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| US embassy responds to Andrew Hastie disclosure – politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Kelly O’Dwyer has introduced legislation to introduce a “one-off, twelve month amnesty for historical underpayment of superannuation” | |
| From the statement: | |
| The Bill incentivises employers to come forward and do the right thing by their employees by paying any unpaid superannuation in full. | |
| Employers will not be off the hook – to use the amnesty they must pay all that is owing to their employees, including the high rate of nominal interest. However, the amnesty will make it easier to secure outstanding employee entitlements, by setting aside the penalties for late payment that are normally paid to the Government by employers. | |
| Employers that do not take advantage of the one-off amnesty will face higher penalties when they are subsequently caught – in general, a minimum 50 per cent on top of the SG Charge they owe. In addition, throughout the amnesty period the ATO will still continue its usual enforcement activity against employers for those historical obligations they don’t own up to voluntarily. | |
| “The ATO estimates that in 2014‑15, around $2.85 billion in SG payments went unpaid,” Minister O’Dwyer said. | |
| “While this represents a 95 per cent compliance rate, any level of non‑compliance is unacceptable, which is why the Turnbull Government is giving the ATO the tools it needs to enforce compliance going forward.” | |
| “We are introducing this one‑off amnesty to allow employers to wipe the slate clean and pay their workers what they’re owed. All Australians workers should be paid the entitlements they are owed.” | |
| The amnesty will run for twelve months from today. | |
| Today’s announcement builds on the Government’s package of reforms to protect workers’ superannuation entitlements by: | |
| · Giving the ATO the ability to seek court-ordered penalties in cases where employers defy directions to pay their superannuation guarantee liabilities, including up to 12 months jail in the most egregious cases of non-payment; | |
| · Requiring superannuation funds to report contributions received more frequently, at least monthly, to the ATO. This will enable the ATO to identify non-compliance and take prompt action; | |
| · Bringing payroll reporting into the 21st century through the rollout of Single Touch Payroll (STP). Employers with 20 or more employees will transition to STP from 1 July 2018 with smaller employers coming on board from 1 July 2019. This will reduce the regulatory burden on business and transform compliance by aligning payroll functions with regular reporting of taxation and superannuation obligations; and | |
| · Improving the effectiveness of the ATO’s recovery powers, including strengthening director penalty notices and use of security bonds for high-risk employers, to ensure that unpaid superannuation is better collected by the ATO and paid to employees’ super accounts. | |
| The Treasury Laws Amendment (Superannuation 2018 Measures) Bill 2018 also includes measures to streamline the SG system and support the integrity of superannuation tax system. | |
| The Bill will allow employees with more than one employer to avoid inadvertent breaches of their concessional contribution cap from compulsory contributions by applying to the ATO for an exemption certificate for some of their employers. | |
| The Bill will also ensure that the cap on tax-free retirement phase assets cannot be circumvented through the use of non-arm’s length expenditure or certain strategies using limited recourse borrowing arrangements (LRBAs). | |
| ***end statement*** | |
| Senator Ian MacDonald is asking in Senate estimates whether racism is really a thing, and whether we even NEED a race discrimination commissioner.MacDonald: | |
| I might live in a bubble perhaps but I find it very difficult to find any but very rare cases of racism in Australia. In this building we have two ministers that don’t – are clearly not white Australian male sort of thing. In my own society … the greatest hero, in fact the king of Queensland is Johnathan Thurston. If only I could get him to run for a political party he’d walk it in. I just don’t know - there are obviously isolated aspects of racism in Australia but I would think across the board they’re very isolated.” | |
| Standing in for the attorney general, Michaelia Cash confirms that the government’s position is to hire a new race discrimination commissioner when Tim Soutphommasane’s term ends. | |
| Australian Human Rights Commissioner president Rosalind Croucher replies that the race discrimination commissioner’s used to be a commissioner for “community relations” and she might like to “shift the titles” back to that positive aspect. | |
| She said the commissioner has a role beyond just dealing with discrimination complaints, but also promoting racial harmony and tackling prejudice. | |
| Just a note - the government’s $140 billion over 10 years tax plan is now $144 billion. | |
| The back third of the plan (getting rid of the 37% tax bracket, which will see people on $41,000 to $200,000 pay the same rate of tax from 2024-25) will cost $40 billion. | |
| Labor had been after that figure since the budget was announced. | |
| But we still have no idea where the extra $4 billion came from overnight. | |
| The US Embassy has responded to the Andrew Hastie issue – it says relations are as “strong as ever” but ultimately it’s up to the Australian government how it handles his use of parliamentary privilege. | |
| The reason this is becoming an issue is because Hastie used information he had received as part of leading a delegation to the US in his role as head of the parliamentary intelligence committee, which is seen as a pretty big no-no. | |
| Still, he did it under parliamentary privilege, so he’s protected there. It’s just a question of any wider ramifications, which Malcolm Turnbull was checking on, through his admission he had been in contact with our allies, and Labor is pursuing. | |
| The US Embassy has released a statement on Liberal MP Andrew Hastie's speech about businessman and political donor Chau Chak Wing #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/1awrzIawNY | |
| The Workplace Gender Equality Agency has put out a statement, after nine Australians were recognised in the Gender Equality Top 100: | The Workplace Gender Equality Agency has put out a statement, after nine Australians were recognised in the Gender Equality Top 100: |
| Workplace Gender Equality Agency Director Libby Lyons is one of nine Australians recognised for their contribution to improving gender equality on a new list of top influencers from around the world. | Workplace Gender Equality Agency Director Libby Lyons is one of nine Australians recognised for their contribution to improving gender equality on a new list of top influencers from around the world. |
| Apolitical, a global network for governments and public sectors, has announced its inaugural Gender Equality Top 100 list of the most influential people in gender equality policy. | Apolitical, a global network for governments and public sectors, has announced its inaugural Gender Equality Top 100 list of the most influential people in gender equality policy. |
| The nine Australians named in the list are: | The nine Australians named in the list are: |
| · Libby Lyons, Director Workplace Gender Equality Agency | · Libby Lyons, Director Workplace Gender Equality Agency |
| · Kelly O’Dwyer, Federal Minister for Women | · Kelly O’Dwyer, Federal Minister for Women |
| · Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister and chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership | · Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister and chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership |
| · Professor Marian Baird, Sydney University’s distinguished researcher into women, work and care | · Professor Marian Baird, Sydney University’s distinguished researcher into women, work and care |
| · Susan Harris-Rimmer, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University | · Susan Harris-Rimmer, an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University |
| · Rosie Batty, domestic violence campaigner and 2015 Australian of the Year | · Rosie Batty, domestic violence campaigner and 2015 Australian of the Year |
| · Tracey Spicer, journalist, advocate and founder of Now Australia | · Tracey Spicer, journalist, advocate and founder of Now Australia |
| · Liz Broderick, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner and UN special rapporteur on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice | · Liz Broderick, former Sex Discrimination Commissioner and UN special rapporteur on the issue of discrimination against women in law and practice |
| · Natasha Stott-Despoja, chair of Our Watch and former ambassador for women and girls. | · Natasha Stott-Despoja, chair of Our Watch and former ambassador for women and girls. |
| “The Agency is receiving unprecedented interest in Australia’s gender reporting scheme as governments worldwide grapple with the economic challenge of removing barriers to women’s workforce participation and career progression. | “The Agency is receiving unprecedented interest in Australia’s gender reporting scheme as governments worldwide grapple with the economic challenge of removing barriers to women’s workforce participation and career progression. |
| “That nine Australians made the top 100 list, with Professor Marion Baird and Julia Gillard in the top 20, demonstrates the leading role that the Australian government and Australian employers are taking in driving change towards gender equality,” said Ms Lyons. | “That nine Australians made the top 100 list, with Professor Marion Baird and Julia Gillard in the top 20, demonstrates the leading role that the Australian government and Australian employers are taking in driving change towards gender equality,” said Ms Lyons. |
| ***end statement*** | ***end statement*** |
| In regional estimates, the live sheep trade issue is scheduled to come up in the hearing just before 4pm. | In regional estimates, the live sheep trade issue is scheduled to come up in the hearing just before 4pm. |
| And we have just got the official response from Linda Burney: | And we have just got the official response from Linda Burney: |
| My comments on Sky News yesterday are public. | My comments on Sky News yesterday are public. |
| This was an error in my office and was unintentional.” | This was an error in my office and was unintentional.” |
| After every on-air interview, or doorstop, Labor provides transcripts of the interviews as a matter of course (the prime minister’s office also does this). It’s a fairly longstanding convention, with each office responsible for transcribing its member’s interview (which is then sent out by the leader’s office). | After every on-air interview, or doorstop, Labor provides transcripts of the interviews as a matter of course (the prime minister’s office also does this). It’s a fairly longstanding convention, with each office responsible for transcribing its member’s interview (which is then sent out by the leader’s office). |
| But Labor this morning is being questioned over the transcript it provided for Linda Burney’s interview on Sky News yesterday afternoon. She was asked about the party’s asylum seeker policy, which is about to become a fairly major issue at the national conference in July, where Labor will lock down its official policy direction. | But Labor this morning is being questioned over the transcript it provided for Linda Burney’s interview on Sky News yesterday afternoon. She was asked about the party’s asylum seeker policy, which is about to become a fairly major issue at the national conference in July, where Labor will lock down its official policy direction. |
| There is growing support within the Labor party for a shut down of Manus and Nauru and over how long asylum seekers should be held in detention. | There is growing support within the Labor party for a shut down of Manus and Nauru and over how long asylum seekers should be held in detention. |
| Here is what Labor sent out: | Here is what Labor sent out: |
| SPEERS: Labor will be discussing asylum seekers at its conference in a couple of months. What’s your own view? | SPEERS: Labor will be discussing asylum seekers at its conference in a couple of months. What’s your own view? |
| BURNEY: It will be an issue at the national conference. Indefinite detention is what we’re arguing against. Look at what has happened on Manus in the last 24 hours – | BURNEY: It will be an issue at the national conference. Indefinite detention is what we’re arguing against. Look at what has happened on Manus in the last 24 hours – |
| SPEERS: So they shouldn’t be there indefinitely? | SPEERS: So they shouldn’t be there indefinitely? |
| BURNEY: That’s being worked on by the appropriate people in my party. It’s not my portfolio – | BURNEY: That’s being worked on by the appropriate people in my party. It’s not my portfolio – |
| SPEERS: Well how long does Labor think those people should be stuck there? | SPEERS: Well how long does Labor think those people should be stuck there? |
| BURNEY: That will become clear over the course of the next – | BURNEY: That will become clear over the course of the next – |
| SPEERS: But Labor will put a time frame on it? | SPEERS: But Labor will put a time frame on it? |
| BURNEY: I’m not responsible for the area, but I do believe that they shouldn’t be held indefinitely, and logically that means there’d be a time line. | BURNEY: I’m not responsible for the area, but I do believe that they shouldn’t be held indefinitely, and logically that means there’d be a time line. |
| It’s missing the quote | It’s missing the quote |
| There needs to be a time frame and I’m sure there are people who are working towards that ... I think there needs to be a time limit”. | There needs to be a time frame and I’m sure there are people who are working towards that ... I think there needs to be a time limit”. |
| .@Kieran_Gilbert: @AustralianLabor is facing accusations someone within its ranks has doctored a transcript of @LindaBurneyMP's comments on asylum policy during her interview with @David_Speers.MORE: https://t.co/9qTiXts1Bq #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/dJDKBhgCNt | .@Kieran_Gilbert: @AustralianLabor is facing accusations someone within its ranks has doctored a transcript of @LindaBurneyMP's comments on asylum policy during her interview with @David_Speers.MORE: https://t.co/9qTiXts1Bq #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/dJDKBhgCNt |
| We are being told it’s more cock-up then conspiracy and that it is a “genuine fuckup”. We’ve been in touch with Labor and Burney’s office and will get you that response when it comes through. | We are being told it’s more cock-up then conspiracy and that it is a “genuine fuckup”. We’ve been in touch with Labor and Burney’s office and will get you that response when it comes through. |
| While the blog was sleeping, the government’s income tax package passed the lower house – with Labor’s support. | While the blog was sleeping, the government’s income tax package passed the lower house – with Labor’s support. |
| Labor says that’s because it supports income tax cuts for lower and middle-class earners and plans on working to separate the third tranche – the flat tax for $41,000 to $200,000 earners in the never-never of budget forwards – in the Senate. | Labor says that’s because it supports income tax cuts for lower and middle-class earners and plans on working to separate the third tranche – the flat tax for $41,000 to $200,000 earners in the never-never of budget forwards – in the Senate. |
| It also dulls the government’s attacks that Labor doesn’t support income tax cuts. On the flip side, the government can argue that Labor has supported its whole package (Labor attempted to amend the legislation in the House to separate the bill and were defeated). So watch that space. | It also dulls the government’s attacks that Labor doesn’t support income tax cuts. On the flip side, the government can argue that Labor has supported its whole package (Labor attempted to amend the legislation in the House to separate the bill and were defeated). So watch that space. |
| There is still no byelections date, but that is expected to come very soon. 30 June or 7 July are shaping up as the dates to watch but at this stage, everyone just wants to know if the campaign is actually on. | There is still no byelections date, but that is expected to come very soon. 30 June or 7 July are shaping up as the dates to watch but at this stage, everyone just wants to know if the campaign is actually on. |
| Meanwhile, Mark Dreyfus has picked up on Labor’s three questions in QT yesterday about Andrew Hastie’s actions, telling Radio National that the whole Labor frontbench believed there were questions to answer over whether or not Hastie’s revelations have damaged Australia’s relationship with its intelligence agencies. | Meanwhile, Mark Dreyfus has picked up on Labor’s three questions in QT yesterday about Andrew Hastie’s actions, telling Radio National that the whole Labor frontbench believed there were questions to answer over whether or not Hastie’s revelations have damaged Australia’s relationship with its intelligence agencies. |
| Malcolm Turnbull admitted yesterday he had been in contact with the spooks about the matter. | Malcolm Turnbull admitted yesterday he had been in contact with the spooks about the matter. |
| Dreyfus had to say Labor frontbench, because Michael Danby and Anthony Byrne have both indicated support for Hastie’s actions. | Dreyfus had to say Labor frontbench, because Michael Danby and Anthony Byrne have both indicated support for Hastie’s actions. |
| And estimates continues! ABC is up again this morning, with Michelle Guthrie due to appear, as well as the Human Rights Commission. Basically it’s Eric Abetz’s favourite day. And Pauline Hanson has been spotted walking around the halls, after somehow magically choosing the chair right in front of the cameras at the royal banking commission for a spell yesterday. Anyone would think she was attempting to reset her image and achieve some sort of relevance again, ahead of the Longman byelection and a general election. | And estimates continues! ABC is up again this morning, with Michelle Guthrie due to appear, as well as the Human Rights Commission. Basically it’s Eric Abetz’s favourite day. And Pauline Hanson has been spotted walking around the halls, after somehow magically choosing the chair right in front of the cameras at the royal banking commission for a spell yesterday. Anyone would think she was attempting to reset her image and achieve some sort of relevance again, ahead of the Longman byelection and a general election. |
| Mike Bowers is wandering around here somewhere. Stay up to date with him at @mikepbowers and of course, you can see him annoying me as part of the instagram story on @pyjamapolitics. | Mike Bowers is wandering around here somewhere. Stay up to date with him at @mikepbowers and of course, you can see him annoying me as part of the instagram story on @pyjamapolitics. |
| Everyone ready? Let’s get going. | Everyone ready? Let’s get going. |