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| Natalie Joyce gives first interview since Barnaby scandal – as it happened | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| So on the eve of the government looking like it will have a victory, Tony Abbott pops his head up to say: beware the backbench. | |
| And Barnaby Joyce will be back in the news. | |
| So situation normal then! | |
| We’ll leave it there, but will be back in the morning when it looks like the income tax debate will be wrapped up. | |
| A massive thank you to Mike Bowers, who is still in the chamber getting that magic, and to the Guardian brains trust, without whom I could not do this. | |
| And of course to everyone who read and played along today. It was a big day of incremental movements and your company made it all worthwhile. | |
| I am going to grab an early night before the last sitting day this week, but I’ll be back early tomorrow. | |
| And as always: take care of you. | |
| The pinks and greens have dropped, so here is that question I missed earlier from Tanya Plibersek: | The pinks and greens have dropped, so here is that question I missed earlier from Tanya Plibersek: |
| “Is the prime minister proud that he is the first prime minister in Australian history to unite the government, Catholic and independent school sectors against his policies? Why is this prime minister so devoid of judgment that he ignored the people who teach our kids when they told him that his schools funding regime was profoundlyflawed?” | |
| Josh Frydenberg took it, on behalf of Simon Birmingham: | Josh Frydenberg took it, on behalf of Simon Birmingham: |
| “I thank the member for Sydney for her question. I’m pleased to inform her that under the Turnbull government’s education reforms the schools in her electorate will on average be $2½ million better off. | |
| “The Bourke Street public school in her electorate will see a 51.4% increase over the decade. That is a result of the Turnbull government’s reforms. The member for Maribyrnong, the leader of the opposition, has 54 schools in his electorate and 30,000 students, and every school will get more money under the Turnbull government’s reforms, an average of over $7.2m extra for schools in Maribyrnong. | |
| “The leader of the opposition and the member for Sydney should know that when it comes to education we have ended the 27 special deals. We’ve ended the 27 special deals and we’ve put in place a fully funded improvement to education funding for Australian students, more than $20bn extra. | |
| “When it comes to the seat of Longman, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission will see its funding increase from just over $9,000 to just over $12,000 per student over the decade, a 36½% increase. When it comes to the seat of Braddon, the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office will see their funding go from over $10,000 per student to over $15,000 per student over the decade, an increase of 44%. | |
| “In the electorate of Mayo, Catholic Education South Australia will see its funding go from over $9,000 per student today to well over $12,000 per student within the decade, a nearly 40% increase. | |
| “Mr Speaker, don’t look at what Labor says. Look at what Labor does. They had 27 special deals. The Turnbull government is increasing funding for school students across the country and across all sectors.” | |
| Going back to the Senate, here is what Penny Wong said in response to Mathias Cormann’s ultimately successful motion to guillotine the debate: | Going back to the Senate, here is what Penny Wong said in response to Mathias Cormann’s ultimately successful motion to guillotine the debate: |
| Not happy in failing in their attempt to hold the tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners hostage to the tax cuts for high-income earners, what we now see are a government spitting the dummy and not even allowing debate in the Senate chamber. How pathetic! What a government! We gave you 3½ hours last night by agreement. You lose a vote on an amendment and you say: ‘Oh, my goodness! We have to guillotine debate because we don’t want any further debate.’ What are you so scared of? This is a complete dummy spit by senator Cormann, the man who styles himself as the leader of the government in the Senate. What a dummy spit! You lose on one amendment and now you want to guillotine the debate. I mean, really? | Not happy in failing in their attempt to hold the tax cuts for low- and middle-income earners hostage to the tax cuts for high-income earners, what we now see are a government spitting the dummy and not even allowing debate in the Senate chamber. How pathetic! What a government! We gave you 3½ hours last night by agreement. You lose a vote on an amendment and you say: ‘Oh, my goodness! We have to guillotine debate because we don’t want any further debate.’ What are you so scared of? This is a complete dummy spit by senator Cormann, the man who styles himself as the leader of the government in the Senate. What a dummy spit! You lose on one amendment and now you want to guillotine the debate. I mean, really? |
| But let me just come back to this point. The government say, ‘Our priority is low- and middle-income earners.’ Do you know what? They’re holding tax cuts for low- and middle-income Australians hostage to tax cuts for high-income earners that they want to deliver in six years’ time. That’s what this guillotine is about. They’re saying, ‘Let’s hold hostage the tax cuts for low- and middle-income Australians that will apply from July this year – next month – that everyone in this chamber supports, except the Greens, to tax cuts for high-income earners in six years’ time.’ That is what this guillotine is all about. It’s not about low- and middle-income earners. It’s about executing a naked political tactic to prioritise high-income earners in six years’ time. | But let me just come back to this point. The government say, ‘Our priority is low- and middle-income earners.’ Do you know what? They’re holding tax cuts for low- and middle-income Australians hostage to tax cuts for high-income earners that they want to deliver in six years’ time. That’s what this guillotine is about. They’re saying, ‘Let’s hold hostage the tax cuts for low- and middle-income Australians that will apply from July this year – next month – that everyone in this chamber supports, except the Greens, to tax cuts for high-income earners in six years’ time.’ That is what this guillotine is all about. It’s not about low- and middle-income earners. It’s about executing a naked political tactic to prioritise high-income earners in six years’ time. |
| It only needs to be said to demonstrate how ridiculous it is. | It only needs to be said to demonstrate how ridiculous it is. |
| I would say this to the crossbench: regardless of your position on tax, what a discourtesy to the chamber. We gave this government 3½ hours of debate last night, because we do understand that it is important to get on with this debate. We have amendments from senator Storer, we have amendments from the opposition and we have amendments from the other members of the crossbench which have not even been debated. Did Mathias send me a little text and say, ‘Can we please have a bit more time. Give up the MPI’? No. Because, you know what, they want the timetable to get it down to the House and back up again. This week it’s all entirely about the political tactics but don’t worry about the Senate chamber and actually debating amendments. | I would say this to the crossbench: regardless of your position on tax, what a discourtesy to the chamber. We gave this government 3½ hours of debate last night, because we do understand that it is important to get on with this debate. We have amendments from senator Storer, we have amendments from the opposition and we have amendments from the other members of the crossbench which have not even been debated. Did Mathias send me a little text and say, ‘Can we please have a bit more time. Give up the MPI’? No. Because, you know what, they want the timetable to get it down to the House and back up again. This week it’s all entirely about the political tactics but don’t worry about the Senate chamber and actually debating amendments. |
| I say to the crossbench: why don’t you make them guillotined for tomorrow so we can actually finish the debate? How about that? You see, I can’t move an amendment because he’s moved the motion in a way that I won’t be able to amend it. How about we guillotine tomorrow, so that we can actually have a debate? If you don’t agree to finish debate here what is clear is that this government is able to walk right over this Senate chamber as a legislating chamber, because they want to execute a political tactic. This is nothing to do with anything other than holding tax cuts for low-income Australians hostage to tax cuts for high-income Australians in six years’ time. | I say to the crossbench: why don’t you make them guillotined for tomorrow so we can actually finish the debate? How about that? You see, I can’t move an amendment because he’s moved the motion in a way that I won’t be able to amend it. How about we guillotine tomorrow, so that we can actually have a debate? If you don’t agree to finish debate here what is clear is that this government is able to walk right over this Senate chamber as a legislating chamber, because they want to execute a political tactic. This is nothing to do with anything other than holding tax cuts for low-income Australians hostage to tax cuts for high-income Australians in six years’ time. |
| It is an utter discourtesy, Senator Cormann, to me and to the opposition, when we gave you what you asked for – additional hours last night – to come in here and spring on us, during a question time debate, that you’re going to move a guillotine to not allow any further debate beyond 6.30pm, which will not even allow the crossbench to debate their changes. Senator Cormann, if you and your team think that you will get cooperation from the opposition around a range of issues you want I think you better think something else, because we’re not going to allow a discourtesy to the chamber like this to subsist. At no stage were we even asked to give up the MPI today – not even that – after we’d agreed to give up 3½ hours last night. Why? Because you want a political tactic.” | It is an utter discourtesy, Senator Cormann, to me and to the opposition, when we gave you what you asked for – additional hours last night – to come in here and spring on us, during a question time debate, that you’re going to move a guillotine to not allow any further debate beyond 6.30pm, which will not even allow the crossbench to debate their changes. Senator Cormann, if you and your team think that you will get cooperation from the opposition around a range of issues you want I think you better think something else, because we’re not going to allow a discourtesy to the chamber like this to subsist. At no stage were we even asked to give up the MPI today – not even that – after we’d agreed to give up 3½ hours last night. Why? Because you want a political tactic.” |
| Women’s Weekly has just broken the news that its big interview in its new issue is Natalie Joyce. | |
| From its teaser: | From its teaser: |
| Much has been written, discussed and debated on the Barnaby Joyce affair. The extramarital relationship with his press secretary, Vikki Campion, culminated in his resignation as deputy prime minister and resulted in the birth of their baby boy, Sebastian. | Much has been written, discussed and debated on the Barnaby Joyce affair. The extramarital relationship with his press secretary, Vikki Campion, culminated in his resignation as deputy prime minister and resulted in the birth of their baby boy, Sebastian. |
| The couple’s much-maligned interview with Seven’s Sunday Night program earlier this month brought media attention surrounding the story to fever pitch. However, despite intense interest from many quarters, Natalie has remained silent – until now. | The couple’s much-maligned interview with Seven’s Sunday Night program earlier this month brought media attention surrounding the story to fever pitch. However, despite intense interest from many quarters, Natalie has remained silent – until now. |
| Although by no means taken lightly, Natalie Joyce’s decision to finally speak up came easily. Along with a strong desire to set the record straight, she had four compelling reasons: her daughters Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 18, and Odette, 15. | Although by no means taken lightly, Natalie Joyce’s decision to finally speak up came easily. Along with a strong desire to set the record straight, she had four compelling reasons: her daughters Bridgette, 21, Julia, 20, Caroline, 18, and Odette, 15. |
| In an unpaid and candid interview, Natalie opens up about happier times with one of the country’s most polarising characters, a man she now believes is on the brink of an inevitable breakdown. She shares memories of growing up in the bush she still calls home, of teaching the importance of being kind, and with grace and conviction shares her feelings on Vikki Campion, a woman she says destroyed her family and stole her life. | In an unpaid and candid interview, Natalie opens up about happier times with one of the country’s most polarising characters, a man she now believes is on the brink of an inevitable breakdown. She shares memories of growing up in the bush she still calls home, of teaching the importance of being kind, and with grace and conviction shares her feelings on Vikki Campion, a woman she says destroyed her family and stole her life. |
| Much has been made of the $150,000 price tag on Barnaby and Vikki’s Channel Seven exclusive, and Vikki’s role in negotiating the deal. Describing the TV interview as “an absolute disgrace” Natalie says it didn’t come as a great shock to her that Vikki was the driving force behind it. | Much has been made of the $150,000 price tag on Barnaby and Vikki’s Channel Seven exclusive, and Vikki’s role in negotiating the deal. Describing the TV interview as “an absolute disgrace” Natalie says it didn’t come as a great shock to her that Vikki was the driving force behind it. |
| “I wasn’t surprised she sold their ‘exclusive’ story, and certainly not surprised the $150,000 went to her child, but it begs the question: if Barney agreed to be a part of it, how could he allow his four girls to be overlooked? In saying that, I wouldn’t want a cent of that money. It was all we could do to watch it without throwing a brick at the TV!” | “I wasn’t surprised she sold their ‘exclusive’ story, and certainly not surprised the $150,000 went to her child, but it begs the question: if Barney agreed to be a part of it, how could he allow his four girls to be overlooked? In saying that, I wouldn’t want a cent of that money. It was all we could do to watch it without throwing a brick at the TV!” |
| For Natalie, however, this was never about money. It was simply about being heard. | For Natalie, however, this was never about money. It was simply about being heard. |
| “I’m normally a very private person but I knew I had to find my voice. They thought I would lie down, but this time I couldn’t,” she says. | “I’m normally a very private person but I knew I had to find my voice. They thought I would lie down, but this time I couldn’t,” she says. |
| “I’m doing this so the girls feel empowered, and know their mum stood up and defended our fine name.” | “I’m doing this so the girls feel empowered, and know their mum stood up and defended our fine name.” |
| As for those who may suggest her motivation was fuelled by revenge, Natalie says that couldn’t be further from the truth. | As for those who may suggest her motivation was fuelled by revenge, Natalie says that couldn’t be further from the truth. |
| In reality it was her desire to be part of the Weekly’s special rural issue that cemented proud country girl Natalie’s decision to share her very personal story with friend and journalist Lizzie Wilson. | In reality it was her desire to be part of the Weekly’s special rural issue that cemented proud country girl Natalie’s decision to share her very personal story with friend and journalist Lizzie Wilson. |
| It was a decision made well before word of Barnaby and Vikki’s television tell-all had surfaced. | It was a decision made well before word of Barnaby and Vikki’s television tell-all had surfaced. |
| “I’m very proud to be honoured in this issue of the Weekly, a tribute to rural women across our land,” says Natalie. “I’m humbled to be amongst such an extraordinary group of inspiring women.” | “I’m very proud to be honoured in this issue of the Weekly, a tribute to rural women across our land,” says Natalie. “I’m humbled to be amongst such an extraordinary group of inspiring women.” |
| And in so bravely and eloquently finding her voice, it’s now Natalie’s turn to inspire women across Australia. | And in so bravely and eloquently finding her voice, it’s now Natalie’s turn to inspire women across Australia. |
| Tony Abbott says by taking the Neg to the Coag meeting on Friday, the government is “subcontracting” the decision to the “Labor state governments”. | Tony Abbott says by taking the Neg to the Coag meeting on Friday, the government is “subcontracting” the decision to the “Labor state governments”. |
| But will he cross the floor? | But will he cross the floor? |
| “I hope it is not going to come to that. I really hope it is not going to come to that. | “I hope it is not going to come to that. I really hope it is not going to come to that. |
| “But I do think the government, the executive government, needs to understand that you can’t take the party room for granted. And I think there has been a bit of that, a bit of taking the party room for granted. | “But I do think the government, the executive government, needs to understand that you can’t take the party room for granted. And I think there has been a bit of that, a bit of taking the party room for granted. |
| “For instance, the prime minister has developed this practice of discussing legislation at ENORMOUS length, every party room meeting, before we actually get to backbenchers’ questions and comments. | “For instance, the prime minister has developed this practice of discussing legislation at ENORMOUS length, every party room meeting, before we actually get to backbenchers’ questions and comments. |
| “Now, this is completely unprecedented. When John Howard was the leader, when I was the leader, Malcolm Turnbull was the leader last time round, when Brendan Nelson was the leader, we always went straight from the leadership statement to the backkbench questions and comments. | “Now, this is completely unprecedented. When John Howard was the leader, when I was the leader, Malcolm Turnbull was the leader last time round, when Brendan Nelson was the leader, we always went straight from the leadership statement to the backkbench questions and comments. |
| “But this has almost never happened under the current prime ministership. | “But this has almost never happened under the current prime ministership. |
| “... It is a fundamental failure of process and it is stifling the proper debate that we should be able to have inside our party room. | “... It is a fundamental failure of process and it is stifling the proper debate that we should be able to have inside our party room. |
| “And the other point I should make – obviously, because it has to, the government spends an enormous amount of time negotiating with the crossbench. I reckon the government needs to spend a bit more time talking to the backbench. | “And the other point I should make – obviously, because it has to, the government spends an enormous amount of time negotiating with the crossbench. I reckon the government needs to spend a bit more time talking to the backbench. |
| “Yes, the crossbench senators are important – don’t forget the backbench – because you are only in government because you have a backbench that is prepared to support your legislation. | “Yes, the crossbench senators are important – don’t forget the backbench – because you are only in government because you have a backbench that is prepared to support your legislation. |
| “I hope it doesn’t come to questions of crossing the floor, I really do. It is not something that any Liberal would like to do. But, but, I don’t think we can be expected to support a policy that will continue to drive prices up, and which will deny our industries the affordable 24/7 power for jobs to continue.” | “I hope it doesn’t come to questions of crossing the floor, I really do. It is not something that any Liberal would like to do. But, but, I don’t think we can be expected to support a policy that will continue to drive prices up, and which will deny our industries the affordable 24/7 power for jobs to continue.” |
| But yeah, is he going to cross the floor? | But yeah, is he going to cross the floor? |
| “I think what you have had is a pretty strong statement from me, and please be grateful for the pretty strong statements you’ve got, rather than demand something which might be inflammatory and over the top. | “I think what you have had is a pretty strong statement from me, and please be grateful for the pretty strong statements you’ve got, rather than demand something which might be inflammatory and over the top. |
| “The point I make is: the government has got to sit down and take its own backbench as seriously as it takes the Senate crossbench. That is what has got to happen. | “The point I make is: the government has got to sit down and take its own backbench as seriously as it takes the Senate crossbench. That is what has got to happen. |
| “No government can take its backbench for granted. I didn’t take the backbench for granted when I was prime minister. John Howard certainly never took the backbench for granted when he was prime minister, and I think there has been a little bit too much taking the backbench for granted on energy policy. | “No government can take its backbench for granted. I didn’t take the backbench for granted when I was prime minister. John Howard certainly never took the backbench for granted when he was prime minister, and I think there has been a little bit too much taking the backbench for granted on energy policy. |
| “I defy any of your listeners who have the time to go on to the relevant website and pull out the documentation on this Neg. And to tell me if they know exactly what it means. | “I defy any of your listeners who have the time to go on to the relevant website and pull out the documentation on this Neg. And to tell me if they know exactly what it means. |
| “You see, the Neg is a set of aspirations, it is not an actual mechanism. The mechanism, such as it is, is dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of power contracts between providers and consumers, which place very heavy responsibilities on them – not to get prices down, but to get emissions down. And it is interesting that when you do plough though this document and try and penetrate the very opaque language it uses, there are fines of up to $100m for breaching your emission requirements, but there are only fines of $10m for breaching your reliability requirements. | “You see, the Neg is a set of aspirations, it is not an actual mechanism. The mechanism, such as it is, is dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens of power contracts between providers and consumers, which place very heavy responsibilities on them – not to get prices down, but to get emissions down. And it is interesting that when you do plough though this document and try and penetrate the very opaque language it uses, there are fines of up to $100m for breaching your emission requirements, but there are only fines of $10m for breaching your reliability requirements. |
| “So you can black out a state and face a fine of $10m but if you fail to meet an emission reduction requirement you might face a fine of $100m. I don’t think that’s sensible.” | “So you can black out a state and face a fine of $10m but if you fail to meet an emission reduction requirement you might face a fine of $100m. I don’t think that’s sensible.” |
| Cool, but is he going to cross the floor? | Cool, but is he going to cross the floor? |
| “It is a vital issue. I don’t think there is any more cost of living issue at the moment than power prices and it is not just a cost of living issue for families. It is also a jobs issue for businesses and industry, so it is an absolute critical issue. | “It is a vital issue. I don’t think there is any more cost of living issue at the moment than power prices and it is not just a cost of living issue for families. It is also a jobs issue for businesses and industry, so it is an absolute critical issue. |
| “Power prices were a critical issue in the 2010 election, they were a critical issue at the 2013 election, and in both of those elections the Coalition went in there saying we would do what we can to get prices down by not replicating Labor’s emissions obsession, in particular in 2013 by scrapping the carbon tax. And the only time power prices have gone down significantly in the last decade is when we abolished the carbon tax. | “Power prices were a critical issue in the 2010 election, they were a critical issue at the 2013 election, and in both of those elections the Coalition went in there saying we would do what we can to get prices down by not replicating Labor’s emissions obsession, in particular in 2013 by scrapping the carbon tax. And the only time power prices have gone down significantly in the last decade is when we abolished the carbon tax. |
| “Now, that has got to be the focus of a Coalition government getting power prices down.” | “Now, that has got to be the focus of a Coalition government getting power prices down.” |
| BUT WILL HE CROSS THE FLOOR? | BUT WILL HE CROSS THE FLOOR? |
| “... It is a big mistake for the Coalition to subcontract out its energy policy to the Labor state governments. Now I am sure that any energy policy would be better managed by a Coalition government, then by a Labor one, but nevertheless we want a policy which is distinctively ours, which is why I say for me, the bottom line is ensuring that we continue to have affordable, 24/7 baseload power in our system and the only way we can get that in current and foreseeable positions is by getting our coal-fired power stations going and build new ones.’ | “... It is a big mistake for the Coalition to subcontract out its energy policy to the Labor state governments. Now I am sure that any energy policy would be better managed by a Coalition government, then by a Labor one, but nevertheless we want a policy which is distinctively ours, which is why I say for me, the bottom line is ensuring that we continue to have affordable, 24/7 baseload power in our system and the only way we can get that in current and foreseeable positions is by getting our coal-fired power stations going and build new ones.’ |
| BUT. WILL. HE. CROSS. THE. FLOOR? GOSH | BUT. WILL. HE. CROSS. THE. FLOOR? GOSH |
| “... There are very clear signals coming from the backbench and from the party room that we have to be taken seriously. That it is not good enough to release these impenetrable discussion documents, go off to Coag, cook up something which the Labor states will support, come back to the party room in August or September and say you’ve got to support this, it is a done deal and if you don’t you are wrecking the government. | “... There are very clear signals coming from the backbench and from the party room that we have to be taken seriously. That it is not good enough to release these impenetrable discussion documents, go off to Coag, cook up something which the Labor states will support, come back to the party room in August or September and say you’ve got to support this, it is a done deal and if you don’t you are wrecking the government. |
| “No, we are trying, in this case, to produce a better government.” | “No, we are trying, in this case, to produce a better government.” |
| GAH! WILL YOU CROSS THE FLOOR OR NOT? | GAH! WILL YOU CROSS THE FLOOR OR NOT? |
| “... The point I am trying to make is that the backbench is at least as important to any government as the crossbench and it needs to be taken just as seriously as the crossbench.” | “... The point I am trying to make is that the backbench is at least as important to any government as the crossbench and it needs to be taken just as seriously as the crossbench.” |
| #breaking AWU raids trial has been postponed to September 3, set down for an estimated five days #auspol | #breaking AWU raids trial has been postponed to September 3, set down for an estimated five days #auspol |
| Just a note on what the Senate has just voted on: when the House returns the bill tomorrow, there will be no further debate. It will just go straight to a vote. | Just a note on what the Senate has just voted on: when the House returns the bill tomorrow, there will be no further debate. It will just go straight to a vote. |
| Now Tony Abbott says he thinks the government has been “taking the backbench” for granted on the national energy guarantee. | Now Tony Abbott says he thinks the government has been “taking the backbench” for granted on the national energy guarantee. |
| And there we have it. | And there we have it. |
| Tony Abbott says he “hopes it doesn’t come to that”, but he might have to cross the floor on the national energy guarantee. | Tony Abbott says he “hopes it doesn’t come to that”, but he might have to cross the floor on the national energy guarantee. |
| Tony Abbott is having his regular chinwag to 2GB, his preferred platform outside the party room, to warn the government about the wars he is planning on waging. | Tony Abbott is having his regular chinwag to 2GB, his preferred platform outside the party room, to warn the government about the wars he is planning on waging. |
| Tony Shepherd, the former chairman of Transfield who conducted a review of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (Naif), has been up before a Senate committee examining the scheme. | Tony Shepherd, the former chairman of Transfield who conducted a review of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (Naif), has been up before a Senate committee examining the scheme. |
| Labor and Greens senators have been asking about why Shepherd recommended that Naif be exempt from the freedom of information process. | Labor and Greens senators have been asking about why Shepherd recommended that Naif be exempt from the freedom of information process. |
| Shepherd said his perception was that in its early days Naif was “burdened by freedom of information requests” as a “campaign was mounted against [it]” which the agency found “disconcerting and difficult to deal with”. | Shepherd said his perception was that in its early days Naif was “burdened by freedom of information requests” as a “campaign was mounted against [it]” which the agency found “disconcerting and difficult to deal with”. |
| He said: | He said: |
| “That was acting as a distraction and a deterrent and produced an over-abundance of caution.” | “That was acting as a distraction and a deterrent and produced an over-abundance of caution.” |
| And which project was at the centre of this campaign? Shepherd said it was “a particular project in Queensland”. It sounds like the Adani Carmichael coalmine, which has generated fierce scrutiny about possible avenues of receiving taxpayer subsidy or concessional loans. | And which project was at the centre of this campaign? Shepherd said it was “a particular project in Queensland”. It sounds like the Adani Carmichael coalmine, which has generated fierce scrutiny about possible avenues of receiving taxpayer subsidy or concessional loans. |
| But Shepherd suggests the Naif has now developed a capacity to deal with “an excessive number” and “frivolous, campaign-driven FOIs” that are not “genuinely seeking information”. | But Shepherd suggests the Naif has now developed a capacity to deal with “an excessive number” and “frivolous, campaign-driven FOIs” that are not “genuinely seeking information”. |
| Peter Dutton also addressed the Refugee Week event at Parliament House: | Peter Dutton also addressed the Refugee Week event at Parliament House: |
| As the prime minister said, Australia is a great country and we’re built on the hard work and entrepreneurial have-a-go spirit of many who have come before us. Many of our captains of industry and commerce are part of our successful migrant history – including from the worst humanitarian events right across the last century. They have helped put Australia on the global stage and contributed immeasurably to our economic and social success. | As the prime minister said, Australia is a great country and we’re built on the hard work and entrepreneurial have-a-go spirit of many who have come before us. Many of our captains of industry and commerce are part of our successful migrant history – including from the worst humanitarian events right across the last century. They have helped put Australia on the global stage and contributed immeasurably to our economic and social success. |
| As the prime minister pointed out, over 880,000 people have arrived through the humanitarian program since the Second World War, including 55,000 just in the last three years alone and with 20,200 offshore visas granted – that is the highest number since the 1980s – and it is something I think that all Australians should be very proud of. Today, as we mention, we celebrate the successes and the contributions of those who have arrived through the program, including and specifically today in relation to those who have settled in regional Australia. | As the prime minister pointed out, over 880,000 people have arrived through the humanitarian program since the Second World War, including 55,000 just in the last three years alone and with 20,200 offshore visas granted – that is the highest number since the 1980s – and it is something I think that all Australians should be very proud of. Today, as we mention, we celebrate the successes and the contributions of those who have arrived through the program, including and specifically today in relation to those who have settled in regional Australia. |
| At recent consultations I was struck by a remarkable story. It was a story of two Chin refugee families who settled in Coffs Harbour in 2006 and with further resettlement, this now has grown to some 250 people of Chin background in Coffs Harbour. | At recent consultations I was struck by a remarkable story. It was a story of two Chin refugee families who settled in Coffs Harbour in 2006 and with further resettlement, this now has grown to some 250 people of Chin background in Coffs Harbour. |
| Now despite the obvious challenges of starting again in a new country, they have worked tirelessly to contribute and provide the best opportunities for their families. They carpool to get to work each day on the farms in the early years, they have bought houses, they’ve started businesses, many are now sending their children to low cost private schools and many of them are very proud of the fact, and rightly, that their children have gone on to higher education, including university. | Now despite the obvious challenges of starting again in a new country, they have worked tirelessly to contribute and provide the best opportunities for their families. They carpool to get to work each day on the farms in the early years, they have bought houses, they’ve started businesses, many are now sending their children to low cost private schools and many of them are very proud of the fact, and rightly, that their children have gone on to higher education, including university. |
| It is the story of hard work, of sacrifice and of aspiration and that is the Australian story. | It is the story of hard work, of sacrifice and of aspiration and that is the Australian story. |
| We will hear from other speakers today, as we heard earlier and we’ll hear right through this week across the country the wonderful success stories of people that have taken a chance, who have taken their family from poverty or from tragedy and they have provided a great opportunity, not only for their children today, but for generations to come – and that is a great success story and it’s one of which Australia can be incredibly proud. | We will hear from other speakers today, as we heard earlier and we’ll hear right through this week across the country the wonderful success stories of people that have taken a chance, who have taken their family from poverty or from tragedy and they have provided a great opportunity, not only for their children today, but for generations to come – and that is a great success story and it’s one of which Australia can be incredibly proud. |
| In recent times around 9,000 humanitarian entrants have been resettled into rural and regional Australia and there is, as we know for those of us who live in the city, nothing quite like a country-welcome in Australia. | In recent times around 9,000 humanitarian entrants have been resettled into rural and regional Australia and there is, as we know for those of us who live in the city, nothing quite like a country-welcome in Australia. |
| We have seen the generosity of regional communities and I pay tribute to all of the regional mayors and councils and communities who have provided a very open welcome and a very warm welcome to those from the most vulnerable parts of the world, the most persecuted who arrive through the offshore program. | We have seen the generosity of regional communities and I pay tribute to all of the regional mayors and councils and communities who have provided a very open welcome and a very warm welcome to those from the most vulnerable parts of the world, the most persecuted who arrive through the offshore program. |
| Mathias Cormann has won the motion to rearrange government business. | Mathias Cormann has won the motion to rearrange government business. |
| Here is how the afternoon mess went down, as Mike Bowers saw it: | Here is how the afternoon mess went down, as Mike Bowers saw it: |
| I missed this, just before question time. | I missed this, just before question time. |
| Concetta Fierravanti-Wells announced this: | Concetta Fierravanti-Wells announced this: |
| Today on World Refugee Day we announce the Australian government will provide additional humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Rohingya people in Bangladesh. | Today on World Refugee Day we announce the Australian government will provide additional humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of Rohingya people in Bangladesh. |
| The UN estimates that more than 900,000 Rohingya are now living in Cox’s Bazar, including more than 700,000 people who have fled Myanmar since August 2017. | The UN estimates that more than 900,000 Rohingya are now living in Cox’s Bazar, including more than 700,000 people who have fled Myanmar since August 2017. |
| The additional assistance will support the delivery of food, shelter, health and protection services through the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organisation for Migration and the World Food Program. | The additional assistance will support the delivery of food, shelter, health and protection services through the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organisation for Migration and the World Food Program. |
| Our latest funding package of $18.4m will contribute to the provision of food for more than 800,000 people and nutritious supplements for around 139,000 women and children. It will reinforce shelters, pre-position food supplies and relocate up to 135,000 people at the highest risk of landslides. | Our latest funding package of $18.4m will contribute to the provision of food for more than 800,000 people and nutritious supplements for around 139,000 women and children. It will reinforce shelters, pre-position food supplies and relocate up to 135,000 people at the highest risk of landslides. |
| It will also help reunite children with their families, create safe areas for vulnerable women and children and provide incomes to around 40,000 women. With the onset of the monsoon season, conditions in the camps are deteriorating. There are up to 200,000 people living on land that is vulnerable to landslides and flooding. The risk of disease outbreak remains high and there are significant concerns for the safety of women and children. | It will also help reunite children with their families, create safe areas for vulnerable women and children and provide incomes to around 40,000 women. With the onset of the monsoon season, conditions in the camps are deteriorating. There are up to 200,000 people living on land that is vulnerable to landslides and flooding. The risk of disease outbreak remains high and there are significant concerns for the safety of women and children. |
| The additional funding brings Australia’s total humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis to $70m since September 2017. | The additional funding brings Australia’s total humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis to $70m since September 2017. |
| In 2017-18, Australia provided more than $200m to assist with displacement crises in nine countries. | In 2017-18, Australia provided more than $200m to assist with displacement crises in nine countries. |
| So after all of that, the Senate will continue to debate the tax bill until 6.30 tonight. | So after all of that, the Senate will continue to debate the tax bill until 6.30 tonight. |
| Then the House will get it tomorrow morning. | Then the House will get it tomorrow morning. |
| It will send it back to the Senate, because it won’t like that stage three has been knocked off. | It will send it back to the Senate, because it won’t like that stage three has been knocked off. |
| The Senate, at this stage, and I stress, at this stage, will then probably pass it. Centre Alliance have said they would pass the whole package if it returned to the Senate. | The Senate, at this stage, and I stress, at this stage, will then probably pass it. Centre Alliance have said they would pass the whole package if it returned to the Senate. |
| Labor have committed to repealing it, if they get into government. | Labor have committed to repealing it, if they get into government. |
| All round good times. | All round good times. |
| The bells have rung for the division guillotining the debate: | The bells have rung for the division guillotining the debate: |
| Ayes: 37 | Ayes: 37 |
| Noes: 33 | Noes: 33 |
| Mathias Cormann is now asking the Senate to return to the income tax debate. | Mathias Cormann is now asking the Senate to return to the income tax debate. |
| From Mike Bowers, to you: | From Mike Bowers, to you: |