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| Federal court hearing on AWU raids set for 2.15pm – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 3.54am BST | |
| 03:54 | |
| The Greens have come together as a united front to condemn the AWU raids. | |
| Following on from Adam Bandt this morning, leader Richard Di Natale said it “was part of a broader crackdown on people speaking out against this government”. | |
| This is a government that sought to remove the charitable status of environment organisation,s it is a government that seeks to silence whistleblowers and people speaking out against detention through the imposition of harsh laws. What we have is a government that is using every tool it has to silence dissent, to crackdown on civil society and effectively say to its opponents, we are not going to tolerate you. That is what we see in a police state, not in a democracy like Australia.Utterly shameful from a prime minister who doesn’t like being held to account , who doesn’t like criticism and will do everything he can to silence his opponents. We are extremely disappointed and angry that in a country like Australia we are seeing the police force being used in this way.” | |
| Di Natale said the Greens would be taking advantage of the ROC’s appearance in front of an estimates committee this afternoon. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.54am BST | |
| 3.41am BST | |
| 03:41 | |
| We are getting very close to question time, so what do we know? | |
| Michaelia Cash referred a historical donation matter involving the AWU and GetUp while Bill Shorten was union secretary to the Registered Organisations Commission. | |
| The AFP, directed by the ROC carried out raids on the AWU Sydney and Melbourne offices yesterday afternoon. | |
| The media were tipped off, arriving before the AFP | |
| Labor has accused the government of misusing its power to target political rivals | |
| The government has denied that and accused Labor of questioning the integrity of the AFP | |
| Everyone is angry. | |
| We all caught up? Other than the AWU raids, what else is on your QT bingo card? Anyone predicting what time I’ll fall over? So many surprises await us! | |
| 3.34am BST | |
| 03:34 | |
| Federal court hearing set for 2.15pm over AWU raids | |
| Maurice Blackburn, who are representing the AWU, have filed an application with the federal court, challenging the validity of the AFP raids. | |
| Josh Bornstein, the firm’s principal, said the raids were “an outrageous abuse of power” and the Registered Organisations Commission could have written to the union, or produced a summons, for the documents. | |
| “None of these actions were taken. Instead, a highly orchestrated media strategy was implemented so that television cameras arrived before the AFP to capture the raid and thereby seek to paint the union in the worst possible light,” he said in a statement. | |
| “This is an outrageous abuse of power and a farcical misuse of police resources that raises serious questions about the conduct of both the ROC and federal minister Michaelia Cash, who instigated the investigation. | |
| “Prior to the raid, we wrote to the ROC, expressing our concern about possible political interference by the federal government in this matter. | |
| “We sought copies of all communications it has had with minister Cash and her staff but the ROC has declined to provide us with those documents. We will continue to press for that crucial information to be provided to the AWU.” | |
| The hearing has been set down for 2.15pm in Melbourne in the federal court. | |
| Updated | |
| at 3.43am BST | |
| 3.09am BST | 3.09am BST |
| 03:09 | 03:09 |
| Labor’s Nick Champion told Sky News he has some concerns about the AWU raids: | |
| I am concerned for our country. I am concerned for the type of politics that are now becoming normalised by this government. What we had yesterday was a Kafkaesque show trial, where the media was notified before the union was aware. The union, as I understand it, was informed by the media subsequently appearing out the front of their offices. What this was was a government initiated show trial, it was designed for one purpose and this is to do damage to the leader of the opposition and do damage to the union movement and really there is no substance behind it other than that. | |
| It should be noted that Michaelia Cash has denied that she or her office tipped off the media (in estimates). | |
| Champion says he is not accusing any individual of letting the media know, but says: “it’s a strange consequence that a government initiated, you know, investigation and the reference was provided by the government, after, you know, some toing and froing, the government admitted to that this morning on Sky. Those facts weren’t forthcoming in the prime minister’s interview but they were by the justice minister, who said Michaelia Cash provided the reference to the Registered Organisations Commission.” | |
| He reiterated that Labor “has no beef” with the AFP for doing their job. | He reiterated that Labor “has no beef” with the AFP for doing their job. |
| Updated | |
| at 3.30am BST | |
| 2.54am BST | 2.54am BST |
| 02:54 | 02:54 |
| Josh Frydenberg is still trying to talk energy, but keeps hitting the roadblocks of, you know, no modelling to back up the claims. | Josh Frydenberg is still trying to talk energy, but keeps hitting the roadblocks of, you know, no modelling to back up the claims. |
| “... Everyone has said this is a practical, workable, credible, way forward and that is why the Labor party should get on board, that is why we are getting further modelling undertaken.” | “... Everyone has said this is a practical, workable, credible, way forward and that is why the Labor party should get on board, that is why we are getting further modelling undertaken.” |
| Further modelling? | Further modelling? |
| The analysis by the energy security board has given us a sense of where the savings will be, that is put in writing of $100 to $115, that was analysis that they undertook, based on a series of modelling that they had done previously on a whole range of relevant areas. So we need to get more modelling done, I have written to the energy security board, and when that modelling is done, it will be provided to the states through the Coag process so that we can have a constructive debate at the meeting at the end of the November. | The analysis by the energy security board has given us a sense of where the savings will be, that is put in writing of $100 to $115, that was analysis that they undertook, based on a series of modelling that they had done previously on a whole range of relevant areas. So we need to get more modelling done, I have written to the energy security board, and when that modelling is done, it will be provided to the states through the Coag process so that we can have a constructive debate at the meeting at the end of the November. |
| So far, the Labor states don’t seem inclined to go along. Yesterday (was it only yesterday?) Malcolm Turnbull made the somewhat extraordinary admission that the states are saying one thing to him privately and another thing publicly. Keep in mind that Queensland is expected to head to the polls (the chatter will not stop that the election is being called within days) and potentially could have another government by that Coag meeting – and One Nation could be part of it. | So far, the Labor states don’t seem inclined to go along. Yesterday (was it only yesterday?) Malcolm Turnbull made the somewhat extraordinary admission that the states are saying one thing to him privately and another thing publicly. Keep in mind that Queensland is expected to head to the polls (the chatter will not stop that the election is being called within days) and potentially could have another government by that Coag meeting – and One Nation could be part of it. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.14am BST | at 3.14am BST |
| 2.39am BST | 2.39am BST |
| 02:39 | 02:39 |
| Ken Wyatt is today’s guest at the National Press Club. He’s giving a speech on “Australia’s New Age of Opportunity”. It’s focussing on aged care and the health, both physical and mental, of older Australians. | Ken Wyatt is today’s guest at the National Press Club. He’s giving a speech on “Australia’s New Age of Opportunity”. It’s focussing on aged care and the health, both physical and mental, of older Australians. |
| Here’s a taste: | Here’s a taste: |
| The challenge for all of us is that longevity has been rising at a remarkable rate and people have a lot more time as workers, consumers and family members to influence society and the economy. Its 85 years since the phrase “Life begins at 40” became famous as a self-help book title. It’s time we helped ourselves again – our challenge is to change attitudes to ageing and, just as globalisation and technology have shaped the way we live and work, so will living longer impact on individuals, the private and public sector, and almost all aspects of society. Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott from the London Business School cite, in their publication The 100 Year Life, state ‘If the child you are thinking about was born in the US, Canada, Italy or France there is a 50% chance that they will live until at least 104. If the child you had in mind was born in Japan, then they can reasonably be expected to live to a staggering 107 years’. These projections are the real deal. Therefore, we need to seriously refocus our attention on living longer and living better. This brings challenges, even for forward-thinking governments. The reality is that in most developed countries fertility rates are falling below the population replacement line, creating a conundrum for future workforce needs that will also impact on how we deliver services to older Australians. | The challenge for all of us is that longevity has been rising at a remarkable rate and people have a lot more time as workers, consumers and family members to influence society and the economy. Its 85 years since the phrase “Life begins at 40” became famous as a self-help book title. It’s time we helped ourselves again – our challenge is to change attitudes to ageing and, just as globalisation and technology have shaped the way we live and work, so will living longer impact on individuals, the private and public sector, and almost all aspects of society. Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott from the London Business School cite, in their publication The 100 Year Life, state ‘If the child you are thinking about was born in the US, Canada, Italy or France there is a 50% chance that they will live until at least 104. If the child you had in mind was born in Japan, then they can reasonably be expected to live to a staggering 107 years’. These projections are the real deal. Therefore, we need to seriously refocus our attention on living longer and living better. This brings challenges, even for forward-thinking governments. The reality is that in most developed countries fertility rates are falling below the population replacement line, creating a conundrum for future workforce needs that will also impact on how we deliver services to older Australians. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.56am BST | at 2.56am BST |
| 2.32am BST | 2.32am BST |
| 02:32 | 02:32 |
| Remember how I said Labor was angry? | Remember how I said Labor was angry? |
| Here is some of Chris Bowen, speaking to Laura Jayes on Sky a little bit ago: | Here is some of Chris Bowen, speaking to Laura Jayes on Sky a little bit ago: |
| Now let me be very clear. Our beef isn’t with the AFP here. They are doing their job, they have no choice as to how they go about these things, but the government, a cabinet minister, a senior member of the government, Michaelia Cash, is responsible for this. She sent the reference to the Registered Organisations Commission. She asked for this witch-hunt, and if this witch-hunt is designed by the government to damage Bill Shorten, which it clearly is, then they must account for the abuse of power, taxpayers’ money, which is going on here. Is this an outrage? Yes it is. Are we angry about it? Yes we are. Should the Australian taxpayers be angry about it? They have every right to be. | Now let me be very clear. Our beef isn’t with the AFP here. They are doing their job, they have no choice as to how they go about these things, but the government, a cabinet minister, a senior member of the government, Michaelia Cash, is responsible for this. She sent the reference to the Registered Organisations Commission. She asked for this witch-hunt, and if this witch-hunt is designed by the government to damage Bill Shorten, which it clearly is, then they must account for the abuse of power, taxpayers’ money, which is going on here. Is this an outrage? Yes it is. Are we angry about it? Yes we are. Should the Australian taxpayers be angry about it? They have every right to be. |
| I expect ‘who tipped off the media’ will be a question time issue, as well. Bowen goes on: | I expect ‘who tipped off the media’ will be a question time issue, as well. Bowen goes on: |
| Point one. Point two: the reference was sent by this cabinet minister. Not a day goes by Laura when I don’t open a newspaper and find some piece of dodgy analysis which Michaelia Cash has instigated, initiated, got her department or her office to do. I don’t know what this cabinet minister does apart from run a smear campaign against Bill Shorten and the Labor party. I mean she is a cabinet minister with a serious job to do. She should be concerned about wages growth in Australia. She should be concerned about actually improving the productivity and economy of the nation. All she is interested in is this witchhunt. I mean she is operating a political smear campaign as a cabinet minister and we’ve had enough of it and the Australian people have had enough of it. On the other point, there is a serious question. You say the process will work Laura, the media were outside the AWU’s office 15 minutes before the AWU even knew there was a raid. Now there are very serious … | Point one. Point two: the reference was sent by this cabinet minister. Not a day goes by Laura when I don’t open a newspaper and find some piece of dodgy analysis which Michaelia Cash has instigated, initiated, got her department or her office to do. I don’t know what this cabinet minister does apart from run a smear campaign against Bill Shorten and the Labor party. I mean she is a cabinet minister with a serious job to do. She should be concerned about wages growth in Australia. She should be concerned about actually improving the productivity and economy of the nation. All she is interested in is this witchhunt. I mean she is operating a political smear campaign as a cabinet minister and we’ve had enough of it and the Australian people have had enough of it. On the other point, there is a serious question. You say the process will work Laura, the media were outside the AWU’s office 15 minutes before the AWU even knew there was a raid. Now there are very serious … |
| Jayes: We’ve seen media outside other grades, for example when the AFP raided the Channel 7 offices … | Jayes: We’ve seen media outside other grades, for example when the AFP raided the Channel 7 offices … |
| Bowen replies: | Bowen replies: |
| If we are told that this is a serious investigation it would be a potential breach of the efficacy of that investigation if the media were tipped off. Now we all know the media were tipped off. The media did not, with all due respect you are all very fine journalists but you didn’t just wander down to the AWU thinking ‘I don’t know something about me tells me there’s a raid on’... so there were tip-offs. So they have very serious questions to answer by this government about how the media knew about this. The fact that the media were there indicates to me this is a political stunt and a smear campaign by this Liberal government and it is an abuse of power. | If we are told that this is a serious investigation it would be a potential breach of the efficacy of that investigation if the media were tipped off. Now we all know the media were tipped off. The media did not, with all due respect you are all very fine journalists but you didn’t just wander down to the AWU thinking ‘I don’t know something about me tells me there’s a raid on’... so there were tip-offs. So they have very serious questions to answer by this government about how the media knew about this. The fact that the media were there indicates to me this is a political stunt and a smear campaign by this Liberal government and it is an abuse of power. |
| Jayes: But Chris Bowen, I question how are you can call this a political stunt without at the same time questioning the integrity of the AFP. | Jayes: But Chris Bowen, I question how are you can call this a political stunt without at the same time questioning the integrity of the AFP. |
| Bowen: | Bowen: |
| We’re not asserting that the AFP told the media ... what I’m saying is the government has serious questions to answer as to how the media found out about it. Now I don’t think it’s acceptable to say the media was at Channel 7 or elsewhere, just because it’s happened once before doesn’t make it right. The AFP has got a job to do. Now if they have to go in and get these documents because they had no choice about it, if that’s the case, then their ability to do that was undermined by the media leak. So what I’m saying to you is there are very, very serious questions to answer as to how the media found out about this. If the media was tipped off by people who weren’t in the AFP it is a very serious abuse of power for political purposes by this government | We’re not asserting that the AFP told the media ... what I’m saying is the government has serious questions to answer as to how the media found out about it. Now I don’t think it’s acceptable to say the media was at Channel 7 or elsewhere, just because it’s happened once before doesn’t make it right. The AFP has got a job to do. Now if they have to go in and get these documents because they had no choice about it, if that’s the case, then their ability to do that was undermined by the media leak. So what I’m saying to you is there are very, very serious questions to answer as to how the media found out about this. If the media was tipped off by people who weren’t in the AFP it is a very serious abuse of power for political purposes by this government |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.06am BST | at 3.06am BST |
| 2.18am BST | 2.18am BST |
| 02:18 | 02:18 |
| I have seen a lot of commentators have mentioned they are donating to GetUp on the back of these raids. The ACTU have launched their own fundraising campaign | I have seen a lot of commentators have mentioned they are donating to GetUp on the back of these raids. The ACTU have launched their own fundraising campaign |
| ACTU has also launched a fundraising pitch on the back of the police raids #auspol https://t.co/WYUdDSwxcn | ACTU has also launched a fundraising pitch on the back of the police raids #auspol https://t.co/WYUdDSwxcn |
| 2.14am BST | 2.14am BST |
| 02:14 | 02:14 |
| Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
| I should clarify from my earlier post – the Registered Organisations Commission is investigating the AWU Victoria branch over financial obligations and record-keeping as stated but the AFP raid was specifically investigating the AWU’s donation to GetUp and other political donations to Labor candidates, including then national secretary Bill Shorten’s election in 2007 in Maribyrnong. | I should clarify from my earlier post – the Registered Organisations Commission is investigating the AWU Victoria branch over financial obligations and record-keeping as stated but the AFP raid was specifically investigating the AWU’s donation to GetUp and other political donations to Labor candidates, including then national secretary Bill Shorten’s election in 2007 in Maribyrnong. |
| GetUp received $100k from the AWU in 2005 and Guardian Australia has confirmed the AWU made a total of $130,500 in donations to Labor candidates before the 2007 election, including $25,000 for Shorten’s election. | GetUp received $100k from the AWU in 2005 and Guardian Australia has confirmed the AWU made a total of $130,500 in donations to Labor candidates before the 2007 election, including $25,000 for Shorten’s election. |
| The AWU national secretary, Daniel Walton, said:“The AWU national executive met to determine and approve the donations to GetUp and the ALP ... Those donations were made to further the interests of AWU members, we stood by them then and stand by them today.”Walton said the donations were disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commission at the time. | The AWU national secretary, Daniel Walton, said:“The AWU national executive met to determine and approve the donations to GetUp and the ALP ... Those donations were made to further the interests of AWU members, we stood by them then and stand by them today.”Walton said the donations were disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commission at the time. |
| The AWU Vic secretary, Ben Davis, said: “We believe the [GetUp] donation was made in accordance with rules and objectives of the AWU. It’s a matter for the Registered Organisations Commission, they’re investigating it, but instead of issuing us with a notice produce they came yesterday with the AFP.” | The AWU Vic secretary, Ben Davis, said: “We believe the [GetUp] donation was made in accordance with rules and objectives of the AWU. It’s a matter for the Registered Organisations Commission, they’re investigating it, but instead of issuing us with a notice produce they came yesterday with the AFP.” |
| Davis said the donations were disclosed and the AWU had even “bragged in [its] journal” about supporting GetUp at the time. | Davis said the donations were disclosed and the AWU had even “bragged in [its] journal” about supporting GetUp at the time. |
| “It’s a matter of public record, the fact that we’d give a donation is hardly a shock, especially to Labor candidates including our [then] national secretary [Bill Shorten].” | “It’s a matter of public record, the fact that we’d give a donation is hardly a shock, especially to Labor candidates including our [then] national secretary [Bill Shorten].” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.22am BST | at 2.22am BST |
| 1.54am BST | 1.54am BST |
| 01:54 | 01:54 |
| The education minister, Simon Birmingham, after also giving his condolences to Linda Burney, had a few things to say about the Productivity Commission report. | The education minister, Simon Birmingham, after also giving his condolences to Linda Burney, had a few things to say about the Productivity Commission report. |
| (It seems like that was handed down a lifetime ago. It was about this time yesterday, but I have aged about 40 years in that time.) | (It seems like that was handed down a lifetime ago. It was about this time yesterday, but I have aged about 40 years in that time.) |
| As it pertains to higher education, and the government’s proposed cuts, this is what Birmingham had to say: | As it pertains to higher education, and the government’s proposed cuts, this is what Birmingham had to say: |
| Well, I would hope that people will see the merit in delivering sustainability in higher education across the country. Universities have seen vast growth in their funding – some 70 plus per cent of growth in funding since 2009, a rate that’s twice the rate of economic growth – we’re proposing to simply slow the rate of funding growth. Under our reforms universities would still see funding growth of around 23% over the next four years. There are many small businesses around the country who would love that type of funding growth and I call upon the parliament, particularly the crossbenches but also the Labor party, to recognise the commonsense in simply slowing that rate of growth to make university funding more sustainable for the long term. | Well, I would hope that people will see the merit in delivering sustainability in higher education across the country. Universities have seen vast growth in their funding – some 70 plus per cent of growth in funding since 2009, a rate that’s twice the rate of economic growth – we’re proposing to simply slow the rate of funding growth. Under our reforms universities would still see funding growth of around 23% over the next four years. There are many small businesses around the country who would love that type of funding growth and I call upon the parliament, particularly the crossbenches but also the Labor party, to recognise the commonsense in simply slowing that rate of growth to make university funding more sustainable for the long term. |
| He still wants to get there by the end of the year, but first he has to convince the Nick Xenophon Team, which so far, have said no. | He still wants to get there by the end of the year, but first he has to convince the Nick Xenophon Team, which so far, have said no. |
| Look, I remain hopeful and committed to working for solutions and, of course though, as we’ve indicated with the Xenophon Team stance they took last week, if those solutions cannot be found then we will have to consider the implications, not only for higher education policy, but also to make sure, as we always do, that those budget issues are addressed. And given the rate of spending growth in universities over the last few years and its contribution to the budget deficit to date, it is entirely reasonable to continue to expect that universities make some contribution to budget repair with a slightly lower rate of growth in their funding. | Look, I remain hopeful and committed to working for solutions and, of course though, as we’ve indicated with the Xenophon Team stance they took last week, if those solutions cannot be found then we will have to consider the implications, not only for higher education policy, but also to make sure, as we always do, that those budget issues are addressed. And given the rate of spending growth in universities over the last few years and its contribution to the budget deficit to date, it is entirely reasonable to continue to expect that universities make some contribution to budget repair with a slightly lower rate of growth in their funding. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.57am BST | at 1.57am BST |
| 1.47am BST | 1.47am BST |
| 01:47 | 01:47 |
| Before estimates this morning, Labor senator Doug Cameron was doorstopped and said it was time to go to an election. | Before estimates this morning, Labor senator Doug Cameron was doorstopped and said it was time to go to an election. |
| He said he didn’t see the need to further scrutinise the connection between Labor and GetUp: | He said he didn’t see the need to further scrutinise the connection between Labor and GetUp: |
| Why would there be need for any scrutiny? I mean GetUp is an organisation that has got similar views to Labor in some issues, it has got different views to Labor on other issues. It’s an organisation that is part of the democratic process in this country and all we see now is attacks by this divided rabble of a government, a government that’s in almost terminal decline, can’t get on with each other, can’t provide decent policy in this country and set out to attack the trade union movement. | Why would there be need for any scrutiny? I mean GetUp is an organisation that has got similar views to Labor in some issues, it has got different views to Labor on other issues. It’s an organisation that is part of the democratic process in this country and all we see now is attacks by this divided rabble of a government, a government that’s in almost terminal decline, can’t get on with each other, can’t provide decent policy in this country and set out to attack the trade union movement. |
| This is an absolute disgrace. We are now turning into one of those countries where ordinary workers can’t organise effectively, the democratic rights of workers at work are being taken away by the attacks of this government and it’s about time that this government actually concentrated on the real issues for government. | This is an absolute disgrace. We are now turning into one of those countries where ordinary workers can’t organise effectively, the democratic rights of workers at work are being taken away by the attacks of this government and it’s about time that this government actually concentrated on the real issues for government. |
| The public understand what’s been happening here yesterday. It’s nothing more than a political attack on Bill Shorten, a political attack on the Labor Party and a political attack on the AWU and the trade union movement generally. | The public understand what’s been happening here yesterday. It’s nothing more than a political attack on Bill Shorten, a political attack on the Labor Party and a political attack on the AWU and the trade union movement generally. |
| This government is an absolute disgrace, the public have had enough of them. We have had poll after poll saying they are not delivering and it’s about time to let them go to an election and let’s resolve this quickly. | This government is an absolute disgrace, the public have had enough of them. We have had poll after poll saying they are not delivering and it’s about time to let them go to an election and let’s resolve this quickly. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.50am BST | at 1.50am BST |
| 1.41am BST | 1.41am BST |
| 01:41 | 01:41 |
| Inflation rose 0.6% in September quarter | Inflation rose 0.6% in September quarter |
| The inflation report helps work out how the RBA reacts on a number of things, including interest rates, and it has had a fairly long-held inflation target band of between 2 and 3%. | The inflation report helps work out how the RBA reacts on a number of things, including interest rates, and it has had a fairly long-held inflation target band of between 2 and 3%. |
| Well, CPI rose by 0.6% in the September quarter, the ABS reports, which is short of the 0.8% expectation. That brings the year on year inflation rate to 1.8%, short of that 2% target. | Well, CPI rose by 0.6% in the September quarter, the ABS reports, which is short of the 0.8% expectation. That brings the year on year inflation rate to 1.8%, short of that 2% target. |
| Here are some of the ABS’s headline figures: | Here are some of the ABS’s headline figures: |
| OVERVIEW OF CPI MOVEMENTS | OVERVIEW OF CPI MOVEMENTS |
| The most significant price rises this quarter are electricity (+8.9%), tobacco (+4.1%), international holiday travel and accommodation (+4.1%) and new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+0.8%). | The most significant price rises this quarter are electricity (+8.9%), tobacco (+4.1%), international holiday travel and accommodation (+4.1%) and new dwelling purchase by owner-occupiers (+0.8%). |
| The most significant offsetting price falls this quarter are vegetables (-10.9%), automotive fuel (-2.3%) and telecommunication equipment and services (-1.5%). | The most significant offsetting price falls this quarter are vegetables (-10.9%), automotive fuel (-2.3%) and telecommunication equipment and services (-1.5%). |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.49am BST | at 1.49am BST |
| 1.21am BST | 1.21am BST |
| 01:21 | 01:21 |
| As for the government argument that the Registered Organisations Commission was about making sure union members’ money was being spent correctly, Ed Husic had this to say: | As for the government argument that the Registered Organisations Commission was about making sure union members’ money was being spent correctly, Ed Husic had this to say: |
| Yeah and they go through all the internal processes of making sure that unions and their decision-making bodies tick them off properly and they have to account for them when they get their books looked at by again, the workplace relations authorities that you have to submit your financial reports to and the way that decisions get made and the way that you can get audited. As I said, the Coalition has form on this, they set up a royal commission into pink bats, they set up a royal commission into trade unions. In fact they’ve set up a royal commission into pink bat safety – why can’t we get a report out of this government that says what they have done to improve safety on job programs like work for the dole, where people have lost their lives, Kieran, and we still can’t get the minister to front up and say this is what we’re doing to make our job programs safer. | Yeah and they go through all the internal processes of making sure that unions and their decision-making bodies tick them off properly and they have to account for them when they get their books looked at by again, the workplace relations authorities that you have to submit your financial reports to and the way that decisions get made and the way that you can get audited. As I said, the Coalition has form on this, they set up a royal commission into pink bats, they set up a royal commission into trade unions. In fact they’ve set up a royal commission into pink bat safety – why can’t we get a report out of this government that says what they have done to improve safety on job programs like work for the dole, where people have lost their lives, Kieran, and we still can’t get the minister to front up and say this is what we’re doing to make our job programs safer. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.26am BST | at 1.26am BST |
| 1.18am BST | 1.18am BST |
| 01:18 | 01:18 |
| Tax office and border protection aren’t complying with cybersecurity requirements | Tax office and border protection aren’t complying with cybersecurity requirements |
| Katharine Murphy | Katharine Murphy |
| While all eyes in Canberra are on the AWU controversy, parliament’s joint committee of public accounts and audit has this morning given two major government agencies – the ATO, and immigration and border protection – a public blast for not being compliant with mandatory mitigation strategies for cybersecurity, and for not being “cyber resilient”. | While all eyes in Canberra are on the AWU controversy, parliament’s joint committee of public accounts and audit has this morning given two major government agencies – the ATO, and immigration and border protection – a public blast for not being compliant with mandatory mitigation strategies for cybersecurity, and for not being “cyber resilient”. |
| The committee has given the two agencies a deadline of June 2018 to report back on actions they are taking to improve their cyber security “including advice as to barriers and timelines to complete outstanding actions.” | The committee has given the two agencies a deadline of June 2018 to report back on actions they are taking to improve their cyber security “including advice as to barriers and timelines to complete outstanding actions.” |
| The ATO told the committee they intended to be compliant with the government’s mitigation strategies by November 2017, but the Department of Immigration and Border Protection “could not provide a date for when full compliance with all of the top four mitigation strategies would be achieved, despite previously advising the committee that full compliance would be achieved by December 2016”. | The ATO told the committee they intended to be compliant with the government’s mitigation strategies by November 2017, but the Department of Immigration and Border Protection “could not provide a date for when full compliance with all of the top four mitigation strategies would be achieved, despite previously advising the committee that full compliance would be achieved by December 2016”. |
| The chair of the committee is the Liberal senator Dean Smith. He says cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for all government entities. He says there needs to be a strong culture of prioritising cybersecurity “within the context of entity-wide strategic objectives”. | The chair of the committee is the Liberal senator Dean Smith. He says cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for all government entities. He says there needs to be a strong culture of prioritising cybersecurity “within the context of entity-wide strategic objectives”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.42am BST | at 1.42am BST |
| 1.18am BST | 1.18am BST |
| 01:18 | 01:18 |
| 'In Australia, you don't send in the police against your political opponents' - the Greens MP | 'In Australia, you don't send in the police against your political opponents' - the Greens MP |
| The Greens MP Adam Bandt also had a few things to say about the raid this morning: | The Greens MP Adam Bandt also had a few things to say about the raid this morning: |
| This is a dark day for democracy and the rule of law. When there are claims that 7/11 were stealing money from their workers, the government didn’t lift a finger. When there’s claims that casino bosses are rigging machines and breaking the law, the government doesn’t lift a finger. But when a union donates money to a citizens’ group, to speak up and hold the government to account, the government sends in the police in the full view of the nightly news. This isn’t to do with the AFP – the AFP were doing the job that was asked of them. This is squarely at the foot of the government, who established a little while ago, the Registered Organisations Commission, an organisation people may not have heard of, but is turning out to be for unions what the ABCC was for the construction industry. | This is a dark day for democracy and the rule of law. When there are claims that 7/11 were stealing money from their workers, the government didn’t lift a finger. When there’s claims that casino bosses are rigging machines and breaking the law, the government doesn’t lift a finger. But when a union donates money to a citizens’ group, to speak up and hold the government to account, the government sends in the police in the full view of the nightly news. This isn’t to do with the AFP – the AFP were doing the job that was asked of them. This is squarely at the foot of the government, who established a little while ago, the Registered Organisations Commission, an organisation people may not have heard of, but is turning out to be for unions what the ABCC was for the construction industry. |
| The ROC has shown it is not a watchdog, it is an attack dog. And it beggars belief, it beggars belief that the first port of call when you want to get documents from someone in a case that is before the court, is to send in the police. This organisation, well, let’s look at the chronology – the government said ‘let’s look at the organisations commission, we want you to start an investigation into a union and a claims it might have given money to a political organisation, a campaigning organisation called GetUp’, the next thing we know, they start that investigation and before they even ask the union to hand over the documents, they send in the police. | The ROC has shown it is not a watchdog, it is an attack dog. And it beggars belief, it beggars belief that the first port of call when you want to get documents from someone in a case that is before the court, is to send in the police. This organisation, well, let’s look at the chronology – the government said ‘let’s look at the organisations commission, we want you to start an investigation into a union and a claims it might have given money to a political organisation, a campaigning organisation called GetUp’, the next thing we know, they start that investigation and before they even ask the union to hand over the documents, they send in the police. |
| Now, I don’t have any particular connection with the AWU, the AWU have publicly criticised the Greens for moving too quickly towards renewables. But that is not the point, that is not the point. In Australia, you don’t send in the police against your political opponents. You don’t have raids on organisations for documents, that they would have been willing to hand over, and indeed, properly did hand over, in the royal commission a couple of years ago. | Now, I don’t have any particular connection with the AWU, the AWU have publicly criticised the Greens for moving too quickly towards renewables. But that is not the point, that is not the point. In Australia, you don’t send in the police against your political opponents. You don’t have raids on organisations for documents, that they would have been willing to hand over, and indeed, properly did hand over, in the royal commission a couple of years ago. |
| Malcolm Turnbull is becoming more like Donald Trump every day. We are back now in the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era, where if you dare to speak up in this country, the government will crack down on you. We are seeing it with environmental groups and we are seeing it with unions – if you’ve got a white collar, the government turns a blind eye, but if you have a blue collar, the government throws the book at you. | Malcolm Turnbull is becoming more like Donald Trump every day. We are back now in the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era, where if you dare to speak up in this country, the government will crack down on you. We are seeing it with environmental groups and we are seeing it with unions – if you’ve got a white collar, the government turns a blind eye, but if you have a blue collar, the government throws the book at you. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.42am BST | at 1.42am BST |