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Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan call for reform of MPs' perks – politics live Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan call for reform of MPs' perks – politics live
(35 minutes later)
4.08am BST
04:08
Government question to Turnbull: Will the prime minister update the House on the delivery of the government’s national economic plan in particular how will our tax cuts benefit more than 500,000 middle income Australians and how will the expanded Singapore-Australia Free Trade Agreement provide more opportunities for Australian exporters?
Turnbull says the government had introduced the (bracket creep) income tax cuts, improved the Singapore free trade agreement and protected volunteers from “militant” trade unions.
4.04am BST
04:04
The first question from Shorten to Turnbull:
After the election, the prime minister said that he’d learned a clear lesson about his attacks on Medicare, but last night, in a train wreck of an interview with Laura Jay about the government’s cuts to Medicare, the minister for health said “the policy settings are correct, where they need to be”. Who is correct, the prime minister or the minister, or has the government learned nothing about the election and its attacks on Medicare?
Turnbull says due to the government’s “strong economic management”, new drugs have been listed on the pharmaceutical benefit scheme. He quotes a single mother with breast cancer from Yass who now has access to a new drug that has changed her quality of life.
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Just ahead of QT, in a 90-second statement George Christensen challenges Mark Dreyfus and other Labor members to go to Islamic, Jewish and Catholic schools in his seat and ask if they want to rent their halls for same-sex marriage.
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We have question time coming up.
3.38am BST
03:38
Paul Karp
The Community and Public Sector Union has had a win, with Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and Jacqui Lambie set to combine in the Senate to set up an inquiry into the government’s bargaining policy.
Thanks to @AustralianLabor @Greens @JacquiLambie @Nick_Xenophon for your support. 1000 days of damage and still not fixed. https://t.co/y07R7UasPk
The policy restricts pay rises to 2% and mandates or encourages loss of other conditions as trade-offs for pay rises.
The Senate standing committee on education and employment is likely to ask the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, to explain why she doesn’t change the policy to let departments offer more generous workplace deals to help resolve industrial disputes that have lasted three years in many cases.
The inquiry will consider the impact of the protracted dispute on service provision, harms to tourism from strikes at airports, and the impact on staff conditions, productivity and morale.
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Lunchtime politicsLunchtime politics
Phew. Lunch is required. But first, a summary.Phew. Lunch is required. But first, a summary.
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03:0903:09
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Liberal MP Trevor Evans, one of four gay Liberal MPs or senators, has just finished speaking in the marriage equality plebiscite debate in the House of Representatives.Liberal MP Trevor Evans, one of four gay Liberal MPs or senators, has just finished speaking in the marriage equality plebiscite debate in the House of Representatives.
Evans accepts there are forms of speech that cause harm to LGBTI people, but has argued the plebiscite doesn’t create any new platform for them. Blocking the plebiscite will prolong the debate, he said.Evans accepts there are forms of speech that cause harm to LGBTI people, but has argued the plebiscite doesn’t create any new platform for them. Blocking the plebiscite will prolong the debate, he said.
Evans has warned that a parliamentary vote may not resolve the issue, and LGBTI people’s lives will continue to be subject to political argy-bargy. He said:Evans has warned that a parliamentary vote may not resolve the issue, and LGBTI people’s lives will continue to be subject to political argy-bargy. He said:
A plebiscite provides a comprehensive way to deal with the issue ... The Australian people would make the decision and own the decision.A plebiscite provides a comprehensive way to deal with the issue ... The Australian people would make the decision and own the decision.
On the key issue of what happens now:On the key issue of what happens now:
What next? I don’t know the answer to that question ... There is the real risk that [blocking the plebiscite] will stall this reform for many years to come.What next? I don’t know the answer to that question ... There is the real risk that [blocking the plebiscite] will stall this reform for many years to come.
Evans also repeated a promise he made in a Guardian Australia feature about gay Liberal MPs to step in if debate in the plebiscite became vitriolic.Evans also repeated a promise he made in a Guardian Australia feature about gay Liberal MPs to step in if debate in the plebiscite became vitriolic.
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Senate photography rules enter 21st century: Mike Bowers refuses to drop his LegoSenate photography rules enter 21st century: Mike Bowers refuses to drop his Lego
Mike BowersMike Bowers
And so it has passed.After 25 years of lobbying, arguing, badgering, bluster, flirting, flattering, pleading and on two occasions getting banned from the Senate for breaching the rules, we will now be allowed to operate the same way we do in the House of Reps.With little fanfare and a push from the human headline Derryn Hinch, the restrictive, archaic rules governing the taking of photographs in the Senate have now been brought into line with the rules in the House of Representatives. The two houses had until now had very different rules.Most photographs are allowed in reps but in the Senate you could only photograph the senator with the call, that is the person on their feet talking. This meant that when the Senate chamber divided you could not photograph how various senators were voting.And so it has passed.After 25 years of lobbying, arguing, badgering, bluster, flirting, flattering, pleading and on two occasions getting banned from the Senate for breaching the rules, we will now be allowed to operate the same way we do in the House of Reps.With little fanfare and a push from the human headline Derryn Hinch, the restrictive, archaic rules governing the taking of photographs in the Senate have now been brought into line with the rules in the House of Representatives. The two houses had until now had very different rules.Most photographs are allowed in reps but in the Senate you could only photograph the senator with the call, that is the person on their feet talking. This meant that when the Senate chamber divided you could not photograph how various senators were voting.
The press gallery photographers have been pushing hard to change the rules for many years but a few dissenting voices in the chamber always seemed to scuttle any proposal. With one of the main dissenting voices recently retiring and with a lot of help from Hinch, gallery photographers will from 28 November be able to show Australians more of the upper house, including how they are voting and what they do when they do not have the call.I will, however, not be retiring my Lego #BrickParliament which I instituted as an alternative to illustrating the Senate. It’s too much fun.The press gallery photographers have been pushing hard to change the rules for many years but a few dissenting voices in the chamber always seemed to scuttle any proposal. With one of the main dissenting voices recently retiring and with a lot of help from Hinch, gallery photographers will from 28 November be able to show Australians more of the upper house, including how they are voting and what they do when they do not have the call.I will, however, not be retiring my Lego #BrickParliament which I instituted as an alternative to illustrating the Senate. It’s too much fun.
But I may be too busy covering both houses.But I may be too busy covering both houses.
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Barnaby Joyce to Christensen and Broad on plebiscite: don't make threatsBarnaby 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.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:He said:
Don’t make threats. Have people clearly understand who you are.Don’t make threats. Have people clearly understand who you are.
2.50am BST2.50am BST
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Shark nets? Whatevs, says Barnaby JoyceShark nets? Whatevs, says Barnaby Joyce
I have to bring you this question to Barnaby.I have to bring you this question to Barnaby.
Q: What do you make of the NSW government’s decision to install the shark nets along the north coast?Q: What do you make of the NSW government’s 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.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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Cathy McGowan makes two points in supporting the motion.Cathy McGowan makes two points in supporting the motion.
First, politicians have to restore community trust in the system.First, politicians have to restore community trust in the system.
Second, this spending is not “entitlements”. It is about work related expenses.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.[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.I agreed with Joe Hockey when he said the age of entitlement is over. These are actually work-related expenses.
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Wilkie says there should be instant reporting so the public can scrutinise the spending on the same day.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.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.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.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.Not the purpose of the trip, but the substantive business.
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2.39am BST2.39am BST
02:3902:39
Wilkie and McGowan call for reform of parliamentary entitlementsWilkie 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.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.[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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Barnaby Joyce is giving a press conference.Barnaby Joyce is giving a press conference.
These are the points and I will bring quotes in a minute.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 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.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.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.
The 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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