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Asylum protests hit parliament for second day – politics live Asylum protests hit parliament for second day – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.09am GMT
01:09
I did not get to this final reflection from Bill Shorten in his Christmas speech.
On the 30th of October this year, in a moment of unthinkable horror, a Brisbane bus driver was set on fire and killed while still behind the wheel.
As the flames spread, the fire trapped 11 of his passengers in the back of the bus – unable to access the front door.
The smoke was getting thicker, panic was setting in.
But a Brisbane cab driver, who’d just happened to pull over for a haircut, came to their aid.
He did what we all hope we would do in that situation but we wonder if we could. Selflessly, heroically – he ran towards the burning bus, kicking in the rear door and helping those 11 frightened people to safety.
That cabbie’s name was Aguek Nyok –just over ten years ago, he came to Australia as a refugee from South Sudan.
When he saw the flames that afternoon, when he ran towards the smoke and the screams …
He didn’t stop to ask where the people on the bus were born.
He didn’t pause to question which god they were praying to for rescue.
He saw his fellow human beings in mortal danger – and he saved their lives.
How lucky are we, that he came to this country.
How lucky are those 11 Australians and their families together this Christmas, that he came to this country.
Aguek was born 13,000 kilometres from where we sit – but on that day he showed us all the spirit of Australia.
The courage, the compassion, the sense of community we revere.
Updated
at 1.13am GMT
1.00am GMT
01:00
No comment II.
'Anus of proof' #auspol pic.twitter.com/cLOYPANvH8
12.57am GMT
00:57
Quick recap prior to crossbench conference.
The government’s proposal for the backpacker tax is now 15%.
Derryn Hinch, Rod Culleton and Jacqui Lambie are proposing 13% as a compromise between Labor/Lambie’s 10.5% and the government’s 15%.
12.54am GMT
00:54
Rod Culleton, Jacqui Lambie and Derryn Hinch are holding a press conference – in answer to Scott Morrison’s no deal presser earlier.
Updated
at 12.59am GMT
12.51am GMT
00:51
No comment.
Mixed messages much?? This is, bar none, the GAYEST image I've ever seen! Totes could pass for 1 of my lezzo mates🌈 pic.twitter.com/slR3ro1UyO
Updated
at 12.53am GMT
12.47am GMT
00:47
The safety fence in question.
12.44am GMT
00:44
12.42am GMT
00:42
Protestors are taken away.
12.40am GMT
00:40
Police are waiting for the protestors.
12.38am GMT12.38am GMT
00:3800:38
Protestors pack up the sign and come down.Protestors pack up the sign and come down.
12.37am GMT12.37am GMT
00:3700:37
Police negotiate with protestors to pack up.Police negotiate with protestors to pack up.
12.32am GMT12.32am GMT
00:3200:32
With all the parliamentary protests, with the PM saying protests in parliament are an interruption of democracy, Katharine Murphy expressed her confusion on Twitter and got a reply from the former freedom commissioner and now Liberal MP Tim Wilson.With all the parliamentary protests, with the PM saying protests in parliament are an interruption of democracy, Katharine Murphy expressed her confusion on Twitter and got a reply from the former freedom commissioner and now Liberal MP Tim Wilson.
@murpharoo @FionaKatauskas like I can't just walk into your home and start shouting, but I can on the street outside@murpharoo @FionaKatauskas like I can't just walk into your home and start shouting, but I can on the street outside
@murpharoo @FionaKatauskas that's an exercise of your property rights, but I don't do that, I'm too polite :-)@murpharoo @FionaKatauskas that's an exercise of your property rights, but I don't do that, I'm too polite :-)
12.28am GMT12.28am GMT
00:2800:28
Labor is trying to amend the VET bills in the house.Labor is trying to amend the VET bills in the house.
The government is gagging Labor MPs who want to speak on the bill, including Kate Ellis and Anne Aly. That required two votes.The government is gagging Labor MPs who want to speak on the bill, including Kate Ellis and Anne Aly. That required two votes.
Now the house is moving to the Labor amendments.Now the house is moving to the Labor amendments.
12.11am GMT12.11am GMT
00:1100:11
In the lower house, Christopher Pyne is gagging Labor on the vocational education and training bills which seek to clean up some of the dodgy training colleges.In the lower house, Christopher Pyne is gagging Labor on the vocational education and training bills which seek to clean up some of the dodgy training colleges.
12.07am GMT12.07am GMT
00:0700:07
The senate is voting on the criminal code amendment that enables continuing detention for high risk terrorist offenders. The Senate is voting on the criminal code amendment that enables continuing detention for high risk terrorist offenders.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.08am GMT at 12.49am GMT
12.00am GMT12.00am GMT
00:0000:00
Scott Morrison advises that growers should withhold 32.5% in tax from backpackers.Scott Morrison advises that growers should withhold 32.5% in tax from backpackers.
The ABC rural reporter Anna Vidot asks: As the 32.5% rate hasn’t come in yet, we’ve been contacted at ABC Rural who says that their bosses are already withholding the 32.5 because there is a lot of confusion out there. The ABC rural reporter Anna Vidot asks: as the 32.5% rate hasn’t come in yet, we’ve been contacted at ABC Rural who says that their bosses are already withholding the 32.5% because there is a lot of confusion out there.
Morrison:Morrison:
My advice to them is they should, they should withhold at that rate because [backpackers] are nonresidents for tax purposes and the compliance programs that will be implemented will be following things up. My advice to them is they should, they should withhold at that rate because [backpackers] are non-residents for tax purposes and the compliance programs that will be implemented will be following things up.
In other words, the tax office will chase 32.5% the tax down.In other words, the tax office will chase 32.5% the tax down.
Q: You say the tax rate hasn’t come in yet, so...Q: You say the tax rate hasn’t come in yet, so...
Legislating that specifically has not occurred and so the law will default to the common law position, and the common law position is 32.5. That’s what it is right now.Legislating that specifically has not occurred and so the law will default to the common law position, and the common law position is 32.5. That’s what it is right now.
Updated
at 12.58am GMT
11.50pm GMT11.50pm GMT
23:5023:50
Scott Morrison is asked how he thinks farmers feel. In the answer, unlike Barnaby Joyce, he gives a nuanced reply that concedes it was a change in the 2015 budget that started this.Scott Morrison is asked how he thinks farmers feel. In the answer, unlike Barnaby Joyce, he gives a nuanced reply that concedes it was a change in the 2015 budget that started this.
Like me, [farmers] will be very disappointed. I will be very disappointed and they will be very disappointed.Like me, [farmers] will be very disappointed. I will be very disappointed and they will be very disappointed.
Let’s just understand what the 32.5% rate is. The 32.5% rate has not been introduced by the government. The 32.5% rate is the non-resident tax rate which was set by Wayne Swan.Let’s just understand what the 32.5% rate is. The 32.5% rate has not been introduced by the government. The 32.5% rate is the non-resident tax rate which was set by Wayne Swan.
Now, in the ‘15/16 Budget, we brought forward a measure that would have sought to legislate that 417 and 462 visa holders [taxed] at 32.5, the non-resident rate.Now, in the ‘15/16 Budget, we brought forward a measure that would have sought to legislate that 417 and 462 visa holders [taxed] at 32.5, the non-resident rate.
In the absence of that legislation...this is what this legislation is all about -then the common law position of backpackers being treated as non-residents refers back to that rate at 32.5 cents.In the absence of that legislation...this is what this legislation is all about -then the common law position of backpackers being treated as non-residents refers back to that rate at 32.5 cents.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.01am GMTat 12.01am GMT
11.41pm GMT11.41pm GMT
23:4123:41
Scott Morrison on backpackers tax:Scott Morrison on backpackers tax:
But this is not a game. This is not a game of ping-pong on legislation and tax rates. That’s not how sensible tax rates should be set in this country. We have been willing to engage in the spirit of reasonable compromise. Our position is 15%.But this is not a game. This is not a game of ping-pong on legislation and tax rates. That’s not how sensible tax rates should be set in this country. We have been willing to engage in the spirit of reasonable compromise. Our position is 15%.
Why not compromise?Why not compromise?
Because I think that would frankly make a farce of the whole process – 15% is based on the seasonal worker rate, it is a sensible rate. It has a basis that relates elsewhere in the tax system and that is the least administratively complex way to deal with it, with the agricultural sector, and if people are prepared to vote for it at 19, they could be prepared to vote for it at 15 in order to achieve an outcome. The 13% rate is arbitrary.Because I think that would frankly make a farce of the whole process – 15% is based on the seasonal worker rate, it is a sensible rate. It has a basis that relates elsewhere in the tax system and that is the least administratively complex way to deal with it, with the agricultural sector, and if people are prepared to vote for it at 19, they could be prepared to vote for it at 15 in order to achieve an outcome. The 13% rate is arbitrary.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.00am GMTat 12.00am GMT
11.39pm GMT
23:39
Cmon @fitzhunter @JacquiLambie @HumanHeadline Restore some credibility in the job get on w 15% #backpackertax @NTCattlemen @NationalFarmers
11.38pm GMT
23:38
Scott Morrison: No compromise on the backpacker tax
Scott Morrison is speaking now on backpackers tax.
He has met with the crossbenchers last night and this morning.
He has seven but not eight crossbenchers needed to pass the 15% rate.
Updated
at 11.38pm GMT
11.34pm GMT
23:34
In the Senate, all eyes will be on the backpackers tax.
At the moment, the bill is listed for 12.45pm but all things liable to change without notice.
Updated
at 11.59pm GMT
11.31pm GMT
23:31
Scott Morrison has a press conference coming up.
There may be a resolution on the backpackers tax coming up.
11.29pm GMT
23:29
Bill Shorten also mentions people he has met, troops serving overseas and firefighters. He mentions Indigenous kids and remembers mourning for the LGBTI people murdered in Orlando.
He also thanks all the parliamentary staff and his family.
Nobody in this chamber needs to be told how hard this job is on our families. Those Saturday night goodbyes, trying to help with the homework from the other side of the country, the netball games, the plays, the concerts you miss, the re-emerging you do when you return from these long parliamentary sittings, and the re-acquaintance with your family. None of our parents or children asked for a parent in public life, but they live with it, they live with us, and we couldn’t do it without them.
11.26pm GMT
23:26
Bill Shorten starts by revealing he and Malcolm Turnbull actually get on quite well behind the scenes. He thanks the Speaker and the prime minister.
In fact, I recall one meeting where the prime minister actually asked me if there was some way we could be nicer about each other in public. I said we could swap jobs.
I thought I was pretty agile, really. I did discover there is a little limit to Malcolm’s commitment to innovation. The PM and I actually have more in common than people realise. We’re both married to brilliant women, we’ve both battled the Member for Warringah. We have both grown up wanting to help run the AWU and join the Labor Party.
11.23pm GMT
23:23
The prime minister also thanks troops serving overseas, the parliamentary staff who “enable democracy”, his team in Coalition, including Barnaby Joyce, the Nationals and his family.
He also thanks the families of all MPs.
We are the volunteers, but our families are the conscripts and we could not do this job without the support and love of our families. So I urge all honourable members that each time over the summer break that someone asks you to set the table or do the dishes, play another round of backyard cricket, mind kids while the other half heads out for the night, or spend the day with the grandkids, to ensure your ongoing ability to serve in this place, I urge you to comply each time and do so with a very big smile.
Updated
at 11.34pm GMT
11.18pm GMT
23:18
Turnbull mentions Indigenous people he has met and the progress towards constitutional recognition of our First Australians.
There are now five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the parliament and I want to thank them all, as I know the leader of the opposition does, for their wisdom and support.
And he goes to the usual “let’s all be kinder” message in these speeches.
Perhaps a more realistic goal is to vow to speak more plainly and with more candour to the Australian people. They are weary of the political games, the sense that politicians say one thing and could easily mean another, and that our promises are throw-away lines with a shelf life of a carton of milk. The Oxford dictionary has declared “post-truth” as the international word of the year. Mr Speaker, let’s do all we can to ensure that post-truth politics has no place in Australia. If we promise to be bound by our words, we will be much more careful in choosing them.
Updated
at 11.42pm GMT
11.14pm GMT
23:14
Turnbull talks about Lulu, a young cancer survivor he met while announcing another $20m for the Zero Childhood Cancer Initiative.
I’ve been brought to tears a few times in this job and I admit there was some more that day. I’m wearing Lulu’s bracelet and it reminds me, if I ever need reminding, that what we do here is about the future of our nation, about the future of people like Lulu, our children and grandchildren.
11.12pm GMT
23:12
The prime minister says it has been a privilege to meet so many people around the country. And with their stories, he says he hopes it makes him a better leader.
He documents the story of a domestic violence victim whose children were murdered by their father, a woman who was suffering breast cancer, families of MH17 victims.
One day we’re here in the House debating legislation, the next I’m at the Birdsville Hotel on the edge of the Simpson Desert, chatting to locals alongside a wall of well worn Akubras, great company, cold beer, and a curried camel pie. And the next, representing our nation overseas gave me the chance to meet Australians having a go around the world, like Nick and Andy Stone whose new cafe is booming, bringing decent coffee to all New Yorkers.
Updated
at 11.31pm GMT