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Senate voting legislation will go to parliament today, Turnbull says – politics live Shorten and Turnbull trade blows over negative gearing – question time live
(35 minutes later)
3.38am GMT
03:38
Green Adam Bandt asks the prime minister about baby Asha.
Q: Do you agree with the doctors that detention harms children or are you waiting until after the election to deport babies and children to Nauru?
Turnbull waves that to the immigration minister Peter Dutton.
We have been very clear and I repeat this today, because the people smugglers listen to every word spoken in this place, spoken by premiers and other leaders around the country, let me be very clear to these people.
We will not be held to ransom, we will not be blackmailed into changing this policy because this policy has resulted in lives being saved. And we are not going to retreat on what has been a successful policy.
(Blackmailed by whom? Anyone know?)
3.34am GMT
03:34
Shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, to Turnbull.
Q: Will the prime minister rule out making any retrospective changes to negative gearing, yes or no?
Turnbull says tax policies will be considered and rolled out in the usual way.
He’s now onto the fantasy land of the Labor party where there is a hankering for a centrally planned economy and manifest threats to the economy.
3.29am GMT
03:29
The prime minister tracks back to negative gearing, and Labor’s policy. Wither house values.
Malcolm Turnbull:
Mr Speaker, every single Australian recognises that the bulk of most family’s assets are in their homes. It’s well over 65% across the board. So you knock that price down, you knock that value down, that’s what Labor’s proposing to do, cut out over a third of the demand, knock that price down. What does that do for consumer confidence? Are people going to go out and buy a new appliance, borrow money to start a small business, are they going to hire somebody if they see their greatest asset shrinking before their eyes at the hands of the Labor party?
Mr Speaker, every measure they propose is calculated to drive our economy into the ground!
3.27am GMT
03:27
The prime minister has turned now to alternative proposals.
Now Mr Speaker, let me turn now to the question of alternative approaches. I mentioned that the Labor party is proposing to increase the capital gains tax so that on a top marginal rate it would go to 37%. That is higher than the United States, dramatically higher than the United States, higher than the UK, much higher than New Zealand which doesn’t have the capital gains tax.
It will be the highest capital gains tax in any comparable country.
(There’s a lot of laughter from across the dispatch box. Someone screams out Cayman Islands.)
The shadow treasurer Chris Bowen turns this back on Turnbull. Will he rule out any changes to CGT?
Turnbull takes a while to find his level with this one. Then, this.
I can say to the Honourable Member opposite, that increasing capital gains tax is no part of our thinking whatsoever.
3.22am GMT
03:22
Today’s first Dorothy Dixer is about pulling the levers of government.
3.20am GMT
03:20
Bill Shorten opens on the theme of six months of lost opportunities.
Q: When will the prime minister finally deliver an economic plan for Australia?
The prime minister is clutching the levers of government, and pulling them.
Malcolm Turnbull:
So every single lever of my government is pulling in the direction of jobs, growth, fairness.
(Fairness is the newcomer in this pack).
3.15am GMT
03:15
The prime minister is advising of new ministerial arrangements. There have been a few changes since last the parliament met.
3.12am GMT
03:12
Friendly, approachable, a straight shooter.
This is the current speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, paying tribute to Bob (Halvo) Halverson (who once represented Smith’s electorate of Casey.)
3.04am GMT3.04am GMT
03:0403:04
Question timeQuestion time
Golly Gee Wilickers, it’s 2pm. We are kicking off today with a motion of condolence for Bob Halverson, who is a former speaker of the House of Representatives, who died of cancer recently.Golly Gee Wilickers, it’s 2pm. We are kicking off today with a motion of condolence for Bob Halverson, who is a former speaker of the House of Representatives, who died of cancer recently.
2.56am GMT2.56am GMT
02:5602:56
This deal will wipe out micro-parties in the Senate: LeyonhjelmThis deal will wipe out micro-parties in the Senate: Leyonhjelm
Xenophon is followed by the LDP senator, David Leyonhjelm, who isn’t very happy. The government, he says, is transacting a dirty little deal with the Greens and Nick Xenophon.Xenophon is followed by the LDP senator, David Leyonhjelm, who isn’t very happy. The government, he says, is transacting a dirty little deal with the Greens and Nick Xenophon.
Can I point out when I say the Greens and Nick Xenophon, I repeat myself, Nick Xenophon is a Green for all intents and purposes, he votes with the Greens more than Labor.Can I point out when I say the Greens and Nick Xenophon, I repeat myself, Nick Xenophon is a Green for all intents and purposes, he votes with the Greens more than Labor.
So, for the government to do a dirty little deal with the Greens and Nick Xenophon was a surprise and very disappointing.So, for the government to do a dirty little deal with the Greens and Nick Xenophon was a surprise and very disappointing.
The end result, the bottom line of this proposal is that it will be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, for the minor parties to ever win seats again in the Senate.The end result, the bottom line of this proposal is that it will be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, for the minor parties to ever win seats again in the Senate.
(I think if we looked at Leyonjhelm’s voting record we’d see some lining up with the Greens on issues like intelligence and security, but perhaps I digress?)(I think if we looked at Leyonjhelm’s voting record we’d see some lining up with the Greens on issues like intelligence and security, but perhaps I digress?)
2.51am GMT2.51am GMT
02:5102:51
Nick Xenophon is explaining to reporters why he’s a supporter of the Senate voting reform package.Nick Xenophon is explaining to reporters why he’s a supporter of the Senate voting reform package.
In my case, in my home state of SA, I received close to 25% of the vote: 1.75 quotas but didn’t get in because of a series of bizarre preference deals. We have Family First in the Senate.In my case, in my home state of SA, I received close to 25% of the vote: 1.75 quotas but didn’t get in because of a series of bizarre preference deals. We have Family First in the Senate.
At the moment as a result of the Labor party preferencing (we get) someone who is to the right of the Liberal party. It’s not a criticism of Bob Day, making a solid contribution, and not a criticism of all my colleagues, my cross-bench colleagues in the Senate who really add to the value of the Senate.At the moment as a result of the Labor party preferencing (we get) someone who is to the right of the Liberal party. It’s not a criticism of Bob Day, making a solid contribution, and not a criticism of all my colleagues, my cross-bench colleagues in the Senate who really add to the value of the Senate.
But I want a Senate voting system that is fair, a Senate voting system that reflects the will of the people, a Senate voting system that takes away from the back room deals and the preference whisperers and gives the power back to the people – and I believe substantially this is what these reforms will do.But I want a Senate voting system that is fair, a Senate voting system that reflects the will of the people, a Senate voting system that takes away from the back room deals and the preference whisperers and gives the power back to the people – and I believe substantially this is what these reforms will do.
2.45am GMT2.45am GMT
02:4502:45
Greens leader Richard Di Natale is on the ABC talking Senate voting reform.Greens leader Richard Di Natale is on the ABC talking Senate voting reform.
Q: Did you discuss at any point in your negotiations with the government, preferencing at the next election?Q: Did you discuss at any point in your negotiations with the government, preferencing at the next election?
Richard Di Natale:Richard Di Natale:
No.No.
Q: Not in any seat? Lower or upper house?Q: Not in any seat? Lower or upper house?
I know this might be a huge surprise to people. People assume in these negotiations that some of these things that don’t relate to the legislation are put on the table.I know this might be a huge surprise to people. People assume in these negotiations that some of these things that don’t relate to the legislation are put on the table.
We made it really clear, this is a long-held position, a position of principle, fundamental to any democracy, that an outcome reflects the voters’ intentions.We made it really clear, this is a long-held position, a position of principle, fundamental to any democracy, that an outcome reflects the voters’ intentions.
2.35am GMT2.35am GMT
02:3502:35
Politics this lunchtime, the very short versionPolitics this lunchtime, the very short version
I apologise, this isn’t going to be much of a summary, wedged as I am between significant events. But it’s important to take stock, particularly if you are just tuning in with a sandwich at your desk, and wonder how it is you’ve fallen into roiling white water.I apologise, this isn’t going to be much of a summary, wedged as I am between significant events. But it’s important to take stock, particularly if you are just tuning in with a sandwich at your desk, and wonder how it is you’ve fallen into roiling white water.
So, today, Monday:So, today, Monday:
There’s more, but that’s the main thrust.There’s more, but that’s the main thrust.
Onwards and upwards, towards 2pm.Onwards and upwards, towards 2pm.
2.15am GMT
02:15
Back to Stan Grant, who is asked how he’ll manage expectations if he chooses to leave the media and run for politics.
Stan Grant:
Would you disappoint people? Inevitably. I might disappoint people with what I write now.
Some people, our own people, Brooke, who might not like the fact that I can stand here and acknowledge the greatness of Australia because they are still dealing with the depth of the wound that Australia has inflicted – but that’s how I feel, that is what I have seen.
To say otherwise would repudiate the experiences of my life.
2.07am GMT
02:07
Poor Ray, thwarted
Now I mentioned a bit earlier (through a sledge Chris Bowen hurled at Scott Morrison across the dispatch box a little while ago) that the treasurer did not enjoy his usual chat this morning with the Sydney talkback host, Ray Hadley.
It should be noted for the record that Ray was not amused. Here he is.
Ray Hadley:
Now to another matter – every Monday since coming to power, firstly as immigration minister then social services minister more recently as treasurer, Scott Morrison’s appeared on my program.
Even when he travelled overseas he’d make arrangements to be available to talk to me at about 20 past 9, 20 past 8 in Queensland. But today we’ve been told the treasurer is too busy with a meeting to appear. We offered a change in time, we said what about the second or third hour trying to maintain the continuity. No, not available today. What about tomorrow? Don’t know, don’t know.
Now I’m not one for conspiracy theories, however there are government MPs talking to The Australian newspaper who say they’ve been astonished by the performance of the treasurer, including a poorly received speech at the NPC last week and a series of talkback radio interviews in which he was blasted for lacking vision, including his regular chat with me, as was the case last Tuesday, last Monday, I’m sorry.
Labor will be buoyed by support to its negative gearing plan announced by Shorten and Bowen last week to restrict from July next year all future tax breaks for new housing but not change existing arrangements. And so it goes on.
So I don’t know whether this is just a coincidence and I was going to put it to Scott Morrison that I thought his performance last week after he appeared on my program before the NPC was inglorious. That it was a whole lot of gobbly-di-gook, and I mean it appears to me that just perhaps these two blokes wished for the job they’ve now got, prime minister and treasurer, and wishing for it and getting it are two different things.
It’s a lot harder, a lot harder when you get it, than it appears when you’re looking from the outside.
1.58am GMT
01:58
Notwithstanding the feeling that I really need eyes in the back of my head today, here’s one excerpt from Stan Grant’s speech.
Stan Grant:
As a reporter I was drawn to those stories that mirrored my own. Always I sought to answer this question: how do we live lives of dignity and meaning when all certainty has been removed? What makes a man who has lost a son to war and natural disaster get up in the morning and find a job to put food on the table for his remaining children? How does a mother mourn and yet love and nurture at the same time?
What does the future mean when the now is so bleak? And when I reported these stories, I met myself in the eyes of Afghan refugees, I saw my family in the eyes of a peasant Chinese farmer looking for a foothold in the China dream, I saw my sawmiller father. Here were lives shaped by the great forces of our time, as surely as my own, and that of my people.
I spent half my adult life away from Australia. I felt liberated from the chains of this history, no longer did I meet people across this chasm of race.
I was free to be seen as a human being in my own right and delight in meeting people with my guard down, freed from the suspicion and mistrust that can still tear at us here.
But always I felt the pull of home, the smell of wattle and wheat that would burn my nose on a hot summer day, the feel of molten tar under my feet and the crack of frost on a winter’s morning, the cool waters of the Murrimbidgee.
Eventually I came back to a country fighting old battles.
1.43am GMT
01:43
My Guardian Australia colleague Stan Grant is currently giving an address to the National Press Club. I’ll try and look in on that once I get a small break from Senate reform.
Updated
at 2.17am GMT
1.37am GMT
01:37
Two crossbench senators, David Leyonhjelm and Bob Day (Family First) have been spotted in the corridor adjacent to the prime minister’s office. Not clear whether they have popped in to have a cup of spicy chai and a chat about Senate reform, or whether this is a lunchtime constitutional.
1.33am GMT
01:33
Is there a seconder for this motion (having a gratuitous crack at the treasurer)?
Labor’s Chris Bowen:
The government has a problem when Scott Morrison can’t even go on Ray Hadley!
(It’s true. The treasurer did miss his regular chat with Hadley this morning. We assume he was detained by the special party room meeting on Senate voting reform.)
Pyne is moving that Bowen be no longer heard.
1.24am GMT
01:24
For all the good folks sweating on the Senate reform bill, here’s a link. It’s just lobbed online.
1.22am GMT
01:22
The procedural skirmishes continue. Morrison has succeeded in tabling that legislation. Now Labor is attempting to suspend the standing orders to require the treasurer to make a speech outlining policies to improve the economy.
Tony Burke:
Maybe he’ll want to talk about unicorns for 46 minutes.
That’s enough for Pyne. He’s moving that Tony Burke be no longer heard.
1.15am GMT
01:15
Sorry, we really can’t help ourselves.
Come. We ride.
1.13am GMT
01:13
Scott Morrison wanders to the dispatch box. I’m representing the special minister of state, he notes. The former special minister of state, Mal Brough, is sitting directly behind him.