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Peter Dutton's comments on Lebanese migrants 'loud, lazy disrespect', says Bill Shorten – politics live Peter Dutton's comments on Lebanese migrants 'loud, lazy disrespect', says Bill Shorten – question time live
(35 minutes later)
3.07am GMT
03:07
The first government question is about delivering on promises - union regulations and superannuation.
3.07am GMT
03:07
Shorten to Turnbull: Rosie Batty, the Productivity Commission, the Victorian Royal Commission into family violence have recommended that family violence survivors shouldn’t be cross-examined in court by their abusers. Will the Prime Minister join with Labor to amend the Family Law Act to ensure that vulnerable witnesses are protected during court proceedings?
Turnbull gives a fulsome answer:
We all understand the cross-examination of a victim by the alleged perpetrator is a very traumatic experience.
We are working very closely with the stakeholders in this area, in particular the judges and magistrates in the family courts to progress measures to support vulnerable witnesses.
We are establishing integrated duty lawyer and domestic violence support services in the family law courts to improve the support available to victims and that includes assisting them to draft notices of risk and access alternative ways to give evidence.
We have also commissioned a bench book which provides guidance for all judicial officers dealing with domestic and family violence, including guidelines for courtroom management to minimise secondary abuse through court processes of those who have experienced family violence.
Judges and judicial officers always have a discretion in this area and we are encouraging them to use this very actively to ensure that these distressing circumstances don’t occur. I noted what the honourable member opposite proposed this morning and the funding that he recommended which at first examination would not appear to us to be adequate for the task that he has proposed.
3.02am GMT
03:02
Question time now. First question is on domestic violence.
3.01am GMT
03:01
Scott Morrison: Don't look to Sanders and Corbyn, look to Trump
I will just end on one last point from Scott Morrison and Kelly O’Dwyer’s press conference.
The discussion got around to the the rest of the government’s agenda, including the corporate tax cuts.
The objective is to increase the amount of work people can get, the amount of hours they can get, the amount of wages they can earn and the profits the companies can do. That’s what you do. You don’t squeeze a lemon until you get arthritis.
What you do is cut the tax rates particularly for small and medium-sized business to give them to the room to do this. What Labor is doing by blocking this is leaving Australia economically stranded.
They are looking to Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn for their tax policy advice. Not where they should be looking, to Theresa May and, indeed, Donald Trump. He announced it after - I understand - we announced our Budget.
I’m sure he will give the Australian Government credit for that..Nevertheless, it is a great idea to support investment in jobs. It is a great idea. The Labor Party used to believe in it.
2.50am GMT
02:50
Scott Morrison is asked: How confident are you in bringing a surplus in 20-21?
I am as confident as I can be on the basis of the parameter projections in the budget. The real question is – the budget will return to balance where we can be most confident, when the Labor party accepts its economic responsibility to pass the savings that are in this budget. That’s what it boils down to.
Updated
at 2.57am GMT
2.46am GMT
02:46
Scott Morrison is holding a press conference now.
He goes to the Standard & Poors warning about budget repair and the superannuation reforms passing the house.
This was the AAP take on S&P:
As a global credit rating agency issued yet another warning to Australia about the risk of losing its top tier rating, a leading business group believes the Turnbull government is “trying very hard” to repair the budget.
Standard & Poor’s global ratings director Craig Michaels has told a conference in Australia if the budget is returned to surplus in 2020/21 as promised it would still be consistent with the AAA rating.
“But if there’s more slippage beyond that then that probably wouldn’t be,” Mr Michaels warned.
Scott Morrison is asked about the political pain involved in the superannuation reform, given the harrumphing in the conservative end of the Coalition about cutting back concessions for the wealthy.
I think it is a sustainable reform, I think it is a fair reform, I think it is a necessary reform. We have a world-leading superannuation system in this country and this is even more so. Yes, we had to make the case and make the argument, and we had to take it through the parliament, with our colleagues, and work through all of those issues, but that’s the work of government. That’s the work of reform.
Much is often written about where’s the reform by commentators. Well, it is looking you right in the face. Today’s reforms passed through the parliament were not easily won but they were important to achieve.
Updated
at 2.53am GMT
2.37am GMT
02:37
Paul Karp
After Pauline Hanson didn’t go to Rodney Culleton’s office at 11:30, he went down to a Cure Cancer Australia BBQ at noon.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Hanson left.
Culleton then gave a press conference at which he said he’d hoped to speak to Hanson at the BBQ, wasn’t sure if she’d avoided him, then speculated she may have left because she was “camera shy” or wanted to escape the rain in Canberra.
No, she didn’t come to the scheduled 11:30 [meeting] ... I can’t force her to come, she’ll come, well, anyway, she didn’t show up.”
Asked why the pair hadn’t met yet, Culleton blamed his tight schedule, Senate divisions and preparing for the challenge in the high court to his eligibility as a senator. He also confirmed he didn’t attend the party room meeting on Wednesday, and said he went to a White Ribbon function instead.
I will speak to her – but there’s no big issue ... I might grab Pauline and we just go to a quiet restaurant and do it over a bottle of red wine and talk it through, that’s probably the better environment.
A spokesman for Hanson said “we’re hopeful Rod will agree to come to Pauline’s office as requested”. So, it seems a large part of the dispute is who will come to whose office.Culleton said “we’re not a bloc” and noted in one division today the party split 2-2. He said he was “allergic to rules” when asked about the prospect Hanson could demand all correspondence and media statements go through her office.Culleton criticised the Senate for referring his eligibility to the high court, and blamed attorney general George Brandis for the referral, who he said “put two outboard motors on a piece of driftwood and thinks he’s going to carve the river up”.
Culleton said reports of a surge for One Nation in Western Australia were down to his efforts and asked “why wouldn’t” he continue in the party.
Updated
at 2.46am GMT
2.32am GMT2.32am GMT
02:3202:32
Nat MP Andrew Broad:
Hey I got a wedgie at school.
Labor MP Anne Aly:
You didn’t get a wedgie because you’re brown.
Nats MP @broad4mallee had an interesting analogy for Labor's Anne Aly, on receiving racist emails@abcnews #auspol pic.twitter.com/j0whmkttgKNats MP @broad4mallee had an interesting analogy for Labor's Anne Aly, on receiving racist emails@abcnews #auspol pic.twitter.com/j0whmkttgK
Updated
at 2.35am GMT
2.26am GMT2.26am GMT
02:2602:26
Lunch time politics Lunchtime politics
Apologies people. I stepped away from the machine to talk to real people.Apologies people. I stepped away from the machine to talk to real people.
Let me just summarise the day so far.Let me just summarise the day so far.
UpdatedUpdated
at 2.32am GMT at 2.44am GMT
1.31am GMT1.31am GMT
01:3101:31
Just an update on threats against Labor MP Anne Aly. She talked about threatening emails. A quick look at her Facebook page reveals death threats. We are told police are investigating.Just an update on threats against Labor MP Anne Aly. She talked about threatening emails. A quick look at her Facebook page reveals death threats. We are told police are investigating.
1.28am GMT1.28am GMT
01:2801:28
Coalition superannuation reforms pass the SenateCoalition superannuation reforms pass the Senate
I should have mentioned earlier, the Coalition’s superannuation reforms have passed the Senate with Labor support.I should have mentioned earlier, the Coalition’s superannuation reforms have passed the Senate with Labor support.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.55am GMTat 1.55am GMT
1.26am GMT1.26am GMT
01:2601:26
1.22am GMT1.22am GMT
01:2201:22
Pauline Hanson does not turn up to Culleton meetingPauline Hanson does not turn up to Culleton meeting
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Turns out the meeting between Rodney Culleton and Pauline Hanson was scheduled for 11:30 but Hanson never showed up.Turns out the meeting between Rodney Culleton and Pauline Hanson was scheduled for 11:30 but Hanson never showed up.
The standoff (your office or mine) and political theatre continues and Culleton is off to Nationals bbq.The standoff (your office or mine) and political theatre continues and Culleton is off to Nationals bbq.
1.03am GMT1.03am GMT
01:0301:03
1.00am GMT1.00am GMT
01:0001:00
The backpacker tax debate has started in the Senate.The backpacker tax debate has started in the Senate.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.18am GMTat 1.18am GMT
12.55am GMT12.55am GMT
00:5500:55
After some to-ing and fro-ing about whether Senator Rodney Culleton and One Nation party leader, Pauline Hanson, would meet last night or this morning, and whose office to meet in, the meeting is on now (at 11:30 on Culleton’s home turf).After some to-ing and fro-ing about whether Senator Rodney Culleton and One Nation party leader, Pauline Hanson, would meet last night or this morning, and whose office to meet in, the meeting is on now (at 11:30 on Culleton’s home turf).
The meeting was called because Culleton was referred to police after a letter he allegedly sent to a Cairns magistrate prompted concerns in judicial ranks of a possible attempt to pervert the course of justice and threaten a judicial officer.The meeting was called because Culleton was referred to police after a letter he allegedly sent to a Cairns magistrate prompted concerns in judicial ranks of a possible attempt to pervert the course of justice and threaten a judicial officer.
Culleton’s chief of staff, Margaret Menzel, told Guardian Australia this morning that Culleton intended to remain a One Nation senator, as “he’s been elected as a One Nation senator after Pauline Hanson chose him as a candidate”.Culleton’s chief of staff, Margaret Menzel, told Guardian Australia this morning that Culleton intended to remain a One Nation senator, as “he’s been elected as a One Nation senator after Pauline Hanson chose him as a candidate”.
Menzel refused to comment on obvious signs of dysfunction such as Hanson summoning Culleton to her office through a piece to camera on the ABC. Culleton didn’t attend the One Nation partyroom meeting this morning. When asked when Culleton last attended, Menzel said:Menzel refused to comment on obvious signs of dysfunction such as Hanson summoning Culleton to her office through a piece to camera on the ABC. Culleton didn’t attend the One Nation partyroom meeting this morning. When asked when Culleton last attended, Menzel said:
I couldn’t say. He has no ring through his nose ... I don’t know his every movement. He’s still managing to do his job – full credit to him.I couldn’t say. He has no ring through his nose ... I don’t know his every movement. He’s still managing to do his job – full credit to him.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.18am GMTat 1.18am GMT
12.52am GMT
00:52
Nats MPs Andrew Broad brushed off Aly's death threats saying "yeah, I got some wedgies in school, so you know..." pic.twitter.com/08QJ4RagyY
12.51am GMT
00:51
Labor MP Anne Aly has recieved death threats over Dutton's Lebanese terror comments... despite not being Lebanese https://t.co/lZ69XEZ6CY pic.twitter.com/4o8yns05Ar
12.50am GMT
00:50
Tim Wilson accuses Tony Burke of "confected outrage" on race
Former freedom human rights commissioner and Liberal Goldstein MP Tim Wilson is speaking on the race motion. This debate is in the secondary chamber, the federation chamber.
He suggests that Labor is using the motion – though he agrees with the basic principles – to score cheap political points.
He describes other speakers (i.e. Tony Burke) as venting “confected outrage”.
Wilson is going through Australia’s “generous” migration program.
You can’t build public confidence and public support ... unless the public believes the borders are secure. That is what this government has achieved and it is one of its great legacies.
Updated
at 1.02am GMT
12.43am GMT
00:43
Tony Burke on race motion: I have no doubt Dutton's comments will win him votes. I don't care.
Labor’s MP for Watson, Tony Burke, is speaking to the race motion which was initiated by Labor. They want everyone including the prime minister to sign up to the motion which commits to a non-discriminatory immigration policy.
He says given Peter Dutton’s recent comments regarding the Lebanese Muslim second- and third-generation migrants, it is clear that not all MPs support the motion – that is a non-discriminatory immigration policy.
I have no doubt the immigration ministers comments will win him votes. I don’t care.
He said Dutton’s comments may win him votes but it will not make the job of security agencies any easier.
I don’t want there to be partisanship in a motion like this.
Burke said he brought it forward because he hoped it would be an almost unanimous statement from the parliament against a small minority such as One Nation.
I want it to be true.
He acknowledges Turnbull did not back in the particular words of Dutton.
But he said you can’t equivocate on matters of race. Burke says you have to go back to the white Australia policy to find an immigration minister who talked about excluding a particular group.
Updated
at 1.01am GMT
12.35am GMT
00:35
Bill Shorten: we don't call them second- or third-generation migrants, we call them Australians
Shorten continues and refers to Cowan MP, Anne Aly, counter-terrorism expert.
It is time for some leadership from the prime minister. It is time that the minister for immigration was brought into line.
As the remarkable member for Cowan has said, the member for Cowan who was involved in driving WA Labor’s cyber-security strategy seven years ago, she said this morning, and I agree, “I am fearful that the minister for immigration’s comments will be used by an extreme view who would seek to harm the fabric of our society”.
Second- and third-generation migrants are teachers, they are police officers, they are entrepreneurs, they are members of this parliament on both sides of the house. They serve in our hospitals and they serve in the uniform of our country.
They raise children, they pay tax, they build communities, they coach local sporting teams, they create small businesses, they volunteer. They do as I say, sit on both sides of which chamber. We in the Labor party don’t start by calling them second- and third-generation migrants, we call them Australians.
Updated
at 12.59am GMT
12.31am GMT
00:31
Bill Shorten: Peter Dutton's comments were "loud lazy disrespect"
Bill Shorten is warming up.
All of these are reasons why the minister for immigration’s recent comments were so profoundly wrong. Suggesting it was a mistake to allow a generation of migrants to come to Australia more than three decades ago because of the crimes of a tiny handful of their grandchildren is not just ignorant and insulting, it is not just a denigration of people who have worked so hard and given so much to this country.
The comments weren’t just a repudiation of the success of Australia, a nation made great by migration and multiculturalism. The minister’s comments, his ignorant comments, contradict and undermine and fly in the face of every briefing I have ever received from our security agencies who explain to us how best to counter radicalisation, about defeating extremism.
Loud, lazy disrespect – wholesale labelling of entire communities for the actions of a tiny minority – aid and abet the isolation and resentment that the extremists pray upon.
Updated
at 12.39am GMT
12.28am GMT
00:28
Bill Shorten goes through the changing global security setting. Then he moves onto the importance of an inclusive nation.
When I talk about our citizens, I am mindful one of the most powerful assets in the fight against terrorism doesn’t wear a uniform or wield a weapon. It is our united harmonious inclusive nation.
As the prime minister said so well in parliament only last month, terrorists and extremists want the wider Australian community to turn against Australian Muslims. He said the message to Australian Muslims is, “You’re not wanted here, you will never be accepted here, you cannot be Australian”.
In this place, we have a solemn responsibility to counter that argument of the extremists to the extreme right and the extremists within the Middle East who say that being a Muslim citizen of this democracy is incompatible with their faith. We need to counter that argument, not amplify it.
Updated
at 12.36am GMT
12.26am GMT
00:26
Bill Shorten speaks next.
He thanks the government for keeping Labor informed, including former PM Tony Abbott.
There are many issues that can divide this parliament, often deeply, all of us in this place on all sides share a common determination to keep Australia safe. We are all committed to ensuring our people, our institutions and our commercial enterprises are protected by the most up to date technology.
12.24am GMT
00:24
Turnbull: when we see extremist behaviour it should be called out
Malcolm Turnbull has gone through the government’s legislation on counter-terrorism.
He finishes on Australia’s multicultural and inclusive society. This is the interesting bit, in the context of Peter Dutton’s comment.
We are one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. From the oldest human cultures of our first Australians to the newborn baby in the arms of its immigrant mother, we are stronger because of our diversity but that does not mean that we should be blind to or ignorant of the challenges our society face. When we see extremist behaviour, it should be called out for what it is.
The prime minister gets a very large hear, hear from his own benches at that statement.
When we see vulnerability, it should be addressed by all Australians, by government, by business, by community. We all have a stake in this. It is the combination of our national attributes of security, diversity, freedom and the prosperity which they enable, that make us best-placed as a society to unite against terrorism and violent extremism. As I have said many times, the glue that holds us together is mutual respect. Mutual respect. The recognition that each of us is entitled to the same respect, the same dignity and opportunities.
Updated
at 12.35am GMT
12.17am GMT
00:17
Turnbull says re the nexus between criminality and terrorism, a pilot of the national criminal intelligence system is underway in the Australian criminal intelligence commission.