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Coalition loses vote after One Nation no-show – politics live Coalition loses vote after One Nation no-show – politics live
(35 minutes later)
10.29pm GMT
22:29
Someone in the thread mentioned private members bills.
As it happens, there are two first up in the senate this morning before they get to government business.
Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm et al have a bill to amend the Racial Discrimination Act, which he calls the Free Speech Bill 2016.
This is a bill which:
Amends the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 to repeal Part IIA which prohibits offensive behaviour based on racial hatred.
Given the support for this in sections of the Coalition, there could be an interesting debate in the senate this morning.
Greens senator Larissa Waters has a bill on Landholders’ Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal).
This bill would give landholders the right to refuse gas and coal mining activities by corporations on their land without prior written authorisation. Waters has tried this before. It is a bit like a dare to the National party as well as the substantive issue. Do you support landholders? So far the Nats have not bitten.
These bills will be debated for just over two hours this morning. We won’t see the backpackers bills in the senate until after midday. Remember senate question time happens at 2pm so then backpacker debate will not come back until late afternoon.
10.22pm GMT
22:22
Feeding the chooks.
10.19pm GMT
22:19
The beautiful voices of the Canberra Choral Society.
10.13pm GMT
22:13
Both chambers of the parliament sit at 9.30am. Already, spies who know stuff suggest building staff are being consulted about roster changes in case the government decides to push through into Friday or next week.
Parliament sits Monday to Thursday next week but may extend.
Of course, these rumours happen every year but...
10.11pm GMT
22:11
The king of Jordan, Abdullah II Ibn Al- Hussein is in the building, just so you know.
10.08pm GMT
22:08
Nick Xenophon and his two senators support the 19% tax rate only if unemployed Australians are able to earn up to $5000 for seasonal work without losing welfare benefits. So far the indications are good, he says.
We cannot understand why some of my colleagues won’t support the view that we should have as many Australians out there picking fruit. Right now the system is full of disincentives for people on welfare to give it a go to do the seasonal work.
10.02pm GMT
22:02
Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm is on Sky. He says Pauline Hanson and Brian Burston thought the bells that signal votes and quorums was for a quorum rather than a vote. He says it was a simple case of missing the vote.
Leyonhjelm does not support the passenger movement charge or the increase in the backpacker tax.
If the backpacker bills don’t pass before the parliament rises, treasurer Scott Morrison has been stating that the rate reverts to 32.5%.
However this rate is for non-residents.
The sticking point is that many backpackers claim they are residents, which means they would pay zero because they would get the tax free threshold.
If they claim resident status, they are supposed to reside in the same place for more than six months. If they are on a working holiday maker visa, they can’t stay in once place for more than six months.
There was a recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision that said backpackers should be treated as non-residents - meaning they should pay 32.5%.
If that AAT decision holds, it would mean if the backpacker bills don’t pass, the rate will revert to 32.5% - as Morrison says.
But if backpackers keep claiming residency for tax purposes (and many use tax agents who specialise in this), then their rate will revert to zero.
And even though they do not qualify for this rate, while the tax office chase each of them down once they leave?
You can see how this complexity can be used by both sides to muddy the waters.
Leyonhjelm’s view is that the rate will return to zero because the AAT case hinged on backpackers with quite unusual circumstances.
The bulk of them won’t get caught [by the higher rate].
9.31pm GMT9.31pm GMT
21:3121:31
Elsewhere in Canberra:Elsewhere in Canberra:
lake burley griffin pic.twitter.com/iSncKac2M0lake burley griffin pic.twitter.com/iSncKac2M0
9.31pm GMT9.31pm GMT
21:3121:31
Barnaby Joyce has been speaking to Fran Kelly about the backpacker tax which is the main game in the Senate today.Barnaby Joyce has been speaking to Fran Kelly about the backpacker tax which is the main game in the Senate today.
Kelly asks whether he is worried that thetax will impact on the National party vote after it lost the safe NSW seat of Orange. She is thinking particularly of Queensland, where everyone from George Brandis down is predicting One Nation will win a swath of seats at the next state election.Kelly asks whether he is worried that thetax will impact on the National party vote after it lost the safe NSW seat of Orange. She is thinking particularly of Queensland, where everyone from George Brandis down is predicting One Nation will win a swath of seats at the next state election.
Joyce does not go to the substantive question.Joyce does not go to the substantive question.
If you are looking for a policy to stop complete acts of political bastardry I don’t know what that is. What is the policy to stop Bill Shorten from blowing the show up, making actions that he doesn’t believe in, that he just wants to drag the show down into the gutter.If you are looking for a policy to stop complete acts of political bastardry I don’t know what that is. What is the policy to stop Bill Shorten from blowing the show up, making actions that he doesn’t believe in, that he just wants to drag the show down into the gutter.
How does this work? He is supposed to be the alternative leader of the nation. He’s not supposed to play dice with Australia’s regional industries and that is what he is doing.How does this work? He is supposed to be the alternative leader of the nation. He’s not supposed to play dice with Australia’s regional industries and that is what he is doing.
Joyce will not say whether he will compromise between his 19% rate and the Lambie/Labor rate of 10.5%.Joyce will not say whether he will compromise between his 19% rate and the Lambie/Labor rate of 10.5%.
Re Orange, he feels people can differentiate between federal and state issues. He named council amalgamations and the greyhound racing ban as strong factors there. Joyce came out against the greyhound ban.Re Orange, he feels people can differentiate between federal and state issues. He named council amalgamations and the greyhound racing ban as strong factors there. Joyce came out against the greyhound ban.
I got myself into more strife than the early settlers because I didn’t support it ... On the backpackers issue, they can see we are trying our best.I got myself into more strife than the early settlers because I didn’t support it ... On the backpackers issue, they can see we are trying our best.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.39pm GMTat 9.39pm GMT
9.04pm GMT9.04pm GMT
21:0421:04
One Nation: where the bloody hell are you?One Nation: where the bloody hell are you?
Good morning, dear reader,Good morning, dear reader,
Last night the glorious voices of the Canberra Choral Society rang out in the members’ hall of Parliament House, with the Financial Review journalist Laura Tingle. The crossbenchers – looking anything but cross – stumped up for their Christmas party and we were promised an early night in the Senate.Last night the glorious voices of the Canberra Choral Society rang out in the members’ hall of Parliament House, with the Financial Review journalist Laura Tingle. The crossbenchers – looking anything but cross – stumped up for their Christmas party and we were promised an early night in the Senate.
The government had started its backpacker tax package. It included a 19% tax rate for working holidaymakers and a $5 increase in the passenger movement charge. These are separate bills.The government had started its backpacker tax package. It included a 19% tax rate for working holidaymakers and a $5 increase in the passenger movement charge. These are separate bills.
The government knew it had the numbers on the charge so it thought it would whack it through and get it out of the way.The government knew it had the numbers on the charge so it thought it would whack it through and get it out of the way.
But alas, the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, and her fellow senator Brian Burston went missing in action. Down went the vote 30-31.But alas, the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, and her fellow senator Brian Burston went missing in action. Down went the vote 30-31.
Which must have galled the treasurer, Scott Morrison, who has been rolling it uphill with a pointy stick, trying to sell the charge to his former tourism industry. The tourism industry has stubbornly resisted but really has no choice.Which must have galled the treasurer, Scott Morrison, who has been rolling it uphill with a pointy stick, trying to sell the charge to his former tourism industry. The tourism industry has stubbornly resisted but really has no choice.
Which must have left, Morrison yelling “Where the bloody hell are you?” – his very own Lara Bingle campaign line.Which must have left, Morrison yelling “Where the bloody hell are you?” – his very own Lara Bingle campaign line.
The government will probably hold a rerun of the vote today. This morning Labor’s Anthony Albanese has called for the government to drop the charge. That will not happen.The government will probably hold a rerun of the vote today. This morning Labor’s Anthony Albanese has called for the government to drop the charge. That will not happen.
The rest of the backpacker’s package all passed through the second-reading stage and the bills will now go to committee process today, where other senators get to ask the minister in charge questions.The rest of the backpacker’s package all passed through the second-reading stage and the bills will now go to committee process today, where other senators get to ask the minister in charge questions.
I have put in a call to One Nation to ask why they missed the vote but, as yet, it is to no avail. The party has released a statement saying that once the $5 charge is increased they want a freeze on it for five years.I have put in a call to One Nation to ask why they missed the vote but, as yet, it is to no avail. The party has released a statement saying that once the $5 charge is increased they want a freeze on it for five years.
This is a last-minute change. It also comes after the tourism lobby, the Tourism and Transport Forum, held its annual event. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten were both speakers, as were other ministers. Hanson was on a panel late in the afternoon. Furious lobbying would have ensued.This is a last-minute change. It also comes after the tourism lobby, the Tourism and Transport Forum, held its annual event. Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten were both speakers, as were other ministers. Hanson was on a panel late in the afternoon. Furious lobbying would have ensued.
So stay with us for the day. Talk to us in the thread, or on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or my Facebook page. Keep calm and carry on.So stay with us for the day. Talk to us in the thread, or on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or my Facebook page. Keep calm and carry on.
UpdatedUpdated
at 9.22pm GMTat 9.22pm GMT