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| Malcolm Turnbull and crossbench still at loggerheads over building industry watchdog | Malcolm Turnbull and crossbench still at loggerheads over building industry watchdog |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Coalition government and crossbench senators remain on a collision course over reinstating a tougher building industry watchdog, with the crossbench pushing for a broader anti-corruption body and rejecting government attempts to negotiate a joint position through Senator Bob Day. | The Coalition government and crossbench senators remain on a collision course over reinstating a tougher building industry watchdog, with the crossbench pushing for a broader anti-corruption body and rejecting government attempts to negotiate a joint position through Senator Bob Day. |
| On Tuesday Malcolm Turnbull described the prospect of a federal anti-corruption body as a “completely different issue” to restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission. He noted some senators “feel there should be a federal Icac [Independent Commission Against Corruption] that deals with public servants and politicians and so forth” and said the merits of the proposal were open to debate but it was “quite a separate issue”. | On Tuesday Malcolm Turnbull described the prospect of a federal anti-corruption body as a “completely different issue” to restoring the Australian Building and Construction Commission. He noted some senators “feel there should be a federal Icac [Independent Commission Against Corruption] that deals with public servants and politicians and so forth” and said the merits of the proposal were open to debate but it was “quite a separate issue”. |
| Related: Turnbull: double-dissolution election will be called if ABCC bill not passed | |
| The prime minister emphasised the economic imperative of passing the ABCC bill, saying “the restoration of the ABCC is not a political exercise, it’s not an ideological exercise, it is a fundamental, critical, economic reform”. He cited evidence of higher labour productivity and fewer days lost to strikes under the ABCC. | The prime minister emphasised the economic imperative of passing the ABCC bill, saying “the restoration of the ABCC is not a political exercise, it’s not an ideological exercise, it is a fundamental, critical, economic reform”. He cited evidence of higher labour productivity and fewer days lost to strikes under the ABCC. |
| Independent senator Nick Xenophon will put amendments to employment minister, Michaelia Cash, this week proposing a national anti-corruption watchdog or federal Icac, broader protection for whistleblowers and assurances that unions will retain a right of entry to building sites for genuine occupational health and safety concerns. | Independent senator Nick Xenophon will put amendments to employment minister, Michaelia Cash, this week proposing a national anti-corruption watchdog or federal Icac, broader protection for whistleblowers and assurances that unions will retain a right of entry to building sites for genuine occupational health and safety concerns. |
| Senator Glenn Lazarus has also previously expressed support for a federal Icac, as has Palmer United Party senator Dio Wang. Independent senator John Madigan has also called on the government to take a broader approach to corruption believing the ABCC bill unfairly treats corruption in the construction industry differently to other sectors. | Senator Glenn Lazarus has also previously expressed support for a federal Icac, as has Palmer United Party senator Dio Wang. Independent senator John Madigan has also called on the government to take a broader approach to corruption believing the ABCC bill unfairly treats corruption in the construction industry differently to other sectors. |
| Senator Jacqui Lambie said the ABCC bill was very bad legislation that allows public servants to put Australian citizens in jail if they exercise their right to silence. | |
| “And secondly, more corruption occurs in banking, finance, insurance and government departments than the civil construction industry,” she said. | |
| “If you want to treat Australians equally, with the same rule of law for all, then there must be a Commonwealth anti-corruption body, a federal Icac, which can target all corruption.” | |
| But Senator Ricky Muir backed Turnbull’s call to separate the ABCC from the proposal for a federal Icac. | But Senator Ricky Muir backed Turnbull’s call to separate the ABCC from the proposal for a federal Icac. |
| “The ABCC is an industrial relations watchdog , not an anti-corruption watchdog, so claims by others that the scope of the ABCC should be extended to a national Icac or similar are also misguided. At first it might sound like a logical argument, but they are two different things,” he said. | “The ABCC is an industrial relations watchdog , not an anti-corruption watchdog, so claims by others that the scope of the ABCC should be extended to a national Icac or similar are also misguided. At first it might sound like a logical argument, but they are two different things,” he said. |
| The government has always said it would consider amendments to the bills but would not countenance major changes. | The government has always said it would consider amendments to the bills but would not countenance major changes. |
| Related: What the evidence shows about Malcolm Turnbull's claim the ABCC will help the economy | Related: What the evidence shows about Malcolm Turnbull's claim the ABCC will help the economy |
| Turnbull said if Day can get six crossbench senators to support the government’s two industrial relations bills “then they will pass and then there will no longer be a deadlock and there won’t be a double-dissolution”. | Turnbull said if Day can get six crossbench senators to support the government’s two industrial relations bills “then they will pass and then there will no longer be a deadlock and there won’t be a double-dissolution”. |
| He said the reason he had asked the governor-general to recall parliament on 18 April was to pass the ABCC bill and Registered Organisations bill which he said were very important laws. | He said the reason he had asked the governor-general to recall parliament on 18 April was to pass the ABCC bill and Registered Organisations bill which he said were very important laws. |
| The prime minister said Day had real experience of the building and construction industry and knew the ABCC bill was “vital to ensure that the rule of law applies in the construction sector”. | The prime minister said Day had real experience of the building and construction industry and knew the ABCC bill was “vital to ensure that the rule of law applies in the construction sector”. |
| “If the amendments [the crossbench] propose are ones that are consistent with the purpose and intent of the bill and don’t weaken it, we would consider them.” | “If the amendments [the crossbench] propose are ones that are consistent with the purpose and intent of the bill and don’t weaken it, we would consider them.” |
| Xenophon said he was “in discussions” with the government and expected to have talks with other crossbenchers. | Xenophon said he was “in discussions” with the government and expected to have talks with other crossbenchers. |
| Related: Scott Morrison shrugs off claims Malcolm Turnbull did not consult on budget date | Related: Scott Morrison shrugs off claims Malcolm Turnbull did not consult on budget date |
| “It’s a question of the government finding out whether the differing views on the crossbench can line up with amendments it would accept ... I don’t see Bob Day as a conduit, he’s one of the colleagues who’ll be discussing this.” | “It’s a question of the government finding out whether the differing views on the crossbench can line up with amendments it would accept ... I don’t see Bob Day as a conduit, he’s one of the colleagues who’ll be discussing this.” |
| Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm dismissed the government’s offer to negotiate the building watchdog bill through Day as “posturing” which would not help pass the bill. | Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm dismissed the government’s offer to negotiate the building watchdog bill through Day as “posturing” which would not help pass the bill. |
| Leyonhjelm told Guardian Australia asking six of eight crossbenchers to agree on a position “is not the way the crossbench works, because we’re not a party, we don’t meet and caucus together, or compare notes with each other”. | Leyonhjelm told Guardian Australia asking six of eight crossbenchers to agree on a position “is not the way the crossbench works, because we’re not a party, we don’t meet and caucus together, or compare notes with each other”. |
| He said he did not believe the government was negotiating in good faith, but instead wanted a double dissolution election on 2 July. “All this talk about getting the crossbench to agree to amendments is just posturing, the aim is for the government to say we’ve tried everything but have to go to a double-dissolution because they’ll say the crossbench has been so uncooperative.” | He said he did not believe the government was negotiating in good faith, but instead wanted a double dissolution election on 2 July. “All this talk about getting the crossbench to agree to amendments is just posturing, the aim is for the government to say we’ve tried everything but have to go to a double-dissolution because they’ll say the crossbench has been so uncooperative.” |
| Leyonhjelm said he would not reveal his final position on the bill, though he had concerns about it. He said he would discuss his position with the government directly not with Day, who he said would “not act on the prime minister’s behalf … because he’s not the leader of the crossbench, nor does he purport to be”. | Leyonhjelm said he would not reveal his final position on the bill, though he had concerns about it. He said he would discuss his position with the government directly not with Day, who he said would “not act on the prime minister’s behalf … because he’s not the leader of the crossbench, nor does he purport to be”. |
| Related: Let's cut Turnbull some slack, he's had a hard week after making a decision | Kristina Keneally | Related: Let's cut Turnbull some slack, he's had a hard week after making a decision | Kristina Keneally |
| Muir said he still believed the government is not genuine about getting the ABCC bill passed and would rather leave it unamended to use it as a double-dissolution trigger. | Muir said he still believed the government is not genuine about getting the ABCC bill passed and would rather leave it unamended to use it as a double-dissolution trigger. |
| “There is no arrangement for Senator Day to speak on behalf of the crossbench on this matter, but I am open to having conversations myself,” he said. | “There is no arrangement for Senator Day to speak on behalf of the crossbench on this matter, but I am open to having conversations myself,” he said. |
| Lambie said she was happy to negotiate with the prime minister directly. “Unlike Bob Day, I’m not scared to go to a double [dissolution] election,” she said. | |
| Guardian Australia understands Madigan is prepared to negotiate with the government but he does not believe it is appropriate for the government to require the crossbench to agree on a common position before negotiations. | Guardian Australia understands Madigan is prepared to negotiate with the government but he does not believe it is appropriate for the government to require the crossbench to agree on a common position before negotiations. |
| Treasurer Scott Morrison said Turnbull had not said the government would not accept any changes to the ABCC bill, only that the time had come to pass the bill. | Treasurer Scott Morrison said Turnbull had not said the government would not accept any changes to the ABCC bill, only that the time had come to pass the bill. |
| “Some senators play games and have no serious intention of passing the bill and you don’t waste your time on them but if there are others who are going to seriously engage with you you’d be a mug not to listen to them,” he told 2GB radio. | “Some senators play games and have no serious intention of passing the bill and you don’t waste your time on them but if there are others who are going to seriously engage with you you’d be a mug not to listen to them,” he told 2GB radio. |
| “We want to see the ABCC bill pass. If it’s not passed, the prime minister has made absolutely clear we’ll go to a double-dissolution. They’ve got three weeks to sort it out, if they can sort it out, good; and if not, we’re off to the polls.” | “We want to see the ABCC bill pass. If it’s not passed, the prime minister has made absolutely clear we’ll go to a double-dissolution. They’ve got three weeks to sort it out, if they can sort it out, good; and if not, we’re off to the polls.” |
| When asked if the government would consider tackling corruption in other industries after passage of the ABCC bill, Morrison replied “why wouldn’t you?”. “This isn’t about a double-dissolution, it’s about passing [the ABCC bill].” | When asked if the government would consider tackling corruption in other industries after passage of the ABCC bill, Morrison replied “why wouldn’t you?”. “This isn’t about a double-dissolution, it’s about passing [the ABCC bill].” |