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Asylum protests hit parliament for second day – politics live Scott Morrison refuses to compromise on backpacker tax rate of 15% – politics live
(35 minutes later)
1.45am GMT
01:45
Greens moving towards a 13% backpacker tax
The Greens have flagged they will consider a 13% backpacker tax.
Updated
at 1.47am GMT
1.42am GMT
01:42
Labor agriculture shadow Joel Fitzgibbon says he has been receiving phone calls from farm representatives all morning all saying while they backed Labor on 10.5% “but if you can get 13%, please let’s just do this”.
But the most significant call was one from Stuart Armitage. Stuart Armitage is the chair of the Queensland Farmers Federation, an arm of the National Farmers Federation, very, very interestingly.
He said, ‘Joel, I’m backing you at 10.5, but, mate, if you can’t get 10.5, can you go 13?’ I thought that was a significant contribution from him.
Fitzgibbon has been critical of the NFF’s role on the backpacker tax, saying he was getting different messages from the peak body to other state and representative bodies.
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at 1.48am GMT
1.32am GMT
01:32
Bill Shorten confirms Labor will accept 13% backpacker tax
Bill Shorten:
We are prepared to support a 13% backpacker tax from every dollar earned by backpackers. We think it gets the balance right and I will get Chris to explain more about that in a moment. There is a solution on the table for Malcolm Turnbull. Our message to Malcolm Turnbull is grow up, swallow your pride, accept a solution.
1.26am GMT
01:26
Labor, Hinch, Lambie, Culleton all on 13% backpacker tax
Derryn Hinch is speaking alone on the backpacker tax.
He said the crossbenchers could not come to an agreement on the backpacker tax.
I got into the chamber and realised the 15% could not pass. I just want to get a deal done ... I don’t care what figure ... the figure doesn’t fuss me.
Labor now prepared to go to 13%.
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at 1.34am GMT
1.22am GMT
01:22
More of the freedom conversation, widening from Murph to Tim Wilson and cartoonist Fiona Katauskas.
@FionaKatauskas not at all, freedom of speech sits in a context, that's why different laws apply in public speech vs workplaces etc
1.09am GMT1.09am GMT
01:0901:09
I did not get to this final reflection from Bill Shorten in his Christmas speech.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.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.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.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.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.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.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 …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 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 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.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 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.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.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.The courage, the compassion, the sense of community we revere.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.13am GMTat 1.13am GMT
1.00am GMT1.00am GMT
01:0001:00
No comment II.No comment II.
'Anus of proof' #auspol pic.twitter.com/cLOYPANvH8'Anus of proof' #auspol pic.twitter.com/cLOYPANvH8
12.57am GMT12.57am GMT
00:5700:57
Quick recap prior to crossbench conference.Quick recap prior to crossbench conference.
The government’s proposal for the backpacker tax is now 15%.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%.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 GMT12.54am GMT
00:5400:54
Rod Culleton, Jacqui Lambie and Derryn Hinch are holding a press conference – in answer to Scott Morrison’s no deal presser earlier.Rod Culleton, Jacqui Lambie and Derryn Hinch are holding a press conference – in answer to Scott Morrison’s no deal presser earlier.
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at 12.59am GMTat 12.59am GMT
12.51am GMT12.51am GMT
00:5100:51
No comment.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/slR3ro1UyOMixed 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
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at 12.53am GMTat 12.53am GMT
12.47am GMT12.47am GMT
00:4700:47
The safety fence in question.The safety fence in question.
12.44am GMT12.44am GMT
00:4400:44
12.42am GMT12.42am GMT
00:4200:42
Protestors are taken away.Protestors are taken away.
12.40am GMT
00:40
Police are waiting for the protestors.
12.38am GMT
00:38
Protestors pack up the sign and come down.
12.37am GMT
00:37
Police negotiate with protestors to pack up.
12.32am GMT
00:32
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.
@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 :-)
12.28am GMT
00:28
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.
Now the house is moving to the Labor amendments.
12.11am GMT
00:11
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.
12.07am GMT
00:07
The Senate is voting on the criminal code amendment that enables continuing detention for high risk terrorist offenders.
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at 12.49am GMT
12.00am GMT
00:00
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.
Morrison:
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.
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.
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at 12.58am GMT
11.50pm GMT
23:50
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.
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.
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.
Updated
at 12.01am GMT
11.41pm GMT
23:41
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%.
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.
Updated
at 12.00am GMT