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Scott Morrison introduces bill to raise Medicare levy to fund NDIS – politics live Scott Morrison introduces bill to raise Medicare levy to fund NDIS – politics live
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Nick Xenophon has a private bill in the Senate to restore shortwave radio in the Northern Territory and parts of the Pacific and Papua New Guinea, after ABC cut off the service earlier this year.
Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie has spoken in favour of the bill.
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And while we are on the postal survey, the second directions hearing of the High Court challenge to the government’s postal plebiscite on marriage equality will happen this afternoon. And while we are on the postal survey, the second directions hearing of the high court challenge to the government’s postal plebiscite on marriage equality will happen this afternoon.
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I note there is comment in the blog over the postal survey committee hearings I mentioned earlier.I note there is comment in the blog over the postal survey committee hearings I mentioned earlier.
This is indeed, as comments have pointed out, a Labor/Greens-dominated committee which means the government had its arm twisted.This is indeed, as comments have pointed out, a Labor/Greens-dominated committee which means the government had its arm twisted.
It is headed by the Labor senator Jenny McAllister and presumably is designed to address and react to the various roiling boiling issues that surface in the heat of the postal survey.It is headed by the Labor senator Jenny McAllister and presumably is designed to address and react to the various roiling boiling issues that surface in the heat of the postal survey.
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I want to go back to hypothecation (because it’s such a alluring term) and the idea that the Medicare levy increase for the NDIS goes into a locked box.I want to go back to hypothecation (because it’s such a alluring term) and the idea that the Medicare levy increase for the NDIS goes into a locked box.
Fairfax’s Peter Martin addressed this issue back in February.Fairfax’s Peter Martin addressed this issue back in February.
In reality there are no locked boxes. Clause 81 of the Constitution says “all revenues or moneys raised or received by the executive government of the Commonwealth shall form one consolidated revenue fund, to be appropriated for the purposes of the Commonwealth in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities imposed by this Constitution”. In reality there are no locked boxes. Clause 81 of the constitution says “all revenues or moneys raised or received by the executive government of the commonwealth shall form one consolidated revenue fund, to be appropriated for the purposes of the commonwealth in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities imposed by this constitution”.
There are no separate jam jars.There are no separate jam jars.
But it hasn’t stopped the governments of all persuasion from acting as if there are. The best-known is the Medicare levy, which we are told funds Medicare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but which in reality goes straight into consolidated revenue (and couldn’t anywhere near fully fund them in any event).But it hasn’t stopped the governments of all persuasion from acting as if there are. The best-known is the Medicare levy, which we are told funds Medicare and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but which in reality goes straight into consolidated revenue (and couldn’t anywhere near fully fund them in any event).
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Bill Shorten was asked whether the constitution should be changed to allow dual citizens in parliament and he suggests MPs should simply make sure they comply with the rules.Bill Shorten was asked whether the constitution should be changed to allow dual citizens in parliament and he suggests MPs should simply make sure they comply with the rules.
He says he will not back down on the Medicare NDIS levy – he will only support the increase on salaries over $87,000.He says he will not back down on the Medicare NDIS levy – he will only support the increase on salaries over $87,000.
It is horribly wrong for the government the hold the NDIS hostage and say that the only way to fund it is through increasing taxes on people who earn $50,000 and $60,000 a year. There is many other ways to fund the functioning of government.It is horribly wrong for the government the hold the NDIS hostage and say that the only way to fund it is through increasing taxes on people who earn $50,000 and $60,000 a year. There is many other ways to fund the functioning of government.
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Shorten dismisses the New Zealand Labour conspiracy theory.Shorten dismisses the New Zealand Labour conspiracy theory.
I think we have all seen the mad conspiracy theories of the last 48 hours and I don’t think the prime minister or foreign minister have done themselves any favours whatsoever.I think we have all seen the mad conspiracy theories of the last 48 hours and I don’t think the prime minister or foreign minister have done themselves any favours whatsoever.
Let’s be clear here. Labor didn’t ask the government to refer their deputy prime minister to the high court. The government did that. Labor didn’t ask the government to make their deputy prime minister come out and declare that he was the citizen of a foreign power.Let’s be clear here. Labor didn’t ask the government to refer their deputy prime minister to the high court. The government did that. Labor didn’t ask the government to make their deputy prime minister come out and declare that he was the citizen of a foreign power.
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Bill Shorten is doing a doorstop and is asked about an old story about a $25,000 donation from the Australian Workers Union when he was the boss of the union.Bill Shorten is doing a doorstop and is asked about an old story about a $25,000 donation from the Australian Workers Union when he was the boss of the union.
Did you authorise a $25,000 donation of union money to your 2007 election campaign when you were secretary of the AWU?Did you authorise a $25,000 donation of union money to your 2007 election campaign when you were secretary of the AWU?
This government is absolutely keen to chuck all of the rubbish it can at me because they are desperate to distract from their own matters. I will not go into - in and out of every issue but what I will say is this....This government is absolutely keen to chuck all of the rubbish it can at me because they are desperate to distract from their own matters. I will not go into - in and out of every issue but what I will say is this....
I am very proud of my record of standing up for workers. Very proud indeed. I also had a whole royal commission, a glorious taxpayer waste of money to ask us 1,000 questions and now the government wants to have another crack. I’m not getting into that game.I am very proud of my record of standing up for workers. Very proud indeed. I also had a whole royal commission, a glorious taxpayer waste of money to ask us 1,000 questions and now the government wants to have another crack. I’m not getting into that game.
The trade union royal commission had no adverse findings.The trade union royal commission had no adverse findings.
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The Canberra Times’ public service specialist reporter Noel Towell reports:The Canberra Times’ public service specialist reporter Noel Towell reports:
Rank-and-file officials at the Australian Bureau of Statistics have “grave doubts” that the same-sex marriage postal vote can be done properly in the time-frame ordered by the Turnbull government, the public servants’ union says.Rank-and-file officials at the Australian Bureau of Statistics have “grave doubts” that the same-sex marriage postal vote can be done properly in the time-frame ordered by the Turnbull government, the public servants’ union says.
Some ABS workers fear the postal survey will be a “rush job” that risks repeating last year’s Census debacle, while others are worried it will not deliver an accurate picture of Australians’ opinions of same sex marriage, according to the Community and Public Sector Union.Some ABS workers fear the postal survey will be a “rush job” that risks repeating last year’s Census debacle, while others are worried it will not deliver an accurate picture of Australians’ opinions of same sex marriage, according to the Community and Public Sector Union.
Even the bureau’s boss has conceded to his staff that doing the job by November 15 is “challenging” although Chief Statistician David Kalisch insists the ABS is up to the task.Even the bureau’s boss has conceded to his staff that doing the job by November 15 is “challenging” although Chief Statistician David Kalisch insists the ABS is up to the task.
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Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Forster has answered her brother’s column on Monday which accused the yes case of moral bullying.Tony Abbott’s sister Christine Forster has answered her brother’s column on Monday which accused the yes case of moral bullying.
She writes today in the Oz:She writes today in the Oz:
The challenge for all of us is to acknowledge there will be fault on both sides and to refrain from pointing the finger at only our opponents. Calling each other — depending on which side you sit — bullies or bigots is never going to be constructive and it will never win over the people the respective proponents seek to convince.The challenge for all of us is to acknowledge there will be fault on both sides and to refrain from pointing the finger at only our opponents. Calling each other — depending on which side you sit — bullies or bigots is never going to be constructive and it will never win over the people the respective proponents seek to convince.
That is particularly true when you consider that once all the politicking, posturing and name-calling is pared back, both sides are arguing the same point: the special nature of marriage.That is particularly true when you consider that once all the politicking, posturing and name-calling is pared back, both sides are arguing the same point: the special nature of marriage.
When we discuss marriage in Australia we are not addressing a religious issue but a relationship between two people, exalted and protected under federal legislation. That legislation was enacted in 1961 and has since been amended 20 times.When we discuss marriage in Australia we are not addressing a religious issue but a relationship between two people, exalted and protected under federal legislation. That legislation was enacted in 1961 and has since been amended 20 times.
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Banana sandwich.Banana sandwich.
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Conservative Liberal and former Cormann staffer Slade Brockman has been sworn in as the new senator to replace the retired Chris Back.Conservative Liberal and former Cormann staffer Slade Brockman has been sworn in as the new senator to replace the retired Chris Back.
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Treasurer Scott Morrison has given quite a long off-the-cuff speech in support of the increase of the Medicare levy and the NDIS generally.Treasurer Scott Morrison has given quite a long off-the-cuff speech in support of the increase of the Medicare levy and the NDIS generally.
He says it is totally hypocritical for Bill Shorten, who was involved in the establishment of the NDIS, to reject a way of funding it into the future.He says it is totally hypocritical for Bill Shorten, who was involved in the establishment of the NDIS, to reject a way of funding it into the future.
Morrison says the Labor party that had the courage and the heart to bring forward the NDIS is not the same Labor party now.Morrison says the Labor party that had the courage and the heart to bring forward the NDIS is not the same Labor party now.
This is one of the few things where I thought we would have agreement.This is one of the few things where I thought we would have agreement.
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I’ve just lost it.I’ve just lost it.
@gabriellechan With a grip like that I hope @RichardDiNatale bulk bills. 😬😂 #yowza @mpbowers #politicslive pic.twitter.com/Fv9MGDOyPo@gabriellechan With a grip like that I hope @RichardDiNatale bulk bills. 😬😂 #yowza @mpbowers #politicslive pic.twitter.com/Fv9MGDOyPo
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The finance and public administration references committee has announced an inquiry into the postal survey on marriage equality.The finance and public administration references committee has announced an inquiry into the postal survey on marriage equality.
It will look at:It will look at:
Oddly, submissions close on 10 November 2017, well after the postal vote is delivered. The report will be tabled well after, by the second sitting Tuesday in February 2018.Oddly, submissions close on 10 November 2017, well after the postal vote is delivered. The report will be tabled well after, by the second sitting Tuesday in February 2018.
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Scott Morrison is introducing the Medicare levy bill for an 0.5% increase right now.Scott Morrison is introducing the Medicare levy bill for an 0.5% increase right now.
He says the bill goes to Australian character of helping out their mates.He says the bill goes to Australian character of helping out their mates.
It is that character that is called upon in this bill.It is that character that is called upon in this bill.
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Goodbye Laurie. What a journalist.Goodbye Laurie. What a journalist.
Laurie Oakes prepares for his last TV appearance this morning with legendary cameraman Mark Jessop. Farewell Laurie @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/w4Gq1wfet6Laurie Oakes prepares for his last TV appearance this morning with legendary cameraman Mark Jessop. Farewell Laurie @gabriellechan pic.twitter.com/w4Gq1wfet6