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Nick Xenophon says Coalition may be 'wasting billions' on defence – politics live Nick Xenophon says Coalition may be 'wasting billions' on defence – politics live
(35 minutes later)
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Pat Dodson: the effect of the apology was powerful but remains symbolic
Senator Pat Dodson tells his party room:
In this place, we collectively represent the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander nations across this great country whose lands have been occupied and stolen.
I acknowledge the generations who have gone before and those yet to come. Nine years ago, the apology and Labor’s commitment to Closing the Gap [combined] the symbolic and the practical after a tumultuous decade of denial under the Howard Government.
Prime minister Rudd’s apology was cathartic. The positive responses of the wider Australian public was heartening. Affirming that with right political leadership, we can transcend the politics of fear and guilt as a nation, and work towards a reconciliation based on truth-telling, healing and justice. Wrongs can be righted. The effect of the apology was powerful whilst remaining symbolic.
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Bill Shorten is opening the Labor caucus meeting. (Remember there are party room meetings this morning.) He says the Indigenous flag will stay in the Labor caucus room.
We need to change the relationship between First Australians and all other Australians. It’s not about listing the pluses and minuses of the balance sheet and what works and what doesn’t.
He introduces senator Pat Dodson.
Dodson teaches Labor members to say g’day in his traditional language.
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KRudd gives a short history on carbon policy.
.@MrKRudd says Australia's energy policy can be described in three words: "Dumb, dumb, dumb!" pic.twitter.com/JSgI0x8aDu
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Kevin Rudd is asked by Kieran Gilbert about the current Liberal leadership issues and Tony Abbott’s muscle-flexing. He mentions the prime minister’s sotto voce criticism of renewables.
For God’s sake, stand up for what you believe in ... The authentic Malcolm Turnbull believed in renewable energy. He has been hijacked by the right wing of his party.
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Kevin Rudd has popped up in Canberra.Kevin Rudd has popped up in Canberra.
He remembers the apology nine years ago and the establishment of the Closing the Gap report to measure seven areas of improvement.He remembers the apology nine years ago and the establishment of the Closing the Gap report to measure seven areas of improvement.
He agrees that resourcing needs to be “from the ground up”.He agrees that resourcing needs to be “from the ground up”.
Rudd said an example of a successful program is one he funded to address trachoma rates in Indigenous kids. He said the rates of trachoma in kids had dropped from 20-something % to 4%. Rudd said an example of a successful program is one he funded to address trachoma rates in Indigenous children. He said the rates of trachoma in children had dropped from 20-something per cent to 4%.
That’s improvement.That’s improvement.
Asked about energy policy debate, he characterises it as:Asked about energy policy debate, he characterises it as:
Dumb, dumb, dumb...Every government I run into around the world thinks we are nuts on carbon policy [for repealing the price]. Dumb, dumb, dumb ... Every government I run into around the world thinks we are nuts on carbon policy [for repealing the price].
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Barnaby Joyce did a doorstop this morning. He talked about the need for negotiations in the senate but his main point appeared to be about Labor’s unsustainable renewable energy targets. After yesterday’s release of documents showing the prime minister’s office was told the SA blackout was the result of trashed transmission towers, Joyce was careful to say South Australia’s mismanagement (something, something, renewable energy targets, something, something) caused the blackouts. Barnaby Joyce did a doorstop this morning. He talked about the need for negotiations in the Senate but his main point appeared to be about Labor’s unsustainable renewable energy targets. After yesterday’s release of documents showing the prime minister’s office was told the SA blackout was the result of trashed transmission towers, Joyce was careful to say South Australia’s mismanagement (something, something, renewable energy targets, something, something) caused the blackouts.
But asked about the reported death of the omnibus savings bill, he said it was all about negotion. And by the way, the Turnbull government has got more through the senate than the Abbott government. (Ouch). But asked about the reported death of the omnibus savings bill, he said it was all about negotiation. And, by the way, the Turnbull government has got more through the Senate than the Abbott government. (Ouch).
Everything we do in the senate is about negotiation. We’ve got more through the senate under the previous iteration under Mr Abbott. But we can’t avoid the truth. We are trying to get our nation’s finances under control. Everything we do in the Senate is about negotiation. We’ve got more through the Senate under the previous iteration under Mr Abbott. But we can’t avoid the truth. We are trying to get our nation’s finances under control.
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I mentioned that Nick Xenophon had raised earlier – with Fran Kelly – the possibility of cutting defence spending to find some more money for other government programs. He said it was a matter of thinking outside the square.I mentioned that Nick Xenophon had raised earlier – with Fran Kelly – the possibility of cutting defence spending to find some more money for other government programs. He said it was a matter of thinking outside the square.
There is a concern that we are literally wasting billions of dollars in defence, that more rigour in terms of defence expenditure would drive some significant savings without compromising our sovereign capabilities in terms of our defence as a nation. It seemed that the burden would fall too heavily on those who could least afford it.There is a concern that we are literally wasting billions of dollars in defence, that more rigour in terms of defence expenditure would drive some significant savings without compromising our sovereign capabilities in terms of our defence as a nation. It seemed that the burden would fall too heavily on those who could least afford it.
The defence industry minister was quick to capitalise, with an eye to the politics in Adelaide.The defence industry minister was quick to capitalise, with an eye to the politics in Adelaide.
Xenophon now wants to cut defence spending in favour of welfare. In 2016 he wanted 12 subs, 9 Frigates & 12 OPVs. Now he wants to cut them.Xenophon now wants to cut defence spending in favour of welfare. In 2016 he wanted 12 subs, 9 Frigates & 12 OPVs. Now he wants to cut them.
This would be diabolical for SA. https://t.co/sMSPYsAAlcThis would be diabolical for SA. https://t.co/sMSPYsAAlc
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I just got a clip of Bill Shorten, who spoke about getting away from constantly framing Indigenous affairs in terms of good or bad outcomes.I just got a clip of Bill Shorten, who spoke about getting away from constantly framing Indigenous affairs in terms of good or bad outcomes.
He said he wants to think in terms of healthier people, happier people, confident and proud people with no more fear and subjugation.He said he wants to think in terms of healthier people, happier people, confident and proud people with no more fear and subjugation.
First peoples standing proud of culture with the place and the space to be themselves.First peoples standing proud of culture with the place and the space to be themselves.
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I will bring you Bill Shorten’s speech on the Redfern statement as soon as I can get my hands on it.I will bring you Bill Shorten’s speech on the Redfern statement as soon as I can get my hands on it.
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Malcolm Turnbull is speaking at the Redfern statement breakfast.Malcolm Turnbull is speaking at the Redfern statement breakfast.
He says the government will work with Indigenous leaders to make sure programs are driven by Indigenous communities.He says the government will work with Indigenous leaders to make sure programs are driven by Indigenous communities.
He will ask members of the renewed Indigenous Advisory Council to work with the Redfern Alliance ...He will ask members of the renewed Indigenous Advisory Council to work with the Redfern Alliance ...
so that a broad range of views are heard and brought to bear on improving not only what we do but the way we do it. We’ll work to ensure that the Closing the Gap initiatives are community driven and recognise that Indigenous leaders are absolutely central, paramount to finding the solutions in a way that supports identity and wellbeing. We want to have more local decision-making models and we’ll continue to build the capability of governments and communities to engage in a better way of working together.so that a broad range of views are heard and brought to bear on improving not only what we do but the way we do it. We’ll work to ensure that the Closing the Gap initiatives are community driven and recognise that Indigenous leaders are absolutely central, paramount to finding the solutions in a way that supports identity and wellbeing. We want to have more local decision-making models and we’ll continue to build the capability of governments and communities to engage in a better way of working together.
Turnbull called for Australians to consider the progress made in addressing Indigenous disadvantage over the 50 years since the 1967 referendum.Turnbull called for Australians to consider the progress made in addressing Indigenous disadvantage over the 50 years since the 1967 referendum.
There are more Indigenous Australians in school, in universities, in employment, in business, living longer lives and in better health. We have come a long way over the last 50 years since the ’67 referendum but we have not come far enough. There are still significant challenges that remain.There are more Indigenous Australians in school, in universities, in employment, in business, living longer lives and in better health. We have come a long way over the last 50 years since the ’67 referendum but we have not come far enough. There are still significant challenges that remain.
Turnbull met with an Indigenous gathering of doctors, lawyers, nurses, disability advocates, scientists, business leaders, officers in the defence forces and senior public servants among others.Turnbull met with an Indigenous gathering of doctors, lawyers, nurses, disability advocates, scientists, business leaders, officers in the defence forces and senior public servants among others.
Those bright Indigenous Australians, bright and often young Indigenous Australians reflect the diversity of experience and aspiration that exist in our communities. It’s vitally important that the narrative is not solely one of deficit.Those bright Indigenous Australians, bright and often young Indigenous Australians reflect the diversity of experience and aspiration that exist in our communities. It’s vitally important that the narrative is not solely one of deficit.
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Good morning,Good morning,
The skies are dark over Canberra this morning as Nick Xenophon, wielder of three votes in the Senate and one in the lower house, has ruled out supporting the omnibus savings bill in total.The skies are dark over Canberra this morning as Nick Xenophon, wielder of three votes in the Senate and one in the lower house, has ruled out supporting the omnibus savings bill in total.
The omnibus bill has a bunch of savings measures – some harking back to the Abbott 2014 budget – which were repackaged to pay for the increase in childcare subsidies. Yesterday, as the Coalition read the signs that support for the omnibus bill was flagging, the treasurer, the social services minister and the education minister came out to link the savings to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). That is, they were throwing $3bn of the savings into a locked box for the NDIS.The omnibus bill has a bunch of savings measures – some harking back to the Abbott 2014 budget – which were repackaged to pay for the increase in childcare subsidies. Yesterday, as the Coalition read the signs that support for the omnibus bill was flagging, the treasurer, the social services minister and the education minister came out to link the savings to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). That is, they were throwing $3bn of the savings into a locked box for the NDIS.
In other words, if you don’t support the savings measures such as cuts to family tax benefits and the four week wait for the dole for young people, you won’t get the childcare increase or the NDIS fully funded.In other words, if you don’t support the savings measures such as cuts to family tax benefits and the four week wait for the dole for young people, you won’t get the childcare increase or the NDIS fully funded.
Nick said no. I’m not playing that game. You can get the savings from elsewhere. Ooh, like defence.Nick said no. I’m not playing that game. You can get the savings from elsewhere. Ooh, like defence.
He told Katharine Murphy last night:He told Katharine Murphy last night:
As negotiating tactics go, this is about as subtle as a sledgehammer.As negotiating tactics go, this is about as subtle as a sledgehammer.
He said the government “should not pit vulnerable Australians currently receiving family tax benefit against another group of vulnerable Australians wanting to access the NDIS”.He said the government “should not pit vulnerable Australians currently receiving family tax benefit against another group of vulnerable Australians wanting to access the NDIS”.
Looking into the day, we are expecting the prime minister to present the ninth Closing the Gap report at midday in the parliament.Looking into the day, we are expecting the prime minister to present the ninth Closing the Gap report at midday in the parliament.
Katharine Murphy reports that Tony Abbott has bobbed up while we are speaking Indigenous affairs.Katharine Murphy reports that Tony Abbott has bobbed up while we are speaking Indigenous affairs.
The former prime minister Tony Abbott said he was concerned that Malcolm Turnbull was no longer taking the government to spend a week each year in a remote community.The former prime minister Tony Abbott said he was concerned that Malcolm Turnbull was no longer taking the government to spend a week each year in a remote community.
Speaking to the ABC radio on Monday evening, Abbott defended his record in Indigenous affairs and described his practice of spending a week in an Indigenous community when he was prime minister as a “very important indication to our country” about priorities.Speaking to the ABC radio on Monday evening, Abbott defended his record in Indigenous affairs and described his practice of spending a week in an Indigenous community when he was prime minister as a “very important indication to our country” about priorities.
He said it was “a little disappointing” that the intergovernmental pilgrimage to a remote community was no longer happening under Turnbull, who scrapped the visits when he took the Liberal leadership.He said it was “a little disappointing” that the intergovernmental pilgrimage to a remote community was no longer happening under Turnbull, who scrapped the visits when he took the Liberal leadership.
However, an extract circulated ahead of Indigenous affairs minister Nigel Scullion’s speech to the Senate on Tuesday said the government remained steadfast in its commitment to “do things with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not to them”.However, an extract circulated ahead of Indigenous affairs minister Nigel Scullion’s speech to the Senate on Tuesday said the government remained steadfast in its commitment to “do things with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, not to them”.
“This has meant as an overhaul in the way the Indigenous affairs portfolio operates,” Scullion will tell the Senate.“This has meant as an overhaul in the way the Indigenous affairs portfolio operates,” Scullion will tell the Senate.
The prime minister and Bill Shorten are speaking to a Closing the Gap breakfast this morning ahead of Indigenous leaders presenting him with the Redfern statement, a call for a more “just approach” to Indigenous affairs. Mike Bowers is there and we will have some pictures shortly.The prime minister and Bill Shorten are speaking to a Closing the Gap breakfast this morning ahead of Indigenous leaders presenting him with the Redfern statement, a call for a more “just approach” to Indigenous affairs. Mike Bowers is there and we will have some pictures shortly.
Talk to us in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or on my Facebook. Grab a hot beverage and strap yourself in.Talk to us in the thread, on the Twits @gabriellechan and @mpbowers or on my Facebook. Grab a hot beverage and strap yourself in.
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