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Derryn Hinch misses out on seat on Senate privileges committee – politics live Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan call for reform of MPs' perks – politics live
(35 minutes later)
2.59am BST
02:59
Barnaby Joyce to Christensen and Broad on plebiscite: don't make threats
There was a more important point made by Joyce. He was asked about Broad and Christensen making threats against the Coalition if there is a free vote.
He said:
Don’t make threats. Have people clearly understand who you are.
2.50am BST
02:50
Shark nets? Whatevs says Barnaby Joyce
I have to bring you this question to Barnaby.
Q: What do you make of the NSW government decision to install the shark nets along the North Coast?
I think there should be shark net put around me. I don’t know. Whatever! It’s just so you can go for a swim and not get chopped up. That is it.
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02:47
Cathy McGowan makes two points in supporting the motion.
First, politicians have to restore community trust in the system.
Second, this spending is not “entitlements”. It is about work related expenses.
[We] need to give our communities trust in our system, that we do an inquiry, we get the recommendations and then we implement them. That’s my call on the government. We have done the inquiry, we have had the recommendations. Let’s now implement these really important recommendations.
I agreed with Joe Hockey when he said the age of entitlement is over. These are actually work-related expenses.
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02:42
Wilkie says there should be instant reporting so the public can scrutinise the spending on the same day.
It is simply outrageous that it is common in this place for parliamentarians to go anywhere in Australia, pretty much for personal reasons, and then to dress it up as a legitimate trip.
For example, there was a case of an MP who went to Cairns and it does appear to any reasonable person that it was to buy an investment property. We are in the outrageous situation where a number of MPs travelled through country Victoria for a wedding, one of which might have been your former sparring partner. This is outrageous.
If they think they can look the community in the eye and say it was a legitimate use of public money, then they are crazy and they are completely out of step with community expectations. They should be forced to write down the substantive business they were involved in.
Not the purpose of the trip, but the substantive business.
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02:39
Wilkie and McGowan call for reform of parliamentary entitlements
Cathy McGowan and Andrew Wilkie, independents both, are announcing a motion call on the government to reform parliamentarians’ entitlements.
[Bronywn Bishop] was discovered to have used a light aircraft and helicopter as a runabout at enormous expense to the taxpayer. As that unfolded, it was revealed other parliamentarians ... would use their so-called entitlements in ways that may well be within the rules, but they were completely out of step with community expectations. They were completely improper ways of spending public money. The government, to its credit, appointed five eminent people to conduct an inquiry. The report came out [with] 36 recommendations. As far as I can tell, only a handful, if that, of those recommendations have been implemented. In other words, the report has been virtually ignored.
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02:33
Barnaby Joyce is giving a press conference.
These are the points and I will bring quotes in a minute.
He has not spoken to George Christensen, who overnight said the plebiscite was part of the Coalition deal.
He says there is no possibility the Coalition will split over the issue.
We have a strong Coalition. It is quite clear that we made a promise at the election for a plebiscite.
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Yesterday Katharine Murphy wrote about Senator John Williams being forced to step down for Pauline Hanson to move on to the joint committee that deals with the NBN. This was an unusual move for the government to give up a number. Yesterday Katharine Murphy wrote about senator John Williams being forced to step down for Pauline Hanson to move on to the joint committee that deals with the NBN. This was an unusual move for the government to give up a number.
Communications minister Mitch Fifield told Patricia Karvelas on RN last night that there was nothing to see here. The communications minister, Mitch Fifield, told Patricia Karvelas on RN last night that there was nothing to see here.
Q: So let me read between the lines, or maybe you can just be honest, I mean you can do that. You’re just trying to be nice to Pauline Hanson, to make her feel comfortable with the government’s bills perhaps?Q: So let me read between the lines, or maybe you can just be honest, I mean you can do that. You’re just trying to be nice to Pauline Hanson, to make her feel comfortable with the government’s bills perhaps?
Fifield:Fifield:
Look, to be perfectly upfront, before the ballot occurred I made the same offer to both Stirling Griff and Pauline Hanson that whichever of them was unsuccessful in the ballot, we’d be happy to try and accommodate them. And that’s what we did.Look, to be perfectly upfront, before the ballot occurred I made the same offer to both Stirling Griff and Pauline Hanson that whichever of them was unsuccessful in the ballot, we’d be happy to try and accommodate them. And that’s what we did.
Q: Ok, so is this something we’re going to see more often? Q: OK, so is this something we’re going to see more often?
Fifield:Fifield:
We’re in the business of trying to have the Parliament work well. The house of representatives is working well. I think the Senate, where we don’t have a majority, is also working well. We’re in the business of trying to have the parliament work well. The House of Representatives is working well. I think the Senate, where we don’t have a majority, is also working well.
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Greg Jericho has written on the bracket creep tax cuts that we have covered here on the blog over the past few days. He applies the Jericho lens to a statement by finance minister Mathias Cormann and applies a few numbers. Let’s call them facts. Greg Jericho has written on the bracket creep tax cuts that we have covered here on the blog over the past few days. He applies the Jericho lens to a statement by the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, and applies a few numbers. Let’s call them facts.
Justifying poor policy often makes politicians say dumb things, and yesterday we saw a classic case by the minister for finance, Senator Mathias Cormann, as he attempted to argue that a tax cut for people earning over $80,000 was necessary to encourage part-time workers make the “additional effort” to work full-time. Justifying poor policy often makes politicians say dumb things, and yesterday we saw a classic case by the minister for finance, senator Mathias Cormann, as he attempted to argue that a tax cut for people earning over $80,000 was necessary to encourage part-time workers to make the “additional effort” to work full time.
The policy to increase the threshold of the 37% income tax bracket from $80,001 to $87,001 is notionally about reducing bracket creep.The policy to increase the threshold of the 37% income tax bracket from $80,001 to $87,001 is notionally about reducing bracket creep.
Bracket creep occurs when due to a wage rise you move into a higher tax bracket. In effect, it is a tax increase by stealth. For example, a person earning $79,000 who got a 2% wage rise to $80,580, goes from paying a marginal tax rate of 32.5% to 37%.Bracket creep occurs when due to a wage rise you move into a higher tax bracket. In effect, it is a tax increase by stealth. For example, a person earning $79,000 who got a 2% wage rise to $80,580, goes from paying a marginal tax rate of 32.5% to 37%.
But we need a bit of context. They would only be paying 37% tax for the $579 they earned above $80,001, the rest would be unchanged. But we need a bit of context. They would only be paying 37% tax for the $579 they earned above $80,001. The rest would be unchanged.
The tax changes mean that now instead of going into a higher tax bracket, this person would remain with a tax rate of 32.5%. It makes a difference of $26 a year less in tax.The tax changes mean that now instead of going into a higher tax bracket, this person would remain with a tax rate of 32.5%. It makes a difference of $26 a year less in tax.
The biggest tax cut anyone will get is those who earn over $87,001 – they will get a cut of $315 a year, or $6 a week.The biggest tax cut anyone will get is those who earn over $87,001 – they will get a cut of $315 a year, or $6 a week.
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I told you there has been a storm of legislation.I told you there has been a storm of legislation.
*1 MR PORTER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to social security, and for related purposes. ( Social Services Legislation Amendment (Transition Mobility Allowance to the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Bill 2016 )*1 MR PORTER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to social security, and for related purposes. ( Social Services Legislation Amendment (Transition Mobility Allowance to the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Bill 2016 )
*2 MRS K. L. ANDREWS : To present a bill for an act to provide for loans to students for vocational education and training, and for related purposes. ( VET Student Loans Bill 2016 )*2 MRS K. L. ANDREWS : To present a bill for an act to provide for loans to students for vocational education and training, and for related purposes. ( VET Student Loans Bill 2016 )
*3 MRS K. L. ANDREWS : To present a bill for an act to deal with consequential and transitional matters in relation to the enactment of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, and for related purposes. ( VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 )*3 MRS K. L. ANDREWS : To present a bill for an act to deal with consequential and transitional matters in relation to the enactment of the VET Student Loans Act 2016, and for related purposes. ( VET Student Loans (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016 )
*4 MR TEHAN : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to veterans’ entitlements and military rehabilitation and compensation, and for related purposes. (Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016 )*4 MR TEHAN : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to veterans’ entitlements and military rehabilitation and compensation, and for related purposes. (Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016 )
*5 MR HAWKE : To present a bill for an act to amend the Customs Act 1901, and for related purposes. ( Customs Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016 )*5 MR HAWKE : To present a bill for an act to amend the Customs Act 1901, and for related purposes. ( Customs Amendment (2017 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2016 )
*6 MS O’DWYER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to seafarers, and for other purposes. ( Seafarers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 )*6 MS O’DWYER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to seafarers, and for other purposes. ( Seafarers and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 )
*7 MS O’DWYER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to social security and veterans’ entitlements, and for related purposes. ( Social Security Legislation Amendment (Youth Jobs Path: Prepare, Trial, Hire) Bill 2016 )*7 MS O’DWYER : To present a bill for an act to amend the law relating to social security and veterans’ entitlements, and for related purposes. ( Social Security Legislation Amendment (Youth Jobs Path: Prepare, Trial, Hire) Bill 2016 )
Except that the duties of the financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, were taken by the assistant cities minister, Angus Taylor. The financial services minister must be on the bench.Except that the duties of the financial services minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, were taken by the assistant cities minister, Angus Taylor. The financial services minister must be on the bench.
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Matt Hatter weighs in on the Coalition agreement.Matt Hatter weighs in on the Coalition agreement.
@gabriellechan The Coalition agreement, whilst considered somewhat obscure by some, was often praised for its succinctness. #auspol pic.twitter.com/JYzwpsi1fh@gabriellechan The Coalition agreement, whilst considered somewhat obscure by some, was often praised for its succinctness. #auspol pic.twitter.com/JYzwpsi1fh
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Trouble if I've ever seen it @gabriellechan #PoliticsLive #auspol @mpbowers @cochl @ellinghausen pic.twitter.com/ulgCPAvluNTrouble if I've ever seen it @gabriellechan #PoliticsLive #auspol @mpbowers @cochl @ellinghausen pic.twitter.com/ulgCPAvluN
1.35am BST1.35am BST
01:3501:35
Gareth HutchensGareth Hutchens
That Hinch matter. Gareth Hutchens reports:That Hinch matter. Gareth Hutchens reports:
The Senate just conducted an interesting ballot.The Senate just conducted an interesting ballot.
It was asked to vote on who should have a seat on the Senate privileges committee – and the contest was between the Greens senator Scott Ludlam and the new independent senator Derryn Hinch.It was asked to vote on who should have a seat on the Senate privileges committee – and the contest was between the Greens senator Scott Ludlam and the new independent senator Derryn Hinch.
Hinch wanted to be on the committee and he was apparently upset that Ludlam looked likely to be renominated. The Senate voted 39-29 in Ludlam’s favour.Hinch wanted to be on the committee and he was apparently upset that Ludlam looked likely to be renominated. The Senate voted 39-29 in Ludlam’s favour.
Some background.Some background.
The committee’s role is to investigate conduct deemed to be obstructing the work of the Senate. It also monitors the use and abuse of parliamentary privilege.The committee’s role is to investigate conduct deemed to be obstructing the work of the Senate. It also monitors the use and abuse of parliamentary privilege.
Hinch used parliamentary privilege in his maiden speech to name four men he claimed were paedophiles. He has threatened to keep doing so. He really wanted to be on the committee.Hinch used parliamentary privilege in his maiden speech to name four men he claimed were paedophiles. He has threatened to keep doing so. He really wanted to be on the committee.
The committee has eight members. Four are nominated by the government, three by the opposition, and one by a minority party and independent senators.The committee has eight members. Four are nominated by the government, three by the opposition, and one by a minority party and independent senators.
The Greens and crossbenchers therefore have to talk among themselves to nominate someone.The Greens and crossbenchers therefore have to talk among themselves to nominate someone.
Ludlam was previously on the committee, and his staff says he had consulted his crossbench colleagues to see if they minded him being on it again, and no one objected. So it looked as though Ludlam was on.Ludlam was previously on the committee, and his staff says he had consulted his crossbench colleagues to see if they minded him being on it again, and no one objected. So it looked as though Ludlam was on.
But Hinch said he wasn’t consulted and he wasn’t happy about it. Ludlam agreed to let the Senate vote on it.But Hinch said he wasn’t consulted and he wasn’t happy about it. Ludlam agreed to let the Senate vote on it.
Hinch lost.Hinch lost.
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After a veritable tornado of bills in the house this morning, the house is back on to the plebiscite.After a veritable tornado of bills in the house this morning, the house is back on to the plebiscite.
Next, to the Senate.Next, to the Senate.
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Here we all are ...Here we all are ...
How is the weather?How is the weather?
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The Coalition agreement: the unicorn of federal politicsThe Coalition agreement: the unicorn of federal politics
Paul Karp has reported on George Christensen:Paul Karp has reported on George Christensen:
The government cannot propose a free vote on same-sex marriage now the plebiscite is doomed because it would breach the Coalition agreement, the conservative MP George Christensen has said.The government cannot propose a free vote on same-sex marriage now the plebiscite is doomed because it would breach the Coalition agreement, the conservative MP George Christensen has said.
The chief nationals whip made the comment on Sky News on Thursday, as Nationals MPs who oppose same-sex marriage began a campaign to prevent reconsideration of a free vote now Labor has said it will vote the plebiscite down.The chief nationals whip made the comment on Sky News on Thursday, as Nationals MPs who oppose same-sex marriage began a campaign to prevent reconsideration of a free vote now Labor has said it will vote the plebiscite down.
It comes after Malcolm Turnbull refused to rule out a free vote on marriage equality, in direct contrast to the stance taken by the Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce.It comes after Malcolm Turnbull refused to rule out a free vote on marriage equality, in direct contrast to the stance taken by the Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce.
“All I will say on that is if all of a sudden the policy becomes a free vote, my firm view, and it’s not just a view it’s actually the reality, [is] that is breaking one of the tenets of the Liberal National Coalition deal,” Christensen said.“All I will say on that is if all of a sudden the policy becomes a free vote, my firm view, and it’s not just a view it’s actually the reality, [is] that is breaking one of the tenets of the Liberal National Coalition deal,” Christensen said.
“That would be quite a serious matter so I don’t think that’s going to eventuate.”“That would be quite a serious matter so I don’t think that’s going to eventuate.”
It is a really interesting question, this Coalition agreement. It is the unicorn of Australian politics, often cited, rarely seen. Or maybe to mangle my metaphors, a magic pudding, expanding to whatever is required.It is a really interesting question, this Coalition agreement. It is the unicorn of Australian politics, often cited, rarely seen. Or maybe to mangle my metaphors, a magic pudding, expanding to whatever is required.
The point of keeping it secret is that the deal can be all things to all people. No facts required. Bearing that in mind ...The point of keeping it secret is that the deal can be all things to all people. No facts required. Bearing that in mind ...
As far as we can ascertain, there is a written deal and then there is a handshake deal between Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce. I have it on good authority that the written deal is not seen by the National MPs in the party room. The discussion of the deal tends to be in broad brushes.As far as we can ascertain, there is a written deal and then there is a handshake deal between Malcolm Turnbull and Barnaby Joyce. I have it on good authority that the written deal is not seen by the National MPs in the party room. The discussion of the deal tends to be in broad brushes.
So if Christensen says its part of the Coalition deal, he must be talking about the handshake deal between Turnbull and Joyce.So if Christensen says its part of the Coalition deal, he must be talking about the handshake deal between Turnbull and Joyce.
In any case, given that the plebiscite bill looks to be going down the tube, the important question is what does the Coalition agreement say on the next step?In any case, given that the plebiscite bill looks to be going down the tube, the important question is what does the Coalition agreement say on the next step?
Broad and Christensen have come out to kibosh a free vote in anticipation of the next step – in case Turnbull gets the whacky idea of allowing the parliament to vote.Broad and Christensen have come out to kibosh a free vote in anticipation of the next step – in case Turnbull gets the whacky idea of allowing the parliament to vote.
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Karen Andrews, as assistant minister for education, has introduced the VET loan bills.Karen Andrews, as assistant minister for education, has introduced the VET loan bills.
12.22am BST12.22am BST
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Lee and Turnbull are asked about the tendency towards protectionism. Lee says there is nothing to be gained by closing ourselves off in our little corner.Lee and Turnbull are asked about the tendency towards protectionism. Lee says there is nothing to be gained by closing ourselves off in our little corner.
Turnbull:Turnbull:
The critical role for us as leaders is to set out the facts clearly, reassure our communities and explain to them that turning your back on technology, turning your back on innovation, turning your back on this change is only a road back to impoverishment, as Prime Minister Lee said. And the world has seen that film before, so this is not a theoretical proposition.The critical role for us as leaders is to set out the facts clearly, reassure our communities and explain to them that turning your back on technology, turning your back on innovation, turning your back on this change is only a road back to impoverishment, as Prime Minister Lee said. And the world has seen that film before, so this is not a theoretical proposition.