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Malcolm Turnbull to introduce plebiscite bill on his first anniversary – politics live Pauline Hanson claims Australia 'will be swamped by the Chinese' – politics live
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Parliament calling space.
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Pauline Hanson: We're still being swamped by Chinese. And watch out for a recession.
The second first Pauline Hanson speech is on tonight. This morning, she was doorstopped in the press gallery.
If we keep heading down the path of selling our land and our houses and everything, we will be swamped by the Chinese. They talk about there is a smaller amount than other interests, foreign, even owned, but if Kidman station was sold they would be second to Britain.
Q: What do you make of Malcolm Turnbull’s performance given this is the first anniversary of him becoming PM?
I think a lot of people have been disappointed with him. They have expected more of him and his performance. He is treading very, what can I say, on thin water at the moment because he hasn’t got the numbers in the lower house. So the last election I think has been a big wake-up to the Liberal party and the National party. So people will want to see something happening. If they don’t start reining in the budget, I believe we will be heading down the path of a recession.
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And yes, the senate has guvvie business. And yes, the Senate has guvvie business.
And if these bills make it up to the red chamber, these will be debated too: And, if these bills make it up to the red chamber, these will be debated too:
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These are the bills on the program for the lower house today:These are the bills on the program for the lower house today:
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Paul KarpPaul Karp
Shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, has also spoken to Radio National about a $6.3bn savings deal agreed between the government and opposition on Tuesday. The shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, has also spoken to Radio National about a $6.3bn savings deal agreed between the government and opposition on Tuesday.
Asked about the remaining $12bn of the government’s “zombie” savings blocked in the Senate, Bowen said there was no room for compromise.Asked about the remaining $12bn of the government’s “zombie” savings blocked in the Senate, Bowen said there was no room for compromise.
We’ve been very clear and consistent about those.We’ve been very clear and consistent about those.
He said the 2014 budget measures “unfair” including making unemployed people wait for the dole or making people work until 70 to get the pension. He said the 2014 budget measures were “unfair”, including making unemployed people wait for the dole or making people work until 70 to get the pension.
Speaking about the marriage equality plebiscite, Bowen said legislation could change the Marriage Act but a referendum is needed to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution.Speaking about the marriage equality plebiscite, Bowen said legislation could change the Marriage Act but a referendum is needed to recognise Indigenous Australians in the constitution.
While we are having this debate about a plebiscite and making the people do what parliament should, we’re not progressing Indigenous recognition. There’s not enough bandwidth in the political debate to allow us to have a referendum on Indigenous recognition and plebiscite on marriage equality at the same time.While we are having this debate about a plebiscite and making the people do what parliament should, we’re not progressing Indigenous recognition. There’s not enough bandwidth in the political debate to allow us to have a referendum on Indigenous recognition and plebiscite on marriage equality at the same time.
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Katharine Murphy wrote a piece last night about a reference to Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (JSCEM). Malcolm Turnbull’s answer to donation reform post-Dastyari was that the JSCEM would look at all of these issues and then make recommendations. (Which are often ignored.) Katharine Murphy wrote a piece last night about a reference to joint standing committee on electoral matters (JSCEM). Malcolm Turnbull’s answer to donation reform post-Dastyari was that the JSCEM would look at all of these issues and then make recommendations (which are often ignored).
Here is Murph’s piece:Here is Murph’s piece:
The government is poised to send a reference to the joint standing committee on electoral matters requiring a fresh look at Australia’s donations and disclosure system after negotiations with key Senate crossbenchers and the ALP.The government is poised to send a reference to the joint standing committee on electoral matters requiring a fresh look at Australia’s donations and disclosure system after negotiations with key Senate crossbenchers and the ALP.
The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, has signalled he will ask the committee to examine the question of foreign donations, fundraising, and activity by third parties, reporting by March.The special minister of state, Scott Ryan, has signalled he will ask the committee to examine the question of foreign donations, fundraising, and activity by third parties, reporting by March.
While negotiations were still underway on Tuesday night with Labor and other key stakeholders, the new inquiry is expected to be confirmed by the Turnbull government on Wednesday.While negotiations were still underway on Tuesday night with Labor and other key stakeholders, the new inquiry is expected to be confirmed by the Turnbull government on Wednesday.
The likelihood of imminent agreement has prompted the Nick Xenophon Team to withdraw a motion it wanted to push through the Senate calling for an inquiry foreign political donations; sources of private (including corporate and union donations) and public funding and contribution limits and caps; alternative funding practices including consideration of comparative overseas models operating in Canada and the UK; transparency, accountability and reporting measures, and potential limits on election expenses.The likelihood of imminent agreement has prompted the Nick Xenophon Team to withdraw a motion it wanted to push through the Senate calling for an inquiry foreign political donations; sources of private (including corporate and union donations) and public funding and contribution limits and caps; alternative funding practices including consideration of comparative overseas models operating in Canada and the UK; transparency, accountability and reporting measures, and potential limits on election expenses.
No doubt JSCEM may get a submission from the Americans, if the ambassador’s comments are any indication.No doubt JSCEM may get a submission from the Americans, if the ambassador’s comments are any indication.
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The Coalition-Labor compromise on the $6.3bn budget bill was a welcome relief - a sign that politicians can get in a room and find some common ground. If you wondered why Tony Abbott’s prime ministership was such a dog fight, it may have been because he does not appear to believe in compromise. The Coalition-Labor compromise on the $6.3bn budget bill was a welcome relief – a sign that politicians can get in a room and find some common ground. If you wondered why Tony Abbott’s prime ministership was such a dogfight, it may have been because he does not appear to believe in compromise.
Tony Abbott says there will be no 'magical consensus' on budget repair https://t.co/9RB0MMpp6i https://t.co/bcKWloXFftTony Abbott says there will be no 'magical consensus' on budget repair https://t.co/9RB0MMpp6i https://t.co/bcKWloXFft
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Free Ruddesque advice from Peta Credlin.Free Ruddesque advice from Peta Credlin.
Peta Credlin says she has no doubt that Tony Abbott would have won the election with more than a one seat majority https://t.co/XB2wjhmIiTPeta Credlin says she has no doubt that Tony Abbott would have won the election with more than a one seat majority https://t.co/XB2wjhmIiT
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Paul KarpPaul Karp
Environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, has been on Radio National explaining the government’s compromise with Labor to retain $800m in the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The decision decreases the planned cut from $1.3bn to $500m over four years. The environment and energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, has been on Radio National explaining the government’s compromise with Labor to retain $800m in the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. The decision decreases the planned cut from $1.3bn to $500m over four years.
This is good news for the job of budget repair ... this is also good news for the renewable sector, because $800m of grants has been restored to Arena. The reality is we have to work with Labor, the Greens, and the crossbench to pass savings because 89% of government spending is tied to legislation. This is good news for the job of budget repair ... this is also good news for the renewable sector, because $800m of grants has been restored to Arena. The reality is we have to work with Labor, the Greens and the crossbench to pass savings because 89% of government spending is tied to legislation.
The Arena deal is part of a wider plan to save $6.3bn by dropping the cut to the clean energy supplement to new welfare recipients but also dropping a $1.4bn “baby bonus”.The Arena deal is part of a wider plan to save $6.3bn by dropping the cut to the clean energy supplement to new welfare recipients but also dropping a $1.4bn “baby bonus”.
Frydenberg says the deal is a credit to treasurer Scott Morrison and finance minister Mathias Cormann, but only grudgingly gave credit to Labor, noting the total of $6.5bn of budget savings in the omnibus bill were measures the opposition had supported before the election.Asked about the first year of Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership, Frydenberg rated it as “outstanding”. He rattles off statistics including GDP growth of 3.3% and unemployment of 5.7%. Frydenberg says the deal is a credit to the treasurer, Scott Morrison, and the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, but only grudgingly gave credit to Labor, noting the total of $6.5bn of budget savings in the omnibus bill were measures the opposition had supported before the election.Asked about the first year of Malcolm Turnbull’s prime ministership, Frydenberg rated it as “outstanding”. He rattles off statistics including GDP growth of 3.3% and unemployment of 5.7%.
In the poll published yesterday he [Turnbull] was way ahead of Bill Shorten in terms of preferred prime minister ... don’t subscribe to the Bill Shorten victory lap, he actually lost the election.In the poll published yesterday he [Turnbull] was way ahead of Bill Shorten in terms of preferred prime minister ... don’t subscribe to the Bill Shorten victory lap, he actually lost the election.
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George Brandis: marriage equality is so close now you can touch itGeorge Brandis: marriage equality is so close now you can touch it
I noted attorney general George Brandis’ plea to Bill Shorten and Labor. Shorten has said it will be three weeks before they will give an answer, which is inexplicable to me. They say they are consulting with the LGBTI community which would make sense if there had not been extensive and intense consultations in this building and across the country. If Labor opposes the plebiscite, surely they should just put everyone out of their misery and block it. I noted attorney general George Brandis’ plea to Bill Shorten and Labor. Shorten has said it will be three weeks before they will give an answer, which is inexplicable to me. They say they are consulting with the LGBTI community, which would make sense if there had not been extensive and intense consultations in this building and across the country. If Labor opposes the plebiscite, surely they should just put everyone out of their misery and block it.
Here is Brandis:Here is Brandis:
I would appeal to Mr Shorten and members of the Labor caucus to realise that if they support this plebiscite bill, then there will be a plebiscite on the 11th of February which all of the opinion poll evidence indicates would be passed overwhelmingly. And if those of us, and I’m one, who believe that we ought to reform our marriage law and there ought to be marriage equality, we can have marriage equality within a matter of months. This is so close now you can touch it. Instead, I’m sorry to say, so far Mr Shorten has been putting political game playing ahead of the merits of the issue. Mr Shorten only a year ago said he did support a plebiscite, he thought it was a good day of dealing with the issue. The fact is that Mr Shorten wants gay people to wait for years and years so that he can play politics and if that’s the way this lands, then that will be disgraceful. I would appeal to Mr Shorten and members of the Labor caucus to realise that if they support this plebiscite bill, then there will be a plebiscite on the 11th of February, which all of the opinion poll evidence indicates would be passed overwhelmingly. And if those of us, and I’m one, who believe that we ought to reform our marriage law and there ought to be marriage equality, we can have marriage equality within a matter of months. This is so close now you can touch it. Instead, I’m sorry to say, so far Mr Shorten has been putting political game playing ahead of the merits of the issue. Mr Shorten only a year ago said he did support a plebiscite, he thought it was a good day of dealing with the issue. The fact is that Mr Shorten wants gay people to wait for years and years so that he can play politics and, if that’s the way this lands, then that will be disgraceful.
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Labor’s shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has been around the traps this morning. Labor’s shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, has been around the traps this morning.
He was asked how he would rate Malcolm Turnbull’s first year.He was asked how he would rate Malcolm Turnbull’s first year.
F. F for Fail.F. F for Fail.
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US ambassador concerned over Chinese political donationsUS ambassador concerned over Chinese political donations
The Australia’s Paul Kelly has an intervention by the outgoing US ambassador John Berry on the issue of donations by Chinese companies following the fall of Sam Dastyari. The Australian’s Paul Kelly has an intervention by the outgoing US ambassador John Berry on the issue of donations by Chinese companies following the fall of Sam Dastyari.
The US has expressed its alarm about the influence of China and the Beijing government in Australia’s domestic politics and wants reforms to eliminate China’s ­ability to use financial donations to influence Australian politicians.The US has expressed its alarm about the influence of China and the Beijing government in Australia’s domestic politics and wants reforms to eliminate China’s ­ability to use financial donations to influence Australian politicians.
In an exclusive interview, the departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry, said foreign ­donations were illegal in America, and the US had been “surprised” by Chinese money power in this country and wanted Australia to resolve the issue. In an exclusive interview, the departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry, said foreign ­ donations were illegal in America and the US had been “surprised” by Chinese money power in this country and wanted Australia to resolve the issue.
“It is an entirely different ­matter when the government of China is able to directly funnel funds to political candidates to ­advance their national interests in your national campaign,” Mr Berry told The Australian. “It is an entirely different ­matter when the government of China is able to directly funnel funds to political candidates to ­advance their national interests in your national campaign,” Mr Berry told the Australian.
“That, to us, is of concern. We cannot conceive of a case where a foreign donation from any government, friend or foe, would be considered legitimate in terms of that democracy.”“That, to us, is of concern. We cannot conceive of a case where a foreign donation from any government, friend or foe, would be considered legitimate in terms of that democracy.”
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Good morning,Good morning,
A year ago today, Malcolm Turnbull toppled Tony Abbott. The Coalition government became the second government to change a prime minister in the first term.A year ago today, Malcolm Turnbull toppled Tony Abbott. The Coalition government became the second government to change a prime minister in the first term.
This was his pitch:This was his pitch:
It is clear enough that the government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need. It is not the fault of individual ministers. Ultimately, the prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs.”It is clear enough that the government is not successful in providing the economic leadership that we need. It is not the fault of individual ministers. Ultimately, the prime minister has not been capable of providing the economic leadership our nation needs.”
Our political editor Katharine Murphy looks back at the past year, charting the peaks and troughs of the Turnbull prime ministership. It is well worth your time. Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, looks back at the past year, charting the peaks and troughs of the Turnbull prime ministership. It is well worth your time.
Tony Abbott has been speaking about his demise, suggesting he doesn’t want to go over the entrails. He has to accept the world as it is, rather than as it was or even “as it should be”.Tony Abbott has been speaking about his demise, suggesting he doesn’t want to go over the entrails. He has to accept the world as it is, rather than as it was or even “as it should be”.
With that year in mind, the prime minister comes to parliament today to present two key bills.With that year in mind, the prime minister comes to parliament today to present two key bills.
The first is the budget omnibus savings bill which is the compromise on budget cuts outlined by the Coalition and Labor yesterday. It is worth $6.3bn. The first is the budget omnibus savings bill, which is the compromise on budget cuts outlined by the Coalition and Labor yesterday. It is worth $6.3bn.
The second is the plebiscite (same sex marriage) bill, as it is known. The attorney general George Brandis has been on ABC already this morning, appealing to Bill Shorten and the Labor caucus to support the bill. Brandis is a supporter of marriage equality and did not support the plebiscite originally. But the moderates in the party have decided this is the only way thy will be done. Brandis tells the ABC there will be plebiscite on February 11 and marriage equality could be a reality “in a matter of months”. The second is the plebiscite (same-sex marriage) bill, as it is known. The attorney general, George Brandis, has been on ABC already this morning, appealing to Bill Shorten and the Labor caucus to support the bill. Brandis is a supporter of marriage equality and did not support the plebiscite originally. But the moderates in the party have decided this is the only way thy will be done. Brandis tells the ABC there will be plebiscite on February 11 and marriage equality could be a reality “in a matter of months”.
Let’s crack on because there is a bit to catch up with. I am on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is lurking in the building somewhere. I will try to get to the thread, all things being equal.Let’s crack on because there is a bit to catch up with. I am on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is lurking in the building somewhere. I will try to get to the thread, all things being equal.
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