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| Treasury admits not modelling tax plan impact by gender – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| So the government party room is fighting over energy again, and Barnaby Joyce’s personal decisions are dominating the news agenda, but it’s almost June, not February. | |
| I just had to check that, because I was having the worst case of deja vu. | |
| Maybe tomorrow someone could come out and slam Safe Schools, or argue against marriage equality, or find out they are a dual citizen, just so we can throw ourselves completely into this time loop. | |
| Who knows with this parliament. The 45th parliament is certainly a doozy. | |
| A big thank you to the Guardian brains trust, which went above and beyond in getting estimates posts to me today. And of course, to Mike Bowers, who fills my day with sugar, laughter and, of course, amazing images. You’ll find him and his office yoga technique on the Instagram story of @pyjamapolitics and you’ll catch some more of his pics at @mikepbowers. | |
| As always, the biggest thank you to you, for reading and following along. I know I say this all the time, but I truly do appreciate it, more than you know. You are always free to drop me a line at @amyremeikis if you have some burning thoughts about the blog. | |
| We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning, so have a lovely evening – and remember – take care of you. | |
| Here’s an interesting little piece of information from senate estimates today. | Here’s an interesting little piece of information from senate estimates today. |
| Treasury secretary John Fraser admitted Treasury has not modelled the financial impact of the government’s income tax plan on men and women separately. | Treasury secretary John Fraser admitted Treasury has not modelled the financial impact of the government’s income tax plan on men and women separately. |
| Labor senator Jenny McAllister sent a note to Treasury before today’s hearings asking if it could provide a breakdown of the tax plan’s impact on taxpayers by gender and by electorate. | Labor senator Jenny McAllister sent a note to Treasury before today’s hearings asking if it could provide a breakdown of the tax plan’s impact on taxpayers by gender and by electorate. |
| Fraser said Treasury didn’t have access to electorate data so it could not show how the tax cuts affected different electorates. | Fraser said Treasury didn’t have access to electorate data so it could not show how the tax cuts affected different electorates. |
| “[And] it wasn’t done by gender [because] the tax cuts are gender neutral in terms of ... the impact on the person,” he said. | “[And] it wasn’t done by gender [because] the tax cuts are gender neutral in terms of ... the impact on the person,” he said. |
| Liberal senator Mathias Cormann jumped in, wanting to know why McAllister was interested in the tax plan’s likely impact on different electorates, suggesting it wasn’t relevant. | Liberal senator Mathias Cormann jumped in, wanting to know why McAllister was interested in the tax plan’s likely impact on different electorates, suggesting it wasn’t relevant. |
| McAllister said it wasn’t up to him to approve her questions, and then asked Fraser to clarify his answer about the gender impact. | McAllister said it wasn’t up to him to approve her questions, and then asked Fraser to clarify his answer about the gender impact. |
| “In relation to the impacts by gender and the number of men and women who would relatively benefit and by how much, that analysis wasn’t done by Treasury?” she asked. | “In relation to the impacts by gender and the number of men and women who would relatively benefit and by how much, that analysis wasn’t done by Treasury?” she asked. |
| Fraser was unequivocal: “No.” | Fraser was unequivocal: “No.” |
| It’s an interesting point because the National Foundation for Australian Women has been pushing for years for Treasury to think more deeply about how budget measures affect men and women differently.” | It’s an interesting point because the National Foundation for Australian Women has been pushing for years for Treasury to think more deeply about how budget measures affect men and women differently.” |
| In modelling last year, it found the combined impact of the government’s 2017-18 budget would see women earning below-average wages hit with effective marginal tax rates of 100%. | In modelling last year, it found the combined impact of the government’s 2017-18 budget would see women earning below-average wages hit with effective marginal tax rates of 100%. |
| Treasury officials were then asked about that modelling in senate estimates, and they admitted they hadn’t modelled the impact of the budget on men and women separately. | Treasury officials were then asked about that modelling in senate estimates, and they admitted they hadn’t modelled the impact of the budget on men and women separately. |
| Michael Brennan, the deputy secretary of Treasury’s fiscal group, told senators during senate estimates last year: “It is something we do look at from time to time, looking through the income scale with particular household cameos, where effective marginal tax rates might be particularly high, but I’m not aware that we’ve done anything for this particular budget.” | Michael Brennan, the deputy secretary of Treasury’s fiscal group, told senators during senate estimates last year: “It is something we do look at from time to time, looking through the income scale with particular household cameos, where effective marginal tax rates might be particularly high, but I’m not aware that we’ve done anything for this particular budget.” |
| Kelly O’Dwyer is not backing away from her earlier comments regarding Barnaby Joyce’s decision to accept (a reported) $150,000 for a tell-all interview. But she’s not willing to add to them, either. | Kelly O’Dwyer is not backing away from her earlier comments regarding Barnaby Joyce’s decision to accept (a reported) $150,000 for a tell-all interview. But she’s not willing to add to them, either. |
| O’Dwyer has voiced the strongest views out of all her colleagues – including those on the other side of the chamber – saying she believes most Australians would be “disgusted” by the interview payment. | O’Dwyer has voiced the strongest views out of all her colleagues – including those on the other side of the chamber – saying she believes most Australians would be “disgusted” by the interview payment. |
| Asked about Joyce’s comments, when he said it was his partner’s decision to accept the money, given they are being hounded anyway, O’Dwyer had this to say to Sky: | Asked about Joyce’s comments, when he said it was his partner’s decision to accept the money, given they are being hounded anyway, O’Dwyer had this to say to Sky: |
| “I’ll let your viewers judge that. I have made very strong statements on this. I don’t resolve from them at all. | “I’ll let your viewers judge that. I have made very strong statements on this. I don’t resolve from them at all. |
| “... I don’t think a parliamentarian should take money for an interview. I don’t think their spouse should either.” | “... I don’t think a parliamentarian should take money for an interview. I don’t think their spouse should either.” |
| From Mike Bowers’ eyeball, to yours: | From Mike Bowers’ eyeball, to yours: |
| More questions have been asked about My Health Record data during community affairs estimates. | More questions have been asked about My Health Record data during community affairs estimates. |
| A trial of the opt-out e-health record system was conducted involving one million people, and of those, 1.9% opted out. About two-thirds of people in the trial didn’t know they’d been given a My Health Records, estimates hears. | A trial of the opt-out e-health record system was conducted involving one million people, and of those, 1.9% opted out. About two-thirds of people in the trial didn’t know they’d been given a My Health Records, estimates hears. |
| Less than one-tenth of 1% of people in the trial added additional privacy measures to their accounts, such as requiring a pin code to access certain documents. For example, if the results of a medical test are particularly sensitive, a patient can alter their privacy settings so that the results of the test require a pin to be seen. People can also opt to have the document blanked out altogether. | Less than one-tenth of 1% of people in the trial added additional privacy measures to their accounts, such as requiring a pin code to access certain documents. For example, if the results of a medical test are particularly sensitive, a patient can alter their privacy settings so that the results of the test require a pin to be seen. People can also opt to have the document blanked out altogether. |
| But once people have a My Health Record, consent to upload even sensitive medical information to the system is assumed, the Australian Digital Health CEO, Tim Kelsey, told the committee. | But once people have a My Health Record, consent to upload even sensitive medical information to the system is assumed, the Australian Digital Health CEO, Tim Kelsey, told the committee. |
| And question time ends. | And question time ends. |
| Everyone take a breath. | Everyone take a breath. |
| Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull have another bunfight over who is lying about cuts to schools and hospitals. | Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull have another bunfight over who is lying about cuts to schools and hospitals. |
| I think we can all see where the election campaign is going. | I think we can all see where the election campaign is going. |
| Peter Dutton, in his latest round of “you are very safe, and also all unions are evil” dixer answer, is at least consistent. | Peter Dutton, in his latest round of “you are very safe, and also all unions are evil” dixer answer, is at least consistent. |
| While talking about Labor’s refugee policy battle, he made the CFMEU the bad guys, even while describing how they came in and shut down the debate. | While talking about Labor’s refugee policy battle, he made the CFMEU the bad guys, even while describing how they came in and shut down the debate. |
| On the weekend there was a Victorian ALP conference and, Mr Speaker, there was a motion that was to put at conference and it said, and I quote, that the Labor party should close the offshore detention centres, transit centres and other camps on Manus Island and Nauru within the first 90 days. What happened during the course of that debate, where people would argue for and against strong border protection policies? | On the weekend there was a Victorian ALP conference and, Mr Speaker, there was a motion that was to put at conference and it said, and I quote, that the Labor party should close the offshore detention centres, transit centres and other camps on Manus Island and Nauru within the first 90 days. What happened during the course of that debate, where people would argue for and against strong border protection policies? |
| You know what happened? The CFMEU rode into town on their Harleys, they hopped off, went inside and the debate was closed down. | You know what happened? The CFMEU rode into town on their Harleys, they hopped off, went inside and the debate was closed down. |
| They don’t only muscle up on building sites, they turn up in at the Convention Centre, where the Labor party is seeking to conduct ... and they closed the debate down. | They don’t only muscle up on building sites, they turn up in at the Convention Centre, where the Labor party is seeking to conduct ... and they closed the debate down. |
| There you have it. The CFMEU are still the bad guys, even when stopping the boats. | There you have it. The CFMEU are still the bad guys, even when stopping the boats. |
| Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull: | Tanya Plibersek to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Extra funding will be needed for the second Gonski report. If they accept the recommendations from this report, why is he still cutting $17bn from Australian schools while giving the big banks a $17bn tax cut? | Extra funding will be needed for the second Gonski report. If they accept the recommendations from this report, why is he still cutting $17bn from Australian schools while giving the big banks a $17bn tax cut? |
| Turnbull: | Turnbull: |
| The funding for schools is the highest ever. It is the highest ever and the key thing that we have to achieve is to ensure that we get the best outcomes from this very large spending. | The funding for schools is the highest ever. It is the highest ever and the key thing that we have to achieve is to ensure that we get the best outcomes from this very large spending. |
| That is David Gonski, whose recommendations my government has adopted and the honourable member’s government ignored and misrepresented and that’s why we need to know what other measures that will ensure we give all of our students the best education that we can deliver, and the Gonski 2.0 report is a very valuable guide, and Senator Birmingham will be meeting with states and territories to discuss how that can be implemented. I have to say, the report has been broadly accepted. | That is David Gonski, whose recommendations my government has adopted and the honourable member’s government ignored and misrepresented and that’s why we need to know what other measures that will ensure we give all of our students the best education that we can deliver, and the Gonski 2.0 report is a very valuable guide, and Senator Birmingham will be meeting with states and territories to discuss how that can be implemented. I have to say, the report has been broadly accepted. |
| There is always some resistance to reform, but I think we all agree that every child should make a year’s progress every year and that is the fundamental point that David Gonski is making because, as they have observed in the report, there are many students who are not progressing as much as they should or could and that is why we need to have a more student-focused approach to school education. The resources are there, the funding model is there, and it is now important to put it to work for the benefit of our children. | There is always some resistance to reform, but I think we all agree that every child should make a year’s progress every year and that is the fundamental point that David Gonski is making because, as they have observed in the report, there are many students who are not progressing as much as they should or could and that is why we need to have a more student-focused approach to school education. The resources are there, the funding model is there, and it is now important to put it to work for the benefit of our children. |
| Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull: | Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Instead of giving an $80bn handout to big business, why won’t the prime minister support Labor’s commitment to invest in a cancer patient treatment centre so they won’t have to travel long distances to get the care that they need? | Instead of giving an $80bn handout to big business, why won’t the prime minister support Labor’s commitment to invest in a cancer patient treatment centre so they won’t have to travel long distances to get the care that they need? |
| Turnbull: | Turnbull: |
| I will ask the minister for health to add to this but I want to record with respect to Caboolture hospital, the shocking lies being told by the Labor party. Shocking lies. These are the facts. The government is spending a record amount on public hospitals in Queensland and in particular in the metro north hospital network. The truck that the Labor party is towing around saying the federal government is cutting funding to hospitals in Queensland let alone in Caboolture hospital, is a lie. It is an absolute lie. | I will ask the minister for health to add to this but I want to record with respect to Caboolture hospital, the shocking lies being told by the Labor party. Shocking lies. These are the facts. The government is spending a record amount on public hospitals in Queensland and in particular in the metro north hospital network. The truck that the Labor party is towing around saying the federal government is cutting funding to hospitals in Queensland let alone in Caboolture hospital, is a lie. It is an absolute lie. |
| We have seen an increase in funding to local hospitals in that area including to Caboolture hospital. There is record GP bulk billing in that electorate of 93%. | We have seen an increase in funding to local hospitals in that area including to Caboolture hospital. There is record GP bulk billing in that electorate of 93%. |
| Again, both sides are right here. Health funding is increasing. Every government will get to say they are making record investment in health, because it just keeps growing. The issue, is the 2014 budget cut how much that funding was supposed to grow by. So all the states made plans around what they thought they were getting, but they are not getting as much as they thought. I’ll say it again – funding is increasing. But the rate of funding increases has been cut. | Again, both sides are right here. Health funding is increasing. Every government will get to say they are making record investment in health, because it just keeps growing. The issue, is the 2014 budget cut how much that funding was supposed to grow by. So all the states made plans around what they thought they were getting, but they are not getting as much as they thought. I’ll say it again – funding is increasing. But the rate of funding increases has been cut. |
| And that truck that the PM keeps bringing up? It is a particularly sore topic within the LNP, not just because they think it’s claim of hospital funding cuts is a lie, but it was a truck, with a billboard of former LNP MP Wyatt Roy embracing Malcolm Turnbull at a GQ event, that cost the Coalition that seat. Caboolture is more of your Tony Abbott town than your Malcolm Turnbull town. By linking Roy so closely to Turnbull, Labor helped sieve off more votes and ultimately, with the help of One Nation preferences, took the seat. | And that truck that the PM keeps bringing up? It is a particularly sore topic within the LNP, not just because they think it’s claim of hospital funding cuts is a lie, but it was a truck, with a billboard of former LNP MP Wyatt Roy embracing Malcolm Turnbull at a GQ event, that cost the Coalition that seat. Caboolture is more of your Tony Abbott town than your Malcolm Turnbull town. By linking Roy so closely to Turnbull, Labor helped sieve off more votes and ultimately, with the help of One Nation preferences, took the seat. |
| Michelle Landry delivers a dixer for Kelly O’Dwyer and the minister for revenue throws in a “who is such a hard-working member” which can only be seen as a message to the Queensland LNP which is dragging Landry in front of its candidate review committee, after she spoke out against Jane Prentice’s dumping. | Michelle Landry delivers a dixer for Kelly O’Dwyer and the minister for revenue throws in a “who is such a hard-working member” which can only be seen as a message to the Queensland LNP which is dragging Landry in front of its candidate review committee, after she spoke out against Jane Prentice’s dumping. |