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Crossbench push for entitlement rorts to go to police voted down – politics live | Crossbench push for entitlement rorts to go to police voted down – politics live |
(35 minutes later) | |
1.30am GMT | |
01:30 | |
Drain the swamp | |
Katharine Murphy | |
With the entitlements bill now passing the lower house, eyes will switch to the Senate. | |
Newly minted Australian Conservatives senator Cory Bernardi is warming his jets for a little intervention in the red place on this legislative package. | |
He has three amendments on the boil. They would do a couple of things: Bernardi wants to implement a qualifying period for all prime ministers to access their benefits post service. | |
The other change would involve restricting the access the parliamentarians to the very generous defined benefits superannuation scheme that covers MPs elected before 2004. | |
Bernardi wants to prevent all current and former parliamentarians from accessing their defined benefits pension before they turn 60. | |
Once people wrap their minds round this little sortie, it will go off like a little hydrogen bomb in political circles, because the proposed amendments would affect current superannuants. | |
Bernardi has told Politics Live: “If the government maintains retrospective legislation is in the public interest for parliamentary entitlements then the area that arouses the most ire from the public is the annual unfunded pension payment that applies to some politicians respective of their age. | |
“Does anyone think it is reasonable for a politician to retire in their 30s and remain on the public purse for the rest of their lives? | |
“If the government is serious about cleaning up Canberra, then they can start here.” | |
Updated | |
at 1.33am GMT | |
1.26am GMT | |
01:26 | |
A number of members have referenced the lack of clarity around claiming travel expenses. Adam Bandt is one who has asked the finance department if a proposed travel claim was in the rules. The department advises the member must make the decision themselves. | |
Bandt says the authority has no teeth because it does not include anything about compliance. There is also no clear distinction regarding misuse versus a slip-up such as filling out a form wrongly. | |
Bandt says the Greens will move in the Senate to give the entitlements authority some teeth. | |
We’ve got to make sure this is a watchdog, not a lapdog. | |
Updated | |
at 1.34am GMT | |
1.21am GMT | |
01:21 | |
There are no government members speaking on the entitlements bill. Odd. | |
1.21am GMT | |
01:21 | |
Labor MP Tony Zappia is speaking to the entitlements bill. He says the public humiliation involved when members are caught out misusing their entitlements more than the 25% penalty contained in the reforms. | |
The costs of oversight may be be higher than the savings made but then that is the cost of transparency. | |
But Zappia also says members cannot fulfil their role as parliamentarians if they are not properly supported with proper allowances. He says Labor supports the reforms because, | |
if nothing else it will add to the transparency and oversight which the public have been calling for for sometime. | |
1.16am GMT | |
01:16 | |
On entitlements, Cathy McGowan says the increasing vote going to independents and minor parties coalesces around these sorts of issues of trust. | |
It’s not that you can’t trust parliamentarians ... there are clearly some people whom you can trust. Look at that last vote. People are getting that the major parties are not properly representing them. | |
Updated | |
at 1.18am GMT | |
1.07am GMT | |
01:07 | |
Backs to the wall. | |
Here is a clearer shot of the vote, lost by the independents and minors, for tougher penalties for wrongly claiming entitlements. | |
Note, most the major parties members are hiding up the back, which made it harder for Bowers to record the chamber. It is never a good look to vote down tougher penalties for politicians wrongly claiming work expenses. | |
Updated | |
at 1.12am GMT | |
12.49am GMT | 12.49am GMT |
00:49 | 00:49 |
Entitlements will go to the Senate so I best clarify the parts of the sum. | |
The previous bill contained the guts of the rule changes. | The previous bill contained the guts of the rule changes. |
That bill adds the 25% penalty if politicians claim wrongly and it also lowers the age for children’s travel entitlements from below 25 and below 18 and below. Senior officers are ministers, prime minister, opposition leader and speaker and Senate president. | |
The bill changes the name of the entitlement from the Life Gold Pass to the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement, and reduce, remove and reform benefits under the entitlement. This is the text: | |
Imposes time limits, after which a person’s ability to access travel under the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement expires, including that the entitlement of all persons (other than a former prime minister) expire at the commencement of this bill; | |
Imposes additional limits on access to the entitlement, closing it to people who had not met the qualifying periods before 14 May 2014 and mandating that no person who retires after the commencement of this bill can access benefits under the scheme, unless they are the prime minister or a former prime minister when they retire; | |
Provides for future prime ministers who had not entered or re-entered the parliament before 6 March 2012 to become a holder of a Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement; | |
Reduces the number of trips available per financial year under the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement; | |
Removes the ability of spouses or de facto partners, other than those of a retired former prime minster, to access travel under the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement; and | |
requires that travel under the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement be for a purpose that is for the public benefit and not for a commercial purpose or a private purpose. | requires that travel under the Parliamentary Retirement Travel Entitlement be for a purpose that is for the public benefit and not for a commercial purpose or a private purpose. |
It also removes the travel entitlements for the spouse or de facto partners of the prime ministers or a sitting former prime ministers. | It also removes the travel entitlements for the spouse or de facto partners of the prime ministers or a sitting former prime ministers. |
This bill has passed the lower house. | This bill has passed the lower house. |
Now the chamber is on to the bill that sets up the independent expenses authority. | |
Updated | |
at 1.02am GMT | |
12.36am GMT | 12.36am GMT |
00:36 | 00:36 |
The lonely road. | The lonely road. |
Cross bench calls for tougher penalties for breaches of entitlements-voted down by govt. & opposition @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/pyrJvToF0C | Cross bench calls for tougher penalties for breaches of entitlements-voted down by govt. & opposition @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/pyrJvToF0C |
12.27am GMT | 12.27am GMT |
00:27 | 00:27 |
Be it on your heads, minor parties warn the majors on entitlements. | Be it on your heads, minor parties warn the majors on entitlements. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.29am GMT | at 12.29am GMT |
12.22am GMT | 12.22am GMT |
00:22 | 00:22 |
The House is now voting on the NXT amendment for tougher penalties for members who break the rules on entitlements. | The House is now voting on the NXT amendment for tougher penalties for members who break the rules on entitlements. |
Here we will see the Coalition and Labor lining up on one side and four lonely minors/independents on the other. | Here we will see the Coalition and Labor lining up on one side and four lonely minors/independents on the other. |
Not suprisingly, the major parties win the vote. | Not suprisingly, the major parties win the vote. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.25am GMT | at 12.25am GMT |
12.17am GMT | 12.17am GMT |
00:17 | 00:17 |
Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie also wants to toughen penalties for politicians who rort the entitlements system. The independents are supporting a 200% penalty for first-time/rare offenders and 400% for repeat offenders. | Mayo MP Rebekha Sharkie also wants to toughen penalties for politicians who rort the entitlements system. The independents are supporting a 200% penalty for first-time/rare offenders and 400% for repeat offenders. |
The recipient is liable to pay the commonwealth, by way of penalty for the contravention of section 7A (the current contravention), an amount equal to: | The recipient is liable to pay the commonwealth, by way of penalty for the contravention of section 7A (the current contravention), an amount equal to: |
(a) if the recipient has not contravened that section, or has contravened that section once, during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the day on which the claim to which the current contravention relates is made — 200% of the amount to which this section applies; and | (a) if the recipient has not contravened that section, or has contravened that section once, during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the day on which the claim to which the current contravention relates is made — 200% of the amount to which this section applies; and |
(b) if the recipient has contravened that section 2 or more times during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the day on which the claim to which the current contravention relates is made — 400% of the amount to which this section applies. | (b) if the recipient has contravened that section 2 or more times during the period of 12 months immediately preceding the day on which the claim to which the current contravention relates is made — 400% of the amount to which this section applies. |
The proposed bill – supported by the Coalition and Labor would require that “if an adjustment to certain travel claims is made or required”, a loading of 25% in addition to the full amount of the adjustment will apply. | The proposed bill – supported by the Coalition and Labor would require that “if an adjustment to certain travel claims is made or required”, a loading of 25% in addition to the full amount of the adjustment will apply. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.23am GMT | at 12.23am GMT |
12.14am GMT | 12.14am GMT |
00:14 | 00:14 |
Independents and Greens push for police referrals for repeated entitlement rorts | Independents and Greens push for police referrals for repeated entitlement rorts |
Independent Andrew Wilkie, NXT Rebekha Sharkie, Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent Cathy McGowan have all spoken forcefully in favour of tougher penalties for MPs and senators who misuse parliamentary entitlements. | Independent Andrew Wilkie, NXT Rebekha Sharkie, Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent Cathy McGowan have all spoken forcefully in favour of tougher penalties for MPs and senators who misuse parliamentary entitlements. |
The motion would provide for: | The motion would provide for: |
(a) an audit of all members’ and senators’ travel claims during this and the previous Parliament; | (a) an audit of all members’ and senators’ travel claims during this and the previous Parliament; |
(b) real-time online reporting of entitlement expenses and the requirement for more detail of the substantive reason for the expenditure; and | (b) real-time online reporting of entitlement expenses and the requirement for more detail of the substantive reason for the expenditure; and |
(c) provisions to refer misuse which forms a pattern of misbehaviour to the Australian federal police. | (c) provisions to refer misuse which forms a pattern of misbehaviour to the Australian federal police. |
Wilkie makes the point that if the person in the street stole money, they are dealt with by the police. Why should politicians be treated differently? | Wilkie makes the point that if the person in the street stole money, they are dealt with by the police. Why should politicians be treated differently? |
Michael Sukkar, representing the government, said to suggest that a member of parliament should be subjected criminal provisions was: | Michael Sukkar, representing the government, said to suggest that a member of parliament should be subjected criminal provisions was: |
nothing more than a stunt. | nothing more than a stunt. |
He said the government is not going to change the laws “for a headline for the crossbenchers”. | He said the government is not going to change the laws “for a headline for the crossbenchers”. |
Adam Bandt says none of the crossbenchers were suggesting anyone should go to jail for a slip-up. | Adam Bandt says none of the crossbenchers were suggesting anyone should go to jail for a slip-up. |
None of us are saying that ... But if you deliberately go out and flout them then surely you have to be held to a higher standard than if you just slip up by filling out the form wrong ... Don’t build up a straw man. | None of us are saying that ... But if you deliberately go out and flout them then surely you have to be held to a higher standard than if you just slip up by filling out the form wrong ... Don’t build up a straw man. |
Sukkar quips: | Sukkar quips: |
As I passed [Bandt] in business class as I walked down to economy on the way back to Melbourne, I didn’t realise he was such a bastion of virtue. | As I passed [Bandt] in business class as I walked down to economy on the way back to Melbourne, I didn’t realise he was such a bastion of virtue. |
Wilkie tells Sukkar it was cheap shot. | Wilkie tells Sukkar it was cheap shot. |
It’s not about the rules or whether former health minister was inside the rules or outside the rules, its about whether we were acting ethically. | It’s not about the rules or whether former health minister was inside the rules or outside the rules, its about whether we were acting ethically. |
If the community had confidence that we are good members and work hard, they will probably forgive us if some of us sit at the front of the plane or not. But confidence is at rock bottom now ... it’s about right or wrong. | If the community had confidence that we are good members and work hard, they will probably forgive us if some of us sit at the front of the plane or not. But confidence is at rock bottom now ... it’s about right or wrong. |
Updated | Updated |
at 12.24am GMT | at 12.24am GMT |
11.49pm GMT | 11.49pm GMT |
23:49 | 23:49 |
In the Senate is Derryn Hinch, who backflipped on the start date for the building code in the Australian Building Construction Commission (ABCC) laws which passed late last year. After insisting on a later date, Hinch wanted to bring forward the date. | In the Senate is Derryn Hinch, who backflipped on the start date for the building code in the Australian Building Construction Commission (ABCC) laws which passed late last year. After insisting on a later date, Hinch wanted to bring forward the date. |
Hinch says: | Hinch says: |
I changed my mind ... I got some new facts ... I contacted the PM ... I did not horse trade ... I did not hold out for any favour in return ... If you are involved in something that is hurting people, then man up. | I changed my mind ... I got some new facts ... I contacted the PM ... I did not horse trade ... I did not hold out for any favour in return ... If you are involved in something that is hurting people, then man up. |
Labor are opposing the amendment. Xenophon are expected to support the Hinch change which would see the building code start in nine months instead of two years. | Labor are opposing the amendment. Xenophon are expected to support the Hinch change which would see the building code start in nine months instead of two years. |
The government are attempting to push it through and move on to the parliamentary entitlements bill, assuming it passes the lower house. | The government are attempting to push it through and move on to the parliamentary entitlements bill, assuming it passes the lower house. |
Once that entitlements bill comes into the Senate, we are expecting to see some amendments from Cory Bernardi, LNP senator Ian Macdonald and the Greens. | Once that entitlements bill comes into the Senate, we are expecting to see some amendments from Cory Bernardi, LNP senator Ian Macdonald and the Greens. |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.57pm GMT | at 11.57pm GMT |