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Pauline Hanson's speech draws cross-party criticism – politics live
Coalition revises superannuation package and dumps lifetime cap – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.54am BST
01:54
Christensen says he told One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts to keep speaking the truth on climate change.
I told him keep speaking the truth to the climate mafia. Obviously he has views on the idea of catastrophic man made climate change being bogus, just like I do. We were on the same page when it comes to that.
1.52am BST
01:52
Christensen is asked about his views on same sex marriage and polygamy. Will one lead to the other?
I will treat the same sex marriage issue on its own. There are people out there that are almost pushing for polygamy.
1.50am BST
01:50
George Christensen: superannuation changes seal the deal
George Christensen, Liberal National party MP and agitator, is a happy man today.
The doing away of the $500,000 non-concessional lifetime cap goes even further that than I would have thought. I would have been happy with a $1m non-concessional cap. Doing away with it is one step better, I suppose that does away also with all the retrospectivity concerns that people had. These were issues that were raised by many, many people in my electorate and also many people in the Liberal and National party membership and base … This really does seal the deal and as such, I can say I am 100% supportive of the new superannuation reforms that we will take to parliament and I will no longer be crossing the floor, if indeed what has been announced today is what is going to be legislated.
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1.44am BST
01:44
Thank you, Matthew.
Ms Hansen presented an erudite & charitable maiden speech, commensurate with her role as a Party leader. #auspol pic.twitter.com/XElfHBtEB3
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1.37am BST
01:37
The trifecta of Australian dreams, by Scott Morrison
A question from Peter Martin of Fairfax draws out a soliloquy of sorts from the treasurer about the Australian dream.
Q: People concerned about the stability of the budget will be applauding this if you get it through, it looks like you will. Can you understand, though, why most people would think that $100,000 a year out of after-tax income, is an extraordinarily high amount to enable someone to contribute to super out of their own pocket. Almost no one could do that. Is the limit a little high?
I’m no enemy of aspiration by Australians and what we’ve said is that we have established a transfer balance cap of $1.6m in this package which we announced on budget night. You know, as well as I do, that only about 1% of people get to that, even under the generous concessions that have particularly been in place since 2007 …
And when you could have $180,000 a year with three-year bring forwards and you could keep rolling it in three years after three years after three years we had balances in this country on superannuation in excess of $5m, $10m, $50m, $100m. That is the product of a previous set of arrangements.
That will have a legacy to it, understandably. But at the same time what we’ve said here is you can make those after-tax contributions but once you hit $1.6m, that’s great. I think … there are many great achievements in life. Raising your children, paying off your home and providing for yourself in your retirement. They are a trifecta of Australian dreams that we believe in.
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1.27am BST
01:27
A question from the floor to Scott Morrison..
The PM described the changes outlined in the budget as ironclad. They have now been changed. Do you expect that ironclad promise was wrong?
What I accept is when you’re in government you have to solve problems, you have to work issues and you have to get to conclusions and that’s what we’ve done today.
1.23am BST
01:23
This is more detail from the treasurer’s statement.
Individuals with a superannuation balance of more than $1.6m will no longer be eligible to make non-concessional (after tax) contributions from 1 July 2017. This limit will be tied and indexed to the transfer balance cap.
This ensures that we focus the entitlement for after tax contributions to those Australians who have an aspiration to maximise their superannuation balances and reach the transfer balance cap in the retirement phase, where a zero tax on earnings applies.
These measures mean that with their annual concessional contributions, Australians will be able to contribute $125,000 each year and, if taking advantage of the non-concessional ‘bring forward’, up to $325,000 in any one year until such time as they reach $1.6m.
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1.17am BST
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01:17
01:17
The treasurer makes the point that Labor should support the package (given it has removed the backdating provision which they opposed). He has called Chris Bowen and offered a briefing. It’s the new caring sharing Scott Morrison.
The treasurer makes the point that Labor should support the package (given it has removed the backdating provision which they opposed). He has called Chris Bowen and offered a briefing. It’s the new caring, sharing Scott Morrison.
I commend Mr Bowen this week, I commend Chris on the work he did on the omnibus bill this week. I think it is clear that there are people in Labor, as Chris has demonstrated, we can work with, to come to arrangements like this. It’s really up to whether Mr Shorten is. That’s really what it’s about. He’s demonstrating a greater commitment to Opposition than he is to progress but there are members in his own team who I think are trying to go a better way.
I commend Mr Bowen this week, I commend Chris on the work he did on the omnibus bill this week. I think it is clear that there are people in Labor, as Chris has demonstrated, we can work with, to come to arrangements like this. It’s really up to whether Mr Shorten is. That’s really what it’s about. He’s demonstrating a greater commitment to opposition than he is to progress but there are members in his own team who I think are trying to go a better way.
Naughty ScoMo. Push Bowen. Whack Shorten.
Naughty ScoMo. Push Bowen. Whack Shorten.
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1.12am BST
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01:12
01:12
The measures were supported “acclamation” in the partyroom, says the treasurer.
The measures were supported “acclamation” in the party room, says the treasurer.
Over the past few months, we have been engaging with our colleagues, our Coalition colleagues, on all of these measures. And we have been listening to them as they have been listening to their communities and to their constituents.
Over the past few months, we have been engaging with our colleagues, our Coalition colleagues, on all of these measures. And we have been listening to them as they have been listening to their communities and to their constituents.
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1.10am BST
1.10am BST
01:10
01:10
Superannuation reform package 2.0: lifetime cap is gone
Superannuation reform package 2.0: lifetime cap is gone
The new measures, by Scott Morrison, are:
The new measures, by Scott Morrison, are:
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01:04
01:04
Morrison starts with the purpose of superannuation and a note to Peter Costello, who oversaw the current superannuation system.
Morrison starts with the purpose of superannuation and a note to Peter Costello, who oversaw the current superannuation system.
The purpose of these tax concessions is as outlined by David Murray and that is to provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the aged pension. That’s what they’re supposed to do.
The purpose of these tax concessions is as outlined by David Murray and that is to provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the aged pension. That’s what they’re supposed to do.
1.03am BST
01:03
Scott Morrison’s superannuation press conference begins.
1.02am BST
01:02
Richard Di Natale on Sky this morning, defending the Greens’ decision to walk out on the Hanson speech.
Richard Di Natale says Pauline Hanson's speech was 'racist, bigoted and divisive' #AMAgenda https://t.co/d3PXdOGDX5
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12.54am BST
00:54
Phil Coorey of the Fin has the super guff.
The federal government has made significant changes to its superannuation package, including dumping plans for a backdated, lifetime cap of $500,000 on non-concessional contributions, in order to win over the backbench and ultimately, the Senate.
In a compromise to be put to the party room for approval on Thursday, sources said the $500,000 cap backdated to 2007 had been removed and replaced by a mechanism in which people would be able to make both concessional and non-concessional contributions until the cap of $1.6m in a super retirement account was reached. There will be a yearly cap of $100,000 on non-concessional contributions until the $1.6m is reached.
Dumping the $500,000 lifetime cap would cost the budget $550m in revenue over four years.
To recoup this, sources said the government had scrapped a proposal to remove restrictions such as minimum work requirements on people aged between 65 and 74 wishing to make voluntary contributions to their super.
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12.47am BST
00:47
Let’s just refresh memories about the government’s superannuation proposal that emerged from the 2016 budget.
The Coalition policy placed a $500,000 lifetime cap on after-tax superannuation contributions backdated to 2007, increases the concessional tax rate on asset earnings from 0% to 15% for people aged 56 to 65 in the “transition to retirement”, and taxes accounts over $1.6m at 15%.
A number of backbenchers were revolting, on the lifetime cap and the backdating. I am told the cap is gone in a major rejig.
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12.17am BST
00:17
Malcolm Turnbull appears to have given an interview to the Financial Review:
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull believes the Senate will pass the two industrial relations bills that triggered the double-dissolution election without the need for a joint sitting of parliament as he indicated the government was prepared to compromise on these measures as well as all other budget bills to secure their passage.
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review to mark his first year in office, Mr Turnbull said the government’s singular focus from now until the next election would be on the budget and economic reform and that he would not be distracted by such issues as same-sex marriage.
And in Fairfax Media:
A defiant Malcolm Turnbull has claimed credit for stronger-than-expected economic growth in the first year of his prime ministership, declaring he deserves a “tick” for delivering economic leadership.
The prime minister has also cited his science and innovation agenda as one of the key reasons for higher growth and investment and stronger business confidence, saying it is “directly related” to the improvement.
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12.09am BST
00:09
Coalition superannuation deal just about done with the backbench
Now that I have that off my chest, I can tell you that there is a party-room meeting going on now to tick off changes to the Coalition’s superannuation policy. Cabinet met last night, as did the economics committee. We are told the changes are revenue neutral. More details in a minute.
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12.07am BST
00:07
Those who have followed my work will know I have written extensively about the disenfranchised in rural and regional areas. While some may call me a latte-sipping elite, I am no stranger to communities in the back blocks. I live in a small town and live among some people who for various reasons share some of the views of Pauline Hanson. Some vote for her.
I heard those views just prior to Hanson winning a seat in 1996. I had just moved out of the city and at that time, she was an anathema to me because I considered her and her supporters ignorant. Since coming to know the people in regional Australia, I don’t think of her supporters in that way. They have issues which they want to see ventilated and putting a lid on them will not make them go away. Conversations help.
But there is a difference between then and now, though the messages are similar. I covered that 1996 speech when she said Indigenous Australians were getting special benefits and we were being swamped by Asians. Now we are being swamped by Muslims, who are taking benefits, and the Asians, having done too well, are buying all our land. As Penny Wong said this morning, if she was around in the 50s it would have been the Greeks and Italians. I predict the Sudanese will come into focus in the future.
The difference as I see it is this. In 1996, Hanson was unformed, politically naive, channelling views she heard in her family and in her community. The political process and Svengalis got a hold of her, chucked her in jail for a bit and she has emerged out the other side a different person. Strategic. Polished. That speech last night was a result. Deliberately hitting the same notes but choosing different victims. Smirking as the Greens staged their ill-advised walkout. As Tony Burke said she is not dumb, this was a deliberate, damaging, illogical but incendiary intervention. As much as I railed in 1996, I prefer that version. Pauline Hanson 2.0, in this security environment, has much more capacity for damage.
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11.36pm BST
23:36
If you are looking around for powerful first speeches, check this one out.
Leeser won the safe Liberal seat after Philip Ruddock retired.
It’s the personal experiences I think which shape the best first speeches. Like Labor’s Anne Aly and Liberal’s Tim Wilson. More coming today. I hope to have a list shortly.
11.25pm BST
23:25
A bit of housekeeping. Bills on the program today include:
Parliament starts at 9.30am.
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11.09pm BST
23:09
Good morning,
It was a long night after a long day. I had a dream that Malcolm Turnbull was delivering a speech in a yoga pose called firelog – a decent hip opener with much to recommend it. I think that the very long blog day was messing with my mind. The other thing I was considering was the Pauline Hanson speech. Of course, she went off like a firecracker. And then, so did everyone else. I will have something more to say in a moment but let’s get this baby up and running with a range of reactions.
The PM, via Rosie Lewis in the Oz:
Senator Hanson knows I do not agree with her views on migration. Australia is the world’s most successful multicultural society and the foundation of that success is mutual respect.
Labor’s Penny Wong told Radio National she chose not to attend because Hanson “peddles prejudice and fear”.
There is no community which has been made stronger by prejudice and fear … by targeting people based on their religion or ethnicity. Her comments don’t make Australia stronger or safer, or Australia a more cohesive society.
Wong made the point that if Hanson had been around in the 1950s or 60s she would have targeted Greeks and Italians, then eastern Europeans, then Asians in the 1990s, and today Muslims.
I think diversity is a strength.
Nick Xenophon said the way Hanson had “vilified” Islamic Australians was “heart-breaking”.
This is not what Australia is about – we are an open, inclusive country. Pauline Hanson is wrong.”
The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, said Hanson’s was an “overtly racist, bigoted, divisive speech”.
He explained the Greens walked out because “we didn’t want to dignify it with an audience”.
She’s been elected as a member of parliament, she’s got a platform, doesn’t mean we have to stay in there and listen to that garbage. It just got worse and worse, then I think she tried to conflate refugees with terrorists – and at that point there, our team had had enough.
Mikey Bowers is chasing the pollies around the building so we will have more from in a moment. I am @gabriellechan and he is @mpbowers or you can join the conversation on my Facebook page. Party like it’s 1996.