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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2018/jun/27/tax-continues-to-dominate-both-sides-politics-live
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| Huawei boss pushes case for Chinese firm to build 5G network – politics live | Huawei boss pushes case for Chinese firm to build 5G network – politics live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Aspiration count - 2 | |
| Captain’s call - 7 | |
| Ross Hart - 12 | |
| Envy - 0 | |
| Malcolm Turnbull calls time on question time and we all breathe a sigh of relief that we made it through another one. | |
| Julie Owens to Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| In May, Optus sacked 400 workers but this week the prime minister is doing everything he can to do a deal with One Nation to give big business, including Optus, an $80bn handout, when Optus is sacking 400 workers. Why is this prime minister working with One Nation to reward them through his $80bn handout? | |
| Turnbull: | |
| I thank the honorable member for her question. I think she’s referred to a large multinational company, a matter of tax and it gives me the opportunity to inform the House that as at 31 May this year, $2.7bn in light liabilities has been raised in additional revenue against multinationals and public groups. Of this $1.2bn is attributed to the tax avoidance taskforce – a government commitment. | |
| This is based on legislation Labor voted against – $1.6bn in additional [taxes], raised against associated groups, including trust planning, and $1bn over has been committed to the tax avoidance commitments. I would add that in addition to this fine work that’s brought $7bn of additional revenue into the tax net, one of the reasons the treasurer has announced some improved numbers in terms of government revenues today, but Mr Speaker, we’ve also seen a significant impact on additional GST pay. Approximately $460m in 2017-18 year to date as a result ... | |
| (A point of order is made and overruled) | |
| Turnbull: | |
| I was just addressing income tax there, personal income tax and company tax and I’d moved on to GST. Mr Speaker, over the forward estimates, a total of $6.5bn of additional GST revenues will be raised to pay for schools and hospitals and roads and all of the states and territories will have that, as a result of the government’s integrity measures. We believe in lower taxes. | |
| We know that because it encourages investment, employment, it encourages more jobs and higher wages. All the arguments the leader of the opposition used to address before he abandoned common sense. We’re ensuring that everyone pays their tax. We cracked down on multinationals and tax [avoiders] in a more resolute and comprehensive fashion than any previous government and are seeing substantial revenues accruing to the federal budget and to the GST directly to the states and territories. | |
| Steve Ciobo tried to link tourism and investment with the South Australian Labor battle over who gets what seat now that Mark Butler’s has been abolished, but the speaker stops him: | |
| It’s too long a bow. Though the question has come from his side, amazingly, it’s not relevant. | |
| Julie Collins to Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| Why does this prime minister support cutting the penalty rates of over 7,000 working Australians in Braddon by up to $77 a week, while he’s giving an $80bn handout to big business, or is the prime minister telling hardworking Australians in Braddon who are having their penalty rates cut to get a better job, too?” | |
| Turnbull: | |
| I thank the honourable member for her question. I think it’s a shame that the member for Bass isn’t getting an opportunity to ask a question. I know his leader is probably, has probably hauled him in and said, oh, Mr Hart what a mess!” | |
| (Rob Harris from the Herald Sun made that joke on Twitter hours ago FYI.) | |
| “OH MR HART, WHAT A MESS” https://t.co/EcVwu70P6m pic.twitter.com/EUHL32zFEQ | |
| Turnbull: | |
| We say he spoke for all Australians when he revealed captain’s call that the leader of the opposition made a job-destroying call. The honourable, the two honourable members I referred to, both from Tasmania, a state that’s enjoying stronger economic performance, and it has many family-owned businesses. I talked about one yesterday. There are so many in Australia. | |
| Many generations of businesses have been run by the same family and they’ve been investing in them out of retained earnings. They are given confidence by by the government’s support. As the member for Bass pointed out, as he understands, he said he understood how important it is for businesses to make profits. In his maiden speech, the member for Bass said he understood the importance of small business and he feels that and so you can imagine how distressed he was to see those businesses which are at the heart, a city benefiting from one of our city deals I might add, getting strong support and how betrayed did he feel? | |
| How betrayed did he feel? How much, Mr Speaker, did he yearn for a leader of the Labor Party that understood business, a leader that wanted to evoke the great traditions of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, who cared about business, who recognised when they are doing well, workers are doing well. | |
| He’s calling that interview with Brian Carlton, it reads like a cry of pain, it does. The member for Bass being pressed by the dogged interviewer 13 times he was asked to support the leader of the opposition. Finally he mumbled some sort of response. It was a shocking interview, shocking, cruel, in fact, I think Brian Carlton, I’ve got a lot of admiration, but he should have let the member go when he begged to. | |
| He asked to be let out. He asked to be let out but he heard the click on the studio door. He was trapped. He couldn’t get out. But he knew in his heart that this leader of the opposition was undermining every family business in his electorate. He knows when he goes back to Launceston they will say, ‘you need a new leader’. That’s what they will say to the member for Bass. | |
| Chris Bowen to Malcolm Turnbull: | |
| Under this prime minister household debt is at a record high and gross debt reached half a trillion dollars for the first time in Australian history. The governor of the Reserve Bank has said, I quote, ‘We have very high levels of debt and very high asset prices. That is our number one domestic risk. Prime minister, given that warning, isn’t this the worst possible time to lock in an $80bn big business tax cut?” | |
| A nod of the head sees Scott Morrison take the question: | |
| I thank the member for his question. Under this government we took gross debt growing at 30% under the Labor party, under the current budget and forward estimates to 2%. 30% to 2%. | |
| We have wrestled Labor’s guerrilla debt to the ground, net debt this year turns around and we pay it down by $30bn over four years and $230bn over the next 10 years. I’m asked about what is happening in terms of the economy and what the impact of that is on revenues. | |
| We know how many times the member for Lilley took a swing when it came to estimating revenue. It never stopped them from spending the money. He was out by 5% every year, a swing and a miss. Every single time. But what I can inform the House of today, as the minister for finance has, is that this year, this year, our company tax revenues as of end of May were up by $1bn. | |
| That is what is happening. Increasingly also of importance is the fact that our expenditure at that time is down $3bn. This is a government living within its means. This is a government living within its means. This is a government that has taken the debt and the deficit of the Labor party and has worked tirelessly year after year since we were elected to turn it all around and in 2019-20 we will come back...we will come back one year of what it was forecast because we are a government that knows how to live within its means. | |
| He repeats his attacks from this morning, saying Labor needs to “come clean” on what it plans to do with the $2m to $10m tax cut plan, but I have heard that at least five times today, and if you follow this blog you have too. | |
| Oh goody. | Oh goody. |
| It’s time for your daily Peter Dutton. | It’s time for your daily Peter Dutton. |
| Strong borders are good | Strong borders are good |
| Labor is bad | Labor is bad |
| Bikies are also bad | Bikies are also bad |
| Ed Husic gets another question - two days in a row - and its on Paul Karp’s story. | |
| A recent FOI reveals serious problems with the government’s PaTH intern program, including allegations of sexual harassment, women being criticised about their appearance, no consideration of people with a disability and other unacceptable working conditions. Why is the prime minister doing nothing to protect young job-seekers but everything to give big business an $80bn handout? | |
| It’s to Malcolm Turnbull who defends the program as being great, and then hands over to Craig Laundy: | It’s to Malcolm Turnbull who defends the program as being great, and then hands over to Craig Laundy: |
| I thank the member for his question, though his information is wrong. In the Freedom of Information request he mentioned, there were 33 complaints made, that is less than 1% of the people that are – of the 31 of those, two of the companies involved in the program have been investigated by the Job Active Network and have been barred from participating in the program. | |
| Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull: | Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| My question is to the Prime Minister. Should AMP receive a tax cut?” | My question is to the Prime Minister. Should AMP receive a tax cut?” |
| The PM inclines his head and Scott Morrison jumps up to answer the question. | The PM inclines his head and Scott Morrison jumps up to answer the question. |
| Mr Speaker, it’s our policy ... that all citizens in this country should be competitive, all have competitive tax rates. | |
| Australians work for all of those businesses. They all deserve to work for businesses that have a competitive rate of tax, so their jobs are more secure, Mr Speaker. What is very clear is under the leader of the Labor party, Australians’ jobs would not be secure, they would not be secure because it is his policy to jack up the taxes on small businesses, on medium-sized businesses and large businesses. And yesterday we had a small shard of truth from the leader of the opposition as he fessed up to the fact that the Labor party would increase taxes again for businesses of more than ... | |
| Tony Burke has a point of order – the question only asked about AMP – Tony Smith says yup, the preamble is over, and he needs to stick to the question he was asked: | |
| I’m asked about a particular company and I have said that all companies, of which all companies are included – all companies. I’m referring to all companies in the economy. Mr Speaker, that means all of them. That means all of them.” | |
| He goes on to attack Labor’s policy, but Smith says he has already been warned to stick to the question and he is once again straying off topic. | He goes on to attack Labor’s policy, but Smith says he has already been warned to stick to the question and he is once again straying off topic. |
| Morrison stands back up and finishes his sentence. Which is still off-topic, but it’s done. | Morrison stands back up and finishes his sentence. Which is still off-topic, but it’s done. |
| Christopher Pyne gets the next dixer. | Christopher Pyne gets the next dixer. |
| Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull: | Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| I refer to revelations about misconduct by AMP at the banking royal commission. Is the prime minister telling victims of that company that AMP deserves a big business tax cut? | I refer to revelations about misconduct by AMP at the banking royal commission. Is the prime minister telling victims of that company that AMP deserves a big business tax cut? |
| Turnbull: | Turnbull: |
| The leader of the opposition has declared war on businesses of every size in Australia. He stands here and ... wants to portray himself as the enemy of big banks and insurance companies. The businesses he’s taking on are to be found in every town and every suburb, in every electorate represented here. More than half the private sector workforce work for businesses with a turnover of $50m or less. Whether it is Stubbs Con or Universal Trusses in Hume, or a business like Kennedy’s Timber in Brisbane, on the border between Petrie and Longman, in fact, these are businesses that have many employees – 50, 60, 70 – all of them depending on the owners of the business investing in the business. Buying the best in technology. | |
| Shorten stands on a point of order, saying he only asked about AMP. Tony Smith says the question asked about AMP and tax. The prime minister continues. | Shorten stands on a point of order, saying he only asked about AMP. Tony Smith says the question asked about AMP and tax. The prime minister continues. |
| Turnbull: | Turnbull: |
| The leader of the opposition wants to talk about AMP today. But the businesses he’s going after are numbered in the hundreds of thousands. They are right around Australia and as the member for Bass understands very well – very well – there are dozens of them in Launceston and he knows that those businesses are going to be threatened and the jobs of their workers threatened and in that interview, as Carlton pressed him, he refused to endorse the reckless agenda of the leader of the opposition. We well understand why he would not tie himself to that catastrophic captain’s call.” | The leader of the opposition wants to talk about AMP today. But the businesses he’s going after are numbered in the hundreds of thousands. They are right around Australia and as the member for Bass understands very well – very well – there are dozens of them in Launceston and he knows that those businesses are going to be threatened and the jobs of their workers threatened and in that interview, as Carlton pressed him, he refused to endorse the reckless agenda of the leader of the opposition. We well understand why he would not tie himself to that catastrophic captain’s call.” |
| I think we can all agree that Turnbull had been looking for an opportunity to drop “catastrophic captain’s call”. | I think we can all agree that Turnbull had been looking for an opportunity to drop “catastrophic captain’s call”. |
| We are also halfway through question time and we have had no aspiration or snake of envy reference ... nope, wait, we have a new one – Kelly O’Dwyer drops the latest in her dixer: | We are also halfway through question time and we have had no aspiration or snake of envy reference ... nope, wait, we have a new one – Kelly O’Dwyer drops the latest in her dixer: |
| He had the audacity in a prepared speech to say that he was going to back small business. So he was in there in his prepared speech, he said he would hug small and medium-sized enterprises. He walks out the door and then he mugs them. It is the hug and mug that the leader of the opposition is so famous for. You only need to ask the workers he represented – the hug and the mug.” | He had the audacity in a prepared speech to say that he was going to back small business. So he was in there in his prepared speech, he said he would hug small and medium-sized enterprises. He walks out the door and then he mugs them. It is the hug and mug that the leader of the opposition is so famous for. You only need to ask the workers he represented – the hug and the mug.” |
| O’Dwyer goes on to call Shorten “shifty” and Tony Smith shuts it – and her answer – down. | O’Dwyer goes on to call Shorten “shifty” and Tony Smith shuts it – and her answer – down. |
| Ged Kearney to Malcolm Turnbull: | Ged Kearney to Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Today Senator Hanson said the price of One Nation supporting the prime minister’s $80bn big business handout was a new coal-fired power station. Will the prime minister rule out building a new coal-fired power station or is nothing off limits when it comes to teeming up with One Nation? | Today Senator Hanson said the price of One Nation supporting the prime minister’s $80bn big business handout was a new coal-fired power station. Will the prime minister rule out building a new coal-fired power station or is nothing off limits when it comes to teeming up with One Nation? |
| Josh Frydenberg takes this one. I learned yesterday that when the energy minister stands to speak, Labor calls out “there’s a stat” because he is so fond of them in his answers. Apparently some from his own side have started to join in. | Josh Frydenberg takes this one. I learned yesterday that when the energy minister stands to speak, Labor calls out “there’s a stat” because he is so fond of them in his answers. Apparently some from his own side have started to join in. |
| This is how little enjoyment there is to be had in QT. Calling out “there’s a stat” counts as amusing. | This is how little enjoyment there is to be had in QT. Calling out “there’s a stat” counts as amusing. |
| Anyways, Frydenberg: | Anyways, Frydenberg: |
| Mr Speaker, well, the Labor party should know that when in Victoria they crippled the coal royalties, the people of Victoria saw wholesale prices increase by 80%, Mr Speaker. The Labor party should know that when Jay Weatherill oversaw the closure of the Northern power station, that people of South Australia saw wholesale prices go up by another 80%. | Mr Speaker, well, the Labor party should know that when in Victoria they crippled the coal royalties, the people of Victoria saw wholesale prices increase by 80%, Mr Speaker. The Labor party should know that when Jay Weatherill oversaw the closure of the Northern power station, that people of South Australia saw wholesale prices go up by another 80%. |
| They told him what they thought of it at the state election. So when it comes to coal under the national energy guarantee, it will continue to stay an important part of the energy mix. | They told him what they thought of it at the state election. So when it comes to coal under the national energy guarantee, it will continue to stay an important part of the energy mix. |
| I say to the member for Batman, don’t believe the leader of the opposition when he comes down and tells the baristas in Australia, that coal has no future. When he goes to the miners he says that coal has a future. | I say to the member for Batman, don’t believe the leader of the opposition when he comes down and tells the baristas in Australia, that coal has no future. When he goes to the miners he says that coal has a future. |
| Now, we all know that the Labor party is not upfront with the workers, they have abandoned the blue-collar workers. When will they go down to the seat of Gippsland and tell those workers, the 300-plus workers at the power stations, that they won’t have a job under Labor’s policy? When will they go to the electorate of Flynn and tell the 2,030 workers at the Gladstone power station that under Labor’s policy they won’t have a job? When will they go to the member for Shortland’s electorate and tell those workers there – 300 workers – that under the Labor party policy they will not have a job? | Now, we all know that the Labor party is not upfront with the workers, they have abandoned the blue-collar workers. When will they go down to the seat of Gippsland and tell those workers, the 300-plus workers at the power stations, that they won’t have a job under Labor’s policy? When will they go to the electorate of Flynn and tell the 2,030 workers at the Gladstone power station that under Labor’s policy they won’t have a job? When will they go to the member for Shortland’s electorate and tell those workers there – 300 workers – that under the Labor party policy they will not have a job? |
| Mr Speaker, when it comes to the Labor party’s policy, we know they won’t listen to business. We know the leader of the opposition no longer listens to BHP, no longer listens to BluScope, to the Business Council of Australia. Now he doesn’t even listen to the unions, because his former union, the AWU, the Victorian secretary, Ben Davis, said, I quote the following, listen to this, the leader of the opposition should listen carefully, “The rush away from coal is unseemly in its haste because we are potentially crucifying hundreds of thousands of manufacturing workers”. That is the leader of the opposition’s own union. Then the CFMEU president, Tony Maher, said, “a renewable energy target of 50% ...” | Mr Speaker, when it comes to the Labor party’s policy, we know they won’t listen to business. We know the leader of the opposition no longer listens to BHP, no longer listens to BluScope, to the Business Council of Australia. Now he doesn’t even listen to the unions, because his former union, the AWU, the Victorian secretary, Ben Davis, said, I quote the following, listen to this, the leader of the opposition should listen carefully, “The rush away from coal is unseemly in its haste because we are potentially crucifying hundreds of thousands of manufacturing workers”. That is the leader of the opposition’s own union. Then the CFMEU president, Tony Maher, said, “a renewable energy target of 50% ...” |
| Kearney jumps up with a point of order. I think it may be her first one: | Kearney jumps up with a point of order. I think it may be her first one: |
| He hasn’t mentioned One Nation once. Relevance, sorry. | He hasn’t mentioned One Nation once. Relevance, sorry. |
| Tony Smith points out that the inclusion of the $80bn tax cuts bit “opens it up to the world”. | Tony Smith points out that the inclusion of the $80bn tax cuts bit “opens it up to the world”. |
| Frydenberg: | Frydenberg: |
| Mr Speaker the final word goes to the CFMEU president, passing judgement on Labor’s 50% renewable energy target. He says, and I quote, “the 50% target will increase the cost of electricity for manufacturing and ordinary households”, Mr Speaker. Only the coalition can be trusted to deliver more affordable and reliable power. | Mr Speaker the final word goes to the CFMEU president, passing judgement on Labor’s 50% renewable energy target. He says, and I quote, “the 50% target will increase the cost of electricity for manufacturing and ordinary households”, Mr Speaker. Only the coalition can be trusted to deliver more affordable and reliable power. |
| Michael McCormack had another go of working out what his question time personality is. | Michael McCormack had another go of working out what his question time personality is. |
| His cadence was just described to me as a car bunny hopping down the road. | His cadence was just described to me as a car bunny hopping down the road. |
| “There’s ... no ... Labor ... confidence ... in business ... to back themselves. | “There’s ... no ... Labor ... confidence ... in business ... to back themselves. |
| “We have ... some byelections coming up. People can get behind ... the ... candidates that this government is putting ...up or they can be anti-business as usual.” | “We have ... some byelections coming up. People can get behind ... the ... candidates that this government is putting ...up or they can be anti-business as usual.” |
| Bob Katter has the crossbench question and it is to the treasurer. | Bob Katter has the crossbench question and it is to the treasurer. |
| Just a reminder that the crossbench had the time allotted for asking questions bumped up from 30 seconds to 45 seconds because of how Katter asks questions. | Just a reminder that the crossbench had the time allotted for asking questions bumped up from 30 seconds to 45 seconds because of how Katter asks questions. |
| He gets this one in on time and a cheer goes up from the chamber. | He gets this one in on time and a cheer goes up from the chamber. |
| The removal of collective bargaining in all tariff subsidies, put Australians farmers up for butchering by the banks. Can you ensure the House that the royal commission will ensure the receivers address the issue of the reconstruction bank enabling farmers to ride the rollercoaster of supply and demand. It won’t remove the truncating by taxes, but it will stop the banks from elongating the downs with a continuous imposition of discretionary, punitive charges? | The removal of collective bargaining in all tariff subsidies, put Australians farmers up for butchering by the banks. Can you ensure the House that the royal commission will ensure the receivers address the issue of the reconstruction bank enabling farmers to ride the rollercoaster of supply and demand. It won’t remove the truncating by taxes, but it will stop the banks from elongating the downs with a continuous imposition of discretionary, punitive charges? |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| I thank the member for his question. He has this passionate interest in these topics. Can I assure him that the terms of reference would catch liquidators to the extent they operate on behalf of a financial services entity, for example, a receiver, as defined in the laters patent. | I thank the member for his question. He has this passionate interest in these topics. Can I assure him that the terms of reference would catch liquidators to the extent they operate on behalf of a financial services entity, for example, a receiver, as defined in the laters patent. |
| The constitution has an insolvency head of power which would likely enable the commission to use coercive powers to obtain evidence from liquidators. In looking at the conduct of them the commission may seek to investigate other appointments, such as forensic investigators, accountants or valuers which are often part of the receivership process, as the member would be aware. | The constitution has an insolvency head of power which would likely enable the commission to use coercive powers to obtain evidence from liquidators. In looking at the conduct of them the commission may seek to investigate other appointments, such as forensic investigators, accountants or valuers which are often part of the receivership process, as the member would be aware. |
| Referring to registered liquidators or receivers would single them out from the wide category of services, for example, accounts and audits similarly captured and may be inferred by some that other similar services are not included. | Referring to registered liquidators or receivers would single them out from the wide category of services, for example, accounts and audits similarly captured and may be inferred by some that other similar services are not included. |
| Mr Speaker, rural debt is around $71.6bn, as at 30 June of 2017. Ninety-six per cent of that debt is held by the banks. Our agriculture sector – some $51.6bn of exports – 70% of Australian farm businesses in grain, in beef and in sheep, Mr Speaker. It’s important to know, as the member will be keenly aware, these farm businesses have a turnover of less than $10m. | Mr Speaker, rural debt is around $71.6bn, as at 30 June of 2017. Ninety-six per cent of that debt is held by the banks. Our agriculture sector – some $51.6bn of exports – 70% of Australian farm businesses in grain, in beef and in sheep, Mr Speaker. It’s important to know, as the member will be keenly aware, these farm businesses have a turnover of less than $10m. |
| Mr Speaker, what the royal commission has been tasked to do is look at all of these matters that I’ve referred to. I won’t prejudge. I’m sure the member wouldn’t expect me to. I won’t prejudge the findings and the recommendations of the royal commission. It’s unconstrained in that matter. In relation to the specific issues he raised, and the proposals here and I understand he’s looked at the commission himself and he will have the opportunity to make recommendations as appropriate. It’s important as we look at the recommendations, we go there through this important process that we want our banks to keep lending to businesses and farms. | Mr Speaker, what the royal commission has been tasked to do is look at all of these matters that I’ve referred to. I won’t prejudge. I’m sure the member wouldn’t expect me to. I won’t prejudge the findings and the recommendations of the royal commission. It’s unconstrained in that matter. In relation to the specific issues he raised, and the proposals here and I understand he’s looked at the commission himself and he will have the opportunity to make recommendations as appropriate. It’s important as we look at the recommendations, we go there through this important process that we want our banks to keep lending to businesses and farms. |
| ... We don’t want a restriction of capital flow, in the farming sector or to the manufacturing sector or the services sector. We don’t want a constriction, but we want to see more effective, efficient and free-flowing practice from banks to ensure they can support the growth in the economy, which they were doing in the global financial crisis. One of the reasons we survived that crisis was particularly because the banks continued to lend. | ... We don’t want a restriction of capital flow, in the farming sector or to the manufacturing sector or the services sector. We don’t want a constriction, but we want to see more effective, efficient and free-flowing practice from banks to ensure they can support the growth in the economy, which they were doing in the global financial crisis. One of the reasons we survived that crisis was particularly because the banks continued to lend. |
| Now, we do have to have a consciousness, as the member says, of the cycle that occurs in the sector and that’s why we have the form management deposit scheme from the government’s point of view but are open to recommendations from the royal commission. | Now, we do have to have a consciousness, as the member says, of the cycle that occurs in the sector and that’s why we have the form management deposit scheme from the government’s point of view but are open to recommendations from the royal commission. |
| “Where’s Tony!” Labor backbenchers shout. The Member for Warringah isn’t (yet) in question time #auspol | “Where’s Tony!” Labor backbenchers shout. The Member for Warringah isn’t (yet) in question time #auspol |