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Version 11 Version 12
Labor targets Malcolm Turnbull over cuts to Sunday penalty rates – question time live Labor targets Malcolm Turnbull over cuts to Sunday penalty rates – question time live
(35 minutes later)
4.14am GMT
04:14
Labor’s Mark Butler to Turnbull: Will the prime minister reconsider an emissions intensity scheme given an overwhelming number of organisations now support one including BHP, AGL, Energy Australia, the Business Council, the National Farmers’ Federation, Origin Energy, the CSIRO, the chief scientist … how long will the prime minister continue to stand alone in opposing this scheme?
Turnbull:
He talks about emissions intensity schemes but the fact of the matter is this, that an emissions intensity scheme is designed to shift generations from coal fired power to gas.
All of the assumptions that have been built in over the years assumed abundant gas at an affordable price. Again, thanks to the decision of Labor governments locking up our gas resources, we are in a position where gas is not available in the quantities it should be and it is certainly not affordable.
Which seems to suggest that Australia cannot have an emissions trading scheme because there is not enough gas available.
Updated
at 4.17am GMT
4.04am GMT
04:04
Shorten to Turnbull: An eminent person, who is often quoted by the prime minister, has described allowing Australians to access super to purchase housing as a thoroughly bad idea. Will the prime minister now rule it out?
Turnbull goes straight to the 1993 Keating policy.
The eminent prime minister does, however, have the contradiction of having advocated the very policy he denounced so graphically on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. It is remarkable that the 1993 election platform has been so quickly forgotten by so many people, not least the distinguished, eminent person.
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4.01am GMT
04:01
Greens senator Janet Rice with her knitting during #QT @gabriellechan @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive pic.twitter.com/wNKWi0mL8e
4.00am GMT
04:00
Scott Morrison is asked by Chris Bowen about any plans to access superannuation for housing purposes.
Morrison says the government has no such proposal but points to Keating’s policy taken to the 1993 election. The only one had formally proposed such a policy is Labor, says Morrison.
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3.57am GMT
03:57
Paul Karp
Labor senator Murray Watt has asked George Brandis whether anything has changed since he told the Senate last year that changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act were off the table.
Brandis notes that since then there has been a public discussion about the RDA, including the Australian Human Rights Commission president, Gillian Triggs, suggesting a revised complaints handling procedure and the Australian Law Reform Commission suggesting “substantive” changes.
We’ve seen vigorous debate on these issues, and the government is mindful of that debate. I have no further information to provide.
The Labor leader in the Senate, Penny Wong, leapt on the fact he did not repeat the “off the table” formulation:
Brandis refuses to affirm his commitment, given to Senate in August last year, that 18C changes were 'off the table' #senateqt
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3.55am GMT
03:55
Kevin Andrews gets a question to the defence industry minister, Christopher Pyne: Can he outline how the government’s commitment to industrial relations reform will help protect employees’ pay and conditions by putting an end to the corrupting benefits paid by businesses to unions and, secondly, can he outline why it is important that the union movement be run honestly on behalf of all hard-working Australians?
Pyne goes through all the payments listed in the trade unions royal commission.
Updated
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3.53am GMT
03:53
Chris Bowen to Scott Morrison: Can the minister confirm that the minister for finance said, “We went to last election promising no increases in taxes on investments, specifically no reductions in the capital gains tax discount, no changes to negative gearing, we stick to our commitments.” Does this reflect the position of the government? Is the budget being drawn up according to the principles of the finance minister?
Morrison attacks the Labor policy to remove negative gearing on housing and reduce the tax discount on capital gains. He does not give an answer to the question.
Updated
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3.49am GMT
03:49
A government question allows the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, to update the house on counter-terrorism.
Updated
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3.48am GMT
03:48
Labor’s Jenny Macklin asks Turnbull to rule out pension cuts in the budget. This relates to a story in the Sunday papers.
Turnbull says:
There will be no change to the current rules that provide age pensioners on the taper rate with a minimum rate per fortnight.
It was just a suggestion put forward by the department, he says.
Updated
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3.44am GMT3.44am GMT
03:4403:44
Scott Morrison gets a question on the G20 meeting.Scott Morrison gets a question on the G20 meeting.
3.43am GMT3.43am GMT
03:4303:43
3.41am GMT3.41am GMT
03:4103:41
Shorten to Turnbull: I refer to reports that the prime minister’s colleagues are seeking to water down protections against race-hate speech. Will the prime minister rule out making changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and, if not, what exactly does the government want people to be able to say that they’re not allowed to say now? Shorten to Turnbull: I refer to reports that the prime minister’s colleagues are seeking to water down protections against race hate speech. Will the prime minister rule out making changes to section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and, if not, what exactly does the government want people to be able to say that they’re not allowed to say now?
Turnbull says his government is considering the report of the human rights committee on the subject.Turnbull says his government is considering the report of the human rights committee on the subject.
Nothing to see here.Nothing to see here.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.43am GMT at 4.08am GMT
3.39am GMT3.39am GMT
03:3903:39
Dan Tehan, the assistant minister on cyber security, gets a government question on energy and cyber security and how the Snowy Hydro will strengthen national security. He lists moments when the defence department has had to rely on generators.Dan Tehan, the assistant minister on cyber security, gets a government question on energy and cyber security and how the Snowy Hydro will strengthen national security. He lists moments when the defence department has had to rely on generators.
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3.37am GMT3.37am GMT
03:3703:37
Tony Burke to Turnbull: I refer to his previous answers where he has defended his industry minister describing One Nation as more sophisticated. We had a clear result in WA during – at one time in the campaign One Nation praised Vladimir Putin and made divisive comments ... Will he direct every political party division to put One Nation last an every single ticket across the nation the same way as John Howard did?Tony Burke to Turnbull: I refer to his previous answers where he has defended his industry minister describing One Nation as more sophisticated. We had a clear result in WA during – at one time in the campaign One Nation praised Vladimir Putin and made divisive comments ... Will he direct every political party division to put One Nation last an every single ticket across the nation the same way as John Howard did?
Turnbull said he strengthened policies on immunisation, pointed out president Putin’s conduct and association in the shooting down of MH17 and said Australia was the most successful multicultural country in the world.Turnbull said he strengthened policies on immunisation, pointed out president Putin’s conduct and association in the shooting down of MH17 and said Australia was the most successful multicultural country in the world.
UpdatedUpdated
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3.34am GMT3.34am GMT
03:3403:34
Government question to the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg: I ask this question when only moments ago the spot price for electricity in South Australia was approaching 50 times the cost of electricity in Victoria. I ask the minister about a retail business in my electorate in Mt Gambier. This business has seen an increase in the cost of its electricity bill for one month alone of $18,000. Can you update the House on what action the government is taking to ensure Australians have access to affordable and reliable power?Government question to the energy minister, Josh Frydenberg: I ask this question when only moments ago the spot price for electricity in South Australia was approaching 50 times the cost of electricity in Victoria. I ask the minister about a retail business in my electorate in Mt Gambier. This business has seen an increase in the cost of its electricity bill for one month alone of $18,000. Can you update the House on what action the government is taking to ensure Australians have access to affordable and reliable power?
Tony Burke takes a point of order.Tony Burke takes a point of order.
Under standing order 100 and the requirement for authentication, we heard in the question about it being, I think, 50 times. Given the spot price is nowhere near 50 times right at this moment could he either table his calculator or table the document he is basing it on.Under standing order 100 and the requirement for authentication, we heard in the question about it being, I think, 50 times. Given the spot price is nowhere near 50 times right at this moment could he either table his calculator or table the document he is basing it on.
Speaker Smith says there is no point of order.Speaker Smith says there is no point of order.
UpdatedUpdated
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3.32am GMT
03:32
Meanwhile in the Senate:
Janet Rice is LITERALLY knitting in #senateQT as she asks about Dutton's "stick to their knitting comment". It's an orange and grey scarf.
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3.30am GMT
03:30
Anthony Albanese to Turnbull: Now that the results of the WA election are so clear, will the prime minister listen to Western Australians, respect the mandate of Mark McGowan and finally dump your dud Perth freight link project and instead invest in the public transport Metronet project that Perth urgently needs – or does the prime minister plan to punish Western Australia, like he did Victoria, for having the temerity to vote Labor by withholding $1.2bn in federal infrastructure funding?
Turnbull says he awaits the application.
If they are not going to build it, then the money is obviously not required. As far as the Metronet project is concerned, we look forward to an application and will examine it on its merits as I have advised the new premier.
Updated
at 3.34am GMT
3.26am GMT
03:26
Nationals MP Andrew Broad to Barnaby Joyce: What action is the government taking to improve energy and water security for hard-working Australian farmers and families in regional communities?
Updated
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3.23am GMT
03:23
Indi independent Cathy McGowan asks Turnbull: There is strong interest in regional Australia in the terms of reference for the regional task force, timelines, budgets, community engagement processes and the relationship between the task force and the budget process. Prime minister, will you commit to delivering a full white paper process that sets out a vision for edge natural Australia with strategies that enables us to reach our full potential?
Turnbull lists a whole heap of regional initiatives but avoids the question of a white paper.
We shall take that as a no.
Updated
at 3.25am GMT
3.21am GMT
03:21
Labor to Turnbull: Is the prime minister aware that just last week the now former West Australian minister Joe Francis said on 6 PR radio, and I quote, “Penalty rates, I know people that didn’t vote for us at a state level because of that.” Prime minister, why won’t you use your power to stop the pay of almost 700,000 workers from being cut?
The answer goes back to Shorten. Turnbull says:
When the leader of the opposition had the power to determine penalty rates, when he was representing the workers and the Australian Workers Union, what did he do? He sold them out. He sold them out for a bag of gold.
Updated
at 3.26am GMT
3.19am GMT
03:19
A government question to Turnbull: Will the prime minister advise the House how the government’s snowy mountain scheme mark two will make renewables reliable, help stabilise Australia’s electricity supply for households and businesses including all of those in Gilmore?
Turnbull attacks Labor, including the South Australian government, for their renewables policy.
Labor wag Watts:
It's the colt from old regret at the dispatch box #qt
Updated
at 3.27am GMT
3.15am GMT
03:15
Plibersek to Turnbull: Kerry works as a pharmacy assistant in South Australia and she is here in the gallery today. Kerry says the decision to cut penalty rates will cost her around $1,500 a year from an annual wage of just $34,000. The prime minister’s support for cutting penalty rates will mean Kerry will struggle to pay her bills. Why does the minister think that Kerry deserves a pay cut?
Turnbull says Labor including Bill Shorten and Brendan O’Connor supported the independent umpire. He reads off the quotes.
What about in February last year, the member for Gorton [O’Connor], who was very vocal on the doors this morning I see, dripping with sanctimony, drowning in hypocrisy. He said, ‘Labor believes the Fair Work Commission is the appropriate body to consider these matters and it should be left alone by the Liberals to do just that, conduct its business as the independent umpire.’
Labor used to stand for the independent umpire, Labor used to defend their decisions, the Fair Work commissioner is standing up for small business and Labor should do so too.
Updated
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3.10am GMT
03:10
First government question goes to Turnbull on union agreements and payments. Turnbull:
We have only seen the tip of the iceberg in the Heydon royal commission. There is a culture of deceit, a culture of selling out the workers, a culture of trading away workers’ rights in return for membership lists and in return for cash and we will put a stop to it with the regulation we are introducing in the house this week.
Updated
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3.10am GMT
03:10
Labor objects to personal reflections on Shorten.
Turnbull had said:
The leader of the opposition has been selling workers down the river for years, trading away penalty rates for years. Taking backhanders for years, and we’re gonna stop it.
Speaker Tony Smith says he did not think the PM was saying Shorten personally benefited.
I don’t believe the prime minister suggested that the leader of the Opposition was literally taking a backhander, I think was the term you’re objecting to.
I don’t think the prime minister was saying that the leader of the opposition personally benefited. I don’t. I believe it was a ... political characterisation and, if you want me to go to the aspect of practice, I can give you many examples where that’s been allowed. If members want a literal interpretation of the standing orders, I will be ruling questions out of order left, right and centre.
Updated
at 3.12am GMT
3.05am GMT
03:05
Shorten to Turnbull: Andrew lives in Gawler in South Australia. He is here in the gallery today. Andrew worked at Spotlight on a Sunday to pay his way through university. Andrew says that he will lose around $1,000 per year because of the cuts to penalty rates, cuts which the prime minister has supported. Can the prime minister tell Andrew why he has to take a pay cut?
Turnbull says if Andrew was working at KFC he would be earning less because of an enterprise bargaining agreement struck between the company and the unions.
[Unions] have traded them away in circumstances where they have received money from the employers concerned. We might well ask what about the great agreement of the Australian workers with Cleanevent ...
Imagine if he had been getting, thanks to the great advocacy of the leader of the opposition, this champion of the working class, this hero of the people, he would have got Andrew would be getting $18 an hour instead of $50 under the award. But, Mr Speaker, there was something else. Payments to the union, not disclosed ...
Updated
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