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Labor labels Xenophon 'the great pretender' after he supports media reforms – politics live Labor labels Xenophon 'the great pretender' after he supports media reforms – politics live
(35 minutes later)
6.03am BST
06:03
Looks like most MPs heeded the call to attend Malcolm Turnbull’s pre-Question Time briefing.
5.58am BST
05:58
Ian Goodenough has been handed a dixer for Peter Dutton: Will the Minister forImmigration and Border Protection update the House on the important of protecting the Australian community from dangerous non-citizens? What action has the Government taken and is the minister aware of any other approaches?
Which proves just too tempting for Labor’s Tony Burke:
Mr Speaker, reflections on the Deputy Prime Minister should be a direct motion. There should be a motion on the notice paper.
He is warned.
Dutton decides the best way to handle that joke is remind everyone about leadership coups.
I’m not sure how many days but I congratulate the Leader of the Opposition on the anniversary of having knived two former Prime Ministers, Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
There must be some celebration upcoming for the Leader of the Opposition, some sort of anniversary for him. I note particular interest from the member for Grayndler.
As for the question that was asked: “we have had now 219 visas for armed robbers cancelled, 221 for theft, break and enter, 550 for assault, 54 for murder, 21 for manslaughter. 114 rapists and other sexual offenders.”
5.51am BST
05:51
It’s the second anniversary of the day Malcolm Turnbull walked out of question time with Tony Abbott and resigned, sparking the spill motion that ended Abbott’s time as prime minister.
Bill Shorten would like that acknowledged.
Today is two years to the day since the current prime minister deposed the former Prime Minister, the member for Warringah. Is the prime minister aware as reported today that the former prime minister has been lobbying to dump funding for renewables? Why two years on is the former prime minister still calling the shots on government policy? Prime minister, what was the point of replacing the member for Warringah?”
Speaker Tony Smith rules it out of order
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5.48am BST
05:48
A timeless reaction to question time antics
5.46am BST
05:46
It’s smiles all round today.
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5.45am BST
05:45
When duty calls ...
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5.43am BST
05:43
Malcolm Turnbull appears to be enjoying himself today.
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5.42am BST
05:42
Christopher Pyne finishes a dixer on asking for bad examples of union behaviour, a topic he is more than happy to pick up and we are back to Shorten v Turnbull.
Shorten:
Just over three months ago the prime minister said about the clean energy target and I quote, “It has a lot of merit. As I said say, we will look at it very favourably.” His own chief scientist said the clean energy target was urgent and would put downward pressure on power prices. More than three months on from that report, will the government implement the Clean Energy Target, yes or not? -- or no?”
Turnbull:
We have already put in place important measures which are bringing down people’s electricity bills in the here and now, because they’re getting big discounts and getting on to the right plan. I’ve talked about that. I know honorable members opposite describe it as a stunt.
But, you know, if you are a single mum and you’re getting $300 cut from your electricity bill, that is big money, that is real money. And honourable members opposite shouldn’t be so sarcastic just because they’re earning big money here in parliament.
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5.37am BST
05:37
After Treasurer Scott Morrison finished espousing on the amazing job the Coalition have done with the economy since coming to government through a dixer, Bill Shorten targets Malcolm Turnbull with the same question about whether or not Sydney households power prices are dropping.
The Prime Minister picks up the attack line Josh Frydenberg just put down:
Now, as I have said and as the energy minister has said, we know what happened. The Coalition came into government. It abolished it [carbon price] and the electricity prices went down.
Coalition policies resulted in electricity going down. Labor voted against that. Then we have seen in recent times, particularly in the course of the last 12 months, very large increases in electricity prices.
5.33am BST5.33am BST
05:3305:33
It’s the independent’s question - and Cathy McGowan has the floor: It’s the independent’s question – and Cathy McGowan has the floor:
My question is to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. It’s about Manus Island. Can you, minister, provide details of the Government’s plan to manage the closure of the regional processing centre on 31st October? This week I’ve had numerous representations from my constituents, rural Australians for Refugees, UNHCR and the Red Cross seeking more information and response from the Government that shows we can protect our borders and show compassion, mercy and justice. My question is to the minister for immigration and border protection. It’s about Manus Island. Can you, minister, provide details of the government’s plan to manage the closure of the regional processing centre on 31st October? This week I’ve had numerous representations from my constituents, rural Australians for Refugees, UNHCR and the Red Cross seeking more information and response from the government that shows we can protect our borders and show compassion, mercy and justice.
Peter Dutton is as gentle as Peter Dutton knows how to be, but while he says the government wants the centre to close by October 31, he doesn’t confirm it will be. Peter Dutton is as gentle as Peter Dutton knows how to be, but while he says the government wants the centre to close by 31 October, he doesn’t confirm it will be.
I thank the honorable member for her question. I know that it’s a heartfelt question and on a number of occasions the honorable member has made representations to me on behalf of children who are here on visas,people who are here on visas otherwise, that may have illnesses want extended stay in Australia. I acknowledge her compassion and the work she does in this area. It’s important to her. It’s important to her community and I’m very pleased to take a question from her today.I thank the honorable member for her question. I know that it’s a heartfelt question and on a number of occasions the honorable member has made representations to me on behalf of children who are here on visas,people who are here on visas otherwise, that may have illnesses want extended stay in Australia. I acknowledge her compassion and the work she does in this area. It’s important to her. It’s important to her community and I’m very pleased to take a question from her today.
I can inform the member that I have met with Prime Minister O’Neill in Port Moresby on 1 September. We continued our case from the Australian Government’s perspective, that is that we want to see the regional processing centre closed by 31st October. There’s obviously a lot of details and logistics to be worked through and some of the compound has already been dismantled. That process will continue. I can inform the member that I have met with Prime Minister O’Neill in Port Moresby on 1 September. We continued our case from the Australian government’s perspective, that is that we want to see the regional processing centre closed by 31 October. There’s obviously a lot of details and logistics to be worked through and some of the compound has already been dismantled. That process will continue.
Prime Minister O’Neill expressed to me that his government was intent on seeing the regional processing centre close as well and we have spoken with Prime Minister O’Neill and my counterpart, the new minister, Petras Thomas, about the way the logistics could operate, which may include those people which total about 200 found not to be refugees to be moved to an alternative detention away from the regional centre, given that they have no lawful claim to be in PNG.Prime Minister O’Neill expressed to me that his government was intent on seeing the regional processing centre close as well and we have spoken with Prime Minister O’Neill and my counterpart, the new minister, Petras Thomas, about the way the logistics could operate, which may include those people which total about 200 found not to be refugees to be moved to an alternative detention away from the regional centre, given that they have no lawful claim to be in PNG.
There are in total just under 100 or so who have applied for packages to go back to their country of origin. We’ve had a record number of people that have taken up offers to return back to their country of origin, given that they don’t have legitimate claims to make in PNG. There is the capacity within the centre for about 400 people to be accommodated, and we will work with the PNG Government in helping them provide services to those people. We have to do it in a way going to the compassionate aspect and the spirit in which the member asked this question, we have to it in a way we don’t want to see boats restart.”There are in total just under 100 or so who have applied for packages to go back to their country of origin. We’ve had a record number of people that have taken up offers to return back to their country of origin, given that they don’t have legitimate claims to make in PNG. There is the capacity within the centre for about 400 people to be accommodated, and we will work with the PNG Government in helping them provide services to those people. We have to do it in a way going to the compassionate aspect and the spirit in which the member asked this question, we have to it in a way we don’t want to see boats restart.”
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5.26am BST5.26am BST
05:2605:26
Taxpayers to pick up Hadgkiss legal costs, but not any resulting finesTaxpayers to pick up Hadgkiss legal costs, but not any resulting fines
Paul KarpPaul Karp
Labor has targeted former ABCC chief, Nigel Hadgkiss, and employment minister, Michaelia Cash, in Senate question time.Hadgkiss resigned on Wednesday after he admitted in courtthat he had recklessly misrepresented the right of entry laws his own agency has responsibility for. Labor has targeted former ABCC chief, Nigel Hadgkiss, and employment minister, Michaelia Cash, in Senate question time.Hadgkiss resigned on Wednesday after he admitted in court that he had recklessly misrepresented the right of entry laws his own agency has responsibility for.
The first line of attack is essentially: why did Cash take no action against him, despite knowing of the conduct in October 2016? Cash responds that she didn’t want to prejudge the outcome of the court case.The first line of attack is essentially: why did Cash take no action against him, despite knowing of the conduct in October 2016? Cash responds that she didn’t want to prejudge the outcome of the court case.
The second line of attack is: how much will the government will fork out for his legal bills?The second line of attack is: how much will the government will fork out for his legal bills?
Cash replied that legal assistance is provided in accordance with the Commonwealth legal services direction, which is standard practice when the contravention is committed in a person’s capacity as agency head.Cash replied that legal assistance is provided in accordance with the Commonwealth legal services direction, which is standard practice when the contravention is committed in a person’s capacity as agency head.
She doesn’t know what the bill will be, as the “matter still before the court”.She doesn’t know what the bill will be, as the “matter still before the court”.
Asked to rule out indemnifying Hadgkiss for any penalty, Cash replied:“Hadgkiss has not sought an indemnity and the government will not be providing one.”Asked to rule out indemnifying Hadgkiss for any penalty, Cash replied:“Hadgkiss has not sought an indemnity and the government will not be providing one.”
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5.24am BST5.24am BST
05:2405:24
Politics just keeps getting in the way of the friendship between Josh Frydenberg and Labor’s Ed Husic.Politics just keeps getting in the way of the friendship between Josh Frydenberg and Labor’s Ed Husic.
Husic targets his walking buddy with the same question Labor has been asking all afternoon: the government is now in its 5th year in office. Why did the minister tell Sydney householders their power prices have gone down? Why doesn’t this Liberal Government understand that people in my electorate are doing it tough? Just how out of touch is this Liberal Government?” Husic targets his walking buddy with the same question Labor has been asking all afternoon: the government is now in its 5th year in office. Why did the minister tell Sydney householders their power prices have gone down? Why doesn’t this Liberal government understand that people in my electorate are doing it tough? Just how out of touch is this Liberal government?”
Frydenberg can’t help but add in a compliment.Frydenberg can’t help but add in a compliment.
He’s not abad bloke but has his facts wrong. Again the Labor Party is repeating the falsehoods in this place, misleading the Australian people, making facts up on the run, deceiving them about what theAustralian Energy Regulator, what the Australian Energy Market Commission have said. He’s not a bad bloke but has his facts wrong. Again the Labor party is repeating the falsehoods in this place, misleading the Australian people, making facts up on the run, deceiving them about what theAustralian Energy Regulator, what the Australian Energy Market Commission have said.
The reality is that power prices in Sydney have recently gone up, Mr Speaker. They have recently gone up. We’ve seen in July a substantial increase and we’ve also seen in 2016 an increase.The reality is that power prices in Sydney have recently gone up, Mr Speaker. They have recently gone up. We’ve seen in July a substantial increase and we’ve also seen in 2016 an increase.
The years prior we saw some decreases. But nothing like the 100%increase we saw under Labor. As thePrime Minister said, we are cleaning up Labor’s mess. Their failure to heed the warnings. The years prior we saw some decreases. But nothing like the 100%increase we saw under Labor. As the prime minister said, we are cleaning up Labor’s mess. Their failure to heed the warnings.
But what Frydenberg is attempting to deftly avoid is a repeat of his words from yesterday, where he said:But what Frydenberg is attempting to deftly avoid is a repeat of his words from yesterday, where he said:
The data published by the Australian Energy Regulator on May 2017 in the state of the energy markets report shows between the start of the Coalition government in 2013 prices across average Sydney households on standing offers varied from increasing by $1 to falling by $473. I call on the leader of the opposition to come to the House and correct the record.”The data published by the Australian Energy Regulator on May 2017 in the state of the energy markets report shows between the start of the Coalition government in 2013 prices across average Sydney households on standing offers varied from increasing by $1 to falling by $473. I call on the leader of the opposition to come to the House and correct the record.”
5.17am BST
05:17
Labor is seizing on Josh Frydenberg’s claim in the house on Wednesday that power prices had gone down.
Emma Husar calls Frydenberg to answer whether he “honestly expects households in my electorate to believe that compared to 2013 their power bills had gone down by more than $470 per year?”
Frydenberg returns to his earlier attack that Labor misrepresented the energy regulators and links it to the Mediscare campaign
The Leader of the Opposition sent out a tweet, Mr Speaker, saying that the Liberals have delivered power bills that have been more than $1,000. Well, we’ve heard from the Australian Energy Market Commission and the Australian Energy Regulator that that is false.
This reminds us of the Mediscare Mr Speaker, the shameful Mediscare lie.
Come to the Despatch Box. Come clear with the Australian people. Stop the deceit, stop the lies the falsehoods, to correct the record and tell theAustralian people that he has been telling falsehoods and deceiving them.
5.15am BST
05:15
Gareth Hutchens was listening into the joint committee questioning ASIC officials and has an update on the revelations over Stuart Robert’s business dealings, reported by Fairfax Media’s Latika Bourke today.
Here is a transcript of what went down in the committee just a short time ago.
Matt Keogh, Labor: Presently there’s no ID check requirement for someone becoming a company director, is that right?
John Price, ASIC commissioner: That is correct.
MK: And at the moment if you want to update who is a director of a company on the company register that’s done by form 484?
JP: It is,that’s correct
MK: Do you share the tax commissioner’s concern that it’s possible to appoint a person, in terms of updating the company register, without their knowledge?
JP: Ah so that could only occur through a registered agent. A registered agent is someone that a company nominates on its behalf who can make changes related to that particular company.
MK: So it can happen?
JP: Ah, it can happen.
MK: Okay.
JP: But it would be, I should say, if it is happening it may indicate some misconduct, so it’s an area that we’d..
MK: Yes I’ll get to that. So that can be done through the electronic version of form 484, through the portal?
JP: That’s correct. Through a registered agent.
MK: And to do that, you need to be as you said a registered agent and have their login details?
JP: Correct.
MK: So in theory, if someone else has someone’s, a registered agent’s login details, they can complete that form, appoint somebody as a director without that person’s knowledge.
JP: Yep
MK: And it would appear that that registered agent had submitted the form?
JP: Ah yes, that is possible
MK: And that person’s name would come up as the lodging party.
JP: Yep
MK: But legally, a director’s consent is required in order to be appointed as a director?
JP: Ah yes, that’s correct
MK: Okay. And if that is not obtained it’s a criminal offence under Section 201d of the Corporations Act, is that right?
JP: I’m not sure about 201d of the Corporations Act, but I think knowingly lodging a false or misleading document you may find is an offence under Section 1308.2
MK: 1308.2 of the Corporations Act
JP: Correct
MK: Which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
JP: A maximum term of imprisonment
MK: So if somebody did that, if they lodged a form either as the agent but there was no consent, or they lodged the form using somebody else’s details then they would be breaching that criminal provision
JP: Yes, if you could prove that the particular person caused the lodgement of the false document. If you could prove that.
MK: Yes. Are you aware of the Fairfax reporting today that the father of Stuart Robert MP was unaware of his appointment as a director of Robert International Pty Ltd?
JP: I did read that newspaper article.
MK: And will ASIC be investigating that?
JP: I think we’ll make some inquiries into that. Yes.
MK: Which may not necessarily constitute a formal investigation under the ASIC Act.
JP: Correct.
MK: Thank you. We look forward to seeing what comes of that maybe in due course
5.13am BST
05:13
Labor has picked up on Latika Bourke’s latest report into Stuart Roberts business affairs and has asked ASIC officials about whether or not someone could be signed up as a company director without their knowledge.
I wrote to the ASIC Commissioner today about my concerns over how easily someone can be signed up as a company director. pic.twitter.com/CUjDT4z6YK
5.12am BST
05:12
Paul Karp
Immediately before Senate question time, Labor’s Sam Dastyari, has gone on a bit of a tear in the chamber about the Coalition’s media deal with the Nick Xenophon Team.
Dastyari describes the concessions won by NXT as a “$60m slush fund for iPads and iPhones”.
He said it sets a bad precedent of horse-trading that Xenophon has decided something as significant as the future of the media landscape by “whether they’re buying you off well enough”.
Dastyari said on the surface concessions may look “fantastic” but “there’s nothing there”. “It’s a dirty deal done cheap.”
Dastyari also said that communications minister, Mitch Fifield, concedes privately he couldn’t possibly do anything to fund the Guardian or it won’t get past the Coalition backbench.
5.09am BST
05:09
The Coalition is so ready to do battle, Ann Sudmalis has been inspired to smack her desk.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s first dixer reveals the government’s message for the day:
As we’ve seen from today’s job data, our commitment to jobs and growth is not a slogan, it’s an outcome.
Strong jobs’ growth. But to continue that 325,600jobs in the last 12 months. But to maintain that strong growth Australians need...Australians need affordable, reliable electricity.
And the only party who can do that, of course, is the Coalition
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5.06am BST
05:06
It’s time for question time and the government MPs are looking particularly ready to go into battle - Malcolm Turnbull’s (unusual) pre-question time pep talk must have paid off.
Mark Butler is first on his feet, with a question for Josh Frydenberg on...energy. Just for something different.
Can the minister confirm that yesterday he claimed in the House and I quote, since the start of the coalition government in 2013 prices across average Sydney households on standing offers have varied from increasing by $1 to falling by $473”.
Is this Liberal Government so out of touch that they believe power prices have gone down since they were elected? If so, does the minister want to spend the next three minutes claiming that working families in Australia have never been bet other off?
Frydenberg accuses him of having “some cheek”.
In this House he told a falsehood, He told a falsehood. Let me first deal with his question. We have tabled information in the Parliament to indicate that as of July 1 we saw power bills increase in Sydney, AGL increased it by $296, Origin increased it by $310.
Energy Australia by $320. If you look back in the years since we came to government you saw big drops, for example, when we abolished the carbon tax, Mr Speaker. Now, we abolished the carbon tax. Now, the member for Port Adelaide should know that. He put out a news letter, Mr Speaker. He put out his own newsletter which said the decision to terminate the carbon tax will save the average family around $380. Mr Speaker, so that is what he said. We know and the Prime Minister.. knows that the ACCC has confirmed the average Australian household has saved overall about $550 from the abolition of the carbon tax. We have said, we have said that power prices have increase.
We are working to do everything we can to put downward pressure on power prices. The Australian people are rightly concerned about power prices, but not the Leader of the Opposition.
4.59am BST
04:59
Lunchtime politics
Today has the usual ‘last day of the sitting fortnight’ malaise, with not a lot of spring in the step of our MPs.
Still we have learnt somethings:
A deal is all but done on the media reforms, but a vote is still to happen
The Lionel Murphy papers have been released
Anna Burke’s official Speaker portrait has been unveiled
The Liberal and Nationals in favour of the yes vote in the marriage equality campaign have launched their campaign
The unemployment minister has remained steady at 5.6%
The energy market regulator wants a ‘day ahead’ mechanism
The government is picking up the legal tab for former ABCC boss Nigel Hadgkiss
4.40am BST
04:40
Question time gee up?
Government whip Nola Marino has sent an email out to all MPs calling for all members - including Ministers – to attend a “pre-question time briefing with the prime minister” according to our sources.
Updated
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4.39am BST
04:39
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash looked chuffed to be able to deliver some OK news this afternoon.
The government is pleased the unemployment rate has remained steady at 5.6%.
There is some very, very good news for Australians. Since the Coalition was elected to office in September 2013, the economy has now created in excess of 800,000 jobs.
In the last 12 months alone, the economy has created in excess of 325,000 jobs. Compare that to the last 12 months of the former Labor government when the economy created approximately 80,000 jobs.
The economy under the Turnbull government is outstripping Labor in terms of jobs growth four-to-one. But there is further good news for Australians. In terms of full-time employment, we have now seen the strongest eight months in a calendar year in terms of full-time employment ever.
In the last 12months ago, the economy has now created approximately a quarter of a million full-time jobs. Compare that to the last 12 months of the former Labor government where full-times job growth in Australia went backwards by approximately 22,000 jobs.
In terms of the participation rate, we saw it tick up slightly this month.
The good news that means Australians are out there and what they are saying is: ‘I am ready, I am willing, and I am able to work for you’.
As the minister for women, I am delighted the female participation rate has hit an all-time high of 60%. There are now more females participating in the workforce than at any other time inAustralia’s history, in excess of 3 million.
In terms of the youth unemployment rate, I have always stood here and said youth unemployment is unacceptably high. I am pleased there is a slight tick downwards but the government remains very, very focused on implementing policies that will get youth off welfare and into work.”
Updated
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4.24am BST
04:24
Gareth Hutchens
The corporate regulator has responded to a worrying claim by a UBS banking analyst that there could be $500bn worth of “factually inaccurate” mortgages sitting on the books of Australia’s banks.
UBS banking analyst Jonathan Mott warned this week that one third of Australians who took out a mortgage in the past 12 months were not “completely factual” with their financial information.
He warned the level of factually inaccurate mortgage applications has risen significantly since 2015, from 27% to 33%.
But Michael Saadat, from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, has just told a parliamentary committee that he thinks Mott’s analysis is incorrect.
Saadat said Mott’s concerns may have been more pertinent a few years ago, but the quality of mortgages had improved in recent years.