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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/09/coag-states-confront-turnbull-on-infrastructure-and-competition-reform
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| Coag: states confront Turnbull on infrastructure and competition reform Coag: states confront Turnbull on infrastructure and competition reform | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Malcolm Turnbull has faced a revolt from state premiers demanding more spending on infrastructure and Labor premiers rejecting competition law reform at the Council of Australian Governments meeting. | Malcolm Turnbull has faced a revolt from state premiers demanding more spending on infrastructure and Labor premiers rejecting competition law reform at the Council of Australian Governments meeting. |
| After Friday’s meeting in Canberra, Turnbull announced that Victoria, Queensland and South Australia had rejected an agreement on competition and productivity reforms from the Harper review, although the other states and territories signed up. | After Friday’s meeting in Canberra, Turnbull announced that Victoria, Queensland and South Australia had rejected an agreement on competition and productivity reforms from the Harper review, although the other states and territories signed up. |
| Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, led by the Coalition’s Mike Baird, also confronted the federal government over the need for more infrastructure spending. | Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, led by the Coalition’s Mike Baird, also confronted the federal government over the need for more infrastructure spending. |
| The meeting did produce agreement to reclassify the seven-shot Adler lever shotgun to category D, with the tightest possible restrictions. | The meeting did produce agreement to reclassify the seven-shot Adler lever shotgun to category D, with the tightest possible restrictions. |
| Turnbull told premiers that the federal government was “not an ATM”, but added after the meeting that the federal government was committed to stronger infrastructure investment. | Turnbull told premiers that the federal government was “not an ATM”, but added after the meeting that the federal government was committed to stronger infrastructure investment. |
| He cited the $240m “city deal” for Townsville, Queensland, for which the federal government chipped in $100m. | He cited the $240m “city deal” for Townsville, Queensland, for which the federal government chipped in $100m. |
| In his statement, Baird said further infrastructure investment was “the best thing we can do to drive more economic growth”. | In his statement, Baird said further infrastructure investment was “the best thing we can do to drive more economic growth”. |
| He said Coag had agreed to look at what more could be done to bring forward investment, to fund infrastructure and potentially set a target for investment. | He said Coag had agreed to look at what more could be done to bring forward investment, to fund infrastructure and potentially set a target for investment. |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said governments “need to be a bit more hopeful” about boosting investment and called for a “big and bold public works agenda” to boost skills and employment beyond the four-year budget cycle. | The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said governments “need to be a bit more hopeful” about boosting investment and called for a “big and bold public works agenda” to boost skills and employment beyond the four-year budget cycle. |
| Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk said the best way to deliver on talk of “jobs and growth” was to have an infrastructure plan. | Queensland’s Annastacia Palaszczuk said the best way to deliver on talk of “jobs and growth” was to have an infrastructure plan. |
| “I think governments work best when they can deliver infrastructure not just for our respective states but right across the nation,” she said. | “I think governments work best when they can deliver infrastructure not just for our respective states but right across the nation,” she said. |
| Turnbull said the competition reforms would “reduce regulatory burdens, boost innovation and promote more efficient investment and flows”. | Turnbull said the competition reforms would “reduce regulatory burdens, boost innovation and promote more efficient investment and flows”. |
| Under the plan, states and territories that signed up will be eligible for bonus payments if they implement reforms recommended by the Harper review, such as deregulation of trading hours. | Under the plan, states and territories that signed up will be eligible for bonus payments if they implement reforms recommended by the Harper review, such as deregulation of trading hours. |
| Andrews explained he had refused to sign up to competition reform because there was “no money attached” for bonuses for achieving objectives and the federal government had not honoured its commitment to give the state funds for privatising assets. | Andrews explained he had refused to sign up to competition reform because there was “no money attached” for bonuses for achieving objectives and the federal government had not honoured its commitment to give the state funds for privatising assets. |
| Victoria and the federal government are in dispute over whether the state is owed $1.45bn in promised federal funds for the long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne. | Victoria and the federal government are in dispute over whether the state is owed $1.45bn in promised federal funds for the long-term lease of the Port of Melbourne. |
| The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has said the state is only eligible for $877m because it has “wilfully interpreted” the rules of the asset-recycling agreement. | The treasurer, Scott Morrison, has said the state is only eligible for $877m because it has “wilfully interpreted” the rules of the asset-recycling agreement. |
| “We sold a port in good faith, achieved a good price and we’re being punished because we perhaps got too high a price for that,” Andrews said. | “We sold a port in good faith, achieved a good price and we’re being punished because we perhaps got too high a price for that,” Andrews said. |
| He said the Victorian government would continue to talk with the commonwealth in good faith but “I’m not minded to sign up to any new agreements until the current ones are honoured in full”. | He said the Victorian government would continue to talk with the commonwealth in good faith but “I’m not minded to sign up to any new agreements until the current ones are honoured in full”. |
| As expected, Coag agreed to classify the Adler 110 shotgun in category D, which would make it accessible only to professional shooters. The agreement paves the way for the importation ban on the lever-action shotgun to be lifted. | As expected, Coag agreed to classify the Adler 110 shotgun in category D, which would make it accessible only to professional shooters. The agreement paves the way for the importation ban on the lever-action shotgun to be lifted. |
| Turnbull said the move to reclassify the Adler strengthened the national firearms agreement, the first time that had been done in 20 years. | Turnbull said the move to reclassify the Adler strengthened the national firearms agreement, the first time that had been done in 20 years. |
| After a push from Victoria for a new Medicare item for family violence counselling, Turnbull said that health ministers would address whether there were gaps in GP services for victims of family violence. | After a push from Victoria for a new Medicare item for family violence counselling, Turnbull said that health ministers would address whether there were gaps in GP services for victims of family violence. |
| No decision was made on a workplace entitlement to take domestic violence leave, which will be decided by the fair work commission. | No decision was made on a workplace entitlement to take domestic violence leave, which will be decided by the fair work commission. |
| Andrews said: “Whilst I’m pleased to have at least had an opportunity to talk about family violence leave, I think we need to do more than talk about family violence leave. We need to deliver it in full.” | Andrews said: “Whilst I’m pleased to have at least had an opportunity to talk about family violence leave, I think we need to do more than talk about family violence leave. We need to deliver it in full.” |
| Coag agreed on a legal change to make it a crime to breach personal protection injunctions issued by federal family courts, and decided to extend a $117.2m contribution to the homelessness sector by one year. | Coag agreed on a legal change to make it a crime to breach personal protection injunctions issued by federal family courts, and decided to extend a $117.2m contribution to the homelessness sector by one year. |