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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) | |
| 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 | |
| at 4.41am BST | |
| 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 last12 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 growth4-to-1. 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 22,000jobs. | |
| 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 3million. | |
| 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.” | |
| 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. | |
| 4.10am BST | 4.10am BST |
| 04:10 | 04:10 |
| But it wasn’t all fun and games- Labor’s Tanya Plibersek spoke of the amount of time parliamentarians have to spend away from their families, making sure Anna Burke’s children knew how often she thought and spoke of them. | But it wasn’t all fun and games- Labor’s Tanya Plibersek spoke of the amount of time parliamentarians have to spend away from their families, making sure Anna Burke’s children knew how often she thought and spoke of them. |
| Updated | |
| at 4.47am BST | |
| 4.06am BST | 4.06am BST |
| 04:06 | 04:06 |
| Ain’t no party like a Speakers’ party... | Ain’t no party like a Speakers’ party... |
| 4.05am BST | 4.05am BST |
| 04:05 | 04:05 |
| A milestone in the halls of parliament - the second female Speaker Anna Burke (after Joan Childs) became the first woman office holder who’s official portrait was painted by a woman. | A milestone in the halls of parliament - the second female Speaker Anna Burke (after Joan Childs) became the first woman office holder who’s official portrait was painted by a woman. |
| 4.00am BST | 4.00am BST |
| 04:00 | 04:00 |
| Frydenberg said Labor had “concocted” the figure and was “designed to mislead the Australian people”. | Frydenberg said Labor had “concocted” the figure and was “designed to mislead the Australian people”. |
| Let me tell the House that the leader of the opposition’s $1,000 claim for an electricity price increase for the average Sydney household is false. It’s dishonest and it is designed to deliberately mislead the Australian people. | Let me tell the House that the leader of the opposition’s $1,000 claim for an electricity price increase for the average Sydney household is false. It’s dishonest and it is designed to deliberately mislead the Australian people. |
| And it has wrongly asserted data from Australia’s independent Australian Energy Regulator which was designed to deceive the Australian people.” | And it has wrongly asserted data from Australia’s independent Australian Energy Regulator which was designed to deceive the Australian people.” |
| Labor said the claim came from information published in the Australian earlier year. | Labor said the claim came from information published in the Australian earlier year. |
| Frydenberg said the regulator had confirmed it had “not published any data outlining the price increases claimed in the article”. | Frydenberg said the regulator had confirmed it had “not published any data outlining the price increases claimed in the article”. |
| The price increases in the article are inconsistent with the data published by the Australian Energy Regulator. | The price increases in the article are inconsistent with the data published by the Australian Energy Regulator. |
| This data suggests the prices have gone down in Sydney by 2.3% from the end of 2013 to July 2017. | This data suggests the prices have gone down in Sydney by 2.3% from the end of 2013 to July 2017. |
| He said the average Sydney household power bill had varied from increasing from $321 to decreasing by $177 since the Coalition had come to power. | He said the average Sydney household power bill had varied from increasing from $321 to decreasing by $177 since the Coalition had come to power. |
| Labor’s Mark Butler was VERY pleased to reply. | Labor’s Mark Butler was VERY pleased to reply. |
| They have got to be kidding. They have got to be kidding. The last time they had overreach like this was when John Howard said ‘under Work Choices, workers have never had it better’. Remember that? Billboard after billboard after billboard like that destroyed your government, because of that arrogance, being so out-of-touch that you do not understand what is happening in households across the country. | They have got to be kidding. They have got to be kidding. The last time they had overreach like this was when John Howard said ‘under Work Choices, workers have never had it better’. Remember that? Billboard after billboard after billboard like that destroyed your government, because of that arrogance, being so out-of-touch that you do not understand what is happening in households across the country. |
| This minister came into the parliament yesterday afternoon and said this effectively, to the 2.5 million Sydney households, ‘You’ve never had it so good.’ He came into this house and said to 2.5 million Sydney householders that under the Coalition government power prices have decreased by as much as $473. This minister said $473 is the cash that Sydney householders have in their pocket because of the cuts to Sydney power bills. | This minister came into the parliament yesterday afternoon and said this effectively, to the 2.5 million Sydney households, ‘You’ve never had it so good.’ He came into this house and said to 2.5 million Sydney householders that under the Coalition government power prices have decreased by as much as $473. This minister said $473 is the cash that Sydney householders have in their pocket because of the cuts to Sydney power bills. |
| After gagging the debate, the government won on the numbers. | After gagging the debate, the government won on the numbers. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.16am BST | at 4.16am BST |
| 3.55am BST | 3.55am BST |
| 03:55 | 03:55 |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| The parliamentary group of Liberals and Nationals for yes has just held a press conference, after issuing this joint statement urging a yes vote in the postal survey | |
| Simon Birmingham, Kelly O’Dwyer, Nigel Scullion and Darren Chester all had their say. | |
| They had different emphases but a common theme was commitment and the importance of marriage, with Birmingham saying it “strengthens individuals, families, and society” and O’Dwyer describing it “the expression of strong and committed relationships”. | They had different emphases but a common theme was commitment and the importance of marriage, with Birmingham saying it “strengthens individuals, families, and society” and O’Dwyer describing it “the expression of strong and committed relationships”. |
| Scullion had a particularly strong line that “you can’t have two sorts of equal” – a line that both rebutted the idea same-sex partnerships could be equal without marriage and recalling the “separate but equal” fallacy used to defend segregation. | Scullion had a particularly strong line that “you can’t have two sorts of equal” – a line that both rebutted the idea same-sex partnerships could be equal without marriage and recalling the “separate but equal” fallacy used to defend segregation. |
| Chester, the only Nationals MP or senator on the statement, said the Australian people were both ready and “looking forward” to making a decision on the issue that had “divided” the parliament. | Chester, the only Nationals MP or senator on the statement, said the Australian people were both ready and “looking forward” to making a decision on the issue that had “divided” the parliament. |
| The attorney general, George Brandis, was grilled about an email the Nationals senator Matt Canavan sent on behalf of the Coalition for Marriage in which he said: | The attorney general, George Brandis, was grilled about an email the Nationals senator Matt Canavan sent on behalf of the Coalition for Marriage in which he said: |
| The Liberal National party is proud to stand with the Coalition for Marriage, the organisation running the no campaign. As our president Gary Spence has said, the LNP believes that there should be no change to the definition of the Marriage Act. | |
| Asked if the LNP supported the no case, Brandis responded: | Asked if the LNP supported the no case, Brandis responded: |
| That’s a matter for the organisation. I’m not aware of that. The views of individual Queensland members of the Liberal and National parties are a matter for them ... on my side of politics we respect the right of the parliamentary wing to have a different view to the organisational wing ... I’m not going to comment on matters for the party organisation in Queensland. | That’s a matter for the organisation. I’m not aware of that. The views of individual Queensland members of the Liberal and National parties are a matter for them ... on my side of politics we respect the right of the parliamentary wing to have a different view to the organisational wing ... I’m not going to comment on matters for the party organisation in Queensland. |
| Asked about whether they would respect the outcome if the vote is no, Birmingham replied: | Asked about whether they would respect the outcome if the vote is no, Birmingham replied: |
| It’s important to respect the Australian people ... we’re giving everyone a say, we want to see a high turnout, a big participation and we want to respect that outcome. | It’s important to respect the Australian people ... we’re giving everyone a say, we want to see a high turnout, a big participation and we want to respect that outcome. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.52am BST | |
| 3.34am BST | 3.34am BST |
| 03:34 | 03:34 |
| A slightly unexpected move by the government in the Bill Shorten should be condemned motion. | A slightly unexpected move by the government in the Bill Shorten should be condemned motion. |
| Govt just gagged its own motion condemning Labor! Come on @JoshFrydenberg tell us some more how power prices going down! | Govt just gagged its own motion condemning Labor! Come on @JoshFrydenberg tell us some more how power prices going down! |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.46am BST | at 3.46am BST |
| 3.21am BST | 3.21am BST |
| 03:21 | 03:21 |
| Media reforms are back up for debate | Media reforms are back up for debate |
| The Senate has cleared its morning schedule a little bit faster than expected and has returned to the media reform debate. | The Senate has cleared its morning schedule a little bit faster than expected and has returned to the media reform debate. |
| 3.19am BST | 3.19am BST |
| 03:19 | 03:19 |
| John Howard is keeping up the pressure on the Coalition in regards to religious freedoms in the marriage equality debate. | John Howard is keeping up the pressure on the Coalition in regards to religious freedoms in the marriage equality debate. |
| He has already, as Paul Karp points out, said this before. More than once. | He has already, as Paul Karp points out, said this before. More than once. |
| Repeating the demand in a statement, Howard said the case for protections is “compelling”. | Repeating the demand in a statement, Howard said the case for protections is “compelling”. |
| This issue must be addressed before the survey is completed; leaving it as something to be taken up only in the event of a Yes vote prevailing is the equivalent of saying that it does not matter. If a Yes vote is recorded there will be overwhelming pressure to “move on”, legislate as quickly as possible and then put the issue behind parliament. There will be scant opportunity for serious consideration of protections in the areas I have cited. Very likely, those raising such matters will be met with a chorus of put-downs and accused of attempting to frustrate the verdict of the people. | This issue must be addressed before the survey is completed; leaving it as something to be taken up only in the event of a Yes vote prevailing is the equivalent of saying that it does not matter. If a Yes vote is recorded there will be overwhelming pressure to “move on”, legislate as quickly as possible and then put the issue behind parliament. There will be scant opportunity for serious consideration of protections in the areas I have cited. Very likely, those raising such matters will be met with a chorus of put-downs and accused of attempting to frustrate the verdict of the people. |
| Thus far, the government’s response has been to wash its hands of any responsibility, merely stating that it will facilitate a private member’s bill. On the evidence to date, it would seem that the only protections in that bill will not go much beyond stipulations that no minister, priest, rabbi or imam will be compelled to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. | Thus far, the government’s response has been to wash its hands of any responsibility, merely stating that it will facilitate a private member’s bill. On the evidence to date, it would seem that the only protections in that bill will not go much beyond stipulations that no minister, priest, rabbi or imam will be compelled to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. |
| Those campaigning for a Yes vote call any reference to these issues “red herrings” or distractions. On the contrary, they are legitimate concerns. It is completely disingenuous to assert that a change of this magnitude to a fundamental social institution does not have consequences. It is precisely because parliament should reflect the will of the people that the people are entitled to know what, if anything, the government will do on protections before they vote. Otherwise, people will not be fully informed when they vote. | Those campaigning for a Yes vote call any reference to these issues “red herrings” or distractions. On the contrary, they are legitimate concerns. It is completely disingenuous to assert that a change of this magnitude to a fundamental social institution does not have consequences. It is precisely because parliament should reflect the will of the people that the people are entitled to know what, if anything, the government will do on protections before they vote. Otherwise, people will not be fully informed when they vote. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.36am BST | at 3.36am BST |
| 3.15am BST | 3.15am BST |
| 03:15 | 03:15 |
| The energy market operator wants a “day ahead” mechanism | The energy market operator wants a “day ahead” mechanism |
| Katharine Murphy | Katharine Murphy |
| As Amy has already mentioned, the energy official that the Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones likes to refer to as “that woman” – Audrey Zibelman – has fronted a parliamentary committee in Canberra.Zibelman’s agency, the Australian Energy Market Operator, has washed up in the centre of Canberra’s energy policy debate courtesy of a recent report that attempts to quantify Australia’s requirements for dispatchable power once the ageing coal plants (we’re looking at you, Liddell) start to leave the system. | As Amy has already mentioned, the energy official that the Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones likes to refer to as “that woman” – Audrey Zibelman – has fronted a parliamentary committee in Canberra.Zibelman’s agency, the Australian Energy Market Operator, has washed up in the centre of Canberra’s energy policy debate courtesy of a recent report that attempts to quantify Australia’s requirements for dispatchable power once the ageing coal plants (we’re looking at you, Liddell) start to leave the system. |
| It’s pretty obvious from her outing that Aemo would like the government to develop a new market mechanism that ensures there are sufficient quantities of dispatchable power available in the market at all times. | It’s pretty obvious from her outing that Aemo would like the government to develop a new market mechanism that ensures there are sufficient quantities of dispatchable power available in the market at all times. |
| In her evidence this morning, Zibelman floated the creation of a day ahead market – where the market operator identifies the energy demand for the next day, hour by hour, then generators bid in to supply the market. She thinks that would create more certainty in the market. She wants, in essence, a market around reliability. A day ahead market would also allow the market operator to deploy tools like demand management if there wasn’t availability in the system. | In her evidence this morning, Zibelman floated the creation of a day ahead market – where the market operator identifies the energy demand for the next day, hour by hour, then generators bid in to supply the market. She thinks that would create more certainty in the market. She wants, in essence, a market around reliability. A day ahead market would also allow the market operator to deploy tools like demand management if there wasn’t availability in the system. |
| She also, in the politest possible way, would like the government to get cracking on resolving the energy policy quagmire. In order to have her desired system up and running by 2018, Zibelman said she needed a decision out of government in the next eight or nine months. She notes (with admirable understatement) that the market is current “quite anxious”, given all the uncertainty. | She also, in the politest possible way, would like the government to get cracking on resolving the energy policy quagmire. In order to have her desired system up and running by 2018, Zibelman said she needed a decision out of government in the next eight or nine months. She notes (with admirable understatement) that the market is current “quite anxious”, given all the uncertainty. |
| Zibelman in her evidence described an energy market in the middle of a profound transition. | Zibelman in her evidence described an energy market in the middle of a profound transition. |
| She says people in the electricity market used to think in decades but now whole revolutions happen within a period of 18 months. This dynamic environment makes it hard for companies to make investments in assets that take eight or ten years to build, like base load power plants. She says the future is building assets like gas peaking plants, where capacity can switch on and off as required. | She says people in the electricity market used to think in decades but now whole revolutions happen within a period of 18 months. This dynamic environment makes it hard for companies to make investments in assets that take eight or ten years to build, like base load power plants. She says the future is building assets like gas peaking plants, where capacity can switch on and off as required. |
| She also notes that investors need policy certainty. This, she says, is a “given”. Investors need the certainty of a clean energy target, she says, but the market operator needs something beyond this: it needs to be sure that power generators and retailers can meet daily and future demand. She said that, at the moment, the market is providing incentives for renewables, and that’s fine, but right now the market also needs to signal for reliability and dispatchability. | She also notes that investors need policy certainty. This, she says, is a “given”. Investors need the certainty of a clean energy target, she says, but the market operator needs something beyond this: it needs to be sure that power generators and retailers can meet daily and future demand. She said that, at the moment, the market is providing incentives for renewables, and that’s fine, but right now the market also needs to signal for reliability and dispatchability. |
| She said a portfolio solution was required – policies to reduce emissions, policies to ensure that there is enough dispatchable capacity in the market at any given time. | She said a portfolio solution was required – policies to reduce emissions, policies to ensure that there is enough dispatchable capacity in the market at any given time. |
| Zibelman says a bit of “mindfulness” is required. | Zibelman says a bit of “mindfulness” is required. |
| Never a truer word. | Never a truer word. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.39am BST | at 3.39am BST |
| 3.10am BST | 3.10am BST |
| 03:10 | 03:10 |
| The energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, is moving a motion condemning the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, for a claim Labor has made all week – that Sydney power bill prices have increased by $1,000. | The energy minister, Josh Frydenberg, is moving a motion condemning the opposition leader, Bill Shorten, for a claim Labor has made all week – that Sydney power bill prices have increased by $1,000. |
| He is quite energised about it. | He is quite energised about it. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.39am BST | at 3.39am BST |