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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/jun/20/qa-malcolm-turnbull-makes-a-solo-appearance-in-brisbane-politics-live
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Q&A: Turnbull questioned over Medicare, tax reform and offshore detention – politics live | Q&A: Turnbull questioned over Medicare, tax reform and offshore detention – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.26pm BST | |
| 14:26 | |
| Let's blow this crazy popsicle stand | |
| Right folks, at 11.20pm, that’s enough. Thanks for your company this evening, it’s been all kinds of good times. | |
| The live #ausvotes coverage will be back in the morning, from first light, with Helen Davidson on early shift and Gabrielle Chan taking the day shift tomorrow because I’m off to Melbourne for our second Guardian Live election debate at the Malthouse Theatre. It’s not too late to book for tomorrow night’s panel discussion about the economy with Lenore Taylor, George Megalogenis, Jenny Macklin, Christian Porter and I, with a special appearance from Mike Bowers, with tales of the trail. Click here if you want to purchase a ticket. Do it. The Sydney event was huge fun. | |
| But for now, grab a camomile tea and hit the sack. Thanks for reading. | |
| 2.18pm BST | |
| 14:18 | |
| So how did that go? | |
| Malcolm Turnbull got through Q&A still in possession of his voice – tick, and even though there was the odd pulse of irritation, he didn’t lose his cool. Two ticks. Give that man a barley sugar and a whisky. | |
| His backroom will think that went well enough. He got all the talking points up, he pulled the you elect me to lead formulation when pressed by an asylum seeker on Manus Island, which sounds prime ministerial to political advisers. He put some distance between himself and Tony Abbott, and between himself and the right wing of the Liberal party, while insisting he was a team player at heart. Malcolm Turnbull is not even close to being a team player at heart, but he will be if that’s the price of political leadership. He’s demonstrated that amply since taking the prime ministership, that he won’t strain theatrically on his leash, he’ll just move his head slowly every now and again just to prove he’s still in there somewhere. We saw that tonight. Slow head movements, but a whole lot of compliance, in succession. A funny sort of signalling. Not terribly convincing to the voters who would like him to be more progressive, vaguely irritating to colleagues who think he’s a communist. Such is life, at least Malcolm Turnbull’s life. | |
| This is a very superficial observation but I’ll make it anyway. The head cold leant his voice a patrician quality that it doesn’t normally have. If you listened to him rather than looked at him he sounded very controlled, entirely calculated. This morning he sounded like Neville Wran. Tonight he sounded a bit like Malcolm Fraser, which was a bit odd. | |
| Less superficial, entirely interesting, is the low balling effort I mentioned in an aside during the live call. Malcolm Turnbull is trying to get up this concept that you only have to give him another three years. It’s not a lifetime commitment. It’s not a tattoo, it’s just three years. I really do find this fascinating and the pitch is deliberate. He thinks he can persuade undecided voters to shut their eyes, hold their noses, and let him have one term to make his case. He thinks this is a compelling pitch, otherwise, why make it? And the lack of ambition attached to that says everything about the mood of the Australian electorate right now, expectations are low, there is a weariness with the shenanigans. Will it work? Well, in two weeks, we’ll find out. | |
| 1.54pm BST | 1.54pm BST |
| 13:54 | 13:54 |
| Do-overs | Do-overs |
| Q: When you took office, I think there was a great sense of optimism in the community. If you reflect back now on your past 10 months in your job, are you satisfied with your leadership and achievements of you and your government? And if you got a do-over, what would you do differently? | Q: When you took office, I think there was a great sense of optimism in the community. If you reflect back now on your past 10 months in your job, are you satisfied with your leadership and achievements of you and your government? And if you got a do-over, what would you do differently? |
| Malcolm Turnbull would like to actually answer this question but he knows people will shout at him if he doesn’t deliver the talking points as this is the final question. This could have been interesting, but it wasn’t, just the stump speech. | Malcolm Turnbull would like to actually answer this question but he knows people will shout at him if he doesn’t deliver the talking points as this is the final question. This could have been interesting, but it wasn’t, just the stump speech. |
| That’s it from Brisbane. I’ll be back shortly with a couple of quick thoughts. | That’s it from Brisbane. I’ll be back shortly with a couple of quick thoughts. |
| 1.52pm BST | 1.52pm BST |
| 13:52 | 13:52 |
| Arts | Arts |
| Q: Will you commit to funding a strong, completely independent Australia Council for the Arts? | Q: Will you commit to funding a strong, completely independent Australia Council for the Arts? |
| Malcolm Turnbull his new arts minister has not directed arts funding politically. He’s a bit irritated because the questioner is persistent. | Malcolm Turnbull his new arts minister has not directed arts funding politically. He’s a bit irritated because the questioner is persistent. |
| OK, if you let me finish, I’ll just complete the answer. | OK, if you let me finish, I’ll just complete the answer. |
| 1.49pm BST | 1.49pm BST |
| 13:49 | 13:49 |
| Abortion | Abortion |
| A question on the consequences of late term abortions. Babies dying in clinics. Turnbull is clearly horrified, but he holds the line. Abortion is a state issue. | A question on the consequences of late term abortions. Babies dying in clinics. Turnbull is clearly horrified, but he holds the line. Abortion is a state issue. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| The law that relates to abortion is very much within the jurisdiction of your parliament here in Queensland. | The law that relates to abortion is very much within the jurisdiction of your parliament here in Queensland. |
| 1.46pm BST | 1.46pm BST |
| 13:46 | 13:46 |
| Plebiscite: show me some leadership, and do your job | Plebiscite: show me some leadership, and do your job |
| A woman with a gay son wants him to get married, like his siblings. | A woman with a gay son wants him to get married, like his siblings. |
| Q: The $160 million plebiscite money is better spent treating depression, alcoholism, drugs and suicide prevention. Why are you not amending the law within the Marriage Act? It is a parliamentary process. We elect representatives into parliament. Just show me some leadership by doing your job. | Q: The $160 million plebiscite money is better spent treating depression, alcoholism, drugs and suicide prevention. Why are you not amending the law within the Marriage Act? It is a parliamentary process. We elect representatives into parliament. Just show me some leadership by doing your job. |
| Malcolm Turnbull says the woman makes a compelling point, but the policy was a government decision before his time as leader. | Malcolm Turnbull says the woman makes a compelling point, but the policy was a government decision before his time as leader. |
| Q: You’re the prime minister! | Q: You’re the prime minister! |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| I am the PM but I’m not the dictator. Some people like the idea of prime ministers that ignore their colleagues. I don’t agree with that. I’m a strong believer in traditional cabinet government. And that means compromise. That means listening to your colleagues. That means being the first among equals and respecting the views of those in your cabinet and in your party room that you may not agree with. | I am the PM but I’m not the dictator. Some people like the idea of prime ministers that ignore their colleagues. I don’t agree with that. I’m a strong believer in traditional cabinet government. And that means compromise. That means listening to your colleagues. That means being the first among equals and respecting the views of those in your cabinet and in your party room that you may not agree with. |
| 1.41pm BST | 1.41pm BST |
| 13:41 | 13:41 |
| Equal opportunity social conservatism | Equal opportunity social conservatism |
| Q: Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman has made comments calling homosexuality an evil act which brought evil outcomes. How are these anymore abhorrent than the comments by Senator Cory Bernardi suggesting that homosexuality leads to beastiality or George Christensen saying Safe Schools leads to grooming? | Q: Sheikh Shady Alsuleiman has made comments calling homosexuality an evil act which brought evil outcomes. How are these anymore abhorrent than the comments by Senator Cory Bernardi suggesting that homosexuality leads to beastiality or George Christensen saying Safe Schools leads to grooming? |
| Malcolm Turnbull says he rejects and condemns any comments which disparage any group of Australians. By anyone. | Malcolm Turnbull says he rejects and condemns any comments which disparage any group of Australians. By anyone. |
| 1.38pm BST | 1.38pm BST |
| 13:38 | 13:38 |
| NBN | NBN |
| Turnbull is challenged on the NBN. The prime minister gives his standard response, Labor mucked this project up. We are fixing it. | Turnbull is challenged on the NBN. The prime minister gives his standard response, Labor mucked this project up. We are fixing it. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| We have taken this failed project and we’re delivering it and we’re delivering it quickly and at lower cost. | We have taken this failed project and we’re delivering it and we’re delivering it quickly and at lower cost. |
| 1.35pm BST | 1.35pm BST |
| 13:35 | 13:35 |
| Manus part III | Manus part III |
| Q: I’m thinking of the homophobia response that you made only last Thursday night where you said that we are, our democracy is based on respect. The better we are at doing that, and showing love, is the best way for us to go. Why can’t you change, and take that concept and put it on to Manus Island? | Q: I’m thinking of the homophobia response that you made only last Thursday night where you said that we are, our democracy is based on respect. The better we are at doing that, and showing love, is the best way for us to go. Why can’t you change, and take that concept and put it on to Manus Island? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Thank you. And that’s a very fair question. This is the problem. If we were to say to all of the people on Manus: “OK, come and settle in Australia” that would be the biggest marketing opportunity for the people smugglers you have ever seen. | Thank you. And that’s a very fair question. This is the problem. If we were to say to all of the people on Manus: “OK, come and settle in Australia” that would be the biggest marketing opportunity for the people smugglers you have ever seen. |
| The boats would be setting off again. | The boats would be setting off again. |
| He rounds out with tough choices. You elect me to make them. | He rounds out with tough choices. You elect me to make them. |
| 1.33pm BST | 1.33pm BST |
| 13:33 | 13:33 |
| Manus, part II | Manus, part II |
| Q: Mr Turnbull, recently a contractor who worked on Manus Island was returning to his work there and in very low tones he said to the editor of the Australian Adventist Record, “It is terrible the way they treat the people there. They are treated worse than animals.” Will you visit this concentration camp and see it for yourself? | Q: Mr Turnbull, recently a contractor who worked on Manus Island was returning to his work there and in very low tones he said to the editor of the Australian Adventist Record, “It is terrible the way they treat the people there. They are treated worse than animals.” Will you visit this concentration camp and see it for yourself? |
| Malcolm Turnbull says no-one has hearts of stone. | Malcolm Turnbull says no-one has hearts of stone. |
| The Manus Island facility is managed by, as you know, by the government of Papua New Guinea. We are satisfied that the conditions there are not as described by the contractor you referred to. Look, I recognise all of us, every one - none of us have hearts of stone. All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals. | The Manus Island facility is managed by, as you know, by the government of Papua New Guinea. We are satisfied that the conditions there are not as described by the contractor you referred to. Look, I recognise all of us, every one - none of us have hearts of stone. All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals. |
| Now he’s into the risks of Labor, restarting the boats. | Now he’s into the risks of Labor, restarting the boats. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| I grant you [the policy] is tough. It is tough. But the alternative is far worse and that is what I, as PM, that’s the tough choice that you entrust me to make as this nation’s leader. | I grant you [the policy] is tough. It is tough. But the alternative is far worse and that is what I, as PM, that’s the tough choice that you entrust me to make as this nation’s leader. |
| 1.30pm BST | 1.30pm BST |
| 13:30 | 13:30 |
| Dispatch from Manus island | Dispatch from Manus island |
| The prime minister gets a question from a detainee on Manus Island. | The prime minister gets a question from a detainee on Manus Island. |
| Tony Jones explains his background. | Tony Jones explains his background. |
| He’s an Iranian Kurdish journalist who fled his country to avoid imprisonment from his writing. He does meet the criteria to be recognised as a refugee. But he’s been detained for three years on Manus. Can you offer him any hope that he will be released from there? | He’s an Iranian Kurdish journalist who fled his country to avoid imprisonment from his writing. He does meet the criteria to be recognised as a refugee. But he’s been detained for three years on Manus. Can you offer him any hope that he will be released from there? |
| Malcolm Turnbull says he’s sure this man would like to come to Australia but that isn’t an option for him. He says the policy is firm and it needs to remain firm to stop drownings at sea. He says the policy is working. | Malcolm Turnbull says he’s sure this man would like to come to Australia but that isn’t an option for him. He says the policy is firm and it needs to remain firm to stop drownings at sea. He says the policy is working. |
| 1.26pm BST | 1.26pm BST |
| 13:26 | 13:26 |
| Q: We have just received an SMS from the gentleman who sent the earlier video question. He says that we need firm action, more than soft words. Future reform needs to be more bottom up and inclusive. Do you have structure in place for this? | Q: We have just received an SMS from the gentleman who sent the earlier video question. He says that we need firm action, more than soft words. Future reform needs to be more bottom up and inclusive. Do you have structure in place for this? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Well, the answer is that we just talked about them, the early psychosis centres and Headspace. But I have to say that there is a place for, if not soft words, at least kind words. | Well, the answer is that we just talked about them, the early psychosis centres and Headspace. But I have to say that there is a place for, if not soft words, at least kind words. |
| Destigmatising, removing the taboo on discussing mental illness and being alert to it is very, very important. A lot of people can go all too quickly from being down to being depressed to being self-destructive. And that warm hand of outreach is more than a soft word. It can be a saving word. It can be a saving outreach. | Destigmatising, removing the taboo on discussing mental illness and being alert to it is very, very important. A lot of people can go all too quickly from being down to being depressed to being self-destructive. And that warm hand of outreach is more than a soft word. It can be a saving word. It can be a saving outreach. |
| 1.23pm BST | 1.23pm BST |
| 13:23 | 13:23 |
| Suicide | Suicide |
| The next question is youth suicide. A man who had lost two kids to suicide. Completely ghastly. | The next question is youth suicide. A man who had lost two kids to suicide. Completely ghastly. |
| Mental health is not a partisan issue, Malcolm Turnbull says. | Mental health is not a partisan issue, Malcolm Turnbull says. |
| Everybody is committed to this. | Everybody is committed to this. |
| A follow up question on why the government is cutting funding for early psychosis intervention in the Headspace centres. | A follow up question on why the government is cutting funding for early psychosis intervention in the Headspace centres. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Well, the answer is we’re not. The answer is we are not. | Well, the answer is we’re not. The answer is we are not. |
| 1.20pm BST | 1.20pm BST |
| 13:20 | 13:20 |
| Short termism, an interjection | Short termism, an interjection |
| Very interesting, the short termism in the Coalition’s election pitch. There is a ten year plan for tax cuts, but Malcolm Turnbull says you only need elect me for another three years. Just like the new advertisement, with #faketradie. Give us a go, for a while. | Very interesting, the short termism in the Coalition’s election pitch. There is a ten year plan for tax cuts, but Malcolm Turnbull says you only need elect me for another three years. Just like the new advertisement, with #faketradie. Give us a go, for a while. |
| 1.18pm BST | 1.18pm BST |
| 13:18 | 13:18 |
| Trickle down | Trickle down |
| Next question is on the company tax cuts. | Next question is on the company tax cuts. |
| Q: Mr Turnbull, your jobs and growth mantra is based on the trickle-down economics theory. Your former employer Goldman Sachs, and many other trusted sources, have raised serious concerns about these tax cuts and confirmed a significant proportion of the windfall will benefit overseas investors, shareholders, and not trickle down at all. Over 10 years the plan will cost the Australian taxpayer in the vicinity of $50bn. Why should ordinaryAustralians support cuts to our services to give companies a tax cut that according to so many experts probably won’t create jobs or contribute to growth significantly? And elsewhere has been shown to increase inequality in society? | Q: Mr Turnbull, your jobs and growth mantra is based on the trickle-down economics theory. Your former employer Goldman Sachs, and many other trusted sources, have raised serious concerns about these tax cuts and confirmed a significant proportion of the windfall will benefit overseas investors, shareholders, and not trickle down at all. Over 10 years the plan will cost the Australian taxpayer in the vicinity of $50bn. Why should ordinaryAustralians support cuts to our services to give companies a tax cut that according to so many experts probably won’t create jobs or contribute to growth significantly? And elsewhere has been shown to increase inequality in society? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Well, thank you. Firstly, let me say that the cutting company tax does not increase inequality in society. There has been a long trend towards reducing company tax right around the world. The biggest cutter of company tax in our lifetimes is in fact Paul Keating. | Well, thank you. Firstly, let me say that the cutting company tax does not increase inequality in society. There has been a long trend towards reducing company tax right around the world. The biggest cutter of company tax in our lifetimes is in fact Paul Keating. |
| Now we are into the cut throat global competition for capital. And the importance of enterprise. | Now we are into the cut throat global competition for capital. And the importance of enterprise. |
| The questioner persists. | The questioner persists. |
| Q: There is no requirement on companies to invest in jobs. They could just pocket the windfall. So it seems to me to be an experiment at the expense of services that Australian taxpayers expect? | Q: There is no requirement on companies to invest in jobs. They could just pocket the windfall. So it seems to me to be an experiment at the expense of services that Australian taxpayers expect? |
| Malcolm Turnbull says first up the tax cuts are for small firms. If you don’t like the results of the first three years of a re-elected Turnbull government, you can chuck me out, the prime minister says. | Malcolm Turnbull says first up the tax cuts are for small firms. If you don’t like the results of the first three years of a re-elected Turnbull government, you can chuck me out, the prime minister says. |
| I’m asking for a three year renewal of my government’s job, serving you. | I’m asking for a three year renewal of my government’s job, serving you. |
| 1.10pm BST | 1.10pm BST |
| 13:10 | 13:10 |
| Tax | Tax |
| The next question is about tax reform: why aren’t we looking at income tax reform and GST reform. Malcolm Turnbull says the budget did contain income tax changes. On the GST, the case wasn’t made to change anything through the distributional analysis. | The next question is about tax reform: why aren’t we looking at income tax reform and GST reform. Malcolm Turnbull says the budget did contain income tax changes. On the GST, the case wasn’t made to change anything through the distributional analysis. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| And that is why we are not touching the GST. | And that is why we are not touching the GST. |
| We will not touch the GST. It does not stack up from an equitable distributional point of view. | We will not touch the GST. It does not stack up from an equitable distributional point of view. |
| 1.08pm BST | 1.08pm BST |
| 13:08 | 13:08 |
| Expenditure restraint | Expenditure restraint |
| Q: Both of the major parties have pledged a return to surplus in 2020, 2021, and say their spending promises can be funded. Given treasury forecasts have fallen short by billions of dollars, it would seem that future projections are unreliable. With this historic reality, it appears a commitment to surplus and generous promises are being made on the never, never. Without going far enough with necessary spending cuts, are both sides guilty of ignoring economic facts? | Q: Both of the major parties have pledged a return to surplus in 2020, 2021, and say their spending promises can be funded. Given treasury forecasts have fallen short by billions of dollars, it would seem that future projections are unreliable. With this historic reality, it appears a commitment to surplus and generous promises are being made on the never, never. Without going far enough with necessary spending cuts, are both sides guilty of ignoring economic facts? |
| Malcolm Turnbull launches a homily on the perils of forecasting. Tricky business, forecasting. | Malcolm Turnbull launches a homily on the perils of forecasting. Tricky business, forecasting. |
| Q: We would be sceptical about your promise to come to a surplus then because that’s beyond the period of the budget? | Q: We would be sceptical about your promise to come to a surplus then because that’s beyond the period of the budget? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| No. | No. |
| Q: It’s a forecast. Isn’t it? | Q: It’s a forecast. Isn’t it? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Let me go on. | Let me go on. |
| The prime minister smiles widely when Jones keeps pulling him up before launching the sledge, with smile fixed. | The prime minister smiles widely when Jones keeps pulling him up before launching the sledge, with smile fixed. |
| Q: I have to jump in here .. | Q: I have to jump in here .. |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Of course you do. You have to defend the Labor Party, Tony. | Of course you do. You have to defend the Labor Party, Tony. |