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Kelly O'Dwyer says most would be 'disgusted' by Joyce paid interview – politics live 'We tried for privacy': Barnaby Joyce breaks silence over paid interview – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Greens leader Richard Di Natale is questioning Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, about out-of-pocket medical costs. Murphy is chair of an expert committee examining the issue and has been tasked with examining options to ensure that consumers are better informed of fees before agreeing to treatment.Di Natale asks Murphy if people are downgrading their private health insurance cover because they are realising they are out-of-pocket regardless.Yes, it’s a factor, Murphy says. “The most prominent reason [for dropping or downgrading cover] is the actual size of the premiums, but the out-of-pocket costs are stated as a factor,” he says. Di Natale tells Murphy it shouldn’t be up to patients to push back when surgeons tell them their fees, to ‘shop around,’ or be aware of what a reasonable fee is. Patients are often in a vulnerable position by the time they see a surgeon, he states, and are worried about jeopardising the quality of their care if they push back. Murphy: “What we are saying is the patient can have that [costs] information before they exercise their choice from the range of specialists their GP has recommended.Once you’ve undertaken a clinical encounter and have a relationship with surgeon ... it’s very hard to back out. If you have that information before any relationship is formed you can make a decision based on fees.”
Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has been asking what the employment department did about the death of Joshua Park-Fing, a Work for the Dole participant, at the Toowoomba showgrounds in Queensland.
The employment department officials said the department:
Limited Neato Employment Services’ Work for the Dole activities, including suspending nine of its outdoor jobs, although it is still a contracted provider of Jobactive services;
Charged Neato penalties for failing certain requirements under its work-for-the-dole deed
Martin Hehir told the hearing that no Work for the Dole activities now occur at the Toowoomba showground. He said further penalties might be imposed after the results of a case in the Toowoomba magistrates court.When Rhiannon pushed for release of a departmental audit of work health and safety compliance relating to the incident, jobs and innovation minister Michaelia Cash responded:
“As the matter is before Toowoomba magistrates court, it is not appropriate at this point of time to release the report. We’re awaiting the outcome. We don’t want to prejudice the hearing ...
Like everybody here we continue to express our sympathy for the parents of Mr Park-Fing. It’s a matter for Queensland and is before the Toowoomba magistrates court.”
Treasury is up in Senate estimates this morning. The questioning has opened on the Turnbull government’s personal income tax cuts, outlined in the budget.
The total cost of the package is $144bn. Labor has been chasing year-on-year costings for the back half of the package when the benefits start to flow to high income earners.
Treasury officials only want to talk about the figures in aggregate, although they say they have calculated year-on-year costs over the decade.
Labor senator Jenny McAllister would like those figures. The treasury secretary says those figures are unreliable. The finance minister Mathias Cormann says no governments provide year-on-year figures outside the forward estimates, so refusing to cough up the numbers is standard practice.
The hearing has moved on now to the banking royal commission. The treasury secretary, John Fraser, has been perturbed by the evidence to date. “Personally, I think it’s very sad what’s coming out in the royal commission”.
In Defence estimates, officials have taken a question about the job description of Australia’s new “defence export advocate” on notice.
Last month the defence industry minister, Christopher Pyne, announced that former senator and defence minister David Johnston would take up the new role, which he said would “greatly expand the government’s reach in promoting Australia’s world class defence industry”.
The former Western Australian senator is best remembered for comments he made in 2014 when, as defence minister in the Abbott government, he said he would not trust South Australian shipbuilders ASC (previously known as the Australian Submarine Corporation) “to build a canoe”.
The committee heard that Johnston was appointed to the job by Pyne. His salary hasn’t been published.
Labor Senator Kim Carr asked for a position description and was told by defence officials that Johnston’s role would be to “assist with Australian defence exports on a global scale”.
“Our view is a senior level advocate is important for export success,” Carr was told.
“The government has set out a strong focus on defence exports and the advocate’s role is to support those activities.”Carr then pushed the defence officials on whether there was a formal job description with key performance indicators and was told the question would be taken on notice.
#BREAKING Barnaby Joyce breaks his silence, defending actions of paid TV tell-all. "We tried for privacy. In the last fortnight we've had drones over our house. We've had paparazzi waiting for us outside Armidale airport. We tried just just burning this out & that didn't work."
Malcolm Turnbull is once again talking about Barnaby Joyce.Malcolm Turnbull is once again talking about Barnaby Joyce.
I’m sure he’s absolutely thrilled with that. He called in to Tasmania’s 89.3 LAFM and was asked about the interview:I’m sure he’s absolutely thrilled with that. He called in to Tasmania’s 89.3 LAFM and was asked about the interview:
I haven’t spoken to him about it, no I haven’t.I haven’t spoken to him about it, no I haven’t.
... It’s been very widely criticised, it is not ... I’ll have, no doubt, will have the opportunity to talk about it with Barnaby privately, but it is certainly not something that I, it is not a course of action I would have encouraged him to take.... It’s been very widely criticised, it is not ... I’ll have, no doubt, will have the opportunity to talk about it with Barnaby privately, but it is certainly not something that I, it is not a course of action I would have encouraged him to take.
You can understand how I feel about it, but I will be circumspect, uncharacteristically circumspect, on this and leave it for a private discussion.You can understand how I feel about it, but I will be circumspect, uncharacteristically circumspect, on this and leave it for a private discussion.
He also mentions that backbenchers are covered by the disclosure register, and any source of income will have to turn up there.He also mentions that backbenchers are covered by the disclosure register, and any source of income will have to turn up there.
“Again, it is not something I would have encouraged him to do, in fact quite the contrary, but the fact is, he will have to disclose that in his members’ interest register in due course.“Again, it is not something I would have encouraged him to do, in fact quite the contrary, but the fact is, he will have to disclose that in his members’ interest register in due course.
“But just to be clear, the ministerial code of conduct applies only to ministers.”“But just to be clear, the ministerial code of conduct applies only to ministers.”
The Australian has published its latest Newspoll results, which show voters believe Labor would be better at keeping power prices down than the Coalition.The Australian has published its latest Newspoll results, which show voters believe Labor would be better at keeping power prices down than the Coalition.
Not a great endorsement for the National Energy Guarantee.Not a great endorsement for the National Energy Guarantee.
It’s only a two-point different – 37% for the government compared with Labor’s 39% – with about a quarter of respondents undecided.It’s only a two-point different – 37% for the government compared with Labor’s 39% – with about a quarter of respondents undecided.
You can find that report here.You can find that report here.
The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work has released a report into insecure work, using ABS statistics.The Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work has released a report into insecure work, using ABS statistics.
Tanya Carney and Jim Stanford authored the report and found for the first time, “less than half of employed Australians work in a permanent full-time paid job with leave entitlements”.Tanya Carney and Jim Stanford authored the report and found for the first time, “less than half of employed Australians work in a permanent full-time paid job with leave entitlements”.
From the report:From the report:
The inadequate quantity of work is evident by many measures. Official job-creation statistics seemed strong in 2017, but in essence only kept up with population growth and labour force participation.The inadequate quantity of work is evident by many measures. Official job-creation statistics seemed strong in 2017, but in essence only kept up with population growth and labour force participation.
So the official unemployment rate remains elevated (5.6% in most recent data) and has increased in recent months even as global economic growth picks up (and the unemployment rate in other countries with lower joblessness, like the US, Japan and Germany, continues to fall).So the official unemployment rate remains elevated (5.6% in most recent data) and has increased in recent months even as global economic growth picks up (and the unemployment rate in other countries with lower joblessness, like the US, Japan and Germany, continues to fall).
More important, the official unemployment rate is just the tip of the iceberg of this quantity problem: other “hidden” pools of unutilised and underutilised labour indicate that the true quantity problem is much worse.More important, the official unemployment rate is just the tip of the iceberg of this quantity problem: other “hidden” pools of unutilised and underutilised labour indicate that the true quantity problem is much worse.
This includes underemployment (workers employed for a few hours per week, but who want and need more hours), discouraged workers (who have given up looking and hence disappear from official unemployment statistics), and a large group of close to one million workers which the Australian Bureau of Statistics calls “marginally attached” (people who say they would work if jobs were available).This includes underemployment (workers employed for a few hours per week, but who want and need more hours), discouraged workers (who have given up looking and hence disappear from official unemployment statistics), and a large group of close to one million workers which the Australian Bureau of Statistics calls “marginally attached” (people who say they would work if jobs were available).
Including these pools of “hidden unemployment”, true underutilisation in Australia’s labour market exceeds 15%: three times the official unemployment rate.”Including these pools of “hidden unemployment”, true underutilisation in Australia’s labour market exceeds 15%: three times the official unemployment rate.”
You can read the whole thing, hereYou can read the whole thing, here
You may have seen yesterday that Steve Martin, who was the No 2 on the Jacqui Lambie ticket and arrived in the Senate after Lambie discovered she was a dual citizen, joined the Nationals.You may have seen yesterday that Steve Martin, who was the No 2 on the Jacqui Lambie ticket and arrived in the Senate after Lambie discovered she was a dual citizen, joined the Nationals.
Michael McCormack keeps referring to him as the “Tasmanian tiger”. Which is hilarious, because, well, the Tasmanian tiger is extinct*. So perhaps not the greatest analogy.Michael McCormack keeps referring to him as the “Tasmanian tiger”. Which is hilarious, because, well, the Tasmanian tiger is extinct*. So perhaps not the greatest analogy.
In announcing Martin as the latest member of the Nats, McCormack mentioned how he is the first Tassie National since William McWilliams, in 1927.In announcing Martin as the latest member of the Nats, McCormack mentioned how he is the first Tassie National since William McWilliams, in 1927.
Actually ... no, says Malcolm Farnsworth on his blog, AustralianPolitics.comActually ... no, says Malcolm Farnsworth on his blog, AustralianPolitics.com
In 1927, McWilliams was out of parliament. After being elected to Franklin in 1903 as a Revenue Tariff candidate, McWilliams was variously an Anti-Socialist/Free Trade member (1906-09), a Liberal (1909-17) and a Nationalist (1917-20). He then joined the Country party and became its leader in February 1920. After internal differences, McWilliams was replaced as leader in April 1921. At the 1922 election, running as a Country Party candidate, he lost his seat to the Nationalist candidate Alfred Seabrook.In 1927, McWilliams was out of parliament. After being elected to Franklin in 1903 as a Revenue Tariff candidate, McWilliams was variously an Anti-Socialist/Free Trade member (1906-09), a Liberal (1909-17) and a Nationalist (1917-20). He then joined the Country party and became its leader in February 1920. After internal differences, McWilliams was replaced as leader in April 1921. At the 1922 election, running as a Country Party candidate, he lost his seat to the Nationalist candidate Alfred Seabrook.
Farnsworth says the last Country party member from Tasmania was actually Llewellyn Atkinson.Farnsworth says the last Country party member from Tasmania was actually Llewellyn Atkinson.
So, now we all know.So, now we all know.
*Well, thought to be extinct. There are still sightings.*Well, thought to be extinct. There are still sightings.
Darren Chester, who was the first to break the “that’s a personal matter, we don’t want to comment about it” wall, which is also the line Labor MPs took, has also doubled down on his comments on Barnaby Joyce while talking to the ABC this morning:Darren Chester, who was the first to break the “that’s a personal matter, we don’t want to comment about it” wall, which is also the line Labor MPs took, has also doubled down on his comments on Barnaby Joyce while talking to the ABC this morning:
What I said is that I’m uncomfortable about cheque book journalist and uncomfortable about the idea of sitting MPs getting paid. I am not getting paid to be on your show. In the longer term, do we want to see sitting members of parliament paid to turn up on radio and TV programs?What I said is that I’m uncomfortable about cheque book journalist and uncomfortable about the idea of sitting MPs getting paid. I am not getting paid to be on your show. In the longer term, do we want to see sitting members of parliament paid to turn up on radio and TV programs?
My feeling is that that would be a poor result. But the specific circumstances around Barnaby’s case are more complex because you’ve got private citizens, a private citizen, who is a part of the story, and every right to seek, I guess, payment if they want to to sell their story. So it’s more complex [than] perhaps just me as a sitting MP turning up on a program. But my view is cheque book journalism isn’t great for journalism, and I don’t think that sitting MPs want to be in a position where the public is questioning whether they’ve been paid.My feeling is that that would be a poor result. But the specific circumstances around Barnaby’s case are more complex because you’ve got private citizens, a private citizen, who is a part of the story, and every right to seek, I guess, payment if they want to to sell their story. So it’s more complex [than] perhaps just me as a sitting MP turning up on a program. But my view is cheque book journalism isn’t great for journalism, and I don’t think that sitting MPs want to be in a position where the public is questioning whether they’ve been paid.
This is unprecedented in my 10 years as a member of parliament, so I think that a conversation now, now that it has arisen as an issue … I think that a conversation among my colleagues and across party lines about when this is appropriate [is needed].This is unprecedented in my 10 years as a member of parliament, so I think that a conversation now, now that it has arisen as an issue … I think that a conversation among my colleagues and across party lines about when this is appropriate [is needed].
Members of parliament obviously have to fill in a register of interest if they have income from other sources, if you have a rental property and the public knows about it, and I guess that that would be the same in terms of media interview requests where payment is involved. I don’t think that it is a pathway that we want to go down.Members of parliament obviously have to fill in a register of interest if they have income from other sources, if you have a rental property and the public knows about it, and I guess that that would be the same in terms of media interview requests where payment is involved. I don’t think that it is a pathway that we want to go down.
“I think these decisions are decisions taken by individual members and that is a question you might like to put to him,” Kelly O’Dwyer told Sky News, about whether Barnaby Joyce’s interview payday was appropriate.“I think these decisions are decisions taken by individual members and that is a question you might like to put to him,” Kelly O’Dwyer told Sky News, about whether Barnaby Joyce’s interview payday was appropriate.
But she repeats her criticism from this morning, and says she thinks most people would be “disgusted”.But she repeats her criticism from this morning, and says she thinks most people would be “disgusted”.
She also said that while talking to Radio National this morning:She also said that while talking to Radio National this morning:
Strong comments from frontbencher Kelly O'Dwyer on @RNBreakfast with @hamishNews, regarding Barnaby Joyce's reported $150,000 payment for an interview with a commercial network #auspol"I think most Australians are pretty disgusted by it." pic.twitter.com/7iUNBqvWewStrong comments from frontbencher Kelly O'Dwyer on @RNBreakfast with @hamishNews, regarding Barnaby Joyce's reported $150,000 payment for an interview with a commercial network #auspol"I think most Australians are pretty disgusted by it." pic.twitter.com/7iUNBqvWew
It’s the last week of this Senate estimates hearing and the House of Representatives is back – but, once again, Barnaby Joyce is in the name on everyone’s lips.It’s the last week of this Senate estimates hearing and the House of Representatives is back – but, once again, Barnaby Joyce is in the name on everyone’s lips.
After testing the reaction on Sunday and Monday, Joyce’s colleagues have decided it is OK to criticise the former deputy prime minister’s decision to accept a six-figure sum, reportedly $150,000 for a tell-all interview with Network Seven.After testing the reaction on Sunday and Monday, Joyce’s colleagues have decided it is OK to criticise the former deputy prime minister’s decision to accept a six-figure sum, reportedly $150,000 for a tell-all interview with Network Seven.
On Monday, Darren Chester, who was dumped by Joyce from the frontbench in a reshuffle late last year, before being returned to the ministry by new Nationals leader, Michael McCormack, was the first to break the dam wall, saying he did not believe Joyce could complain about losing his privacy anymore.On Monday, Darren Chester, who was dumped by Joyce from the frontbench in a reshuffle late last year, before being returned to the ministry by new Nationals leader, Michael McCormack, was the first to break the dam wall, saying he did not believe Joyce could complain about losing his privacy anymore.
This morning, Kelly O’Dwyer was even stronger speaking to ABC radio this morning:This morning, Kelly O’Dwyer was even stronger speaking to ABC radio this morning:
I think most Australians are pretty disgusted by it.I think most Australians are pretty disgusted by it.
In policy news, the government has put all its cards on the table and will put both its income tax plan and corporate tax cuts, unchanged, to the vote by 28 June. That’s a month before the five byelections are scheduled to be held and has only heightened speculation the government is headed to an early election.In policy news, the government has put all its cards on the table and will put both its income tax plan and corporate tax cuts, unchanged, to the vote by 28 June. That’s a month before the five byelections are scheduled to be held and has only heightened speculation the government is headed to an early election.
At the very least, if the package is defeated, it gives the government an opportunity to drop the corporate tax plan, which would take some of the steam out of Labor’s attack.At the very least, if the package is defeated, it gives the government an opportunity to drop the corporate tax plan, which would take some of the steam out of Labor’s attack.
So watch this space.So watch this space.
And the Productivity Commission has released its report into superannuation – we’re throwing away $2.6bn in fees and premiums each year. It has come back with a whole slew of recommendations – you can read more about that here from Greg Jericho – but we’ll be hearing a lot more about the report today.And the Productivity Commission has released its report into superannuation – we’re throwing away $2.6bn in fees and premiums each year. It has come back with a whole slew of recommendations – you can read more about that here from Greg Jericho – but we’ll be hearing a lot more about the report today.
Mike Bowers is out and about, as usual. You can catch him at @mikepbowers or showing up in the behind the scenes updates on @pyjamapolitics .Mike Bowers is out and about, as usual. You can catch him at @mikepbowers or showing up in the behind the scenes updates on @pyjamapolitics .
I’ll be lurking in the comments, when I get a moment, and you can find me on Twitter at @amyremeikis.I’ll be lurking in the comments, when I get a moment, and you can find me on Twitter at @amyremeikis.
OK! Let’s get into it!OK! Let’s get into it!