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'Our multicultural character began long before Europeans,' says Turnbull – politics live 'Our multicultural character began long before Europeans,' says Turnbull – politics live
(35 minutes later)
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Lunchtime politics
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Bipartisan benches.
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Paul Karp
Senator Nick Xenophon has spoken in the Senate about the government’s changes to the Fair Work Act to deal with the Victorian Country Fire Authority dispute.
Xenophon said he and his two fellow NXT senators will vote for the bill because “on balance it will clarify the rights and responsibilities of volunteers and [United Firefighters Union] members in their interactions with each other”.
He said NXT’s senators have reservations about the bill but opted to “err on the side of caution” because it has a significant potential to ameliorate the long-running dispute.
Xenophon said the bill will face a “robust and lengthy committee process” so the Senate can scrutinise how it will work, the scope of regulations and concerns about its constitutionality.
Senator Jacqui Lambie has opposed the bill, citing those constitutional concerns and describing the dispute as a “school-yard fight that should be left to the Victorian government”.
The fate of the bill now depends on One Nation. Senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts have expressed support, and if their colleagues vote with them the government will win the vote.
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Mike Bowers reports Tony Abbott was not in the chamber for the statement on multiculturalism and reconciliation. Though we are not sure he is in parliament today.
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It seems the chamber was not entirely full for the diversity motion.
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While they rush down to the chamber, some pictures.
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Bill Shorten warns the Coalition that Labor will pursue this issue to the next election. Health shadow Catherine King follows Shorten.
Okay, we have a vote now.
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This is Labor’s motion.This is Labor’s motion.
Despite the Prime Minister claiming he had heard a “very clear lesson” about his attacks on Medicare, 100 days since the election not one cut to Medicare has been reversed; and b) Therefore, calls on the Prime Minister to:Despite the Prime Minister claiming he had heard a “very clear lesson” about his attacks on Medicare, 100 days since the election not one cut to Medicare has been reversed; and b) Therefore, calls on the Prime Minister to:
i. Guarantee to keep Medicare in public hands as a universal health insurance scheme for all Australians;i. Guarantee to keep Medicare in public hands as a universal health insurance scheme for all Australians;
ii.Guarantee to protect bulk billing so that every Australian can see their doctor when they need to and not only when they can afford to;ii.Guarantee to protect bulk billing so that every Australian can see their doctor when they need to and not only when they can afford to;
iii. Reverse his harmful cuts to Medicare by unfreezing the indexation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule;iii. Reverse his harmful cuts to Medicare by unfreezing the indexation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule;
iv. Reverse his cuts to pathology that will mean Australians with cancer will pay more for blood tests; v.Reverse his cuts to breast screening, MRIs, X-rays and other diagnostic imaging which will mean Australians will pay more for vital scans;iv. Reverse his cuts to pathology that will mean Australians with cancer will pay more for blood tests; v.Reverse his cuts to breast screening, MRIs, X-rays and other diagnostic imaging which will mean Australians will pay more for vital scans;
vi. Abandon his plans to make all Australians, even pensioners, pay more for vital medicines; andvi. Abandon his plans to make all Australians, even pensioners, pay more for vital medicines; and
vii. Develop a long-term agreement to properly fund our public hospitals so Australians don’t languish in our emergency departments or on long waiting lists for important surgery.vii. Develop a long-term agreement to properly fund our public hospitals so Australians don’t languish in our emergency departments or on long waiting lists for important surgery.
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The Medicare suspension is a chance for Bill Shorten to go back to the election result and Labor’s campaign. He reminds the chamber of image of Malcolm Turnbull’s shocking election night. The Medicare suspension is a chance for Bill Shorten to go back to the election result and Labor’s campaign. He reminds the chamber of the image of Malcolm Turnbull’s shocking election night.
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Labor moves a suspension of the house to debate MedicareLabor moves a suspension of the house to debate Medicare
I need to break from the speech text.I need to break from the speech text.
Bill Shorten is moving to suspend standing orders on the issue of health. The house was in the middle of a debate on migration measures, so the former health minister, now immigration minister, Peter Dutton is looking a little flummoxed.Bill Shorten is moving to suspend standing orders on the issue of health. The house was in the middle of a debate on migration measures, so the former health minister, now immigration minister, Peter Dutton is looking a little flummoxed.
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And here is the quote regarding the person in the senate - left unnamed by both leaders: And here is the quote regarding the person in the Senate – left unnamed by both leaders:
Bill Shorten says the facts are these:Bill Shorten says the facts are these:
In Australia, we are not being ‘swamped’ by anyone.In Australia, we are not being ‘swamped’ by anyone.
Migrants are not filling our dole queues, or taking our jobs, or clogging up our highways – or doing all three at the same time.Migrants are not filling our dole queues, or taking our jobs, or clogging up our highways – or doing all three at the same time.
Migration is not a cost, or a burden.Migration is not a cost, or a burden.
It is a powerful force for our continuing economic growth and future prosperity.It is a powerful force for our continuing economic growth and future prosperity.
Migration boosts productivity, participation and population.Migration boosts productivity, participation and population.
It enhances and complements the skills of our workforce – and it adds new knowledge to our national understanding.It enhances and complements the skills of our workforce – and it adds new knowledge to our national understanding.
In their first year of arrival, migrants contribute a net economic benefit of around $880 million.In their first year of arrival, migrants contribute a net economic benefit of around $880 million.
Ten years later, the same group will contribute around $2 billion to our national economy.Ten years later, the same group will contribute around $2 billion to our national economy.
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Bill Shorten:Bill Shorten:
The word ‘tolerance’ doesn’t do justice to the society we treasure.The word ‘tolerance’ doesn’t do justice to the society we treasure.
We tolerate traffic jams, we tolerate flight delays, we tolerate headaches.We tolerate traffic jams, we tolerate flight delays, we tolerate headaches.
We tolerate Brussel sprouts – we embrace diversity.We tolerate Brussel sprouts – we embrace diversity.
The Bible does not tell us to ‘tolerate’ thy neighbour.The Bible does not tell us to ‘tolerate’ thy neighbour.
Diversity is not a minor inconvenience to be endured, it’s not a device of political correctness … it’s the collective power of our nation, of all of us.Diversity is not a minor inconvenience to be endured, it’s not a device of political correctness … it’s the collective power of our nation, of all of us.
We know today’s immigrants and refugees are tomorrow’s community leaders, business leaders, doctors, nurses and teachers.We know today’s immigrants and refugees are tomorrow’s community leaders, business leaders, doctors, nurses and teachers.
We know inclusion, openness, cohesion are universal values to build upon.We know inclusion, openness, cohesion are universal values to build upon.
We know multiculturalism is not a passing fashion – it is at the very heart of our national identity.We know multiculturalism is not a passing fashion – it is at the very heart of our national identity.
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So Shorten’s argument was that attacks on minorities are weaker when the parliament shows the way.
He makes the point that none of us are described by one feature of our lives – be it religion or anything else. He urges the parliament to reject the false choice between faith and nation or us versus them.
With this motion, we say to Australians no one part of you defines all of you and it should not define your destiny.
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Bear with me. Trying to find the text here.
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Shorten: We are not being swamped by anyone
He says not so long ago his mother was turned away from a job for being Catholic.
Shorten is building the case for diversity, making the bridge between extremists and the right in western countries, who argue Muslims cannot integrate.
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Bill Shorten says there is much disagreement in the parliament. He makes the point diversity and multiculturalism should be embraced rather than just tolerated. He says all but five members in parliament have come from migrants. Shorten says some of his descendants were convicts but it does not mean he is better or worse than anyone else.
We must thoroughly publicly reject racism wherever it occurs, no matter who says it ... as leaders we cannot choose to pass by on the other side of the road.
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Labor filed into the house slowly as Malcolm Turnbull was speaking in time to fill the chamber for Bill Shorten’s speech. Now that Shorten has begun, government MPs are filing out.
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Malcolm Turnbull says he hopes the constitution will some day reflect the First Australians and mentions all Indigenous members by name.
What unites us is that we call ourselves Australian - a nation defined by shared political values of democracy, the rule of law, a fair go.
And surely, if someone, whoever they are, ascribes to the values we hold as important in Australia, and sees themselves as Australian – with all that means in terms of freedom, rule of law, social cohesion through the acceptance of fundamental democratic principles – then they deserve our respect and our welcome.
Mr Speaker, we are citizens of a most remarkable nation. Our people are our greatest assets – a nation of immigration, multicultural, with a shared destiny.
This is our home. We have no other. Unity in diversity, harmony at home in the midst of a turbulent world - we have much of which to be proud, to cherish and defend.
And that is our duty, the 45th parliament’s duty, to stand up today for the timeless values of the motion which together we commend to the House.
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Malcolm Turnbull acknowledges Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations.
Kevin Rudd’s apology for these past injustices has gone some way to heal our nation. Our democratic institutions, and the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people that have steered them, mean our journey towards reconciliation has taken great leaps forward in the half a century that has passed since Wave Hill, but there is still more healing to be done, still relationships that can be built, and still many steps we must walk together on the journey of reconciliation.
Which is why today this parliament reaffirms its commitment to the process of reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and we rededicate ourselves to redressing the profound social and economic disadvantage our nation’s First Peoples face.
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Turnbull: our multicultural character began long before Europeans
Turnbull goes on to note the role of Gough Whitlam and former Labor premier Don Dunstan in overturning the support for a white Australia policy in the Labor party. He says they fought long and hard to do it.
He also pays tribute to Vincent Lingiari, who led the Wave Hill walk off.
We are a multicultural nation and our multicultural character began long before Europeans set foot on this land.
Before European settlement, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples spoke hundreds of languages, including more than 600 dialects, and for tens of thousands of years Indigenous cultures lived side by side with the shared purpose of caring for this country.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - language is not just a collection of words. Language is knowledge. And knowledge is what protects and maintains culture.
My government is deeply committed to the preservation of these ancient languages and to their recognition by the wider Australian community, and ensuring Indigenous language organisations can teach them to future generations, so the stories, the knowledge and the cultures lives on.
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Turnbull turns to the “thoroughly diverse” Muslim Australian community. While there are Muslim converts who seek to do us harm, they are a tiny minority. He says the Muslim community is just as horrified at that minority. Don’t play into the terrorist campaign which seeks to make Muslims feel unwanted, he says.
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It looks as though there is a full house behind Turnbull but I will get eyes on the full chamber in a moment.
He continues, saying not every Australian always welcomes newcomers. There has been disharmony but:
We have much more of which to be proud than self-rapproaching.