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| Government withdraws funding for Islamic college of South Australia – politics live | Government withdraws funding for Islamic college of South Australia – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.56am GMT | |
| 02:56 | |
| Guess who? | |
| 2.45am GMT | |
| 02:45 | |
| Lunchtime politics | |
| Australian politics, a lunchtime wrap. | |
| A quite detailed report appeared suggesting the Coalition was considering winding back the capital gains discount. This was particularly controversial because Labor had suggested it two years ago and the Coalition had been bagging it ever since. Finance minister Mathias Cormann said the story was wrong. In contrast, the prime minister said he would not be following Labor policy. The budget is in May, so let’s watch this rabbit run. | |
| The native title bill which will address the recent federal court decision relating to Indigenous Land Use Agreements was rushed through the lower house, only to sit in a queue for the Senate. Labor noted it was important, voted against it in protest that it was being rammed through, and now a senate committee will inquire into the details for reporting on 17 March. | |
| The senate has debated parliamentary entitlements, with the Greens, Cory Bernardi, LNP senator Ian Macdonald and Pauline Hanson seeking to amend to remove free travel from prime ministers so that no one is eligible for free travel. Bernardi wants to go a step further and make sure no one accesses pensions until they are 60. | |
| Barnaby Joyce marked his first year anniversary as leader of the National party. | |
| Question time coming up. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.50am GMT | |
| 2.26am GMT | |
| 02:26 | |
| The now familiar problem of part-time employment | |
| Gareth Hutchens | |
| The latest monthly employment figures are out. | |
| The Bureau of Statistics says the trend unemployment rate remained steady in January, at 5.7% – for the ninth consecutive month. | |
| It says there were 13,500 new jobs created between December and January (seasonally adjusted), which sounds positive. | |
| But all of those jobs were part-time positions. | |
| Part-time employment increased by 58,300 persons, while full-time employment decreased by 44,800 persons (the difference being 13,500). | |
| It means the now-familiar problem of new jobs being mostly part-time rather than full-time jobs has not gone away. | |
| Paul Dales, the chief economist of Capital Economics, says the worrying theme of 2016 has therefore continued into 2017. | |
| “The number of people working full-time is no higher now than it was in August 2015,” Dales has written in a note to clients. This is weighing on income as lots of people are working fewer hours and the excess supply of labour is keeping wage growth low. | |
| “Looking ahead, subdued economic growth will probably keep the unemployment rate close to 6% this year. But even if it fell, the high rate of part-time employment and associated rise in underemployment will keep a lid on growth and the underlying rate of consumer price index inflation.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.35am GMT | |
| 2.06am GMT | 2.06am GMT |
| 02:06 | 02:06 |
| In the Senate, Cory Bernardi has just lobbed his previously announced bomb, attempting to amend the parliamentary entitlements bill so that retired politicians can only access their pension when they turn 60. He makes a good suggestion IMO, that the allowances should be built into a simple salary structure so everyone can see what politicians get. Then, if you want your kids or spouse to travel with you, pay for it out of that salary. | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.36am GMT | |
| 2.02am GMT | 2.02am GMT |
| 02:02 | 02:02 |
| The government, unsurprisingly, wins the suspension. Now the lower house is voting to pass the native title bill. | The government, unsurprisingly, wins the suspension. Now the lower house is voting to pass the native title bill. |
| 1.59am GMT | 1.59am GMT |
| 01:59 | 01:59 |
| Someone is yawning very loudly in the chamber. Any MP reading this, feel free to let me know who it is. | Someone is yawning very loudly in the chamber. Any MP reading this, feel free to let me know who it is. |
| 1.58am GMT | 1.58am GMT |
| 01:58 | 01:58 |
| While they count the votes, it is worth mentioning that the National Native Title Council has urged parliament to support passage of the bill because of the large number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements rendered invalid by the recent federal court decision. | While they count the votes, it is worth mentioning that the National Native Title Council has urged parliament to support passage of the bill because of the large number of Indigenous Land Use Agreements rendered invalid by the recent federal court decision. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.59am GMT | at 1.59am GMT |
| 1.53am GMT | 1.53am GMT |
| 01:53 | 01:53 |
| In the lower house, Labor was rolling out speakers on the native title bill. | In the lower house, Labor was rolling out speakers on the native title bill. |
| So the leader of the government in the house, Christopher Pyne, has moved to suspend standing orders to push the bill through the house. | So the leader of the government in the house, Christopher Pyne, has moved to suspend standing orders to push the bill through the house. |
| The vote is happening now. | The vote is happening now. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.56am GMT | at 1.56am GMT |
| 1.51am GMT | 1.51am GMT |
| 01:51 | 01:51 |
| The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has addressed the entitlements bill. She would like to see the whole scheme wound up completely. Cory Bernardi is speaking now. | The Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has addressed the entitlements bill. She would like to see the whole scheme wound up completely. Cory Bernardi is speaking now. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.55am GMT | at 1.55am GMT |
| 1.33am GMT | 1.33am GMT |
| 01:33 | 01:33 |
| LNP senator Ian Macdonald says if we want to follow populist policies that curtail politicians’ allowances, next they will get rid of the Comcars that line up out the front of parliament waiting for MPs. Next, those populists will want us to lose the electorate offices and “meet constituents in the privacy of their homes”. | LNP senator Ian Macdonald says if we want to follow populist policies that curtail politicians’ allowances, next they will get rid of the Comcars that line up out the front of parliament waiting for MPs. Next, those populists will want us to lose the electorate offices and “meet constituents in the privacy of their homes”. |
| He wants to amend the bill to remove the gold pass from prime ministers – “the ban should apply to every single politician”. | He wants to amend the bill to remove the gold pass from prime ministers – “the ban should apply to every single politician”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.54am GMT | at 1.54am GMT |
| 1.31am GMT | 1.31am GMT |
| 01:31 | 01:31 |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| The Turnbull government has given a $54m loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to a large-scale solar development which it says has the potential for pumped hydro storage. | The Turnbull government has given a $54m loan from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to a large-scale solar development which it says has the potential for pumped hydro storage. |
| Malcolm Turnbull and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have announced the government had directed the CEFC and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to fund large-scale storage and other flexible capacity projects including pumped hydro. | Malcolm Turnbull and the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, have announced the government had directed the CEFC and Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) to fund large-scale storage and other flexible capacity projects including pumped hydro. |
| The solar development will take place at Genex Power’s Kidston renewable energy hub, 270km north-west of Townsville. | The solar development will take place at Genex Power’s Kidston renewable energy hub, 270km north-west of Townsville. |
| 1.28am GMT | 1.28am GMT |
| 01:28 | 01:28 |
| The parliamentary entitlements bill is being debated in the Senate. LNP senator Ian Macdonald is speaking against the retrospectivity of the bill which removes free travel known as the gold pass for long serving politicians all. | The parliamentary entitlements bill is being debated in the Senate. LNP senator Ian Macdonald is speaking against the retrospectivity of the bill which removes free travel known as the gold pass for long serving politicians all. |
| I am condemned by the commentariat...It doesn’t matter that the retrospectivity relates to a group who are so poorly regarded. | I am condemned by the commentariat...It doesn’t matter that the retrospectivity relates to a group who are so poorly regarded. |
| He says the savings from the retrospectivity equates to between $1-2m. | He says the savings from the retrospectivity equates to between $1-2m. |
| Removing this from “elderly retired politicians is not going to make one iota of difference to the budget”. | Removing this from “elderly retired politicians is not going to make one iota of difference to the budget”. |
| This is pure populism. | This is pure populism. |
| He has a word for the “trolls, commentariat and the lazy journalists” who falsely accuse him of opposing the reforms for self interest. | He has a word for the “trolls, commentariat and the lazy journalists” who falsely accuse him of opposing the reforms for self interest. |
| This has nothing to do with me. It will give me no benefit. | This has nothing to do with me. It will give me no benefit. |
| But the media probably won’t print that bit, says Macdonald. | But the media probably won’t print that bit, says Macdonald. |
| (Except me.) | (Except me.) |
| He accuses Labor and the Greens of unleashing the trolls on him. He accuses the media of NOT making a fuss about Labor senator Sam Dastyari who had a travel bill paid for by a Chinese-linked company and lost his spot on the frontbench. | He accuses Labor and the Greens of unleashing the trolls on him. He accuses the media of NOT making a fuss about Labor senator Sam Dastyari who had a travel bill paid for by a Chinese-linked company and lost his spot on the frontbench. |
| I am not sure what media Macdonald is reading. | I am not sure what media Macdonald is reading. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.32am GMT | at 1.32am GMT |
| 1.13am GMT | 1.13am GMT |
| 01:13 | 01:13 |
| 1.07am GMT | 1.07am GMT |
| 01:07 | 01:07 |
| Of course we will open our arms to refugees, says Joyce. | Of course we will open our arms to refugees, says Joyce. |
| 1.04am GMT | 1.04am GMT |
| 01:04 | 01:04 |
| The deputy prime minister was asked if he would welcome refugee resettlement in his local town of Tamworth, given he is calling on people to move to the bush to escape high city housing prices. | The deputy prime minister was asked if he would welcome refugee resettlement in his local town of Tamworth, given he is calling on people to move to the bush to escape high city housing prices. |
| Barnaby Joyce referenced an episode of the ABC show Australian Story about a town called Mingoola on the Queensland-NSW border where the locals renovated houses to allow refugees to come to their dying town. | Barnaby Joyce referenced an episode of the ABC show Australian Story about a town called Mingoola on the Queensland-NSW border where the locals renovated houses to allow refugees to come to their dying town. |
| I actually led the program, welcoming it. They were from Uganda. In the New England, we are proud of the fact. Of course we will open our arms to refugees. Of course we will. I am only too happy about them going to places like Armidale. I will do everything in my power to make sure they are welcome there. You know why I can do that? because we can do it on our terms. Because we have strong borders. Because we have proper processes. | I actually led the program, welcoming it. They were from Uganda. In the New England, we are proud of the fact. Of course we will open our arms to refugees. Of course we will. I am only too happy about them going to places like Armidale. I will do everything in my power to make sure they are welcome there. You know why I can do that? because we can do it on our terms. Because we have strong borders. Because we have proper processes. |
| 12.56am GMT | 12.56am GMT |
| 00:56 | 00:56 |
| Barnaby Joyce has been joined by his deputy, Fiona Nash, and his MPs to talk up his first year anniversary. There has been a marked change in the profile of the Nationals since the leadership change from Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce. Joyce is a lot more visible, doing daily media conversations, explaining policies, whereas Truss was lucky to do one a month. The other thing that has changed is media focus on “outsider politics” following the Brexit and Trump votes. Barnaby is deployed to provide the “outsider” bit of the Liberal-National Coalition. | Barnaby Joyce has been joined by his deputy, Fiona Nash, and his MPs to talk up his first year anniversary. There has been a marked change in the profile of the Nationals since the leadership change from Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce. Joyce is a lot more visible, doing daily media conversations, explaining policies, whereas Truss was lucky to do one a month. The other thing that has changed is media focus on “outsider politics” following the Brexit and Trump votes. Barnaby is deployed to provide the “outsider” bit of the Liberal-National Coalition. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.01am GMT | at 1.01am GMT |