| Julie Bishop: | Julie Bishop: |
| It would depend on the circumstances. There is no widespread practice, it would depend on a case by case basis. | It would depend on the circumstances. There is no widespread practice, it would depend on a case by case basis. |
| 3.31am GMT | 3.31am GMT |
| 03:31 | 03:31 |
| Back to Stuart Robert. Labor’s Jim Chalmers to the trade minister, Andrew Robb. | Back to Stuart Robert. Labor’s Jim Chalmers to the trade minister, Andrew Robb. |
| Q: My question is to the minister for trade. What assistance did Austrade provide Nimrod Resources? Was any assistance provided leading up to or on the day of the signing ceremony in Beijing in August 2014 or in relation to any other events, and has Austrade provided any other assistance to any other companies associated with Mr Paul Marks? | Q: My question is to the minister for trade. What assistance did Austrade provide Nimrod Resources? Was any assistance provided leading up to or on the day of the signing ceremony in Beijing in August 2014 or in relation to any other events, and has Austrade provided any other assistance to any other companies associated with Mr Paul Marks? |
| Andrew Robb says talk to the hand. | Andrew Robb says talk to the hand. |
| In answer to the member, the prime minister informed the House that he had sought all information associated with the issues that have been raised on the other side of the House. | In answer to the member, the prime minister informed the House that he had sought all information associated with the issues that have been raised on the other side of the House. |
| When that information is available, I am sure that you will hear about it. | When that information is available, I am sure that you will hear about it. |
| (Grand moments in public accountability: a case study.) | (Grand moments in public accountability: a case study.) |
| 3.25am GMT | 3.25am GMT |
| 03:25 | 03:25 |
| The prime minister, answering a question from Queensland’s Bob Katter. | The prime minister, answering a question from Queensland’s Bob Katter. |
| I can assure the honourable member that there is a great passion for the development of water in the north of Australia right through our side of politics, we understand water is the source of life. | I can assure the honourable member that there is a great passion for the development of water in the north of Australia right through our side of politics, we understand water is the source of life. |
| 3.22am GMT | 3.22am GMT |
| 03:22 | 03:22 |
| Labor is winding round now to Stuart Robert. A question to Peter Dutton, the immigration minister, from Richard Marles. | Labor is winding round now to Stuart Robert. A question to Peter Dutton, the immigration minister, from Richard Marles. |
| Q: People leaving Australia declare that the information they provide on the outgoing passenger card is ‘true, correct and complete.’ On his outgoing passenger card for his trip to China, what did the minister for human services declare was the main reason for overseas travel? Business, visiting friends or relatives, holiday, employment or other? If the minister does not have this information now, could he please advise the House once it is accessed? | Q: People leaving Australia declare that the information they provide on the outgoing passenger card is ‘true, correct and complete.’ On his outgoing passenger card for his trip to China, what did the minister for human services declare was the main reason for overseas travel? Business, visiting friends or relatives, holiday, employment or other? If the minister does not have this information now, could he please advise the House once it is accessed? |
| Manager of government business, Christopher Pyne, bangs his gavel and cries objection. | Manager of government business, Christopher Pyne, bangs his gavel and cries objection. |
| This is a question about a private matter ... which couldn’t possibly be within the knowledge of the minister for immigration. | This is a question about a private matter ... which couldn’t possibly be within the knowledge of the minister for immigration. |
| Speaker Tony Smith is letting this run. | Speaker Tony Smith is letting this run. |
| PDuddy looms at the dispatch box. | PDuddy looms at the dispatch box. |
| There are two points to make here. | There are two points to make here. |
| The first is that there are millions of people movements across the borders each year and I haven’t brought the passenger cards down to question time with me. Nor could I expect to have avail myself of that information, nor would it be appropriate for me to do so because of the privacy issues involved. | The first is that there are millions of people movements across the borders each year and I haven’t brought the passenger cards down to question time with me. Nor could I expect to have avail myself of that information, nor would it be appropriate for me to do so because of the privacy issues involved. |
| That demonstrates that this question was nothing more than a stunt. | That demonstrates that this question was nothing more than a stunt. |
| 3.15am GMT | 3.15am GMT |
| 03:15 | 03:15 |
| A Dorothy Dixer to the treasurer. | A Dorothy Dixer to the treasurer. |
| Q: Will the treasurer update the House on how Australia is successfully transitioning from the mining investment boom to a more diversified economy? What are the trade opportunities, especially with the transitioning Chinese economy, for Australian exports? | Q: Will the treasurer update the House on how Australia is successfully transitioning from the mining investment boom to a more diversified economy? What are the trade opportunities, especially with the transitioning Chinese economy, for Australian exports? |
| (China brings some titters from across the chamber.) | (China brings some titters from across the chamber.) |
| Shame, Labor, shame, suggests Scott Morrison. How can you laugh about Australia’s economy in transition? | Shame, Labor, shame, suggests Scott Morrison. How can you laugh about Australia’s economy in transition? |
| 3.12am GMT | 3.12am GMT |
| 03:12 | 03:12 |
| Labor takes the opportunity of asking the privatisation question to Stuart Robert, who, when not in the soup about travel, is the human services minister. | Labor takes the opportunity of asking the privatisation question to Stuart Robert, who, when not in the soup about travel, is the human services minister. |
| Shadow health minister, Catherine King. | Shadow health minister, Catherine King. |
| Q: My question is to the minister for human services. The front page of today’s West Australian newspaper reveals that the government has a radical plan to privatise Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Won’t this mean that the electronic health data of Australians, such as Medicare information, could be sold to a foreign company? | Q: My question is to the minister for human services. The front page of today’s West Australian newspaper reveals that the government has a radical plan to privatise Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Won’t this mean that the electronic health data of Australians, such as Medicare information, could be sold to a foreign company? |
| (Very cheeky indeed.) | (Very cheeky indeed.) |
| Stuart Robert is all about technology. In case anyone wondered, Robert clarifies his portfolio interest. | Stuart Robert is all about technology. In case anyone wondered, Robert clarifies his portfolio interest. |
| I run the computing technology that pays for Medicare, that pays for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and for aged care payments. | I run the computing technology that pays for Medicare, that pays for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and for aged care payments. |
| (So noted.) | (So noted.) |
| 3.08am GMT | 3.08am GMT |
| 03:08 | 03:08 |
| The first Dorothy Dixer is on innovation and workforce participation. There has never been a more exciting time .. | The first Dorothy Dixer is on innovation and workforce participation. There has never been a more exciting time .. |
| 3.05am GMT | 3.05am GMT |
| 03:05 | 03:05 |
| Question time | Question time |
| As I more or less predicted in the summary, Labor opens on the privatisation story. | As I more or less predicted in the summary, Labor opens on the privatisation story. |
| Bill Shorten says the West Australian has revealed that the government has a radical plan to privatise Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Can the government rule out privatising Medicare or the PBS – yes or no? | Bill Shorten says the West Australian has revealed that the government has a radical plan to privatise Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Can the government rule out privatising Medicare or the PBS – yes or no? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Let me reassure the leader of the opposition that the government is, as always, totally committed to Medicare. | Let me reassure the leader of the opposition that the government is, as always, totally committed to Medicare. |
| What we are looking at, as we look at in every area, is improving the delivery of government services, improving the delivery of government services, looking at ways to take the health and aged care payment system into the 21st century. | What we are looking at, as we look at in every area, is improving the delivery of government services, improving the delivery of government services, looking at ways to take the health and aged care payment system into the 21st century. |
| This is about making it simpler and faster for patients to be able to transact with Medicare, to get the services they are entitled to. | This is about making it simpler and faster for patients to be able to transact with Medicare, to get the services they are entitled to. |
| 3.00am GMT | 3.00am GMT |
| 03:00 | 03:00 |
| Amanda Meade | Amanda Meade |
| The outgoing managing director of the ABC, Mark Scott, is appearing at estimates today. The first question to Scott was about the ABC’s decision to program Foreign Correspondent at the same time as SBS’ Dateline, as revealed by Guardian Australia. The popular international current affairs show is moving from its prime-time spot of 8pm on a Tuesday night to the less populated 9.30pm slot for the 2016 schedule – and SBS is furious. | The outgoing managing director of the ABC, Mark Scott, is appearing at estimates today. The first question to Scott was about the ABC’s decision to program Foreign Correspondent at the same time as SBS’ Dateline, as revealed by Guardian Australia. The popular international current affairs show is moving from its prime-time spot of 8pm on a Tuesday night to the less populated 9.30pm slot for the 2016 schedule – and SBS is furious. |
| Scott has told the senators the two “totally distinct” public broadcasters do not sit down and program together and occasionally they have programs that clash. He encourages people to watch the shows on catch-up TV platforms if they clash. | Scott has told the senators the two “totally distinct” public broadcasters do not sit down and program together and occasionally they have programs that clash. He encourages people to watch the shows on catch-up TV platforms if they clash. |
| But then, the hearing got interesting, as questions were asked about whether SBS should even exist, when there is already one public broadcaster. | But then, the hearing got interesting, as questions were asked about whether SBS should even exist, when there is already one public broadcaster. |
| Scott says it is a question for government but – probably needs to be reviewed. | Scott says it is a question for government but – probably needs to be reviewed. |
| 2.47am GMT | 2.47am GMT |
| 02:47 | 02:47 |
| Some cheery round the House from Mr Bowers that I’ve not yet had time to share. | Some cheery round the House from Mr Bowers that I’ve not yet had time to share. |
| Pour a double scotch. Question time is taunting us, just over the horizon. | Pour a double scotch. Question time is taunting us, just over the horizon. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.00am GMT | at 3.00am GMT |
| 2.40am GMT | 2.40am GMT |
| 02:40 | 02:40 |
| Politics this lunchtime | Politics this lunchtime |
| Good crikey, today is groaning with content. Let’s pause a moment and try and make sense of where we are. This lunchtime update is powered by a Bill Shorten photobomb. | Good crikey, today is groaning with content. Let’s pause a moment and try and make sense of where we are. This lunchtime update is powered by a Bill Shorten photobomb. |
| Today, Tuesday: | Today, Tuesday: |
| Until then, onwards, upwards. | Until then, onwards, upwards. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.42am GMT | at 2.42am GMT |
| 2.13am GMT | 2.13am GMT |
| 02:13 | 02:13 |
| The point of that little deep dive from Daniel is a simple one. Robert has said the China trip was not official, it was personal. But the official finance records show the minister was in Singapore (just immediately after the contentious meeting in Beijing) – for an official engagement. | The point of that little deep dive from Daniel is a simple one. Robert has said the China trip was not official, it was personal. But the official finance records show the minister was in Singapore (just immediately after the contentious meeting in Beijing) – for an official engagement. |
| The question then is who paid for the side trip to Beijing? Daniel has tried to get an answer for 24 hours without success. | The question then is who paid for the side trip to Beijing? Daniel has tried to get an answer for 24 hours without success. |