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| 'We tried for privacy': Barnaby Joyce breaks silence over paid interview – politics live | 'We tried for privacy': Barnaby Joyce breaks silence over paid interview – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Back in community affairs estimates and Greens leader Richard Di Natale is questioning a comment by the commonwealth chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, that the community wants a mix of public and private healthcare. | |
| Not so, Di Natale says. He adds that high out-of-pocket medical costs for patients with private health insurance was surely an argument for investing in a more effective, well-funded public health system.“The community has expressed a view for a mixed private public system,” Murphy tells him.But Di Natale responds that “the community hasn’t expressed a view”.“They’re penalised if they dont take out private health insurance if they earn over a particular amount,” he says. “It’s not a free choice. [Private health is] being influenced by incentives and disincentives in the system.”Murphy: “I don’t think thats something I should comment on Senator”. | |
| A country can't be complicit in the death of 38 Australians and face no consequences. If the Russians don't apologise, we should expel the Russian ambassador until they do. https://t.co/m64CI2h9MX | |
| Mike Bowers popped in to the Treasury estimates, where Pauline Hanson was asking questions about immigration. | |
| Because of course she was. | |
| And commenter Banjofromeden has just pointed out below the line, the other change in the crossbench was Jacqui Lambie switching from Palmer United party to form her own. | |
| At the Labor caucus, Bill Shorten tried to rev up the troops in preparation for five byelections, framing them as a choice between big business tax cuts that will benefit banks and Labor’s social spending and larger personal income tax cuts. | |
| Shorten said that “nothing could be done” about the date of the byelections, which are likely to be called for 28 July, the last day of the Labor conference. He called that “an extraordinary coincidence”. | |
| Regarding the national conference, Shorten set out three principles: the party still wants to hold it; ideally before the next election; and will aim to hold it at the same venue – the Adelaide convention centre – to keep costs down. | |
| On Monday we reported the national executive was considering moving the conference to September or January. | |
| Labor has also confirmed it was briefed about the proposed electronic voting in the House of Representatives, just announced by Christopher Pyne. | |
| In Senate estimates, Treasury officials have just revealed how the Turnbull government’s $144bn income tax plan will affect individual taxpayers. | |
| And their figures appear the same as figures published by the progressive think tank The Australia Institute. | |
| Treasury says once the government’s tax plan is fully implemented in 2024-25, a worker on $40,000 a year will receive a tax cut of $455 a year, while a worker on $200,000 will receive a tax cut of $7,225 a year. | |
| The Australia Institute produced similar figures in a briefing note on the tax cuts: | |
| Someone earning $40,000 per year will get a tax cut of $455 per year while someone earning $200,000 will get a tax cut of $7,225 per year. Some might say that of course someone on $200,000 will get a bigger cut; after all they pay more tax. But while someone on $200,000 earns five times more than someone on $40,000, their tax cut will be 16 times larger. | |
| Treasury officials also confirmed the biggest gains from the government’s tax cut plan will come from the decision to abolish the 37 cents (for each dollar) tax bracket. | |
| The government wants to remove the 37 cents bracket from 1 July, 2024, leaving everyone earning between $41,000 and $200,000 paying the same marginal tax rate of 32.5 cents (for every dollar they earn between those amounts). | |
| When the 37 cents bracket is abolished, it will provide someone on $130,000 with a $450 tax cut, while someone on $200,000 will get a $5,200 tax cut from that single move, according to Treasury. | |
| The Australia Institute produced further modelling this week that looked precisely at this later component of the tax plan. | |
| It found the biggest beneficiaries of the final years of the tax cut will be the highest income earners. | |
| It showed the abolition of the 37 cents bracket will cost approximately $16bn a year when it comes into full force, with the top 10% of taxpayers receiving the lion’s share of those tax cuts, worth $8.5bn. | |
| Treasury officials have released estimates of the financial impact of the Turnbull government's 7-year income tax plan on taxpayers, broken down into taxable incomes from $20,000 to over $200,000 #auspol pic.twitter.com/lBzchz15F2 | |
| How electronic voting could work in the House of Representatives https://t.co/IN50i2vXgD pic.twitter.com/aUFJRxEKQo | |
| There is also some discussion about things which will actually impact your individual lives today, which is nice. For a change. | |
| One of the Productivity Commission recommendations to come out of the superannuation review was to create a panel which would offer up a top 10 list of super funds for customers to choose from. | |
| The government hasn’t been a big fan of union-run, industry super funds. But here is what Kelly O’Dwyer had to say about that list this morning when talking with the ABC – and what would happen if union-run industry funds ended up dominating any best-in-show list: | |
| I’m completely agnostic in terms of whether it’s a retail fund or an industry fund. I simply want to see low fees, good governance, I want to make sure that members’ money is being spent in their best interests and that their money is working for them, whether it’s a retail fund or an industry fund. I don’t discriminate. So I think what is very clear is that the Labor party needs to back in the changes that we announced in the budget. They need to be unequivocal in their support. | |
| The Productivity Commission today has completely belled the cat on all of the problems that exist. It can’t be ignored [and it’s now up to] Labor to support our changes and do it quickly because otherwise it will cost millions of Australians millions of dollars in their retirement savings. | |
| As well as the back and forth of questions and answers, Treasury has dropped a bunch of new material about the impact of the government’s proposed income tax cuts. | |
| From 2024-25, Australians with a taxable income of $200,000 a year will get a tax cut of $7,225 – that’s when abolishing the 37% tax bracket kicks in. | |
| A worker on that level of income will pick up $135 when the $87,000 threshold goes up to $90,000, $540 when the $37,000 threshold goes up to $41,000, and $1,350 when the $90,000 threshold goes to $120,000 (that’s stage two of the package), then a further $5,200 when the 37% bracket disappears. | |
| Someone earning $30,000 will get a tax cut of $200. | |
| Doug Cameron has been asking Michaelia Cash whether she has been interviewed by police yet in relation to their investigation of the leak to the media about the raid on the Australian Workers’ Union headquarters. | |
| Cash says that everything she knows about the leak is already in Hansard from earlier estimates sessions, and in regards to whether she has been interviewed: | |
| The [police] commissioner himself has made a public interest immunity claim in relation to that which was accepted by the committee. | |
| Cameron suggests this means “the cover-up is still on”, which Cash rejects politely by saying “that is your summation”. | |
| Liberal senator Jim Molan seeks the call about a minute early, which prompts Cameron to ask “when did you start chairing?”. “You’re not a major general in here.” | |
| Meanwhile, in Michaelia Cash’s estimates hearing | Meanwhile, in Michaelia Cash’s estimates hearing |
| Michaelia Cash won't say if she's provided a statement to police or been interviewed about the media tip-off from her office about AWU raids. She's claimed PII, as has the AFP commissioner. "So, the cover up is still on minister?" - Doug Cameron #estimates | Michaelia Cash won't say if she's provided a statement to police or been interviewed about the media tip-off from her office about AWU raids. She's claimed PII, as has the AFP commissioner. "So, the cover up is still on minister?" - Doug Cameron #estimates |
| The future has arrived. Christopher Pyne has announced electronic voting will be coming to the House of Representatives chamber. | The future has arrived. Christopher Pyne has announced electronic voting will be coming to the House of Representatives chamber. |
| This comes after a bipartisan committee recommended it be implemented in April 2016. | This comes after a bipartisan committee recommended it be implemented in April 2016. |
| From the statement: | From the statement: |
| Electronic voting will be implemented in the House of Representatives, dramatically speeding up the voting process. | Electronic voting will be implemented in the House of Representatives, dramatically speeding up the voting process. |
| The Leader of the House of Representatives, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the initiative and said electronic voting would be operational in 2019. | The Leader of the House of Representatives, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the initiative and said electronic voting would be operational in 2019. |
| “The implementation of electronic voting will reduce significantly the time required for each vote in the chamber,” Minister Pyne said. | “The implementation of electronic voting will reduce significantly the time required for each vote in the chamber,” Minister Pyne said. |
| “Voting outcomes will be transparent, accurate, and known immediately freeing up more time for important parliamentary business to be conducted each day the House sits. | “Voting outcomes will be transparent, accurate, and known immediately freeing up more time for important parliamentary business to be conducted each day the House sits. |
| “Electronic voting will also provide an electronic solution for recording division voting and improve online accessibility to division process and results.” | “Electronic voting will also provide an electronic solution for recording division voting and improve online accessibility to division process and results.” |
| The Department of Parliamentary Services will shortly call for tenders for the project giving innovative Australians and Australian businesses an opportunity to contribute to this initiative. | The Department of Parliamentary Services will shortly call for tenders for the project giving innovative Australians and Australian businesses an opportunity to contribute to this initiative. |
| What is happening with the crossbench? | What is happening with the crossbench? |
| Brendan O’Connor wants to know, after Steve Martin joined Lucy Gichuhi on the government benches, Tim Storer left NXT/Centre Alliance to sit as an independent, Cory Bernardi left the government to sit as his own party and Fraser Anning left One Nation to sit as an independent (I am missing one change, I think, but it will come to me). | Brendan O’Connor wants to know, after Steve Martin joined Lucy Gichuhi on the government benches, Tim Storer left NXT/Centre Alliance to sit as an independent, Cory Bernardi left the government to sit as his own party and Fraser Anning left One Nation to sit as an independent (I am missing one change, I think, but it will come to me). |
| Here is O’Connor speaking to Sky this morning: | Here is O’Connor speaking to Sky this morning: |
| I have to say, just a broader reflection on what is happening on the cross-bench in terms of stability – this is now up to six senators who have started and been elected by constituents in one place and have moved elsewhere, and it does speak to the instability of the crossbench. | I have to say, just a broader reflection on what is happening on the cross-bench in terms of stability – this is now up to six senators who have started and been elected by constituents in one place and have moved elsewhere, and it does speak to the instability of the crossbench. |
| I get on well with crossbench senators, but it is extraordinary that so many now have moved away from where they originally were. So, they have told the electorate one thing, and they have made a decision subsequently to join someone else. In a way that’s a sign of betrayal. It’s not representing what you said to the electorate when you put yourself on the ticket for either a minor party or as an independent, and then to say you’ll join a political party or leave a political party. | I get on well with crossbench senators, but it is extraordinary that so many now have moved away from where they originally were. So, they have told the electorate one thing, and they have made a decision subsequently to join someone else. In a way that’s a sign of betrayal. It’s not representing what you said to the electorate when you put yourself on the ticket for either a minor party or as an independent, and then to say you’ll join a political party or leave a political party. |
| They are big steps, and it is happening with such frequency at the moment, I think people have got a good reason to say, ‘Well, what’s happening with the crossbench?’ | They are big steps, and it is happening with such frequency at the moment, I think people have got a good reason to say, ‘Well, what’s happening with the crossbench?’ |
| Back in Defence estimates, Kim Carr has been asking about the ongoing review of the Defence Trade Controls Act. | Back in Defence estimates, Kim Carr has been asking about the ongoing review of the Defence Trade Controls Act. |
| Earlier this month we reported that the Australian Research Council had looked into claims of breaches of the Act, reported in the Australian, and found nothing amiss.The ARC came under fire last year after allegations it was funding research between Australian universities and Chinese state-run enterprises with military links.Writing in the Australian, outspoken China critic professor Clive Hamilton wrote that the ARC was “funnelling Australian taxpayer funds into research with applications to China’s advanced weapons capacity”. | Earlier this month we reported that the Australian Research Council had looked into claims of breaches of the Act, reported in the Australian, and found nothing amiss.The ARC came under fire last year after allegations it was funding research between Australian universities and Chinese state-run enterprises with military links.Writing in the Australian, outspoken China critic professor Clive Hamilton wrote that the ARC was “funnelling Australian taxpayer funds into research with applications to China’s advanced weapons capacity”. |
| The ARC looked into the allegations and said it found “no cause for concern”. | The ARC looked into the allegations and said it found “no cause for concern”. |
| But Defence is currently reviewing the Defence Trade Controls Act – which governs the transfer of defence and strategic goods technologies to other countries – and Senator Carr wanted to know whether the review would be “informed by recent allegations in the media about claims of collaboration involving Australian universities and politically funded research organisations”. | But Defence is currently reviewing the Defence Trade Controls Act – which governs the transfer of defence and strategic goods technologies to other countries – and Senator Carr wanted to know whether the review would be “informed by recent allegations in the media about claims of collaboration involving Australian universities and politically funded research organisations”. |
| He said the review was taking place amid a “highly politicised debate about the role of foreign interventions in our research community”.Defence minister Marise Payne suggested the review would look at the relationship between Australian research organisations and foreign entities. | He said the review was taking place amid a “highly politicised debate about the role of foreign interventions in our research community”.Defence minister Marise Payne suggested the review would look at the relationship between Australian research organisations and foreign entities. |
| “The review is required by legislative structure and we’ll take into account matters of public debate that pertain to it,” she said. | “The review is required by legislative structure and we’ll take into account matters of public debate that pertain to it,” she said. |
| This is also a thing which is happening in estimates (Pauline Hanson is making what is, I believe, her second appearance – she popped in late last week to talk about the family court. Happy to be corrected if she’s appeared anywhere else). | This is also a thing which is happening in estimates (Pauline Hanson is making what is, I believe, her second appearance – she popped in late last week to talk about the family court. Happy to be corrected if she’s appeared anywhere else). |
| Meanwhile Pauline Hanson is telling Mathias Cormann the migration program is a ponzi scheme. "I don't agree," says the finance minister #auspol #estimates | Meanwhile Pauline Hanson is telling Mathias Cormann the migration program is a ponzi scheme. "I don't agree," says the finance minister #auspol #estimates |
| Cormann strongly disagrees with Hanson's claims that immigration to Australia is a "giant ponzi scheme." "I came as a holidaymaker in 1994, now I am a permanent resident. I think [Labor] Senator Keneally came as a migrant in 1996." #auspol | Cormann strongly disagrees with Hanson's claims that immigration to Australia is a "giant ponzi scheme." "I came as a holidaymaker in 1994, now I am a permanent resident. I think [Labor] Senator Keneally came as a migrant in 1996." #auspol |
| There’s been a brief discussion in the Treasury estimates about an incident at budget time when the Labor senator Penny Wong departed the lockup with budget papers before 7.30pm. Treasury objected to the departure in possession of embargoed papers. By the looks of things, Treasury is still objecting. Officials say they are unaware of other incidents in which either government ministers or staff have departed in possession of the budget papers. | There’s been a brief discussion in the Treasury estimates about an incident at budget time when the Labor senator Penny Wong departed the lockup with budget papers before 7.30pm. Treasury objected to the departure in possession of embargoed papers. By the looks of things, Treasury is still objecting. Officials say they are unaware of other incidents in which either government ministers or staff have departed in possession of the budget papers. |
| In the process of the objections, the Treasury boss John Fraser had a confession of his own. In 2017, he walked out prior to the embargo being lifted with budget papers. He had to be stopped by his staff. | In the process of the objections, the Treasury boss John Fraser had a confession of his own. In 2017, he walked out prior to the embargo being lifted with budget papers. He had to be stopped by his staff. |
| The search for MH370, which disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board, including six Australians, officially ends today. | The search for MH370, which disappeared in 2014 with 239 people on board, including six Australians, officially ends today. |
| Michael McCormack was asked about it on Sky: | Michael McCormack was asked about it on Sky: |
| “It is very sad for the families and relatives of the 239 people on board, particularly the seven Australians closer to home, particularly the seven Australians [there was also a New Zealand resident on board who was living in Perth]. | “It is very sad for the families and relatives of the 239 people on board, particularly the seven Australians closer to home, particularly the seven Australians [there was also a New Zealand resident on board who was living in Perth]. |
| “There has been a search which has cost more than $200 million, it has been going for four years. Sadly, they have not been able to find MH370 and that is a tragedy. | “There has been a search which has cost more than $200 million, it has been going for four years. Sadly, they have not been able to find MH370 and that is a tragedy. |
| “Of course it may be, like a lot of those ships which go down, ultimately they find them and new technologies come on board and new searchs are mounted. | “Of course it may be, like a lot of those ships which go down, ultimately they find them and new technologies come on board and new searchs are mounted. |
| “But it looks as though this will remain a mystery for the time being.” | “But it looks as though this will remain a mystery for the time being.” |
| So will Australia be joining another search? | So will Australia be joining another search? |
| No. | No. |
| “... we’ve got to remember that the actual plane is about 60 metres long, that is about four times less than the Titanic, and they took more than 70 years to find it and they knew exactly ... where it went down.” | “... we’ve got to remember that the actual plane is about 60 metres long, that is about four times less than the Titanic, and they took more than 70 years to find it and they knew exactly ... where it went down.” |
| Greens leader Richard Di Natale is questioning the 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. | Greens leader Richard Di Natale is questioning the 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. | 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. | 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. | “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.” | 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. | 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: | 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; | 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 | 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: | 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 ... | “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.” | 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.” |