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Coalition continues to face pressure over superannuation policy - live updates Coalition continues to face pressure over superannuation policy - live updates
(35 minutes later)
2.23am BST
02:23
Bringing some mussel to the Labor campaign.
2.15am BST
02:15
Bill Shorten is doing a doorstop in Sydney. He goes to the superannuation changes as well. He pointed out that the tax office requires people to keep receipts for five years and the Coalition’s super changes require people to revisit contributions going back nine years.
2.12am BST
02:12
Good morning all. I have had my head buried on superannuation and pension changes so excuse my slight discombobulation.
1.46am BST1.46am BST
01:4601:46
Now apologies but we need to execute a shift change here for an hour or so, Lenore Taylor and I need to begin the task of recording this week’s podcast.Now apologies but we need to execute a shift change here for an hour or so, Lenore Taylor and I need to begin the task of recording this week’s podcast.
This week, we’ll be trying to have a serious conversation about the issues at hand, and we’ll also be decanting the contents of Liberal party pollster Mark Textor’s brain about polling – is it all rubbish? I’ll be back in a hour or so, until then I’m going to leave you in the elegant and capable hands of Ms Gabrielle Chan.This week, we’ll be trying to have a serious conversation about the issues at hand, and we’ll also be decanting the contents of Liberal party pollster Mark Textor’s brain about polling – is it all rubbish? I’ll be back in a hour or so, until then I’m going to leave you in the elegant and capable hands of Ms Gabrielle Chan.
1.40am BST1.40am BST
01:4001:40
What a jokeWhat a joke
I’m sorry that was completely and utterly ludicrous. I started out this morning lamenting the inability of seriousness to stick. Perhaps that’s because people like Scott Morrison are just not taking politics seriously.I’m sorry that was completely and utterly ludicrous. I started out this morning lamenting the inability of seriousness to stick. Perhaps that’s because people like Scott Morrison are just not taking politics seriously.
There is a big and important debate in this campaign about two models of growth, one that stimulates business and lets the benefits trickle down, and another than prioritises social capital and infrastructure. It’s an important conversation the country should have. Another perfectly legitimate line of attack about Labor in this contest involves fiscal management – is Labor sufficiently serious about budgetary management? Is it getting the balance right between investing and saving? It’s hard to get a fix on that before the opposition releases both its four year costings and ten year costings, because policy commitments are fragments of a whole – but it’s a legitimate question to ask.There is a big and important debate in this campaign about two models of growth, one that stimulates business and lets the benefits trickle down, and another than prioritises social capital and infrastructure. It’s an important conversation the country should have. Another perfectly legitimate line of attack about Labor in this contest involves fiscal management – is Labor sufficiently serious about budgetary management? Is it getting the balance right between investing and saving? It’s hard to get a fix on that before the opposition releases both its four year costings and ten year costings, because policy commitments are fragments of a whole – but it’s a legitimate question to ask.
Honestly, is it that bloody hard to get serious?Honestly, is it that bloody hard to get serious?
1.29am BST1.29am BST
01:2901:29
Scott Morrison doesn’t answer a question about whether he will negotiate in order to get his tax changes through the Senate.Scott Morrison doesn’t answer a question about whether he will negotiate in order to get his tax changes through the Senate.
Q: Have you done any modelling on what you think will be the difference in growth rates under a Coalition government or a Labor government?Q: Have you done any modelling on what you think will be the difference in growth rates under a Coalition government or a Labor government?
Scott Morrison says something about Labor’s taxes being bullets in the war on, well, everything. It’s escalating.Scott Morrison says something about Labor’s taxes being bullets in the war on, well, everything. It’s escalating.
Labor’s approach is to take a sledgehammer and to do it out of the politics and ideology of envy as part of their war on growth, it’s a war on capital, it’s a war on mums and dads who just want to invest in a property to ensure their betterment over into their retirement or whatever their purpose is.Labor’s approach is to take a sledgehammer and to do it out of the politics and ideology of envy as part of their war on growth, it’s a war on capital, it’s a war on mums and dads who just want to invest in a property to ensure their betterment over into their retirement or whatever their purpose is.
(Quick, get to the bomb shelter. Book it.)(Quick, get to the bomb shelter. Book it.)
1.24am BST1.24am BST
01:2401:24
I didn’t time that but it must have been five minutes. First question is not tax toxins but superannuation. Will you change your super package?I didn’t time that but it must have been five minutes. First question is not tax toxins but superannuation. Will you change your super package?
Scott Morrison says the changes will benefit three million people, they are changes the government had the “strength” to put to voters at an election.Scott Morrison says the changes will benefit three million people, they are changes the government had the “strength” to put to voters at an election.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
They’re positive changes and of course we stand by them 100%.They’re positive changes and of course we stand by them 100%.
Q: Arthur Sinodinos has said, though, there will be consultation after the election. Will that not happen? Is he wrong?Q: Arthur Sinodinos has said, though, there will be consultation after the election. Will that not happen? Is he wrong?
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
That’s about an implementation of legislation but the policies that we have announced in the budget are our policies and we are pressing ahead with those policies.That’s about an implementation of legislation but the policies that we have announced in the budget are our policies and we are pressing ahead with those policies.
1.20am BST1.20am BST
01:2001:20
Scott Morrison’s opening gambit is slightly Castro-esque but I can summarise it for you: don’t vote Labor because they have toxic taxes on mum and dad investors and other innocents.Scott Morrison’s opening gambit is slightly Castro-esque but I can summarise it for you: don’t vote Labor because they have toxic taxes on mum and dad investors and other innocents.
And then of course, there is Labor’s tax on electricity …And then of course, there is Labor’s tax on electricity …
This will run to several volumes. But hang in there.This will run to several volumes. But hang in there.
… they are growth blockers, they’re toxins for growth … what’s he going to tax next?… they are growth blockers, they’re toxins for growth … what’s he going to tax next?
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.24am BSTat 1.24am BST
1.14am BST1.14am BST
01:1401:14
Why does Labor hate exports?Why does Labor hate exports?
The treasurer, Scott Morrison, is addressing reporters in Sydney now, wondering why Labor hates exports.The treasurer, Scott Morrison, is addressing reporters in Sydney now, wondering why Labor hates exports.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
I note that the opposition has taken us to task yesterday and sought to downplay that [positive economic growth] outcome because apparently the national accounts includes net exports. Well that may be news to the opposition that net exports are actually a contributor to growth and an important part of our economy. I’m not surprised that they don’t wish to acknowledge the export performance because frankly they opposed things like the China free-trade agreement when we first sought to introduce it and they of course did nothing on these agreements when they were in government for six years and nor have I heard anything from the opposition in the course of this election campaign or before about what they would do to continue to grow exports.I note that the opposition has taken us to task yesterday and sought to downplay that [positive economic growth] outcome because apparently the national accounts includes net exports. Well that may be news to the opposition that net exports are actually a contributor to growth and an important part of our economy. I’m not surprised that they don’t wish to acknowledge the export performance because frankly they opposed things like the China free-trade agreement when we first sought to introduce it and they of course did nothing on these agreements when they were in government for six years and nor have I heard anything from the opposition in the course of this election campaign or before about what they would do to continue to grow exports.
Today we have a new slide (oh goodie). Last week there was a black hole slide that contained a black hole in the alleged black hole. Today we are depicting toxins on growth. Apparently taxes can be toxic. I’ll let the treasurer take up the story.Today we have a new slide (oh goodie). Last week there was a black hole slide that contained a black hole in the alleged black hole. Today we are depicting toxins on growth. Apparently taxes can be toxic. I’ll let the treasurer take up the story.
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Bill Shorten has declared war on business and as a result he’s declared war on growth. This is a leader of the opposition who has no plan for jobs and growth and what he’s done with his agenda for $100bn of higher taxes over the next 10 years is to declare war on growth in our economy. Yesterday he didn’t want to acknowledge the growth and today and going forward he will continue to seek to attack growth with these toxic taxes that will be a toxin for our growth going forward.Bill Shorten has declared war on business and as a result he’s declared war on growth. This is a leader of the opposition who has no plan for jobs and growth and what he’s done with his agenda for $100bn of higher taxes over the next 10 years is to declare war on growth in our economy. Yesterday he didn’t want to acknowledge the growth and today and going forward he will continue to seek to attack growth with these toxic taxes that will be a toxin for our growth going forward.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.30am BSTat 1.30am BST
12.57am BST12.57am BST
00:5700:57
Perhaps we could combine the substantive and the ridiculous in this campaign with a single slogan: no creature left behind.Perhaps we could combine the substantive and the ridiculous in this campaign with a single slogan: no creature left behind.
He's safe at home now with some nuts, zucchini, and banana to snack on. @ursulahegerHe's safe at home now with some nuts, zucchini, and banana to snack on. @ursulaheger
Perhaps the way to make the substantial stick is to somehow cross over the stunt and substance streams. That’s been Nick Xenophon’s modus operandi throughout his public life, and it seems to work for him. (God, rats, make it stop. I can deal with anything else politics dishes up in my direction: heroism, bathos, venality, banality, suffering, self interest, incomprehension, fury – just NOT RODENTS, OK.)Perhaps the way to make the substantial stick is to somehow cross over the stunt and substance streams. That’s been Nick Xenophon’s modus operandi throughout his public life, and it seems to work for him. (God, rats, make it stop. I can deal with anything else politics dishes up in my direction: heroism, bathos, venality, banality, suffering, self interest, incomprehension, fury – just NOT RODENTS, OK.)
12.48am BST12.48am BST
00:4800:48
As I’ve been posting the questions the Acoss chief Cassandra Goldie has been on the ABC.As I’ve been posting the questions the Acoss chief Cassandra Goldie has been on the ABC.
We’ve written to each of the leaders of the political parties, the Coalition, Labor and the Greens, where we are asking for the parties to lay out very clearly what are their specific policy, election commitments that will be about reducing the level of poverty and the level of inequality in Australia.We’ve written to each of the leaders of the political parties, the Coalition, Labor and the Greens, where we are asking for the parties to lay out very clearly what are their specific policy, election commitments that will be about reducing the level of poverty and the level of inequality in Australia.
We think that this really needs to be the core debate that is happening in this election and at the moment, obviously, we’ve got a lot of policies being talked about but we’re saying let us get specific here.We think that this really needs to be the core debate that is happening in this election and at the moment, obviously, we’ve got a lot of policies being talked about but we’re saying let us get specific here.
If we’re pursuing economic growth, for what purpose? Well it should, at its heart, be about ensuring that people on the lowest incomes, those who have the least, their living standards should be the top priority when we’re talking about the outcome of that kind of economic growth.If we’re pursuing economic growth, for what purpose? Well it should, at its heart, be about ensuring that people on the lowest incomes, those who have the least, their living standards should be the top priority when we’re talking about the outcome of that kind of economic growth.
Lenore Taylor and I think fairness is important, and we also think economic policy is also important – which is why we are hosting two panel discussions about this during the campaign: one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne. We’d love to see you there. If you’d like to book, you can find the relevant details by clicking on this link.Lenore Taylor and I think fairness is important, and we also think economic policy is also important – which is why we are hosting two panel discussions about this during the campaign: one in Sydney and the other in Melbourne. We’d love to see you there. If you’d like to book, you can find the relevant details by clicking on this link.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.21am BSTat 1.21am BST
12.39am BST
00:39
Fairness: let's get specific
Fairness is a key theme in this election contest, and picking up on that, the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss) has written to our political leaders seeking answers to a bunch of policy questions. They are utterly questions, so I thought I would share them with you.
Measuring social and economic progress
A balanced approach to budget repair
(a) What is the precise formulation and details of any associated commitments you are making in relation to revenue and expenditure?
(b) Will you make a commitment that low-income households (the bottom 40% of the population by income) will not be disproportionately affected (as a share of their income) by measures to restore the budget?
(c) Will your party commit to restoring the budget by increasing overall revenue as well as improving the cost effectiveness of expenditure?
(d) Will tax expenditures be subject to the same degree of budget scrutiny as direct expenditures?
Improving the integrity and equity of the tax system
(a) What are your party’s policies to achieve this, including measures to tax incomes more consistently or close inefficient or unfair tax shelters and loopholes?
(b) Specifically, what action would your party take, if elected to:reduce the anomalies in the tax treatment of capital gains and other investment income, especially where investments are financed by debt (negative gearing arrangements)?
(c) Curb the avoidance of company income tax by international and Australian companies through international profit, debt and cost shifting strategies?
Towards a fair and sustainable retirement incomes system
(a) What action does your party propose to take to reduce the disproportionate share of tax concessions going to individuals with high incomes?
(b) What action does your party propose to take to curb the use of superannuation tax concessions, especially in the retirement phase, to avoid personal income tax, including capital gains tax and the tax payable on transfers of remaining superannuation balances to adult children?
(c) What other action does your party propose to take to ensure that the future cost of superannuation tax concessions is sustainable, especially in the retirement phase as the population ages?
(d) What action does your party propose to take to extend tax concessions for contributions to low-income earners who pay tax at less than 15% on their wages?
Improving support for people who are unemployed
(a) Personalised employment services with lower caseloads and appropriately skilled staff?
(b) Meaningful and effective programs, especially paid work experience in regular jobs together with relevant training, for people unemployed long term?
(c) What protections does your party propose to ensure that unemployed people participating in these programs are not exploited and existing employees are not displaced?
Reducing child poverty
(a) improvements in the adequacy and indexation of family payments for families on low incomes, particularly single parent families?
(b) policies to ensure that children at greatest risk of poverty have access to quality early education and care and that cost and other barriers to such care are removed?
Access to basic services for all who need them
(a) Adequate indexation of Commonwealth health grants to states and territories (please define and explain ‘adequate’ in this context)?
(b) An adequate Commonwealth contribution to state and territory schools budgets to ensure sufficient resources to guarantee all children access to a quality education based on their needs? Please define and explain ‘adequate’ in this context.
Ending the housing crisis
(a) Stem excessive growth and instability in housing prices (mortgages and rents) during housing booms?
(b) Increase the supply of affordable rental housing including through direct investment and investment incentives?
(c) Improve the adequacy of rent assistance payment rates and indexation?
A strong, independent and diverse civil society
Effective action to address climate change and its impacts on people on low incomes
(a) Ensure people on low incomes and vulnerable can make the most of energy efficiency technologies and access affordable housing which is energy efficient?
(b) Ensure people and communities are resilient to the impacts of extreme weather events and able to adapt?
Updated
at 1.22am BST
12.27am BST
00:27
So many bridges too far, I cannot tell you.
Updated
at 1.23am BST
12.25am BST
00:25
Back in Canberra, Labor’s designated campaign spokesman this week, Tony Burke, is speaking to journalists in the parliament.
The government’s economic plan is in tatters, absolute tatters. Let’s go through the measures that on budget night were meant to be locked in and how they’ve been changing.
The first to hit the fence was the backpacker tax, on the government’s own admission it won’t be implemented in the form it was presented in the budget but they don’t know other than a 6-month delay exactly what their proposal is. Yet they’ve still banked the full revenue after that.
Secondly, Scott Morrison in the debate against Chris Bowen made clear on the basis of their track record that there would be further cuts that he was willing to make after the election that he would not tell people about before the election.
Thirdly, on the centrepiece of their economic plan, the company tax cut, not only has the prime minister stopped talking about it as a plan for 10 years and has gone all the way back to now only wanting to talk about the first three years of it, we also have the treasurer offering to re calibrate that legislation if required.
And today we see their plans to change superannuation are in a mess.
12.20am BST
00:20
Election 2016 has immortalised the question: “How old is your rat” – which was the question the prime minister put to a voter in a Penrith shopping centre the other day, when a pet rodent was presented for inspection.
Now I gather The Chaser has presented another rat to Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek. God help me. This campaign will kill an honest woman plagued by rodent phobias. That’s me. Plibersek looks quite chill.
Another campaign rat...at the Sydney Fish Market @billshortenmp @tanya_plibersek #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/fooxeooyrN
12.14am BST
00:14
I centred us back in the hustings this morning. It looks like there’s been an outbreak of the blame game in Adelaide.
@cpyne we estimate about 200 gone in Mayo also
According to the AEC, Sturt covers an area of approximately 85 sq km. 1,700 close-ups of Christopher Pyne suggests much of the electorate is wallpapered with the face of a fixer. Obviously this is only an allegation of light fingeredness, I have no idea whether or not it’s true, but sticking squarely in theory territory, perhaps there’s an acute shortage of power poles?
Updated
at 1.23am BST
11.56pm BST
23:56
Tony Abbott always loved the Sydney fish market.
clear message for @billshortenmp at Syd fish markets this AM although he is no fan of @TurnbullMalcolm #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/2WIEMTKGGK
11.52pm BST
23:52
ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja is on Sky News this morning and of course he’s asked about superannuation. Seselja says there is concern in the community about the changes, but the concern can be countered successfully with information.
Zed Seselja:
Yes there will always be some concerns ... but we think [the reforms] are fair and balanced, so we will take them to the people.
He’s on with the shadow superannuation minister Jim Chalmers, who says the outlook is very unclear, given Liberals are clearly concerned about elements of the package.
Jim Chalmers:
The real question is whether Malcolm Turnbull walks it back before or after the election.
Seselja says the government is sticking with the package and the concern in the party is very small scale, “just one or two” people.
11.39pm BST
23:39
Hello good people
Katharine Murphy
Thanks Mel, good morning everyone and welcome to Thursday, it’s delightful to be with you. If superannuation pain persists, see your doctor. This time yesterday various Coalition folks were water bombing a brushfire on super set by the foreign minister Julie Bishop. 24 hours, nothing much has changed, except another spot fire has been set by the Cabinet secretary Arthur Sinodinos who yesterday told Sky News the budget package might be adjusted post election after a period of consultation, then, in the same interview, suggested it wouldn’t.
Confused? Don’t be. This campaign has been characterised by these sorts of events. There is this strange dynamic in this contest where the big issues up for discussion in this campaign don’t seem to adhere very much, even though they are being ventilated and written about, but the stumbles and missteps do grip in the news cycle, albeit transiently. Will we all write, in our 2016 wash-ups, in deeply authoritative tones, “the campaign of 2016 was a Marx Brothers film”? That remains to be seen. For now we’ll keep it simple, keep morale high, and stick with Thursday, which looms before us like a ten-minute-update highway to sunset, mainly flat fast and straight, but with the occasional hairpin bend.
Out on the ground, out of sight of the national campaign, MPs are out and about every day, handing out flyers, shaking hands, courting the public, doing their best to win votes.
Let’s crack on. Today’s comments thread is open for your business. If the thread’s too bracing for you, Mike Bowers and I are up and about on the twits – he’s @mpbowers and I’m @murpharoo. If you only speak Facebook you can join my daily forum here. And if you want a behind-the-scenes look at the day and the campaign as a whole, give Mike a follow on Instagram. Today he’s consorting with fish. You can find him here.
11.30pm BST
23:30
Thanks for joining me for all the superannuation and backbench revolt talk this morning. Melissa Davey here handing over to deputy political editor Katharine Murphy in Canberra now, who I’m sure will make sense of the morning’s events and commentary for us.
See you tomorrow.
11.26pm BST
23:26
Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm says the government is punishing those with “aspirations to be comfortable in life” through its superannuation reforms that target the wealthy.
He says political donations and support from the conservative base of the Liberal party are rolling in as a result of the superannuation policy, which includes lowering the annual limit on contributions that are taxed at the concessional rates, and tightening of transition to retirement provisions. Leyonhjelm told ABC radio:
I’m not sure that they’re tearing up their membership cards in droves or leaving the party in droves but they’re certainly disenchanted. They’re saying, ‘What can we do to launch a protest vote’. We have some new members as a result, they’ve left the Liberal party and joined us, but more commonly they say, ‘I’ll stay with the Liberals but donate money to the Liberal Democrats’.
How many people, host Fran Kelly asks?
Ahh.. well.. it’s dozens to hundreds. I have to confess my staff don’t think the Senator needs to know that information but certainly there’s a lot of them. I can’t put a figure on it.
He said that the Liberal party members turning to the Liberal Democrats were also unhappy there had been “no serious attempt to bring spending under control”. They were frustrated, he said, that the government was doing nothing to stop middle-class welfare, while simultaneously punishing those with aspirations, including wealthy people entering retirement.
This government is not serious about aspiration. They’re addicted to spending. They won’t tackle middle class welfare. There are lots of people receiving... support and the government won’t tackle them for political reasons. As long as that’s the case the people are saying; ‘Why should you be clipping my wings and my aspirations to be comfortable in retirement?’
Updated
at 11.26pm BST