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Scott Morrison to raise jail sentence for food tampering to 15 years Scott Morrison to raise jail sentence for food tampering to 15 years
(35 minutes later)
Scott Morrison has announced a national drought summit:
Helping our farmers and farming communities is my number one priority. Today I am announcing the next steps of my government’s drought response. I will be hosting a National Drought Summit on 26 October, 2018.
The coordinator general for drought, Maj Gen Stephen Day, and the special envoy for drought assistance and recovery, the hon Barnaby Joyce MP have been listening to farmers across the nation.
They want coordinated action to support drought-affected families and their communities, and hosting a drought summit will unite our national efforts.
The summit will put our national leaders, key people and organisations together at the same table. We will look at actions to deliver assistance, cut red tape and tackle gaps that need addressing.
We’re ensuring families and communities in drought-affected areas are getting what they need. We need to act and respond to the immediate issues while we are putting in place better frameworks for long-term preparedness and resilience.
Peter Dutton will be standing up at 1.30 with the AFP police commissioner and the AFB commissioner to talk more about the strawberry response.
We are at full flag capacity.
Just hours before the Senate inquiry looking into the Peter Dutton au pair visa approvals is due to report, a whole heap of new emails on the case have dropped into the inquiry.
We haven’t had a chance to go through them all as yet, but it does show that in the Adelaide case, the woman made it as far as the removal flight before she was “offloaded”.
You’ll find those emails tabled, here.
Brendan Nelson has started his last address to the National Press Club.Brendan Nelson has started his last address to the National Press Club.
At the end of the press conference, after being asked three times about the ABC story about media moguls being involved in the leadership spill, Scott Morrison had this to say:At the end of the press conference, after being asked three times about the ABC story about media moguls being involved in the leadership spill, Scott Morrison had this to say:
I don’t believe it happened at all. And you’d think I’d know, given I was involved.I don’t believe it happened at all. And you’d think I’d know, given I was involved.
Meanwhile, it doesn’t look like the right-of-reply negotiations are going well between Roman Quaedvlieg and the powers that be:Meanwhile, it doesn’t look like the right-of-reply negotiations are going well between Roman Quaedvlieg and the powers that be:
This citizen’s right of reply to comments under parliamentary privilege is not really working for me. A minister makes an extemporaneous personal attack on me, not repeated outside of parliament, and I’m at the mercy of when the Privileges Committee meets to “negotiate” a reply?This citizen’s right of reply to comments under parliamentary privilege is not really working for me. A minister makes an extemporaneous personal attack on me, not repeated outside of parliament, and I’m at the mercy of when the Privileges Committee meets to “negotiate” a reply?
Scott Morrison on why the government is getting so tough on this:Scott Morrison on why the government is getting so tough on this:
There are two parts to what we are doing. I am trying to stress very clearly the seriousness with which these types of acts of sabotage should be considered. I don’t care if you have a gripe with the company, I don’t care if you have a gripe with your fellow worker, this is a very serious thing which is damaging our economy, but it is affecting families.There are two parts to what we are doing. I am trying to stress very clearly the seriousness with which these types of acts of sabotage should be considered. I don’t care if you have a gripe with the company, I don’t care if you have a gripe with your fellow worker, this is a very serious thing which is damaging our economy, but it is affecting families.
And the amount of traffic they have known, just mums and dads talking to each other because of this week is totally understandable. They need to know that there is a clear message being sent about how we see these things.And the amount of traffic they have known, just mums and dads talking to each other because of this week is totally understandable. They need to know that there is a clear message being sent about how we see these things.
And on the second point, and the new offence, which relates to recklessness and we would hope the states would look at similar measures in their own jurisdictions, if it is to have that deterrence value straight away. That people do not go and add to this problem and that they understand and they check themselves. Because if they don’t check themselves, we will.And on the second point, and the new offence, which relates to recklessness and we would hope the states would look at similar measures in their own jurisdictions, if it is to have that deterrence value straight away. That people do not go and add to this problem and that they understand and they check themselves. Because if they don’t check themselves, we will.
Scott Morrison is announcing changes to the legislation around food contamination.Scott Morrison is announcing changes to the legislation around food contamination.
The maximum penalty will increase from 10 years to 15 years – the same as you get for possessing child porn.The maximum penalty will increase from 10 years to 15 years – the same as you get for possessing child porn.
Morrison:Morrison:
It is important to send a very clear message to ensure that we have the right penalties and have the right offences that are in place to ensure that we protect against these sorts of things into the future, and so yesterday I asked the attorney general to consider these matters and what we will be doing is two things when it comes to federal offences.It is important to send a very clear message to ensure that we have the right penalties and have the right offences that are in place to ensure that we protect against these sorts of things into the future, and so yesterday I asked the attorney general to consider these matters and what we will be doing is two things when it comes to federal offences.
The first one is to be increasing the penalties for those who would be found guilty under the existing provisions, from 10 years in prison to 15 years in prison.The first one is to be increasing the penalties for those who would be found guilty under the existing provisions, from 10 years in prison to 15 years in prison.
That basically takes you from someone who has an offence for forgery or theft of commonwealth property, they currently get 10 years. That’s what you get 10 years for.That basically takes you from someone who has an offence for forgery or theft of commonwealth property, they currently get 10 years. That’s what you get 10 years for.
What you get 15 years for are things like possessing child pornography and financing terrorism. That’s how seriously I take this. And that’s how seriously our government takes it.What you get 15 years for are things like possessing child pornography and financing terrorism. That’s how seriously I take this. And that’s how seriously our government takes it.
But the other thing we are doing is to create a new offence which deals with the offence of recklessness. Now, any idiot who thinks they can go out into a shopping centre and start sticking pins in fruit and thinks this is some sort of lark or put something on Facebook which is a hoax – that sort of behaviour is reckless and under the provision will be seeking to introduce swiftly [that] that type of behaviour would carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.But the other thing we are doing is to create a new offence which deals with the offence of recklessness. Now, any idiot who thinks they can go out into a shopping centre and start sticking pins in fruit and thinks this is some sort of lark or put something on Facebook which is a hoax – that sort of behaviour is reckless and under the provision will be seeking to introduce swiftly [that] that type of behaviour would carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
It’s not a joke. It’s not funny. You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk. And you are scaring children and you are a coward and a grub. And if you do that sort of thing in this country, we will come after you and we will throw the book at you.It’s not a joke. It’s not funny. You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk. And you are scaring children and you are a coward and a grub. And if you do that sort of thing in this country, we will come after you and we will throw the book at you.
The government plans on introducing the new legislation tomorrow.The government plans on introducing the new legislation tomorrow.
Anthony Albanese and Christopher Pyne had their regular spot on Adelaide radio station 5AA, and the subject of Tony Abbott versus the empty chair preselection challenge came up, and well, it doesn’t sound as though Pyne is overly cut up that Abbott got a scare from a non-existent challenger:Anthony Albanese and Christopher Pyne had their regular spot on Adelaide radio station 5AA, and the subject of Tony Abbott versus the empty chair preselection challenge came up, and well, it doesn’t sound as though Pyne is overly cut up that Abbott got a scare from a non-existent challenger:
PYNE: Well these matters are for the organisation. I defeated a sitting member in pre-selection 26 years ago. That is part of the democracy of the Liberal party. It’s the same in the Labor party, the same in the Greens for that matter. The truth is that everyone has to be selected before they can actually run for the seat if you are running under the flag of a political party, rather than as an independent. And that is a matter for the Liberal party branches on the northern beaches [of Sydney], and they obviously had a vote and he won the vote. In spite of the fact that there was no other candidate, they indicated some displeasure and that is a matter for the organisation on the northern beaches. That’s just the fact.ALBANESE: (Laughter)HOST: (Laughter)PYNE: Why is it funny? It’s just true.ALBANESE: You said that so straight, Christopher.PYNE: It’s true. That’s what happened. That’s the process. They have a vote on, you know, whether the person should be endorsed.ALBANESE: You can have Tony Abbott or an empty chair.HOST: And the chair was coming home with a wet sail.ALBANESE: The chair, if it had gone on for another hour, the chair would have won.HOST: People were warming to the chair.PYNE: Well these matters are for the organisation. I defeated a sitting member in pre-selection 26 years ago. That is part of the democracy of the Liberal party. It’s the same in the Labor party, the same in the Greens for that matter. The truth is that everyone has to be selected before they can actually run for the seat if you are running under the flag of a political party, rather than as an independent. And that is a matter for the Liberal party branches on the northern beaches [of Sydney], and they obviously had a vote and he won the vote. In spite of the fact that there was no other candidate, they indicated some displeasure and that is a matter for the organisation on the northern beaches. That’s just the fact.ALBANESE: (Laughter)HOST: (Laughter)PYNE: Why is it funny? It’s just true.ALBANESE: You said that so straight, Christopher.PYNE: It’s true. That’s what happened. That’s the process. They have a vote on, you know, whether the person should be endorsed.ALBANESE: You can have Tony Abbott or an empty chair.HOST: And the chair was coming home with a wet sail.ALBANESE: The chair, if it had gone on for another hour, the chair would have won.HOST: People were warming to the chair.
Tom Connell from Sky News is reporting Ann Sudmalis has been offered the New York UN secondment trip – also known as the naughty corner.Tom Connell from Sky News is reporting Ann Sudmalis has been offered the New York UN secondment trip – also known as the naughty corner.
Cory Bernardi and Warren Entsch were both recent recipients at times when they were both causing issues for the government, by breaking ranks.Cory Bernardi and Warren Entsch were both recent recipients at times when they were both causing issues for the government, by breaking ranks.
Julia Banks was offered it and turned it down.Julia Banks was offered it and turned it down.
It’s three months, between September and December, to learn at the UN, and a WONDERFUL way for a political party to remove a burr in its side.It’s three months, between September and December, to learn at the UN, and a WONDERFUL way for a political party to remove a burr in its side.
No word yet on whether Sudmalis has accepted it.No word yet on whether Sudmalis has accepted it.
(Labor also gets the opportunity to send someone)(Labor also gets the opportunity to send someone)
Scott Morrison is holding a press conference in the blue room, which, as we know, is the second most fancy of the prime ministerial press conference locations – the first being the courtyard.Scott Morrison is holding a press conference in the blue room, which, as we know, is the second most fancy of the prime ministerial press conference locations – the first being the courtyard.
Christian Porter will be joining him, so it’s a minimum two-flag affair.Christian Porter will be joining him, so it’s a minimum two-flag affair.
(I believe it is on the response to the strawberry contamination crisis)(I believe it is on the response to the strawberry contamination crisis)
After Angus Taylor’s admission that the government was not planning on replacing the renewable energy target, which runs out in 2020, with anything in question time yesterday – in response to Adam Bandt’s question, which, coming from the crossbench, he had in advance, meaning the answer was prepared, not a spur of the moment – Bill Shorten was asked what Labor plans on doing:After Angus Taylor’s admission that the government was not planning on replacing the renewable energy target, which runs out in 2020, with anything in question time yesterday – in response to Adam Bandt’s question, which, coming from the crossbench, he had in advance, meaning the answer was prepared, not a spur of the moment – Bill Shorten was asked what Labor plans on doing:
We are willing to look at a market-based emissions trading scheme, but the so-called party of the free market dumped that. We were happy to look at an initial trading scheme, which made sense, but the Liberals ran away from it. Then Malcolm Turnbull and his cabinet commission to chief scientist, Alan Finkel, to do some work, and they came up with a clean energy target, and again, as constructive as we are, we said we would have a look at it, but they didn’t like the chief scientist’s work – and then the national energy guarantee.We are willing to look at a market-based emissions trading scheme, but the so-called party of the free market dumped that. We were happy to look at an initial trading scheme, which made sense, but the Liberals ran away from it. Then Malcolm Turnbull and his cabinet commission to chief scientist, Alan Finkel, to do some work, and they came up with a clean energy target, and again, as constructive as we are, we said we would have a look at it, but they didn’t like the chief scientist’s work – and then the national energy guarantee.
The current treasurer endorsed it, and now the government won’t do that, so I think people are sick and tired of the climate denierlists pulling the strings, Tony Abbott and again, pulling the strings, with Scott Morrison. We are prepared to look at a national energy guarantee. The Liberal party have been – we think that’s a good starting spot.The current treasurer endorsed it, and now the government won’t do that, so I think people are sick and tired of the climate denierlists pulling the strings, Tony Abbott and again, pulling the strings, with Scott Morrison. We are prepared to look at a national energy guarantee. The Liberal party have been – we think that’s a good starting spot.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. In terms of the attack on renewables, the vacuum created by the government on energy policy is creating greater disincentives for people to invest in renewable energy. I’m having a forum on the future of energy policy tomorrow here in parliament. We do think we need to provide more certainty. The single biggest driver of energy prices in Australia is a lack of policy. How can you invest in new generation if you don’t know what the rules are? We are having a forum tomorrow. We will let you know how that goes.You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. In terms of the attack on renewables, the vacuum created by the government on energy policy is creating greater disincentives for people to invest in renewable energy. I’m having a forum on the future of energy policy tomorrow here in parliament. We do think we need to provide more certainty. The single biggest driver of energy prices in Australia is a lack of policy. How can you invest in new generation if you don’t know what the rules are? We are having a forum tomorrow. We will let you know how that goes.
For all those wondering about the “Ken Wyatt was asked to join Labor” story and where it is – it is because both Wyatt and Linda Burney had flat out denied it happened.
Burney:
A total flight of fantasy, and Ken Wyatt has been on the radio this morning saying it’s exactly a flight of fantasy. He is as baffled as I am, and I cannot comment on the inside machinations of the Liberal party.
When we bring you stories, even just what we are hearing when it is not attributed, we make as many attempts to verify it as possible – with the sources – and don’t add fuel to the ones we can’t independently verify.
On the leak of the TPP minutes, Bill Shorten had this to say:
First of all, let us go to the substantive issue which was being debated last week. The government has signed a trade agreement with other nations which we think has a serious deficiencies.
We are concerned that this government never focuses on Australian jobs and protecting Australian jobs. So that is the debate. Right through my caucus there is concern that this agreement has plenty of problems with it.
Having said that, the debate was how do we [get] some of the benefits for farmers who are going through a drought, for higher education, for our steel and metal industries, and take those benefits and correct the defects in the agreement, on the election of a Labor government, whenever that is. The other people were saying the whole agreement is rubbish and we should not do any of it.
What we saw was, I thought, a thorough and fair dinkum debate. What we should never do in Australia is confuse debate and disagreement with disunity. I welcome the full range of opinions being expressed are my parliamentary team. We are in touch with everyday people. What I don’t do, is confuse that with disunity.
And whether the leak concerned him:
I want to remind you that I myself referred to this debate on the the Insiders ... TV show, ... and said I reluctantly support this agreement and intend to improve it when we get into government. I don’t begrudge journalists getting background briefings. That’s your job.
But seriously, let’s not confuse debate and difference of opinion with disunity. I’m on to my third Liberal prime minister, Tanya Plibersek is on to a new deputy ... [Liberal] leader, Chris Bowen has had three treasurers, Linda Burney has had more social services ministers then you can think of. That’s disunity. Debating ideas – that’s what we are paid to do.
The Australian Services Union has responded to Labor’s superannuation plan as a step in the right direction, but says more needs to be done.
Labor’s announcement that it would pay super to people on parental leave if elected to government is a long-overdue reform, advocated by the union movement for several years and will change lives. Reforms to make it easier for employers to contribute more to women’s super is also positive.
The fact that employers can avoid paying superannuation to those earning less than $450 in a given month is an injustice that clearly discriminates against women who dominate the casual and part-time workforce.
One in every two employed women works part time compared to only one in every five men, and women are 68.6% of all part-time employees, according to official data.
The ASU supports the abolition of the threshold but want to see a faster phase-in of the reform and will work with all sides of politics to achieve that.
A recent survey conducted through Galaxy Research (sample of 1,068) found 76% of Australians thought that those earning under $450 per month from an employer should earn superannuation on their income. Only 16% disagree (8% said they don’t know).
Labor is officially launching its superannuation pay gap bridge plan.
Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek, Chris Bowen, Clare O’Neil, Linda Burney and Jenny McAllister have come together to make the announcement.
Plibersek:
We know that Australian women, throughout their working lives, are earning less than men. We continue to see a gender pay gap. They are also retiring with less than men. As Bill said, the gap is about $130,000 on average at the moment, about 40% less than men.
There is a lot of things that we need to do over time to fix the income gap between men and women. Of course we have to address the gender pay gap during the working lives of women. But we also need to address this retirement income gap. Today’s measures are a significant step towards reducing the unequal retirement incomes of men and women.
Today, we are announcing, of course, that we will be paying superannuation to people who are on commonwealth paid parental leave, either maternity leave or dad and partner pay. That is a very big step. We are also progressively getting rid of the $450 per month threshold, below which superannuation currently isn’t paid.
We know that more and more people, instead of working one full-time job, work in multiple jobs. They are working part-time, they working cattle, doing seasonal work – quite often they are missing out on superannuation in all of those jobs.
That is also contributing to the retirement income gap between men and women. These two measures combined and the other measures we are detailing today mean that over time we will reduce the gap between men and women’s superannuation. It is absolutely unconscionable that today, in Australia, the fastest-growing group of people moving into homelessness are single, older women. Addressing this superannuation gap will help reduce that terrible statistic.
Here’s more of Labor’s TPP caucus debate from last week. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/qXPS1rs4FP
Tanya Plibersek visited the ABC this morning to talk about Labor’s superannuation plan:
There’s two main measures that we are talking about. The first is paying superannuation when someone’s on parental leave – so maternity leave or dad and partner pay.
We know that one of the big reasons that women retire with less superannuation than men is because they are taking time out of the workforce to care for their families.
The second measure is another really important one. At the moment, if you earn less than $450 a month you don’t get paid superannuation. And what we know is that more and more people are making up one income from lots of small jobs, part-time or casual jobs.
So they are missing out on superannuation in each of those jobs. We want to make sure that we move that $450 limit over time, over the next few years. We will phase it out, so that whatever job you are working, if it’s a few hours a week, you will end up getting superannuation on that job.
We are also going to make it easier for employers to make voluntary contributions to women’s super, if they want to do that. We will make sure that when we make changes to superannuation, we consider the gender impact of those changes.
Jordon Steele-John has been leading the latest push to have abuse against the disabled included as part of the aged care royal commission.
The Greens senator broke down in parliament earlier in the week while asking Mathias Cormann why it was being ignored.
Just left the chamber, I tried my best to name those who've died as a result of violence, abuse or neglect in institutional & residential settings. Many I couldn't name because their circumstances were just too horrific, and in the end it was too much #RoyalCommisionNow #Greens
Last night, he used parliamentary privilege to name some of those who had died, while in care. It’s horrific reading, but important:
Tonight, I’d like to read a passage from a speech given by my fellow disability activist and advocate Craig Wallace, who, in 2015, as part of the White Flower Memorial to commemorate all those who died in institutional and residential care, spoke to the sorrow and pain of our community.
In concluding, he said, ‘I call for those who have left us to be remembered, for their names and stories to be said out loud in the sunlight and amongst the people who love them’.
Tonight, I seek to speak their names, and though the sun does not shine in this place I hope that their stories will move the hearts of those who have it within their power to see justice done.
The following names are those who have died in the lead-up or subsequent to the Senate inquiry which called for a royal commission.
Shellay Ward, aged seven, was found locked in a room without sunlight, surrounded by faeces. Shellay died from starvation and thirst, and she weighed only nine kilograms—a third of her expected body weight. She had severe autism and was considered to be profoundly disabled.
Levi Bonnar, seven years old, was found beaten, tortured and finally killed by the people who were meant to care for him.
Hayley Dea Bell was eight years old. When she was found in 2013 she was starved, suffering from pneumonia and her hair was infested with lice and matted with dirt.
Isabella Leiper was nine. She died from a combination of internal injuries which paediatricians said were caused by blunt force to the stomach, such as a fist.
Julian was 11. He was left to freeze to death in a shed. He had first been hosed with water after having faeces rubbed in his face.
Liam Milne and his younger brother.
Craig Sullivan, 17, who was arrested for a minor driving offence and later bashed by another inmate at the Ashley youth detention centre, died in isolation from a massive brain haemorrhage.
Brandon Le Serve suffered severe learning difficulties and was killed by a family member.
Jack Sullivan, 18, died in state-funded care in the ACT from drowning.
Lara Madigan, 20, was returned to her parents’ care at 19, despite stating that they could not look after her. Nine months before her death, authorities were warned she would die if the situation was not addressed. Two weeks before her death, both of her legs were amputated to attempt to stem infection. She died covered in her own faeces and urine in a room infested with cockroaches.
Sarah Hammoud, 22, a disabled young woman who was unable to speak and reportedly half-dragged and half-carried herself from a taxi after a shocking incident, allegedly witnessed by community workers, later died in hospital in 2016 of septicaemia.
Christopher O’Brien, aged 22.
Neil Summerell.
Rebecca Lazarus was found with multiple stab wounds in her chest and abdomen in a group-care home.
Jamie Vincent Johnson, age undisclosed. His care plan stated that he should not be left alone with water because he would drink it without stopping. He died after being left alone in the shower.
Carney Schultz died in a group home. She had a seizure at 2.23am that was documented by staff and was found dead seven hours later.
Shona Hookey, 29, died as a result of medical neglect in an institutionalised setting.
Stephen Ind, 29, a quadriplegic man who made complaints of sexual assault and misconduct by his carers. He was left face down and suffocated to death.
Stuart Lambert.
Melanie Cutmore, who died in the same hospital and under similar circumstances as Shona Hookey.
Brett Ponting, 33, died after being left unsupervised in a bathtub for an extended period of time. His carers were blamed for negligence.
Darren Kingma died in his respite facility as a result of an unexplained incident in which he broke his neck. He was left on the floor for over an hour after his support workers gave up trying to pull him up, saying that he was being non-compliant.
David Veech.
Miriam Merten, a mother of two who was left naked and covered in faeces at a Lismore psychiatric hospital.
Amanda Gilbert, 47, who had an acquired brain injury as a result of attempted suicide and was placed in the Graylands hospital psychiatric care centre in my home state of WA. She was raped and assaulted 111 times and died as a result of complications used in the medication to sedate her. The WA coroner believes this to have been an underestimation of the number of times that she was raped.
Leah Elizabeth Floyd died when a pressure sore she had received at her care home became septic. The inquest heard about serious issues in the facility that she lived [in].
Julie Jacobson, a 51-year-old amputee who died a preventable, avoidable death after a private disability support provider withdrew essential supports.
Sandra Deacon, 59.
Janice and Robyn Frescura, 68 and 50. A family friend of the three people who died in a shooting near Hervey Bay says it was a mercy killing.
Shirley Thompson.
Janet Mackozdi.
Julie Betty Kuhn. A 81-year-old from Armadale was charged over his elderly partner’s apparent mercy killing. It was described as a beautiful act of mercy for his wife.
These are the names that don’t get spoken. These are the reasons. These are the human beings. These are the loved ones, the mothers, the fathers, the sons and the partners who need justice, who demand justice, whose lives were worth living, in whose memory I tonight wear a white flower and whose passing fills me with an ironclad determination. I will not stop and I will not rest until they find the justice that is so desperately owed them
Speaking of the Nationals and the ABC, Catherine Marriott, who accused Barnaby Joyce of sexual harassment (which Joyce has denied) spoke to Leigh Sales for 7.30 last night.
Gabrielle Chan reported on what she said, with the interview coming after the Nationals were unable to come to a finding on the allegations:
Marriott did not describe the incident in detail, saying she did not want to be defined by it, but she struggled over whether to make a complaint.
“[After the incident] I walked up to my hotel room and I burst into tears. I then couldn’t sleep that whole night. I didn’t actually sleep for a week.
“I rang two of my closest friends and I told them what had happened, and they said they couldn’t believe … they were just absolutely shocked, and they said, ‘You can’t tell anyone. You cannot tell anyone … you will be destroyed if this comes out’.”
Bridget McKenzie spoke about the strawberry crisis – and for growers, who are facing ramifications not just this season, but next, it is absolutely a crisis – and said consumers needed to keep it in perspective:
We have a great food safety system and we have been coordinating daily meetings between state and territories to keep abreast of the situation. You have seen commentary on social media, whipping up concern where maybe it is unnecessary.
Earlier in the week we had three punnets contaminated out of 800,000. We need to keep it in perspective. Australians need to be assured that what they are eating is safe, but we need to put it in perspective because this has huge far-reaching implications when people stop purchasing or indeed retailers such as Coles taking all strawberries off their shelves. That has flow-on effects for businesses and thousands of Australian employees that we need to consider when people go off half-cut.
The deputy Nationals leader was chatting to the ABC there.
For some reason* this bill is back on the agenda – the treasury laws amendment (working holiday maker employer register) bill 2017
Basically, it would stop the tax commissioner from making a public register that backpackers could access to see if their employers comply with tax obligations.
As a general rule, those who are transparent tend to be less exploitive employers.
The register was part of the backpacker tax legislation, which was passed in 2016. (Doesn’t that feel like a lifetime ago?)
The bill to remove the register popped up in February last year, and then last hit the Senate in May. It went away, but now is back. And all of a sudden – it didn’t hit the agenda until late yesterday.
Labor’s Andrew Leigh is against it:
We’ve heard too many reports about the exploitation of vulnerable working-holiday makers and that’s why Labor was pleased when the Libs committed to a public register of those employers that have employed working-holiday makers.
Now they’re trying to go back on that. There [is] backing in the Senate a bill that would kill off the public register. Less transparency means more exploitation and it means Australians are less likely to see the taxes paid that ought to be paid.
The Senate should vote down this bad bill. We need more transparency, stronger protection for working-holiday makers and better compliance with Australia’s tax laws.
* The reason is the government has run out of legislation after taking the Neg and company tax cuts off the table, and is yet to start working out what its policies are under Scott Morrison, creating a lag in legislation.