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Tax cuts for high-income earners defeated in Senate – politics live Tax cuts for high-income earners defeated in Senate – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Pauline Hanson does look like voting for the whole package though.
So the question remains – what did she get in return?
Richard Di Natale is also speaking out against the government attempt to guillotine the debate, so it can vote on the rest of the tax cuts – he uses the point that Pauline Hanson doesn’t understand what she is voting for. (Hanson had claimed earlier that she wouldn’t get a tax cut. She will – about $11 grand worth)
“If you don’t understand it, don’t vote for it,” he says.
So on my rough count we just heard:
33 aspiration/aspirationals
10 mystifieds
4 slimys
3 snob/snobby/snobbery
Malcolm Turnbull returns to the floor to give that answer which he had taken on notice:
The median of all wages is $53,000 a year.
And QT ends.
While looking to the Senate, I missed a question Tanya Plibersek asked on education and when the pinks and greens are out (the Senate and Hansard QT records) I’ll do my best to throw it up.
So the debate can return to the tax bill
Here is the motion:
(a) government business order of the day no. 1 (Treasury Laws Amendment [Personal Income Tax Plan] Bill 2018) be considered under a limitation of time, and that the time allotted for all remaining stages be until 6.30pm today;
(b) paragraph (a) of this order shall operate as a limitation of debate under standing order 142; and
(c) on the reporting of any messages from the House of Representatives relating to the bill, the message be considered immediately in committee of the whole and any questions on the remaining stages of the bill be put immediately without amendment or debate.
Basically, that is a tactical move by the government, because the vote timing means it could return to the House this evening, before being rejected and then return to the Senate – where the government can once again call on a vote on the whole package – which, at this stage, it looks like winning.
Penny Wong has A LOT of things to say about this and none of them good.
Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:
Why is the prime minister telling working Australians to get a better job, but on the other hand, blocking Labor’s plan to give 63,000 people in Longman who earn less than $125,000 and includes aged care workers, a tax cut of up to $928 a year? Why is the prime minister blocking an income tax plan which will be double the tax cut that the government is currently offering people?
Turnbull:
“Labor party may be mystified by aspiration but nobody is mystified by the way in which the leader of the opposition again and again misleads the house, misleads the house. I said no such thing. You know that very well. You know that very well. And just because you repeat a falsehood does not make it true.
“Australians, whether they work in aged care, whether they work in manufacturing, whether they work in agriculture, are entitled to aspire to do whatever they want to do. They are entitled to aspire to better paid jobs, two different jobs, to promotions. They are entitled to aspire to dream, and our job, as the government, and I would say the parliament, is to do everything we can to enable them to realise those aspirations.
“And the Labor party stands in the way of those aspirations. They want those workers and particularly those that are getting on a bit in years, those 60-year-olds, yes, they have to stay put, don’t they? They can’t aspire to anything. It does not think, [with its] patronising smugness [and] slimy insinuations about older Australians, it is sickening, and it would embarrass the men and women who were leaders of the Labor party in years gone by.
“No doubt, we don’t have to have doubt why Paul Keating said Labor is fading because it is not able to connect to aspiration or Australians, and the reason why? It’s smug in those big government salaries, the Labor party is mystified by the way in which millions of Australians want to get ahead, and they want to keep them there in their place.”
Again – this is the do as we say, not as we do argument. Both sides are taking half a sentence and making it fact.
We just got our daily hit of “Big Trev”, which is Trevor Ruthenberg, the LNP candidate for Longman, who needs to be referred to as Big Trev, so people will have some idea of his name.
Julie Collins to Malcolm Turnbull:
“Why is this snobbish Prime Minister telling workers, Australians, to get a better job, instead of supporting Labor’s plan to give 39,000 people in Braddon who earn less than $125,000, including aged care workers, a tax cut of up to $928 a year, almost double the tax cut they will get from this government?”
Tony Smith takes umbrage with the word snobbish:
My personal view is this demeans the house, because it leads to very aggressive questions, that have statements in that imply questions, and that particular question has taken it, I think, to a new low.”
Tony Burke asks if that ruling also applies to answers and Smith sounds like he says yes, but it is hard to tell. But it is enough to quiet the House RIGHT down.
Turnbull:
“I will take the opportunity from the question to refer to some important benefits that will flow to the residents and constituents in Braddon from the government’s economic plan. Mr Speaker, there are 39,300 taxpayers in Braddon who will benefit from the 1 July this year, our personal income tax plan, with around 40,600 who will receive the full $530. But Mr Speaker, that is not all. There will be, if Labor were to be able to impose its retiree tax, grabbing back, grabbing back the franking credits that retirees are able to enjoy under a law that is fair and has had bipartisan support from the time ...”
Turnbull goes on to say that the opposition “can’t even run a successful class war” and goes on to talk about Labor’s franking credit plan, but not even he seems that in to it.
Greg Hunt is now trying very hard not to yell his dixer answer. He is leaning on the despatch box like it’s a bar, and he’s restraining himself from telling the group at the closest table that Stop! is actually the greatest Spice Girl song of all time.
Josh Frydenberg is taking a dixer on the national energy guarantee, and he says Labor, but we all know he means Tony Abbott.Josh Frydenberg is taking a dixer on the national energy guarantee, and he says Labor, but we all know he means Tony Abbott.
Terri Butler to Malcolm Turnbull:Terri Butler to Malcolm Turnbull:
“Can this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister confirm he is dealing with One Nation so that a banker from Clayfield earning a million dollars gets a tax cut of over $7,000 a year, the bank gets a tax cut of $17bn but a bartender gets a tax cut of only $10 a week?”“Can this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister confirm he is dealing with One Nation so that a banker from Clayfield earning a million dollars gets a tax cut of over $7,000 a year, the bank gets a tax cut of $17bn but a bartender gets a tax cut of only $10 a week?”
Scott Morrison takes this one:Scott Morrison takes this one:
Just trust me on this one – the Coalition has the better plan, aspiration is good, we pay for the services all those people rely on, and also, bigger earners pay more tax.Just trust me on this one – the Coalition has the better plan, aspiration is good, we pay for the services all those people rely on, and also, bigger earners pay more tax.
I just can not with these answers any more.I just can not with these answers any more.
Shorter Peter Dutton:Shorter Peter Dutton:
People smugglers love Labor, people smugglers want Labor to win the next election, Labor is bad. Also, Labor policy which is not actually policy yet, because it is just an idea at this stage, is totally Labor policy, even though our policy which is not policy, is totally not policy.People smugglers love Labor, people smugglers want Labor to win the next election, Labor is bad. Also, Labor policy which is not actually policy yet, because it is just an idea at this stage, is totally Labor policy, even though our policy which is not policy, is totally not policy.
Is everyone clear?Is everyone clear?
Chris Bowen to Malcolm Turnbull:Chris Bowen to Malcolm Turnbull:
Prime minister, what is the median personal income in Australia?Prime minister, what is the median personal income in Australia?
Turnbull:Turnbull:
He takes it on notice.He takes it on notice.
And then, qualifies:And then, qualifies:
“But it is certainly well below the average full-time weekly earnings, because many Australians are working part-time and are therefore on low earnings. Rather than make an attempt to pick a number, I will take that on notice and I will come back to the honourable member on it.”“But it is certainly well below the average full-time weekly earnings, because many Australians are working part-time and are therefore on low earnings. Rather than make an attempt to pick a number, I will take that on notice and I will come back to the honourable member on it.”
Michael McCormack is taking a dixer, which is the only inspiration I need to make myself another cup of tea. Maybe I’ll even throw in a mint slice. I’ve earned it. We all have.Michael McCormack is taking a dixer, which is the only inspiration I need to make myself another cup of tea. Maybe I’ll even throw in a mint slice. I’ve earned it. We all have.
Tony Burke to Malcolm Turnbull:Tony Burke to Malcolm Turnbull:
What policy commitments have been ... given to One Nation in return for their two votes in the Senate today?What policy commitments have been ... given to One Nation in return for their two votes in the Senate today?
Turnbull:Turnbull:
“I thank the honourable member for his question and I understand his interest in ensuring that the Bill that he voted for when it was last in the House of Representatives. [The Senate will send it here and we] will be voting to send it straight back. There is an opportunity for him to show a consistency, steadfast commitment to push aside the mystification of the members of Sydney and vote for the bill and ensure that Australians have a fairer tax system.”“I thank the honourable member for his question and I understand his interest in ensuring that the Bill that he voted for when it was last in the House of Representatives. [The Senate will send it here and we] will be voting to send it straight back. There is an opportunity for him to show a consistency, steadfast commitment to push aside the mystification of the members of Sydney and vote for the bill and ensure that Australians have a fairer tax system.”
Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull:Catherine King to Malcolm Turnbull:
“Can the prime minister confirm that he is dealing with One Nation so that an investment banker in a harbour side mansion earning $1m will get a tax cut of $7,000, but a nurse in Caboolture will get a tax cut of only $10 a week? Is this why this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister is telling working Australians, who are doing it tough, to just get a better job?”“Can the prime minister confirm that he is dealing with One Nation so that an investment banker in a harbour side mansion earning $1m will get a tax cut of $7,000, but a nurse in Caboolture will get a tax cut of only $10 a week? Is this why this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister is telling working Australians, who are doing it tough, to just get a better job?”
Turnbull:Turnbull:
“I was very pleased to meet today a leadership group from Ballarat. They were here, they come here every year. They are inspiring people. Great to see you. These young men and women came here as part of their leadership program to learn about the importance of leadership and values, and I can’t say how disappointed they would be to hear their federal member misrepresent what was said in this house, because they know very well that what leaders do is tell the truth, and what the honourable member did was not tell the truth and she knows that.“I was very pleased to meet today a leadership group from Ballarat. They were here, they come here every year. They are inspiring people. Great to see you. These young men and women came here as part of their leadership program to learn about the importance of leadership and values, and I can’t say how disappointed they would be to hear their federal member misrepresent what was said in this house, because they know very well that what leaders do is tell the truth, and what the honourable member did was not tell the truth and she knows that.
“The only party in this place that believes it knows better than workers, whatever their occupation and whatever their pay scale, is the Labor Party. We know that our job is to enable Australians to do their best. That’s our job. To dream their dreams and do all they can to realise, to aspire as they wish and work hard, to meet and reach those aspirations. The only people for whom aspiration is a mystery, the only people who want to keep 60-year-olds in their place and think they are too old to earn more money or get a promotion or do anything else are these smug young men and women on the Labor side.“The only party in this place that believes it knows better than workers, whatever their occupation and whatever their pay scale, is the Labor Party. We know that our job is to enable Australians to do their best. That’s our job. To dream their dreams and do all they can to realise, to aspire as they wish and work hard, to meet and reach those aspirations. The only people for whom aspiration is a mystery, the only people who want to keep 60-year-olds in their place and think they are too old to earn more money or get a promotion or do anything else are these smug young men and women on the Labor side.
“Let me tell you, Mr Speaker, I reckon the young leaders from Ballarat have got more integrity and more character than has been shown by their federal member today.”“Let me tell you, Mr Speaker, I reckon the young leaders from Ballarat have got more integrity and more character than has been shown by their federal member today.”
(Sidenote: Tveeder keeps changing old to wild, making the sentence read that 60-year-olds are too wild to earn more money.)(Sidenote: Tveeder keeps changing old to wild, making the sentence read that 60-year-olds are too wild to earn more money.)
(Sidenote two: The very argument the government is prosecuting, that Labor is taking it out of context and is being dishonest, is exactly the same argument they deploy, when they refer to the opposition as being “mystified” by aspiration. Would it be that difficult to get some consistency here please?)(Sidenote two: The very argument the government is prosecuting, that Labor is taking it out of context and is being dishonest, is exactly the same argument they deploy, when they refer to the opposition as being “mystified” by aspiration. Would it be that difficult to get some consistency here please?)
A dixer to Julie Bishop has the government comparing Labor views to Venezuela – which she first raised during the weekend national council meeting, after a CFMEU official wrote to her “urging me to publicly applaud the recent corrupt election of this brutal regime in Venezuela”.A dixer to Julie Bishop has the government comparing Labor views to Venezuela – which she first raised during the weekend national council meeting, after a CFMEU official wrote to her “urging me to publicly applaud the recent corrupt election of this brutal regime in Venezuela”.
Sigh.Sigh.
Michelle Rowland to Malcolm Turnbull:Michelle Rowland to Malcolm Turnbull:
Can this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister confirm that under his tax scheme a telco executive from Sydney’s upper North Shore, earning $1m a year, gets a tax cut of over $7,000, but a shop assistant in western Sydney, selling phone plans, gets a tax cut of just $10 a week? Is this why the prime minister is telling working Australians who are doing it tough to just get a better job?Can this arrogant and out-of-touch prime minister confirm that under his tax scheme a telco executive from Sydney’s upper North Shore, earning $1m a year, gets a tax cut of over $7,000, but a shop assistant in western Sydney, selling phone plans, gets a tax cut of just $10 a week? Is this why the prime minister is telling working Australians who are doing it tough to just get a better job?
Turnbull:Turnbull:
“The tax relief depends on a person’s income and indeed, it would apply to a lawyer working for a large telco as well, it will. Indeed, they are well paid as well. Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, what the honourable member is trying to argue is that the personal income tax reform is lacking in equity, and yet, and yet under our plan, not only ... will Australians pay no more than 32.5 cents on any dollar they earn over $41,000, until they get to $200,000, when the 45-cent tax rate comes in, at taxpayers earning over $200,000, if paid 35%, plus the Medicare levy, that they will constitute a larger share of the overall number of taxpayers and a substantially larger share of the total personal income tax receipts.“The tax relief depends on a person’s income and indeed, it would apply to a lawyer working for a large telco as well, it will. Indeed, they are well paid as well. Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, what the honourable member is trying to argue is that the personal income tax reform is lacking in equity, and yet, and yet under our plan, not only ... will Australians pay no more than 32.5 cents on any dollar they earn over $41,000, until they get to $200,000, when the 45-cent tax rate comes in, at taxpayers earning over $200,000, if paid 35%, plus the Medicare levy, that they will constitute a larger share of the overall number of taxpayers and a substantially larger share of the total personal income tax receipts.
“... This government encourages aspiration and incentive and enterprise, and that is the big difference. We are inspired by the aspiration of Australians, the Labor Party is mystified by it.”“... This government encourages aspiration and incentive and enterprise, and that is the big difference. We are inspired by the aspiration of Australians, the Labor Party is mystified by it.”
Bob Katter has the independents’ question and it is to Julie Bishop:Bob Katter has the independents’ question and it is to Julie Bishop:
“I refer to articles on the front page of the Australian newspaper on Thursday and Saturday centring on secret American Korean War army files concerning Bruce Gillan and the other 42 missing Australians.“I refer to articles on the front page of the Australian newspaper on Thursday and Saturday centring on secret American Korean War army files concerning Bruce Gillan and the other 42 missing Australians.
“In 1953, the Italian government received from its ally the United States a secret communique issued in September 1953 acknowledging that nine Australian personnel have been alive and in prison in Korea, and does our government continue to prefer they had been killed in action?”“In 1953, the Italian government received from its ally the United States a secret communique issued in September 1953 acknowledging that nine Australian personnel have been alive and in prison in Korea, and does our government continue to prefer they had been killed in action?”
Bishop:Bishop:
“The Australian government, and I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone in this house, shares the grief and the frustration of the families of the 43 Australian servicemen missing in action after the War of 1950 to 1953.“The Australian government, and I am sure I speak on behalf of everyone in this house, shares the grief and the frustration of the families of the 43 Australian servicemen missing in action after the War of 1950 to 1953.
“An official list of all missing in action was released in 1953, it was in fact published in the media of the day and I have a copy of an article from the Sydney Morning Herald in mid 1953, which lists those missing in action under various categories, both air force and army. It lists them as either confirmed POWs, confirmed killed, confirmed wounded, or believed POWs, it believed killed, believed wounded.“An official list of all missing in action was released in 1953, it was in fact published in the media of the day and I have a copy of an article from the Sydney Morning Herald in mid 1953, which lists those missing in action under various categories, both air force and army. It lists them as either confirmed POWs, confirmed killed, confirmed wounded, or believed POWs, it believed killed, believed wounded.
“In fact, Flying Officer Gillan is listed on this as missing, believed POW. Successive Australian governments had sought to ascertain the status of all 43 missing in action, but at that time, the North Korean regime did not confirm their status. And I know successive Australian governments have continued to make inquiries.“In fact, Flying Officer Gillan is listed on this as missing, believed POW. Successive Australian governments had sought to ascertain the status of all 43 missing in action, but at that time, the North Korean regime did not confirm their status. And I know successive Australian governments have continued to make inquiries.
“In fact, I instigated exhaustive inquiries by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to the defence department, of the US and South Korean governments, and I responded to the relative of Flying Officer Gillan, courtesy of your offers, in writing in October 2016 to confirm that no further information had been made available.“In fact, I instigated exhaustive inquiries by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to the defence department, of the US and South Korean governments, and I responded to the relative of Flying Officer Gillan, courtesy of your offers, in writing in October 2016 to confirm that no further information had been made available.
“The tragic truth is the only authority that would have more information, it could have more information, is the North Korean regime, and we have very limited diplomatic engagement with North Korea and that has been the case for some time. Nevertheless, our embassy in Seoul has continued to make representations to the North Korean government about our missing in action as recently as March of this year, the summit meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un and the declaration that was signed that specifically refers to the repatriations of the remains of POWs and missing in action does give us some hope that there will be a final resolution of the status of theAustralian defence servicemen.“The tragic truth is the only authority that would have more information, it could have more information, is the North Korean regime, and we have very limited diplomatic engagement with North Korea and that has been the case for some time. Nevertheless, our embassy in Seoul has continued to make representations to the North Korean government about our missing in action as recently as March of this year, the summit meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong-un and the declaration that was signed that specifically refers to the repatriations of the remains of POWs and missing in action does give us some hope that there will be a final resolution of the status of theAustralian defence servicemen.
Our defence personnel remain in constant contact with our counterparts in the United States, and I personally raised this issue with the acting ambassador of the United States during the course of this week.Our defence personnel remain in constant contact with our counterparts in the United States, and I personally raised this issue with the acting ambassador of the United States during the course of this week.