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Coalition plan to ban secret payments in response to unions inquiry – politics live Coalition plan to ban secret payments in response to unions inquiry – politics live
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A modern history lesson from Stephen Murray regarding Paul Keating’s previous support for using superannuation for housing.
ALP's 1993 Election Platform, launched by Paul Keating, promising access to super for housing deposits pic.twitter.com/WkRuRQG2xU
The Accord Mark VII between the Keating Government and the ACTU, released on 3 March, 1993 provided for access to super for housing deposit pic.twitter.com/jkgRBHjR1b
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Regarding that Malcolm Roberts matter of public importance ... re the question of prosecution or persecution of Christians in south-east Queensland.
@SenatorMRoberts serious note. I plan to speak on this too. Is there a more specific point (an article or something) you can refer me too?
Looking forward to you speaking on protecting freedom of #religion#Queensland street preacher arrested & charged https://t.co/jYe21OABiP https://t.co/sEqQEINtZ3
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While Turnbull was doing his press conference, Bill Shorten was speaking to workers who would have their penalty rates cut under the Fair Work Commission decision.While Turnbull was doing his press conference, Bill Shorten was speaking to workers who would have their penalty rates cut under the Fair Work Commission decision.
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There have been a number of private member’s bills in the lower house.There have been a number of private member’s bills in the lower house.
There has been a Labor penalty rates bill, a Greens penalty rates bill and independent Andrew Wilkie has moved a bill to end live export.There has been a Labor penalty rates bill, a Greens penalty rates bill and independent Andrew Wilkie has moved a bill to end live export.
Cathy McGowan has moved a rail bill that would require the government to look at the regional impact of rail projects under the National Land Transport Act 2014. In other words, if you make changes to rail transport, make sure it does not do over regional Oz.Cathy McGowan has moved a rail bill that would require the government to look at the regional impact of rail projects under the National Land Transport Act 2014. In other words, if you make changes to rail transport, make sure it does not do over regional Oz.
Now they are on to penalty rates though a motion by Labor’s Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole, which notes that:Now they are on to penalty rates though a motion by Labor’s Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole, which notes that:
(a) families in regional and rural Australia rely on penalty rates to survive;(a) families in regional and rural Australia rely on penalty rates to survive;
(b) the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC’s) decision to cut penalty rates will hurt retail and hospitality workers and their families in regional and rural Australia;(b) the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC’s) decision to cut penalty rates will hurt retail and hospitality workers and their families in regional and rural Australia;
(c) the take home pay of families in regional and rural Australia will be severely impacted as a result of the FWC’s decision to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers;(c) the take home pay of families in regional and rural Australia will be severely impacted as a result of the FWC’s decision to cut Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for retail and hospitality workers;
(d) cutting penalty rates in regional and rural areas would also have a devastating flow-on impact for regional economies; and(d) cutting penalty rates in regional and rural areas would also have a devastating flow-on impact for regional economies; and
(e) the McKell Institute estimates that disposable income in regional areas will fall by between $174.6m and $748.3m if penalty rates are cut in hospitality and retail awards;(e) the McKell Institute estimates that disposable income in regional areas will fall by between $174.6m and $748.3m if penalty rates are cut in hospitality and retail awards;
(2) condemns government members and senators who called for cuts to penalty rates and their continuous pressuring of the FWC to reduce penalty rates; and(2) condemns government members and senators who called for cuts to penalty rates and their continuous pressuring of the FWC to reduce penalty rates; and
(3) calls on:(3) calls on:
(a) Government members and senators to stand with Labor to protect low paid workers take home pay; and(a) Government members and senators to stand with Labor to protect low paid workers take home pay; and
(b) the House to support Labor’s Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017, to amend the Fair Work Act 2009.(b) the House to support Labor’s Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017, to amend the Fair Work Act 2009.
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The magic of Bowers.The magic of Bowers.
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Malcolm Turnbull references the statement, which I have yet to sight.Malcolm Turnbull references the statement, which I have yet to sight.
The multicultural statement this year, 2017, renews and reaffirms our commitment to a multicultural Australia in which racism and discrimination have no place and which integration and contribution are core elements of our success. We are rich in our diversity, but we are bound together in our commitment as Australians, our commitment to those values and, as I said, the glue that binds us together is mutual respect.The multicultural statement this year, 2017, renews and reaffirms our commitment to a multicultural Australia in which racism and discrimination have no place and which integration and contribution are core elements of our success. We are rich in our diversity, but we are bound together in our commitment as Australians, our commitment to those values and, as I said, the glue that binds us together is mutual respect.
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Malcolm Turnbull:Malcolm Turnbull:
We are much more diverse in terms of the number of people who are born overseas or the children of parents who are born overseas than any comparable nation. Much more than the United States, which prides itself on being one of the great melting pots of the world of people coming from so many different countries. Only California has a percentage as a diversity that approaches Australia. Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have come from all corners of the world to make their life here. They have added their own identity to the extraordinary project that is modern Australia.We are much more diverse in terms of the number of people who are born overseas or the children of parents who are born overseas than any comparable nation. Much more than the United States, which prides itself on being one of the great melting pots of the world of people coming from so many different countries. Only California has a percentage as a diversity that approaches Australia. Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have come from all corners of the world to make their life here. They have added their own identity to the extraordinary project that is modern Australia.
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The PM has segued into the multiculturalism statement.The PM has segued into the multiculturalism statement.
Malcolm Turnbull is speaking about the Snowy Hydro scheme and the achievement of that postwar migration project. He also talks about the first Australians, Indigenous Australians whose history stretches back 60,000 years.Malcolm Turnbull is speaking about the Snowy Hydro scheme and the achievement of that postwar migration project. He also talks about the first Australians, Indigenous Australians whose history stretches back 60,000 years.
No one can say Australians only look like this. Australians look like every race, every face and every background.No one can say Australians only look like this. Australians look like every race, every face and every background.
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The prime minister does not answer a question over whether he has any indication he can get the proposed laws through the parliament. He says it’s up to Labor.The prime minister does not answer a question over whether he has any indication he can get the proposed laws through the parliament. He says it’s up to Labor.
Asked about a poll suggesting a large majority of West Australians want him to act on the GST revenue share, Turnbull says he is trying to get agreement from the states to place a floor under the GST revenue so states don’t get the big drops in revenue.Asked about a poll suggesting a large majority of West Australians want him to act on the GST revenue share, Turnbull says he is trying to get agreement from the states to place a floor under the GST revenue so states don’t get the big drops in revenue.
I wrote to the all the premiers and chief ministers and I raised it at COAG. I was attacked, unrelentingly, by the Labor Party, including by Mr Shorten. So, really, the question now is we will seek to achieve that. That is our goal, we think it is fair and it is achievable with goodwill but the fiercest opponents of what I propose is Bill Shorten and the Labor leaders, including South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.I wrote to the all the premiers and chief ministers and I raised it at COAG. I was attacked, unrelentingly, by the Labor Party, including by Mr Shorten. So, really, the question now is we will seek to achieve that. That is our goal, we think it is fair and it is achievable with goodwill but the fiercest opponents of what I propose is Bill Shorten and the Labor leaders, including South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
11.23pm GMT11.23pm GMT
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Guardian correspondent Paul Karp asks Turnbull why not go a step further and ban payments from companies to political parties (if you think secret payments have a corrupting influence on outcomes)?Guardian correspondent Paul Karp asks Turnbull why not go a step further and ban payments from companies to political parties (if you think secret payments have a corrupting influence on outcomes)?
You are not seriously suggesting to me that a corrupting benefit should be allowed as long as it is disclosed? Is that what you are putting to us?You are not seriously suggesting to me that a corrupting benefit should be allowed as long as it is disclosed? Is that what you are putting to us?
Why do you assume (political donations) don’t impact on public policy outcomes?Why do you assume (political donations) don’t impact on public policy outcomes?
I wouldn’t have thought there would be anybody here actually defending employers paying bribes to unions, but there it is. It is a broad church. Chris Uhlmann?I wouldn’t have thought there would be anybody here actually defending employers paying bribes to unions, but there it is. It is a broad church. Chris Uhlmann?
Turnbull refuses to answer any further questions from Paul and goes to Chris but Chris gives the floor back to Paul. The PM insists on moving to the next person.Turnbull refuses to answer any further questions from Paul and goes to Chris but Chris gives the floor back to Paul. The PM insists on moving to the next person.
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Michaelia Cash rejects the suggestion that it is already an offence to make payments with a corrupting intent.Michaelia Cash rejects the suggestion that it is already an offence to make payments with a corrupting intent.
Cash says all the jurisdictions have different laws and they are difficult to prove. This will be made consistent, she says.Cash says all the jurisdictions have different laws and they are difficult to prove. This will be made consistent, she says.
Turnbull says he is introducing it now because they have been doing other important IR business such as the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).Turnbull says he is introducing it now because they have been doing other important IR business such as the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).
Turnbull rejects the suggestion he did not mention these issues in the election. (These were recommendations from the trade unions royal commission.) Turnbull said the very election was called over industrial relations.Turnbull rejects the suggestion he did not mention these issues in the election. (These were recommendations from the trade unions royal commission.) Turnbull said the very election was called over industrial relations.
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11.14pm GMT11.14pm GMT
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Michaelia Cash is asked how you distinguish between dodgy ones and legitimate ones (my words):Michaelia Cash is asked how you distinguish between dodgy ones and legitimate ones (my words):
If a payment is being made into a safety training fund, you would need to show that you actually have a program of basically safety training, you would need to show that that has been undertaken, but you would also need to show that it has been charged out at market rate.If a payment is being made into a safety training fund, you would need to show that you actually have a program of basically safety training, you would need to show that that has been undertaken, but you would also need to show that it has been charged out at market rate.
11.11pm GMT11.11pm GMT
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Coalition to ban secret payments between employers and unionsCoalition to ban secret payments between employers and unions
Malcolm Turnbull and Cash are responding to the recommendations of the Hayden royal commission:Malcolm Turnbull and Cash are responding to the recommendations of the Hayden royal commission:
The Coalition will:The Coalition will:
make it a imprisonable offence, a payment with a corrupting intent in the sense of encouraging a union or union official to act improperly.make it a imprisonable offence, a payment with a corrupting intent in the sense of encouraging a union or union official to act improperly.
make it an offence punishable by up to two years in prison for any payment to be made by an employer to a union or a union official other than for clearly legitimate purposes (such as the remittance of union dues).make it an offence punishable by up to two years in prison for any payment to be made by an employer to a union or a union official other than for clearly legitimate purposes (such as the remittance of union dues).
ban secret payments from employers to unions. Certain legitimate payments will continue to be allowed, such as payments for genuine services that are provided by a union or genuine payment of membership fees. Criminal penalties will apply to both the employer and the union. The party that makes the offer of the payment will be penalised in the same way as the party that solicits or receives the payment.ban secret payments from employers to unions. Certain legitimate payments will continue to be allowed, such as payments for genuine services that are provided by a union or genuine payment of membership fees. Criminal penalties will apply to both the employer and the union. The party that makes the offer of the payment will be penalised in the same way as the party that solicits or receives the payment.
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