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Coalition senator pours fuel on ABC funding debate – politics live Labor moves to split government's income tax bill – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Labor has decided it will only support the first stage of the government’s income tax plan – and wants to split stage two and stage three into separate bills.
Penny Wong, who will speak at the China Australia Business Council meeting a little bit later today, and who has been critical of how the government has handled bilateral relations in recent months, describing its diplomacy as “clumsy”, put out this statement on the Julie Bishop story:
The foreign minister’s pledge to lift Australia’s aid funding in the Pacific cannot be taken seriously while her government continues to drive down Australian development assistance spending to the lowest level in history.
Despite clear evidence of Australia’s diminishing influence in our region the Turnbull government continues on its disastrous path of cuts to aid which can only further weaken Australia’s standing.
Under Minister Bishop’s watch more than $11 billion has been cut from Australia’s aid program.
Just last month the May budget cut another $140 m from our aid spending, driving Australian development assistance spending down to the lowest level in history – just 22 cents in every $100 of our national income will be spent on foreign aid in 2018-19.
Pacific island states have felt the impact of these cuts, and will increasingly turn to others to fill the gap left by Australia, further eroding our influence in the region.
The foreign minister has now acknowledged Australia does need to demonstrate greater leadership in the Pacific and play our part in ensuring a stable and prosperous region.
Yet the Turnbull government’s own budget figures forecast our international development program will fall even further to just 0.19% of GNI over the forward estimates.
Australia has a deep interest in contributing to global poverty alleviation, and our international development program supports security and stability in our region.
The foreign minister’s own DFAT White Paper, released late last year, declares “Australia’s overseas aid program aims to help developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development in line with Australia’s national interest.”
The Turnbull government’s cuts to development assistance are already a source of international embarrassment for Australia, and are at odds with the generous spirit of the Australian people.
A Shorten Labor government will contribute more to international development assistance than the current government. And we will ensure more of it gets to the people who it is meant to be assisting.
Labor has repeatedly urged the Turnbull government to return to a properly bipartisan approach to international development assistance.
Instead of continuing to prioritise massive tax cuts for big business, Julie Bishop must now put her words into action by joining Labor in committing to lifting Australia’s embarrassingly low level of international development assistance.
In an interview with Fairfax Media, Julie Bishop addresses China’s “soft diplomacy” with Pacific island nations, saying Australia wants “to ensure that they retain their sovereignty, that they have sustainable economies and that they are not trapped into unsustainable debt incomes”.
Beijing has stepped in to build infrastructure in Pacific regions, through concessional loans, as Australia’s foreign aid budget, and its ability to help traditional allies, lessens.
Connie Fierravanti-Wells kicked off a diplomatic storm at the beginning of the year, when she raised concerns over Beijing’s spending and what that could potentially mean in the future, if China called in its loans.
Bishop walked a diplomatic tightrope then. But now, as relations continue to be strained, she tells Fairfax:
“We’re concerned that the consequences of entering into some of these financing arrangements will be detrimental to their longterm sovereignty”, while also mentioning it would be the same “for any country ... Russia comes and plays in the Pacific now and again”.
“We want to be the natural partner of choice”.
Steve Ciobo tries walking some of that back on Sky News this morning:
.@JulieBishopMP says Australia needs to ensure nations are not forced into opaque development offers. @StevenCiobo: Our focus is on being a sustainable long-term partner for our friends in the Pacific. MORE: https://t.co/ykweMevBOK #amagenda pic.twitter.com/hOG3e1FWoL
The Australia China Business Council is meeting today and John Brumby, the ACBC president, says this year the meeting is occurring in slightly more challenging times than some of its previous meetings.
That’s a subtle nod to the strained relationship between Australia and China since the foreign interference legislation hit the agenda.
China’s ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, says China is continuing to grow its economy and is maturing as a market, including strengthening intellectual property laws, to better encourage investment.
But Cheng also doesn’t shy away from the issues between the two nations:
Everyone present here supports and cares about the future of the China-Australian relationship.
... Trading services requires a deep relationship and mutual understanding, which I believe is very relevant in the current state of affairs of our relations.
It is right to say that since we established diplomatic times in 1972, especially since the beginning of the new century, huge progress has been made in exchanges and cooperation in various areas between the two countries, against the expectations of many people.
These progresses have not only robustly spurred economic growth in both countries, but also delivered real benefits and tangible benefits to its two peoples.
Of course the development of our bilateral relations has not always been smooth. Sometimes, there be clouds, even rain and wind.
China and Australia are in the same region. Both of our economies are highly complementary. We have many shared interests and the potential for future cooperation is huge, including trading services. And we both stand for free trade and an open economy.
So there is no reason for us not to develop a better relationship with each other based on mutual benefit and mutual trust.
Nowadays, countries are becoming increasingly interdependent. But populism and protectionism are on the rise.
... Staying open and inclusive, enhancing communication and mutual learning are in the train of human development.
And Cheng finishes with this.
Recently, in his meeting with minister [Julie] Bishop, the Chinese state councillor and foreign minister Wang Yi outlined China’s development path and its visions with developing relations with other countries. He pointed out that China’s development path is completely different to that of traditional major powers.
China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, let alone carry out infiltration of other countries. China’s idea is to carry out equal cooperation with all countries, including Australia, to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
He also expressed China’s willingness to communicate with Australia on how to practically improve bilateral relations.
It is my belief that in order to disperse the clouds and achieve sustained and sound development in our bilateral relations, the two countries need to have more interaction and inclusiveness, with less bias and bigotry.
We need to see each other’s development and positive intentions from a more positive perspective with less cold war mentality.
We need to build more mutual trust, with less misunderstanding. We need to develop more connections between our two countries and two peoples with less barriers. And we need to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns while managing the differences in a constructive manner.
Tanya Plibersek said the outpouring of grief for Eurydice Dixon – and all the other women before her – transcended politics.Tanya Plibersek said the outpouring of grief for Eurydice Dixon – and all the other women before her – transcended politics.
This is a shocking, it is a terrible, terrible story and it is right that people should be shocked by it,” she told Sky News this morning.This is a shocking, it is a terrible, terrible story and it is right that people should be shocked by it,” she told Sky News this morning.
It is a beautiful thing that Eurydice Dixon’s family have asked that people also remember that this week there is a young woman missing, presumed dead, in New South Wales – Qi Yu; there was an attempted, an actual, abduction and assault on an 11-year-old girl in NSW; a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek. And I remember, in 1988, the abduction of Janine Balding. I remember before that, 1986, the abduction and murder of Anita Cobby.It is a beautiful thing that Eurydice Dixon’s family have asked that people also remember that this week there is a young woman missing, presumed dead, in New South Wales – Qi Yu; there was an attempted, an actual, abduction and assault on an 11-year-old girl in NSW; a two-year-old girl in Tennant Creek. And I remember, in 1988, the abduction of Janine Balding. I remember before that, 1986, the abduction and murder of Anita Cobby.
These women stay with us. And they stay in our hearts because,they change the behaviour of every woman and we need to get their right as a society.These women stay with us. And they stay in our hearts because,they change the behaviour of every woman and we need to get their right as a society.
... There is no question that every decent person feels disgusted by this crime, feels desperately sad for the friends and family, for all of the women who have lost their lives to mens’ violence, and there is no question that every decent Australian wants this to change. To stop.... There is no question that every decent person feels disgusted by this crime, feels desperately sad for the friends and family, for all of the women who have lost their lives to mens’ violence, and there is no question that every decent Australian wants this to change. To stop.
To really understand how much this means though, you really need to hear her say it.To really understand how much this means though, you really need to hear her say it.
.@tanya_plibersek on Eurydice Dixon: These women stay with us and they stay in our hearts, and we need to get this right as a society...every decent person feels disgusted by this crime.MORE: https://t.co/HDGkrEKLOp #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/MTg95MnCiu.@tanya_plibersek on Eurydice Dixon: These women stay with us and they stay in our hearts, and we need to get this right as a society...every decent person feels disgusted by this crime.MORE: https://t.co/HDGkrEKLOp #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/MTg95MnCiu
Before we get to the mess of the day though, I wanted to show you some of the scenes from last night, when the parliament held a vigil for Eurydice Dixon.Before we get to the mess of the day though, I wanted to show you some of the scenes from last night, when the parliament held a vigil for Eurydice Dixon.
And welcome to another day in the thunder dome.And welcome to another day in the thunder dome.
Things got quite heated on the bad show last night, with Linda Reynolds adding some fuel to the fire the government is desperately trying to hose down, by saying it was “valid” to have the debate on how the ABC spends it money.Things got quite heated on the bad show last night, with Linda Reynolds adding some fuel to the fire the government is desperately trying to hose down, by saying it was “valid” to have the debate on how the ABC spends it money.
“I was there at the conference over the weekend and I heard the debate on the motion and, from my perspective, I think it’s not so much about privatising the ABC, which is not going to happen, but $1.2 bn of your taxpayers’ money goes into the ABC every year.“I was there at the conference over the weekend and I heard the debate on the motion and, from my perspective, I think it’s not so much about privatising the ABC, which is not going to happen, but $1.2 bn of your taxpayers’ money goes into the ABC every year.
“I think it’s valid for us in parliament and for all of you to actually question whether that money is being best spent.“I think it’s valid for us in parliament and for all of you to actually question whether that money is being best spent.
“So, for example, I’m from the state of Western Australia and I hear frequently from people in rural and regional areas in Western Australia that they don’t feel that they get enough service from the ABC.”“So, for example, I’m from the state of Western Australia and I hear frequently from people in rural and regional areas in Western Australia that they don’t feel that they get enough service from the ABC.”
Tony Jones hit back that the show couldn’t afford to go to WA when Reynolds asked why it hadn’t appeared in the west. She then told Jones that “probably 40% of your salary comes from Western Australia”.Tony Jones hit back that the show couldn’t afford to go to WA when Reynolds asked why it hadn’t appeared in the west. She then told Jones that “probably 40% of your salary comes from Western Australia”.
So. Good times.So. Good times.
Labor will caucus today and work out whether or not it will move to split the tax bill – and how – with talk that part two, which will cost $80bn from July 2022 by moving the upper thresholds of the marginal tax rate around, will also be on the chopping board.Labor will caucus today and work out whether or not it will move to split the tax bill – and how – with talk that part two, which will cost $80bn from July 2022 by moving the upper thresholds of the marginal tax rate around, will also be on the chopping board.
The Greens need to support that for it to have any hope of succeeding. Tim Storer is on board with splitting stage one. Centre Alliance is also on board with potentially splitting. Which means they need one more to have any potential amendments passed.The Greens need to support that for it to have any hope of succeeding. Tim Storer is on board with splitting stage one. Centre Alliance is also on board with potentially splitting. Which means they need one more to have any potential amendments passed.
Over in the Coalition joint party room, energy will be the big debate, as Josh Frydenberg attempts, once again, to corral his party into agreeing on the Neg and Tony Abbott tries just as hard to put coal back on the agenda. I doubt anyone will be looking forward to that.Over in the Coalition joint party room, energy will be the big debate, as Josh Frydenberg attempts, once again, to corral his party into agreeing on the Neg and Tony Abbott tries just as hard to put coal back on the agenda. I doubt anyone will be looking forward to that.
Mike Bowers has been out since early this morning – I’ll bring you some of his work very soon. You can follow along with him at @mikepbowers or @mpbowers. You’ll also find him on the behind the scenes story on @pyjamapolitics.Mike Bowers has been out since early this morning – I’ll bring you some of his work very soon. You can follow along with him at @mikepbowers or @mpbowers. You’ll also find him on the behind the scenes story on @pyjamapolitics.
You can catch me on @amyremeikis or lurking in the comments.You can catch me on @amyremeikis or lurking in the comments.
Got your coffee? Let’s go.Got your coffee? Let’s go.