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| Rod Culleton says he will vote against One Nation on Brandis inquiry – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.34am GMT | |
| 02:34 | |
| And congrats to Cathy Wilcox, cartoonist of the year for Behind the Lines 2016. | |
| 2.32am GMT | |
| 02:32 | |
| Congrats Annika Smethurst and Primrose Riordan. Love your work. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.33am GMT | |
| 2.26am GMT | |
| 02:26 | |
| Lunchtime politics | |
| In a delicious irony, Brandis' appointment to the High Court, James Edelman, worked on the Bell litigation #auspol | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.32am GMT | |
| 2.01am GMT | |
| 02:01 | |
| Rod Culleton splits from One Nation on Brandis inquiry | |
| Paul Karp | |
| It’s become clear that Labor and the Greens are very close to having the numbers they need to set up a Senate inquiry into George Brandis and the Bell litigation matter. | |
| A spokesman for Pauline Hanson said One Nation is against the inquiry, but a spokeswoman for Rodney Culleton has confirmed he will vote for the inquiry. | |
| Culleton is no fan of Brandis, who he believes breathed new life into an unviable challenge against his eligibility to sit in the Senate. | |
| That’s not quite right as Brandis had advice from Justin Gleeson that Culleton’s eligibility was questionable - it’s just the form that the original challenge was pleaded in was defective, which is now irrelevant because the Senate referred the case to the court. | |
| In any event, Labor, the Greens, Derryn Hinch and Culleton make 37 votes, leaving them just one short to set up an inquiry the Greens say could take weeks with appearances from Brandis, Mathias Cormann, a whole host of other ministers and even ambassador to the US Joe Hockey. | |
| 1.58am GMT | 1.58am GMT |
| 01:58 | 01:58 |
| Arggghhhh. | Arggghhhh. |
| Liberal MPs say it was the administrative appeals tribunal (AAT) that changed the tax. There were decisions by the AAT relating to residency but this policy stemmed from a Coalition government decision in the 2015 budget. | |
| If you don’t believe Hockey’s budget speech, here is more evidence of the backpacker tax origins from the first few pars of a research paper from the parliamentary library. | If you don’t believe Hockey’s budget speech, here is more evidence of the backpacker tax origins from the first few pars of a research paper from the parliamentary library. |
| Changed rules for working holiday makers | Changed rules for working holiday makers |
| Budget Review 2015–16 Index | Budget Review 2015–16 Index |
| Les Nielson | Les Nielson |
| In the 2015–16 budget the government proposes to change the tax status of temporary working holiday makers from that of resident, to that of non-resident, from 1 July 2016.[1] | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.09am GMT | |
| 1.44am GMT | 1.44am GMT |
| 01:44 | 01:44 |
| Labor agriculture shadow Joel Fitzgibbon reminds the house of treasurer Joe Hockey’s speech in the 2015 budget relating to the backpacker tax because Barnaby Joyce and others have claimed it was not the Coalition’s idea. | Labor agriculture shadow Joel Fitzgibbon reminds the house of treasurer Joe Hockey’s speech in the 2015 budget relating to the backpacker tax because Barnaby Joyce and others have claimed it was not the Coalition’s idea. |
| Joe Hockey’s budget speech in May 2015 when the change was announced: | Joe Hockey’s budget speech in May 2015 when the change was announced: |
| And anyone on a working holiday in Australia will have to pay tax from their first dollar earned, rather than enjoying a tax‑free threshold of nearly $20,000. This will save the budget $540m. | And anyone on a working holiday in Australia will have to pay tax from their first dollar earned, rather than enjoying a tax‑free threshold of nearly $20,000. This will save the budget $540m. |
| Fitzgibbon said he rang the National Farmers Federation on 2015 budget night to ask if they were concerned. | Fitzgibbon said he rang the National Farmers Federation on 2015 budget night to ask if they were concerned. |
| ‘No’ was response … no problem there … Initially we didn’t criticise the backpacker tax, we assumed they had been consulted and agreed with the proposition. | ‘No’ was response … no problem there … Initially we didn’t criticise the backpacker tax, we assumed they had been consulted and agreed with the proposition. |
| Then like the government when things got hot, [the NFF] had came up with 19%, he says. | Then like the government when things got hot, [the NFF] had came up with 19%, he says. |
| He says the Labor party has dragged the Coalition to a lower rate. | He says the Labor party has dragged the Coalition to a lower rate. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.56am GMT | at 1.56am GMT |
| 1.35am GMT | 1.35am GMT |
| 01:35 | 01:35 |
| Gareth Hutchens | Gareth Hutchens |
| The Greens held their partyroom meeting this morning. | The Greens held their partyroom meeting this morning. |
| Topics of discussion: | Topics of discussion: |
| George Brandis: | George Brandis: |
| They say Brandis has still not addressed the fundamental accusation levelled at him: that he instructed Justice Gleeson not to run a particular argument in the High Court. | They say Brandis has still not addressed the fundamental accusation levelled at him: that he instructed Justice Gleeson not to run a particular argument in the High Court. |
| They have already tabled a motion, co-sponsored with Labor, to establish an inquiry to get to the bottom of the Brandis affair. | They have already tabled a motion, co-sponsored with Labor, to establish an inquiry to get to the bottom of the Brandis affair. |
| If the inquiry is established, they will be moving for invitations to be sent to Joe Hockey, Mike Nahan, and Michael Mischin, to appear - despite preliminary advice that the senate will not have the power to compel them to appear. | If the inquiry is established, they will be moving for invitations to be sent to Joe Hockey, Mike Nahan, and Michael Mischin, to appear - despite preliminary advice that the senate will not have the power to compel them to appear. |
| The motion that’s before the senate would compel the attendance of George Brandis and Mathias Cormann. | The motion that’s before the senate would compel the attendance of George Brandis and Mathias Cormann. |
| They will also be inviting members of the House of Representatives to appear: Kelly O’Dwyer and Christian Porter. They will not be compelled to appear. | They will also be inviting members of the House of Representatives to appear: Kelly O’Dwyer and Christian Porter. They will not be compelled to appear. |
| On the ABCC: | On the ABCC: |
| They say they’re concerned about the deal the Turnbull government cut with David Leyonjhelm with respect to the ABC, which forces the ABC and SBS to hold regular meetings in regional Australia. | They say they’re concerned about the deal the Turnbull government cut with David Leyonjhelm with respect to the ABC, which forces the ABC and SBS to hold regular meetings in regional Australia. |
| They think legislation will be needed to amend the ABC Act to put Leyonjhelm’s deal into practice. They won’t be supporting any legislation that amends the ABC Act. Today they’ll be calling on Labor and every other crossbencher to commit to opposing it. | They think legislation will be needed to amend the ABC Act to put Leyonjhelm’s deal into practice. They won’t be supporting any legislation that amends the ABC Act. Today they’ll be calling on Labor and every other crossbencher to commit to opposing it. |
| On the ABCC generally, the senate will be debating amendments to the bill from 12.30 today for a couple of hours, and from about 6.30pm to midnight. | On the ABCC generally, the senate will be debating amendments to the bill from 12.30 today for a couple of hours, and from about 6.30pm to midnight. |
| The Greens will be moving two sets of amendments: a requirement for local steel to be used on projects covered by the building code, and a requirement for employers to first advertise jobs to Australians before trying to hire a foreign worker. | The Greens will be moving two sets of amendments: a requirement for local steel to be used on projects covered by the building code, and a requirement for employers to first advertise jobs to Australians before trying to hire a foreign worker. |
| On oil and gas companies: | On oil and gas companies: |
| The Greens will be moving for a senate inquiry into the existing legislation to see what needs to be tidied up. | The Greens will be moving for a senate inquiry into the existing legislation to see what needs to be tidied up. |
| They want to know if the legislation actually needs to be changed, or if the problem is simply about inadequate monitoring of deductions. | They want to know if the legislation actually needs to be changed, or if the problem is simply about inadequate monitoring of deductions. |
| Parliament House security measures: | Parliament House security measures: |
| They say they’re troubled by reports of a planned increase in security measures at Parliament House. | They say they’re troubled by reports of a planned increase in security measures at Parliament House. |
| They’ll be giving notice of a motion today, which will be debated tomorrow, opposing the changes. | They’ll be giving notice of a motion today, which will be debated tomorrow, opposing the changes. |
| 1.23am GMT | 1.23am GMT |
| 01:23 | 01:23 |
| Chris Bowen is still speaking on backpackers tax. | Chris Bowen is still speaking on backpackers tax. |
| The Liberal party are meant to understand business. The National party is supposed to understand regional Australia. This issue shows they don’t understand either. | The Liberal party are meant to understand business. The National party is supposed to understand regional Australia. This issue shows they don’t understand either. |
| Bowen suggests Labor supports the 10.5% rate, as if the party always supported this rate. | Bowen suggests Labor supports the 10.5% rate, as if the party always supported this rate. |
| Labor will continue our consistent approach to this. | Labor will continue our consistent approach to this. |
| Labor has not been consistent on this issue. | Labor has not been consistent on this issue. |
| For more than 12 months, Labor had no position on the backpacker tax - at least no rate. Labor opposed the backpacker tax in theory but would not nominate a rate from May 2015 until well after the July 2 election in 2016 - even though they booked the savings in their election financials. Then, at the 11th hour, they jumped on board the Jacqui Lambie express. | For more than 12 months, Labor had no position on the backpacker tax - at least no rate. Labor opposed the backpacker tax in theory but would not nominate a rate from May 2015 until well after the July 2 election in 2016 - even though they booked the savings in their election financials. Then, at the 11th hour, they jumped on board the Jacqui Lambie express. |
| There is so much manure on both sides of this policy debate. *sniff* | There is so much manure on both sides of this policy debate. *sniff* |
| 1.07am GMT | 1.07am GMT |
| 01:07 | 01:07 |
| The house has begun and the first bill is the backpacker tax. | The house has begun and the first bill is the backpacker tax. |
| Chris Bowen, Labor shadow treasurer, says the 15% bill is: | Chris Bowen, Labor shadow treasurer, says the 15% bill is: |
| A humiliating backdown from an incompetent treasurer on the run. He announced it at a press conference which was immature and petulant even for him. | A humiliating backdown from an incompetent treasurer on the run. He announced it at a press conference which was immature and petulant even for him. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.16am GMT | at 1.16am GMT |
| 1.01am GMT | 1.01am GMT |
| 01:01 | 01:01 |
| Sometimes you really have to wonder whether the government is concerned with housing affordability. | Sometimes you really have to wonder whether the government is concerned with housing affordability. |
| NSW planning minister Rob Stokes let the negative gearing genie out of the bottle last week when he said housing supply alone could not fix affordability issues. Perhaps we need to look at tax deductions, he said. | NSW planning minister Rob Stokes let the negative gearing genie out of the bottle last week when he said housing supply alone could not fix affordability issues. Perhaps we need to look at tax deductions, he said. |
| Earlier this year the NSW government was ready, willing and able to have a discussion about tax. Disappointingly our leadership on this issue fell victim to the Canberra culture that promotes opposition over consensus. | Earlier this year the NSW government was ready, willing and able to have a discussion about tax. Disappointingly our leadership on this issue fell victim to the Canberra culture that promotes opposition over consensus. |
| Surely the focus of the tax system should be directed towards the type of housing we need. Why should you get a tax deduction on the ownership of a multimillion-dollar holiday home that does nothing to improve supply where it’s needed? | Surely the focus of the tax system should be directed towards the type of housing we need. Why should you get a tax deduction on the ownership of a multimillion-dollar holiday home that does nothing to improve supply where it’s needed? |
| Labor went to the federal election with a serious change to negative gearing. While Scott Morrison originally said negative gearing was a little excessive, the Coalition decided to rule it out on the grounds that it would allow them to beat Labor. | Labor went to the federal election with a serious change to negative gearing. While Scott Morrison originally said negative gearing was a little excessive, the Coalition decided to rule it out on the grounds that it would allow them to beat Labor. |
| Last Saturday – yes Saturday in between two sitting weeks – Morrison released a change in the foreign buyer rules which had previously only allowed foreign buyers to on sell to Australians. I shall let him explain from his press release. | Last Saturday – yes Saturday in between two sitting weeks – Morrison released a change in the foreign buyer rules which had previously only allowed foreign buyers to on sell to Australians. I shall let him explain from his press release. |
| The Turnbull government will implement changes under the foreign investment framework to allow foreign buyers to purchase an off-the-plan dwelling when another foreign buyer has failed to reach settlement. | The Turnbull government will implement changes under the foreign investment framework to allow foreign buyers to purchase an off-the-plan dwelling when another foreign buyer has failed to reach settlement. |
| This change addresses industry concerns, and means property developers won’t be left in the lurch when a foreign buyer pulls out on an off-the-plan purchase. | This change addresses industry concerns, and means property developers won’t be left in the lurch when a foreign buyer pulls out on an off-the-plan purchase. |
| This action will ensure that markets will not be impacted negatively by an increased amount of off-the-plan sales, particularly from foreign purchasers, not being completed. | This action will ensure that markets will not be impacted negatively by an increased amount of off-the-plan sales, particularly from foreign purchasers, not being completed. |
| It is common sense that an apartment or house that has just been built, or is still under construction and for which the title has never changed hands, is not considered an established dwelling. | It is common sense that an apartment or house that has just been built, or is still under construction and for which the title has never changed hands, is not considered an established dwelling. |
| On Monday, the ABC China correspondent Bill Birtles reported: | On Monday, the ABC China correspondent Bill Birtles reported: |
| Thousands of Chinese property investors who bought apartments in Australia are still scrambling to save their investments, six months on from a bank clampdown on foreign lending. | Thousands of Chinese property investors who bought apartments in Australia are still scrambling to save their investments, six months on from a bank clampdown on foreign lending. |
| Earlier this year, the big four banks cut off lending to offshore investors in a bid to reduce the amount of risk they took on. | Earlier this year, the big four banks cut off lending to offshore investors in a bid to reduce the amount of risk they took on. |
| They were spooked by some applications with fraudulent proof of income, and wanted to rein in lending to avoid being too reliant on Chinese borrowers. | They were spooked by some applications with fraudulent proof of income, and wanted to rein in lending to avoid being too reliant on Chinese borrowers. |
| And | And |
| Property developers in Australia have, in recent months, reported Chinese buyers rescinding their contracts as the squeeze takes hold. | Property developers in Australia have, in recent months, reported Chinese buyers rescinding their contracts as the squeeze takes hold. |
| What is one property developer’s negative impact is another (first home) buyer’s good deal. | What is one property developer’s negative impact is another (first home) buyer’s good deal. |
| As the Australia Institute’s Richard Denniss notes in the Fin today: | As the Australia Institute’s Richard Denniss notes in the Fin today: |
| Just as market forces were about to push the price of housing down in Australia, the treasurer stepped in with some new regulation. Phew. Some first home buyers nearly snatched a good deal but luckily the treasurer was there to protect the property developers from the oversupply their building bonanza created. | Just as market forces were about to push the price of housing down in Australia, the treasurer stepped in with some new regulation. Phew. Some first home buyers nearly snatched a good deal but luckily the treasurer was there to protect the property developers from the oversupply their building bonanza created. |
| Just a little background ahead of NSW premier Mike Baird’s address to the press club. | Just a little background ahead of NSW premier Mike Baird’s address to the press club. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.49am GMT | at 1.49am GMT |