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Coalition threatens to raise taxes if savings are not passed – politics live Coalition threatens to raise taxes if savings are not passed – politics live
(35 minutes later)
10.00pm GMT
22:00
To be clear on the Cory Bernardi position, the senator made his position clear on 7.30 Report last night – sending the signal he will not be an automatic ticker of government legislation.
He told Andrew Probyn:
I was prepared to consider it on its merits, that there was going to be a net saving to the budget and that the $4bn or $5bn was going to be available to repay debt.
But yesterday, when I realised they would be robbing Peter to pay Paul, and put it into another big-spending government program, I’m reconsidering whether I can support this bill.
Updated
at 10.03pm GMT
9.57pm GMT
21:57
In parliament today, we have these bills:
Introduced:
Biosecurity Amendment (Ballast Water and Other Measures)
Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) - This is the bill seeks to amend law so that all Indigenous owners do not need to sign land use agreements. It resulted from a recent federal court decision and is worth watching.
Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 1) 2017
Resumption of debate:
Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment - this is the “Sussan Ley amendment”, committed to by the prime minister after the Christmas scandal that led to her resignation.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Bourke Street Fund) - related to the Melbourne tragedy.
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (Consequential Amendments)
National Disability Insurance Scheme Savings Fund Special Account
9.46pm GMT
21:46
The new independent Cory Bernardi is speaking to Kieran Gilbert on Sky.
He is not inclined to support the omnibus bill and he thinks any savings should be going towards paying off debt.
Updated
at 9.56pm GMT
9.41pm GMT
21:41
The joint standing committee on electoral matters is doing a short, sharp hearing this morning between 8am and midday. This is the hearing that investigates the last election and is also looking at the political donations system.
The Labor party is appearing now. The Liberal party’s federal director, Tony Nutt, will be on after 10am.
If you are tragic, like me, you can watch it over the interwebs here. Look for joint standing committee on electoral matters.
Updated
at 9.56pm GMT
9.27pm GMT9.27pm GMT
21:2721:27
Paul Farrell has been looking at donations from the firearms lobby.Paul Farrell has been looking at donations from the firearms lobby.
Australian political parties accepted more than $300,000 in donations over 12 months from the firearms lobby, gun suppliers and manufacturers, sparking concern among gun control groups.Australian political parties accepted more than $300,000 in donations over 12 months from the firearms lobby, gun suppliers and manufacturers, sparking concern among gun control groups.
An analysis of the latest Australian Electoral Commission donation disclosures by Gun Control Australia has revealed that firearms groups donated $353,000 to various federal political bodies around the country. The donations were made in the 2015-16 financial year, during a period when there was intense political focus on firearms regulation in Australia.An analysis of the latest Australian Electoral Commission donation disclosures by Gun Control Australia has revealed that firearms groups donated $353,000 to various federal political bodies around the country. The donations were made in the 2015-16 financial year, during a period when there was intense political focus on firearms regulation in Australia.
What has triggered the row that is splitting the Coalition? Plus four other questions about Australia’s gun control laws.What has triggered the row that is splitting the Coalition? Plus four other questions about Australia’s gun control laws.
The federal government has been considering a review of the national firearms agreement after the Martin Place siege, which could bring sweeping changes to the regulation of firearms across the country.The federal government has been considering a review of the national firearms agreement after the Martin Place siege, which could bring sweeping changes to the regulation of firearms across the country.
9.24pm GMT9.24pm GMT
21:2421:24
The prime minister has done an early interview with local radio in Canberra. He is also meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, prime minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Malcolm Turnbull has done an early interview with local radio in Canberra. He is also meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, prime minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Updated
at 9.54pm GMT
9.09pm GMT9.09pm GMT
21:0921:09
The government says the $4bn in omnibus savings are necessary not only to pay for the childcare package but the National Disability Insurance Scheme because Labor had not funded it properly.The government says the $4bn in omnibus savings are necessary not only to pay for the childcare package but the National Disability Insurance Scheme because Labor had not funded it properly.
In 2013, Labor raised the Medicare levy by half a percentage point to part pay for the NDIS. This is their document at the time: In 2013, Labor raised the Medicare levy by half a percentage point to part pay for the NDIS. This is its document at the time:
People with disability, their families and carers deserve certainty that DisabilityCare Australia will be funded over the longer term. For this reason, from 1 July 2014 the Medicare levy will increase by half a percentage point from 1.5 to 2 per cent of taxable income. Between 2014‑15 and 2018‑19 approximately $20.4 billion will be rasied as a result of this increase. People with disability, their families and carers deserve certainty that DisabilityCare Australia will be funded over the longer term. For this reason, from 1 July 2014 the Medicare levy will increase by half a percentage point from 1.5 to 2% of taxable income. Between 2014-15 and 2018-19 approximately $20.4bn will be raised as a result of this increase.
Bill Shorten said this morning:Bill Shorten said this morning:
I was there when Jenny Macklin outlined we would increase the Medicare levy and we would make other savings.I was there when Jenny Macklin outlined we would increase the Medicare levy and we would make other savings.
In 2013, Labor estimated that between 2014‑15 and 2018‑19 approximately $20.4 bn would be raised as a result of this increase. In 2013, Labor estimated that between 2014-15 and 2018-19 approximately $20.4bn would be raised as a result of this increase.
The other savings measures from the 2013 report were:The other savings measures from the 2013 report were:
To ensure that DisabilityCare Australia will be fully funded, the Government has needed to make tough decisions. This important reform will be delivered through part of the savings from reforms to the Government’s assistance for private health insurance, reforms to retirement incomes and the phase-out of the net medical expenses tax offset as DisabilityCare rolls out and other long-term savings decisions in the 2013‑14 Budget. Together with the increase to the Medicare levy and contributions from State and Territory governments, these measures will make room in the budget for DisabilityCare Australia into the future. To ensure that DisabilityCare Australia will be fully funded, the government has needed to make tough decisions. This important reform will be delivered through part of the savings from reforms to the government’s assistance for private health insurance, reforms to retirement incomes and the phase-out of the net medical expenses tax offset as DisabilityCare rolls out and other long-term savings decisions in the 2013-14 budget. Together with the increase to the Medicare levy and contributions from state and territory governments, these measures will make room in the budget for DisabilityCare Australia into the future.
I will try to bring you more detail on those savings measures and what became of them through the day.I will try to bring you more detail on those savings measures and what became of them through the day.
Bill Shorten said on radio this morning that there was an assumption that people with severe and profound disabilities live on the moon. They are paid for through a mish mash of services, he says. Shorten said on radio this morning that there was an assumption that people with severe and profound disabilities live on the moon. They are paid for through a mishmash of services, he says.
We are already paying for it.We are already paying for it.
He says the simple answer to the budget problem is to dump the $50bn in corporate tax cuts that go to banks and multinationals.He says the simple answer to the budget problem is to dump the $50bn in corporate tax cuts that go to banks and multinationals.
Why are they saying [corporate tax cut] is sacred, that is off limits, that must happen, but you - the rest of Australia - can pay more or lose more? Why are they saying [corporate tax cut] is sacred, that is off limits, that must happen, but you – the rest of Australia – can pay more or lose more?
Updated
at 9.53pm GMT
8.39pm GMT8.39pm GMT
20:3920:39
Good morning taxpayers one and all,Good morning taxpayers one and all,
Let’s update the story so far. Nick Xenophon hammered the final nail in the coffin of the omnibus bill that was going to cut from welfare, pensions and family tax benefits in return for increased subsidies for childcare. Together, NXT, Labor and the Greens, have enough votes to block the bill.Let’s update the story so far. Nick Xenophon hammered the final nail in the coffin of the omnibus bill that was going to cut from welfare, pensions and family tax benefits in return for increased subsidies for childcare. Together, NXT, Labor and the Greens, have enough votes to block the bill.
This morning, the Coalition has opened the door to a tax increase. Mathias Cormann told Lateline last night:This morning, the Coalition has opened the door to a tax increase. Mathias Cormann told Lateline last night:
If the Parliament were not to pass spending reductions, if the parliament were not to legislate savings and we need to ensure that we bring the budget back to balance and that we pay for the government’s spending, then of course tax increases become the only option. If the parliament were not to pass spending reductions, if the parliament were not to legislate savings and we need to ensure that we bring the budget back to balance and that we pay for the government’s spending, then of course tax increases become the only option.
Bill Shorten says, meh. He has been talking to Sabra Lane this morning on AM. Bill Shorten says meh. He has been talking to Sabra Lane this morning on AM.
We don’t think that is necessary frankly. We don’t think that is necessary, frankly.
A tax increase really is the last arrow in the quiver for the Coalition. They only pull it out when all else fails, given it scares the bejesus out of the voters. So methinks this element will dominate the day.A tax increase really is the last arrow in the quiver for the Coalition. They only pull it out when all else fails, given it scares the bejesus out of the voters. So methinks this element will dominate the day.
Let’s get cracking. Both chambers of the parliament sit at 9.30am. We have the the senate committee report on the exposure draft of the same sex marriage bill. This is the bill we would have had if the plebiscite had been held and if a majority of members were prepared to support it. Let’s get cracking. Both chambers of the parliament sit at 9.30am. We have the the Senate committee report on the exposure draft of the same-sex marriage bill. This is the bill we would have had if the plebiscite had been held and if a majority of members were prepared to support it.
And I will have the parliamentary program to you shortly and chapter and verse on the Shorten interview. In the meantime, get amongst in on the thread, or on the Twits or Facebook. I am @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is haunting the building. Up, up and away. And I will have the parliamentary program to you shortly and chapter and verse on the Shorten interview. In the meantime, get among it on the thread, or on the Twits or Facebook. I am @gabriellechan and @mpbowers is haunting the building. Up, up and away.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.45pm GMT at 9.51pm GMT