Labor targets Turnbull over penalty rates as Shorten defends union record – politics live

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/jun/25/coalition-polls-tax-hanson-politics-live

Version 13 of 15.

It may be that GetUp is the only one still annoyed by the foreign interference legislation – the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference sent this statement to Paul Karp:

Upon first reading, it appears our concerns that the bill could silence advocacy by charities, including the Catholic Church, have been addressed. Both the Government and the Opposition recognised that the bill could have deterred contributions from civil society groups, like the Catholic Church, that pursue the common good.

The ability to speak up on behalf of those who don’t have a voice, including the poor and disadvantaged in our society, is critical to creating good policy. These amendments help ensure the voice of civil society institutions such as charities and churches remains.

This is a thing that happened in the Senate:

Senator @fraser_anning currently introducing a motion in the hope the senate will vote to 'condemn' safe access zones. The motion accuses NSW of copying "the socialist government in Victoria" by enacting the zones outside clinics. Note the zones also exist in NT, ACT & Tasmania pic.twitter.com/R2IgdKvMKv

And the sideshow rolls on:

Siri, show me a picture of the pot calling the kettle black pic.twitter.com/eOQxSBQonI

Sussan Ley, who, along with Sarah Henderson, has bucked her party room to bring about an end to the live sheep trade – through a transition process – had a chat to Sky News about the WA situation.

Asked if she believed this was the end of the industry, Ley had this to say:

“I am saying to farmers’ groups, step up, come to government and ask for support for a transition – because I only ever want to see proper transition that looks after farmers.

“The bill that Sarah Henderson and I proposed does exactly that. It left this year alone, recognising there was a pipeline, but what we are seeing is an industry which has failed to regulate itself for 33 years – I can’t say that strongly enough.

“These people have deceived farmers and they have deceived us all.”

Question time aspiration count:

20.

(22 if you count aspire.)

We all get put out of our misery when the prime minister calls time on QT.

Bill Shorten stands up to make a personal explanation, over what Malcolm Turnbull said about his record as a union leader:

“I am proud to be a workers rep, proud to have improved the paying conditions of thousands of middle and working class Australians.

“Proud to have protected workers from corporate collapse like the kind that the prime minister was dragged to a royal commission on. Proud to have fought for the rights of asbestos victims, while government ministers fought for the perpetrators. I’ll always stand up for the workers, while my opponent will always stand up for the top end of town.”

Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull:

Under this prime minister gross debt has crashed through a record $500bn. Does the prime minister agree that Australia has high levels of debt and high asset prices, and does the prime minister agree this is the number one domestic risk to our economy? And isn’t this the worst possible time to lock in a 10-year $80bn business tax giveaway, fuelling national debt?

(The national debt is $530.8bn for anyone wanting an exact figure.)

Turnbull:

“The government, under the member for Warringah, inherited a shocking debt situation from Labor in 2014. We inherited a structural deficit which it has taken years to turn around. Net debt is peaking this financial year... it will peak as a share of GDP in this current financial year and then decline, year-on-year, over the following decade, to under 4% of GDP.

“We have turned the corner on debt. Now, the honourable member referred to asset prices. Let me remind the honourable member that one of the many economic threats he poses to the Australian public and to Australian families is his attack on the savings of retirees.

“A shocking, shameful assault, which is going to force so many of them to sell out of their investments to avoid having the franking credits snatched away from them. That is not to speak of his campaign against property investment. He is going to increase capital gains tax and abolish negative gearing. Well, the largest single asset class in Australia is residential property. It is already softening. Many people would say that is a correction that was due. Well, everything is good in moderation, I suppose. But what do we think the impact of a ban on negative gearing is going to have on softening residential property markets?

“The Labor party will smash the savings of Australians. It will smash into the value of the largest single asset class. And do you know what, Mr Speaker? That is their avowed intention. The Labor party is a massive threat to the savings, the futures, the prosperity of all Australians.”

(Just for the record, the debt in 2012/13, when Labor was last in power, was $257.4 billion.)

It’s Mike Bowers time:

Chris Bowen had a question which basically asked – how can the government guarantee it won’t cut services again, to pay for its tax plan, if the world economy turns (which there are warnings of).

Scott Morrison: Strong economy.

And we are back to alternative approaches dixers and I want to stab myself with a butter knife.

Peter Dutton had some things to say.

Moving on.

Amanda Rishworth to Malcolm Turnbull:

“The government’s unfair child-care changes start on Monday. Why is this prime minister cutting child-care payments to 279,000 families on Monday, including over 2,200 families in Longman, while giving $17bn to the big banks?”

Josh Frydenberg, on behalf of Simon Birmingham, takes this one:

“I can inform the house that when the Labor party was last in office, child-care fees went up 53%! 53%!

“...How many did they deliver? Just 38, the double drop-off, and what about compliance checks, they also went down significantly when Labor was last in office and now the Turnbull government’s child-care reforms will see nearly one million families better off, Mr Speaker, one million families better off, and those opposite have tried to obstruct it all along! Even though in the member’s electorate, 4,800 families will be better off, Mr Speaker, and what about in the member for Kingston’s electorate, over 6,000 families will be better off, Mr Speaker!

“We will increase the subsidy for 370,000 families whose income is just over $67,000 a year will increase the subsidy from 72 to 85%, Mr Speaker, will encourage more than 200,000 families to re-enter the workforce or to take greater workforce participation, Mr Speaker.”