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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/sep/14/malcolm-turnbull-same-sex-marriage-plebiscite-bill-labor-coalition-politics-live

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Version 13 Version 14
Malcolm Turnbull presents marriage equality bill to parliament – question time Malcolm Turnbull presents marriage equality bill to parliament – question time
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18 years in the making. Coming up.
One Nation promo for Hanson speech says it is '18 years in the making' #auspol pic.twitter.com/qFwDrMqPpP
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From earlier today, Natalie Kotsios of the Weekly Times reports National MP Andrew Broad has said foreign investment thresholds in free-trade agreements should be reconsidered and brought down to $15m.
The government brought the Foreign Investment Review Board thresholds down to $15m for agricultural land and $55m for agribusiness.
But exemptions built into free-trade deals with the US, New Zealand and Chile remain, for whom the threshold is $1.094bn.
“Some say you can’t renegotiate a deal but I think that [the threshold] is an anomaly and if we’re going to be true to ourselves, we need to be consistent with everyone,” Mr Broad said.
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The Nationals’ MP for Lyne, David Gillespie, is giving the reply, defending Turnbull and the Coalition.
Meanwhile in the Senate, I hear whispers the government is seeking to extend the sitting hours of the Senate on Thursday afternoon after a couple of days of filibustering.
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Tanya Plibersek references the plebiscite. She says, in years gone by, other families were deemed not suitable.
Have we not learned that we should give up judging other people’s relationships? ... Families come in all different shapes and sizes.
Plibersek says everyone is waiting for the real Malcolm Turnbull to stand up.
This fizza is the real Malcolm Turnbull.
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Tanya Plibersek is prosecuting the matter of public importance today, namely “the prime minister’s failure of leadership”.
The deputy leader mentions the artist in her electorate who produced this poster:
Download & distribute your ''Malcolm is a Fizza poster'' here https://t.co/LxG1p0ePaX#auspol #ausvotes pic.twitter.com/m2Ycot2idJ
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There was a government question to Christopher Pyne as defence industry minister.There was a government question to Christopher Pyne as defence industry minister.
Then Labor asked financial services minister O’Dwyer again about superannuation, regarding whether she agreed to meet Labor.Then Labor asked financial services minister O’Dwyer again about superannuation, regarding whether she agreed to meet Labor.
She reiterates she looks forward to sitting down with Labor to discuss the Coalition’s super policy.She reiterates she looks forward to sitting down with Labor to discuss the Coalition’s super policy.
Next government question to the infrastructure and transport minister, Darren Chester, on northern Australia investment.Next government question to the infrastructure and transport minister, Darren Chester, on northern Australia investment.
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There is a government question to Sussan Ley: Will the minister outline to the House the government’s commitment to fighting the scourge of cancer in our society, including funding for preventive measures?There is a government question to Sussan Ley: Will the minister outline to the House the government’s commitment to fighting the scourge of cancer in our society, including funding for preventive measures?
This is about Labor refusing to agree cuts to the public dental scheme. This was part of the original omnibus bill but Labor stopped it. Here is Ley:This is about Labor refusing to agree cuts to the public dental scheme. This was part of the original omnibus bill but Labor stopped it. Here is Ley:
The deputy leader of the opposition probably doesn’t take quite the same approach to budget repair as some of the economic hardheads in her party because she desperately hung on to a measure that makes absolutely no sense in the context of public health and she’s highlighted it, thank you, the kids dental measure ... The problem is it’s not a public dental scheme. It’s a scheme where, if you have an income of $178,000 and two children, you could access this public dental scheme.The deputy leader of the opposition probably doesn’t take quite the same approach to budget repair as some of the economic hardheads in her party because she desperately hung on to a measure that makes absolutely no sense in the context of public health and she’s highlighted it, thank you, the kids dental measure ... The problem is it’s not a public dental scheme. It’s a scheme where, if you have an income of $178,000 and two children, you could access this public dental scheme.
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A very interesting question from Andrew Leigh to Kelly O’Dwyer: Why won’t the government join with the opposition to produce a package of superannuation concession reforms that add $4.4bn to the budget bottom line over the medium term?A very interesting question from Andrew Leigh to Kelly O’Dwyer: Why won’t the government join with the opposition to produce a package of superannuation concession reforms that add $4.4bn to the budget bottom line over the medium term?
O’Dwyer:O’Dwyer:
The Coalition government has put forward a very detailed policy as outlined in the budget, a very detailed policy is outlined in the budget. Those opposite don’t believe in some of the flexibility measures that would actually deliver for individuals the ability to contribute more into their superannuation to provide more in their retirement. We on this side think it’s important to protect those flexibility measures, which is why we have argued so strongly for them.The Coalition government has put forward a very detailed policy as outlined in the budget, a very detailed policy is outlined in the budget. Those opposite don’t believe in some of the flexibility measures that would actually deliver for individuals the ability to contribute more into their superannuation to provide more in their retirement. We on this side think it’s important to protect those flexibility measures, which is why we have argued so strongly for them.
(This is interesting because it is the next obvious policy area for Labor and the Coalition to cooperate on after the budget cuts. The political problem for Morrison would be ignoring the conservatives who oppose the super changes within the Coalition in order to strike a deal with Labor, which already has a similar policy. The Coalition need Labor – or someone – in the Senate anyway.)(This is interesting because it is the next obvious policy area for Labor and the Coalition to cooperate on after the budget cuts. The political problem for Morrison would be ignoring the conservatives who oppose the super changes within the Coalition in order to strike a deal with Labor, which already has a similar policy. The Coalition need Labor – or someone – in the Senate anyway.)
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Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce is asked a government question about water infrastructure which gives him a chance to talk about dams. BJ loves dams. The agriculture minister, Barnaby Joyce, is asked a government question about water infrastructure, which gives him a chance to talk about dams. BJ loves dams.
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There is another question on superannuation, this time to financial services minister Kelly O’Dwyer. It refers to a report in the Financial Review that the superannuation draft bill is not out because it is “difficult to draft”. There is another question on superannuation, this time to the financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer. It refers to a report in the Australian Financial Review that the superannuation draft bill is not out because it is “difficult to draft”.
O’Dwyer does not mention when the bill is appearing but launches into a defence of the government’s superannuation policy.O’Dwyer does not mention when the bill is appearing but launches into a defence of the government’s superannuation policy.
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The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, answers a question on keeping Australians safe overseas.The foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, answers a question on keeping Australians safe overseas.
She has been meeting with European ministers to discuss border protection, law enforcement collaboration and intelligence sharing.She has been meeting with European ministers to discuss border protection, law enforcement collaboration and intelligence sharing.
The government is sending a representative to work in the cell which was set to counter the online threat, establishing a new security unit in government and setting up a joint initiative with the UK in Jakarta to strengthen regional terrorism and law enforcement agencies.The government is sending a representative to work in the cell which was set to counter the online threat, establishing a new security unit in government and setting up a joint initiative with the UK in Jakarta to strengthen regional terrorism and law enforcement agencies.
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On queue: Labor in the lower house asks Scott Morrison: Last night the member for Warringah said Joe Hockey was the last treasurer who was serious about a structural reform budget. Does the treasurer agree with the member for Warringah’ s assessment of the job that, the more time passes the better Joe Hockey looks?
Obviously Morrison is not going near that question and instead talks about the government’s economic plans and Labor’s plan to “arrest economic growth”.
In the wings, Katharine Murphy reports Tony Abbott looked up at the question and then looked down with no expression. When Morrison said “achievements” Abbott looked up again with the shadow of a smile.
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George Brandis just told the Senate:
I believe Malcolm Turnbull will rank with Sir Robert Menzies and John Howard as one of Australia’s great prime ministers.
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Josh Frydenberg gets a question on Arena, the subject of fierce debate this morning during the budget omnibus bill. (The government obviously thought they needed to explain.)
Will the minister update the House on the benefits for renewable energy in the government’s budget savings of an omnibus bill?
The omnibus bill is good news for the renewable energy sector because we will restore $800m in grants for the renewable energy sector through Arena while keeping the $10bn Clean Energy Finance Corporation intact.
Which doesn’t really explain where the money is coming from.
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Australian Christian Lobby very pleased with @TurnbullMalcolm's speech today (via @BernardKeane) #auspol pic.twitter.com/ExRBYhI6xG
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The landscape today.
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Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: I refer to the treasurer’s previous answer in which the treasurer said the government was committed to the revenue from its superannuation policy but failed to confirm the government is committed to the policy itself. We ask again – can the treasurer confirm the concessional cap for superannuation will continue to have a $500,000 limit and a 2017 start date?
Morrison talks about how important the superannuation reforms are but does not commit to the specific measures.
Of course the backstory here is that Morrison is still negotiating (as far as we know) with his backbenchers. Some of them oppose the measures.
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A government question to the social services minister, Christian Porter: Will the minister update the House on savings achieved in the social services portfolio over the past 12 months? Are there any alternative approaches?
This is a chance for Porter to take the mickey out of Labor for supporting Coalition budget measures which they previously opposed. Apparently some of the posters against the cuts are still displayed in Labor offices in parliament.
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Wilkie to the health minister, Sussan Ley: I’ve received many complaints from older Australians and their families about the ridiculous cost of home care packages. One example is a client who was effectively being charged $165 an hour for assistance with house cleaning and showering when all of the administrative expenses were included. The problem is that there’s a cap on fees but no floor on services. And this allows overcharging by many service providers on a scale, a reasonable person would characterise as systemic rorting. Minister, this is obviously unacceptable, both for the consumers who can’t afford the fees and for the taxpayers who are subsidising the packages. What will you do about it?
Ley wants to hear about the individual case.
It is true that at the moment providers of home care packages can charge an administration fee and we expect them to charge a reasonable fee.
Ley says that, under reforms going to parliament, the care packages will be attached to the consumer rather than the aged care providers.
This situation will not therefore happen. We will give the consumer the power of the spending on their own care, on their own package in their own home that allows them to live exactly the life that they choose, not dictated by providers, not with excessive administration fees, but actually recognising that choice in aged care is vital.
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A government question to Morrison on a strong economy.
We need to break the curse of Labor’s debt, says Morrison.
Plibersek to Morrison: Given that it’s more than four months since the budget, can the treasurer confirm that the nonconcessional superannuation cap will continue to have a $500,000 limit and a 2017 start date?
Morrison:
We continue to pursue those measures because those measures are essential to not just the equity of the system as it stands but the intergenerational equity as we have a growing and ageing population.
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Plibersek to Turnbull: A group of Catholic nuns and their supporters working to combat slavery and support victims of human trafficking is in Canberra today. They have been told that government cut also mean they will lose their funding from July next year. Why is that? Why is it that the PM can find over $170m to spend on an unnecessary damaging and divisive plebiscite but he can’t find the money to help the victims of human trafficking?
Turnbull:
Yes, it will cost $170m. But what price democracy? ... There was a time when the Labor party did not accuse people who disagreed with them of being homophobes, the extraordinary hateful expressions used by PM innocent figures in the Labor party against people who do not support same-sex marriage is a disgrace.
We respect each side and the Labor party should do the same. Many of their constituents sincerely, honourably, conscientiously believe that same-sex marriage should not be made the law of land. They’re entitled to do that. We will give them a choice.
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