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Peter Dutton avoids no-confidence motion by one vote – politics live Peter Dutton avoids no-confidence motion by one vote – politics live
(35 minutes later)
In response to Katharine Murphy’s question following up her story on the AMA calling on the government to move families on Nauru to the Australian mainland, where they can be properly treated and monitored by doctors - the question being, will you heed their calls - Scott Morrison says: Just for those who missed it - Ben Morton was technically paired.
The official statement on the schools funding announcement has been released:
Australian families will have choice and equity in education as the Morrison government guarantees funding to the non-government school sector.
The Australian government has accepted all the recommendations of the National School Resourcing Board’s Review of the socio-economic status score, released in July. The new method for calculating school funding will make the education system fairer and more equitable.
Commonwealth funding for non-government schools will be linked to parental income from 2020 using improved data collection and analysis that will ensure non-government school funding is targeted at the students who need it most.
A vibrant, fairly funded non-government school sector ensures parents retain the choice of where to send their kids to school. The non-government system provides an alternative which improves standards and competition across the board, while also alleviating pressure on the state system.
The federal government is providing a record $309.6bn in recurrent funding to all Australian schools from 2018 to 2029. The government remains committed to sector blind needs based funding arrangements and will provide an additional $3.2bn over 10 years to non-government schools identified as needing the most help from 2020 to 2029, with an additional $170.8m available in 2019 to give funding certainty.
A further $1.2bn will be provided for a new fund to address specific challenges in the non-government school sector, such as supporting schools in drought-affected areas, schools that need help to improve performance and to deliver choice in communities.
The government appreciates the constructive way the non-government sector has worked together to deliver these important reforms.
Update: There was another technical pair.
On the numbers for that suspended standing orders vote, we have been trying to get to the bottom of what happened.
Rebehka Sharkie and Cathy McGowan voted with Labor and Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie to get them to 67.
Bob Katter voted with the government – which got them to 68.
Which, as someone else also looking at this points out, if Katter had switched sides, the government would have lost (that particular) vote
There were six pairs, I am told. But there are seven Coalition members who didn’t vote.
Warren Entsch and Alex Hawke are away, and were paired and Labor asked for four pairs, so Chris Crewther, Steve Irons, Sussan Ley and Andrew Wallace sat in the advisor’s box.
Ben Morton was absent - but seems like it was a technical error - he should have been paired, but his absence was known.
The simplest way to conceptualise that press conference is: Catholics and independents weren’t happy – so here’s a fist full of dollars.The specifics are:
$170.8m in 2019 of interim funding – this is for a number of fixes, including rolling over the system-weighted average and guaranteeing 3% growth for independent schools;
$3.2bn from 2020 to 2029 to Catholic and independent schools, to transition to a new measure of parents’ capacity to contribute that uses direct measures of their income rather than the vaguer socio-economic status score;
$1.2bn from 2020 to 2029 for a flexible “school choice” fund – which Dan Tehan described as “sector blind” but public schools CANNOT apply for. Instead, it’s for government priorities like diversity (keeping Catholic schools open) and specific issues such as regional, rural and remote education.
Morrison said that of the $4.5bn more in spending over the decade, $1.1bn will be in the next four years. That sum will be “reconciled” in the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook in mid December, but did not promise to find offsets to pay for the spending.
Instead, he pointed to improving revenue estimates due to improvements in business tax.
It looks like large swathes of parliament house are without internet at the moment, so people are actually having to call each other old school – Tanya Plibersek will be responding to the Catholic schools funding announcement in the opposition courtyard at 1.45.
Not every backbencher was happy with having to support Peter Dutton in the vote Adam Bandt brought on, in an attempt to move a no-confidence motion against the home affairs minister, as that question in the press conference highlighted.
And some were very happy to support him.
I have no intel on who is who, but I think you could probably guess which side parts of the backbench fell into.
In response to Katharine Murphy’s question following up her story on the AMA calling on the government to move families on Nauru to the Australian mainland, where they can be properly treated and monitored by doctors – the question being, will you heed their calls – Scott Morrison says:
“We are getting families off Nauru. That’s what we’re doing. That’s why we have the arrangement with the United States and that’s why we’re pursuing that. We thank our partners in the US with the way we are able to progress with that.“We are getting families off Nauru. That’s what we’re doing. That’s why we have the arrangement with the United States and that’s why we’re pursuing that. We thank our partners in the US with the way we are able to progress with that.
You know my views about this - I’m not going to put at risk any element of Australia’s border protection policy because I know when you do that, which is what Labor did last time, thinking it would have no effect, 1,200 people died. So I’m not going to do that.” You know my views about this – I’m not going to put at risk any element of Australia’s border protection policy because I know when you do that, which is what Labor did last time, thinking it would have no effect, 1,200 people died. So I’m not going to do that.”
Brett Mason from SBS asks: ‘Prime Minister, in March, Peter Dutton told the Parliament, ‘I don’t know these people’ in relation to th eau pair issue. The evidence presented to the inquiry shows very clearly that he did. Your minister misled the Parliament, didn’t he?” Brett Mason from SBS asks: ‘Prime Minister, in March, Peter Dutton told the parliament, ‘I don’t know these people’ in relation to the au pair issue. The evidence presented to the inquiry shows very clearly that he did. Your minister misled the parliament, didn’t he?”
And Scott Morrison wraps up the press conference VERY quickly:And Scott Morrison wraps up the press conference VERY quickly:
“No, I don’t accept that at all and neither does he and the Parliament doesn’t take that view as well. Thanks very much. Thank you.” “No, I don’t accept that at all and neither does he and the parliament doesn’t take that view as well. Thanks very much. Thank you.”
Asked by another reporter (I missed who) about the vote to suspend standing orders for a no-confidence motion against Peter Dutton, where he says “one of your backbenchers said to another – supporting that man goes against what I want to do. Does this not show that you don’t have the unity in the government in the party you were seeking?”Asked by another reporter (I missed who) about the vote to suspend standing orders for a no-confidence motion against Peter Dutton, where he says “one of your backbenchers said to another – supporting that man goes against what I want to do. Does this not show that you don’t have the unity in the government in the party you were seeking?”
Scott Morrison responds:Scott Morrison responds:
I think that’s nonsense. The Labor party have been kicking up a lot of dust this week about votes and how it’s all going to go. And on each and every occasion, our team has stood fast in the Parliament.I think that’s nonsense. The Labor party have been kicking up a lot of dust this week about votes and how it’s all going to go. And on each and every occasion, our team has stood fast in the Parliament.
So what it has shown today is frankly Labor are just full of a lot of hot air. They trumped up a partisan base committee report in the Senate which I said this morning if that same committee used its numbers to say the sun didn’t come up this morning, well, that wouldn’t make that true either.So what it has shown today is frankly Labor are just full of a lot of hot air. They trumped up a partisan base committee report in the Senate which I said this morning if that same committee used its numbers to say the sun didn’t come up this morning, well, that wouldn’t make that true either.
The parliament has dealt with this matter now and it continues to deal with the matter. I think it’s time for the Labor party to move on from their games and the Greens to move on from their games and the government is focused 100% on the needs of the Australian people and this week a royal commission into the aged care sector.The parliament has dealt with this matter now and it continues to deal with the matter. I think it’s time for the Labor party to move on from their games and the Greens to move on from their games and the government is focused 100% on the needs of the Australian people and this week a royal commission into the aged care sector.
This week – dealing very quickly with the issues of alarm that has been happening in our farming community whether it’s with strawberries or with whether it’s drought today to ensure you can get the hay to the farmers.This week – dealing very quickly with the issues of alarm that has been happening in our farming community whether it’s with strawberries or with whether it’s drought today to ensure you can get the hay to the farmers.
We are here again demonstrating that we are focused on the needs of Australian parents and students.We are here again demonstrating that we are focused on the needs of Australian parents and students.
So that’s what the government’s been doing this week. The Labor party and the Greens and others have just been playing the usual Canberra games, and when politicians play Canberra games and when others play Canberra games, now know what the Australian people do – they’re turning down the sound.So that’s what the government’s been doing this week. The Labor party and the Greens and others have just been playing the usual Canberra games, and when politicians play Canberra games and when others play Canberra games, now know what the Australian people do – they’re turning down the sound.
They’re turning it down on Labor and the Greens and turning it up on our government because our government is focused on what they’re interested in.They’re turning it down on Labor and the Greens and turning it up on our government because our government is focused on what they’re interested in.
Asked if this proves that if you lobby hard enough you can get whatever you want from the government, Scott Morrison says to Fairfax reporter Michael Koziol:Asked if this proves that if you lobby hard enough you can get whatever you want from the government, Scott Morrison says to Fairfax reporter Michael Koziol:
“Well, I am not surprised you have a very cynical view about this, but I don’t think parents will be cynical like that. They will know that we’re funding public schools at record levels. And all parents want to have choices about how they educate their children. And where there are issues that need to be addressed, we’ll address them.“Well, I am not surprised you have a very cynical view about this, but I don’t think parents will be cynical like that. They will know that we’re funding public schools at record levels. And all parents want to have choices about how they educate their children. And where there are issues that need to be addressed, we’ll address them.
“State governments are the principal funders of state schools. The Commonwealth government has always been the principal funder of non-government Schools. That’s not news, that’s a longstanding arrangements. We stepped up on public schools and non-government schools.“State governments are the principal funders of state schools. The Commonwealth government has always been the principal funder of non-government Schools. That’s not news, that’s a longstanding arrangements. We stepped up on public schools and non-government schools.
We believe in choice in education. We believe Australian parents should have choice. And we’re guaranteeing that choice through the decisions and the commitments and the agreements we reached today.”We believe in choice in education. We believe Australian parents should have choice. And we’re guaranteeing that choice through the decisions and the commitments and the agreements we reached today.”
Scott Morrison and Dan Tehan have announced a new funding deal for Catholic schools, after months of discontent from the non-government school sector, which led to conflict between the Catholic sector and the government – which included the sector lobbying against the government in byelections.Scott Morrison and Dan Tehan have announced a new funding deal for Catholic schools, after months of discontent from the non-government school sector, which led to conflict between the Catholic sector and the government – which included the sector lobbying against the government in byelections.
Morrison:Morrison:
From 2020, the Commonwealth will transition to a new method of calculating how non-state schools are funded and that will make the education system fairer and more equitable.From 2020, the Commonwealth will transition to a new method of calculating how non-state schools are funded and that will make the education system fairer and more equitable.
The updated calculation was recommended by the National School Resourcing Board and its review on how the non-state school sector is funded. To support schools during the transition, the commonwealth government will provide over the medium term – $3.2bn to support students, parents and teachers of non-state schools.The updated calculation was recommended by the National School Resourcing Board and its review on how the non-state school sector is funded. To support schools during the transition, the commonwealth government will provide over the medium term – $3.2bn to support students, parents and teachers of non-state schools.
For students, this will mean the opportunity to get the best results from school. The parents, it will mean that choice remains affordable.For students, this will mean the opportunity to get the best results from school. The parents, it will mean that choice remains affordable.
An affordable choice in government non-schools. For teachers, it will mean certainty of funding so they can get on with the job.An affordable choice in government non-schools. For teachers, it will mean certainty of funding so they can get on with the job.
In addition to this funding, arrangements for 2019 will allow schools to plan with confidence for their 2019 school year.In addition to this funding, arrangements for 2019 will allow schools to plan with confidence for their 2019 school year.
... It will support diversity in the schooling system with a new $1.2bn fund over the medium term that will provide a flexible means of targets extra support for those schools in the non-government sector that require the extra support. Such as schools, I should stress, in rural and regional and remote locations, schools in drought-affected areas or underperforming schools and I particularly want to welcome the offer by the national Catholic education commission and archbishop fisher to do all they can to provide relief for students from families in drought-affected areas where they’re attending school which has been a key part of our discussions.... It will support diversity in the schooling system with a new $1.2bn fund over the medium term that will provide a flexible means of targets extra support for those schools in the non-government sector that require the extra support. Such as schools, I should stress, in rural and regional and remote locations, schools in drought-affected areas or underperforming schools and I particularly want to welcome the offer by the national Catholic education commission and archbishop fisher to do all they can to provide relief for students from families in drought-affected areas where they’re attending school which has been a key part of our discussions.
Of course remain committed to the state school system. We are delivering record levels of additional recurrent funding for government schools growing from $7.3 billion this year to 13.7 billion in 2029.Of course remain committed to the state school system. We are delivering record levels of additional recurrent funding for government schools growing from $7.3 billion this year to 13.7 billion in 2029.
I want to thank the national Catholic education commission who are issuing a statement today where they make it very plain that the National Catholic Education Commission fully supports the package of measures unveiled today.I want to thank the national Catholic education commission who are issuing a statement today where they make it very plain that the National Catholic Education Commission fully supports the package of measures unveiled today.
And I welcome also the correspondence from the independent schools council of Australia where they say the proposal for the phased introduction of a new model for calculating government funding for non-government schools creates a foundation for a fair and reasonable resolution of the current funding issues it has our full support.And I welcome also the correspondence from the independent schools council of Australia where they say the proposal for the phased introduction of a new model for calculating government funding for non-government schools creates a foundation for a fair and reasonable resolution of the current funding issues it has our full support.
In news which I am sure will send a shockwave through our democracy, the Senate has run out of time to debate Pauline Hanson’s ‘it’s ok to be white’ motion.In news which I am sure will send a shockwave through our democracy, the Senate has run out of time to debate Pauline Hanson’s ‘it’s ok to be white’ motion.
The earliest the Senate can get to it now, is in the October session.The earliest the Senate can get to it now, is in the October session.
#thoughtsandprayers#thoughtsandprayers
Andrew Wilkie’s speech in full:Andrew Wilkie’s speech in full:
Central to the Minister for Home Affairs defence is that he receives hundreds of requests from members of parliament and from senators to intervene in individual cases, and that’s all he did in the case of the two or three au pairs.Central to the Minister for Home Affairs defence is that he receives hundreds of requests from members of parliament and from senators to intervene in individual cases, and that’s all he did in the case of the two or three au pairs.
What he misses when he gives that defence is the fact that those hundreds of requests for intervention are genuinely for people on humanitarian grounds.What he misses when he gives that defence is the fact that those hundreds of requests for intervention are genuinely for people on humanitarian grounds.
There is no way in the world that the Minister for Home Affairs can lean on the defence that the intervention in the case of the au pairs was on humanitarian grounds.There is no way in the world that the Minister for Home Affairs can lean on the defence that the intervention in the case of the au pairs was on humanitarian grounds.
That is patently bunkum. And how offensive is that to all of those who care about the people who are locked up in our overseas gulags on Manus Island and Nauru? How offensive is that?That is patently bunkum. And how offensive is that to all of those who care about the people who are locked up in our overseas gulags on Manus Island and Nauru? How offensive is that?
How wrong is it for the manager of government business to defend the Minister for Home Affairs by saying, he’s kept us safe, and we don’t want to keep us safe.How wrong is it for the manager of government business to defend the Minister for Home Affairs by saying, he’s kept us safe, and we don’t want to keep us safe.
Of course we want to keep us safe, but we also want to act like a legal country, with integrity.Of course we want to keep us safe, but we also want to act like a legal country, with integrity.
It is outrageous that there have been countless children now who have been desperately sick and the Minister for Home Affairs has refused to have them brought to Australia, and its been left to the federal court to issue orders to bring those people to Australia.It is outrageous that there have been countless children now who have been desperately sick and the Minister for Home Affairs has refused to have them brought to Australia, and its been left to the federal court to issue orders to bring those people to Australia.
On one hand, it’s OK to be intervening on humanitarian grounds for aupairs to come to this country but not OK for the minister to intervene in numerous cases.On one hand, it’s OK to be intervening on humanitarian grounds for aupairs to come to this country but not OK for the minister to intervene in numerous cases.
For example, just this year the federal court issued transport orders for a 10-year-old boy on Nauru who attempted suicide three times and needed surgery.For example, just this year the federal court issued transport orders for a 10-year-old boy on Nauru who attempted suicide three times and needed surgery.
The federal court had to order the repatriation to Australia of a young girl who attempted suicide three times on Nauru.The federal court had to order the repatriation to Australia of a young girl who attempted suicide three times on Nauru.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 14-year-old girl who doused herself in petrol and set herself alight on Nauru.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 14-year-old girl who doused herself in petrol and set herself alight on Nauru.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 17-year-old boy who suffers from psychosis and needed to be reunited with his mother.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 17-year-old boy who suffers from psychosis and needed to be reunited with his mother.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of an adolescent girl suffering major depression and traumatic withdrawal syndrome.The federal court had to intervene in the case of an adolescent girl suffering major depression and traumatic withdrawal syndrome.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a critically unwell baby.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a critically unwell baby.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 12-year-old boy on Nauru refusing fluid and food for nearly two weeks.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 12-year-old boy on Nauru refusing fluid and food for nearly two weeks.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 17-year-old girl on Nauru refusing all food and fluid and diagnosed with resignation syndrome.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 17-year-old girl on Nauru refusing all food and fluid and diagnosed with resignation syndrome.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 12-year-old girl on Nauru who has attempted suicide several times, also setting herself on fire.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 12-year-old girl on Nauru who has attempted suicide several times, also setting herself on fire.
The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 14-year-old boy on Nauru, suffering major depressive disorder and severe muscle wastage after not getting out of bed for four months.The federal court had to intervene in the case of a 14-year-old boy on Nauru, suffering major depressive disorder and severe muscle wastage after not getting out of bed for four months.
But the minister says it’s OK to intervene in the case of two or three au pairs on humanitarian grounds when we’ve got at least 30 children on Nauru who doctors say should be brought to this country for urgent medical attention.But the minister says it’s OK to intervene in the case of two or three au pairs on humanitarian grounds when we’ve got at least 30 children on Nauru who doctors say should be brought to this country for urgent medical attention.
Then there’s the case of all the people on Manus who are effectively detained there.Then there’s the case of all the people on Manus who are effectively detained there.
It is a complete nonsense.It is a complete nonsense.
It’s deeply offensive to all of us in this parliament when we’re accused of being weak on national security.It’s deeply offensive to all of us in this parliament when we’re accused of being weak on national security.
We’re strong on national security but we’re also humanitarians.We’re strong on national security but we’re also humanitarians.
When we go to the minister and ask him to intervene, it’s for genuine humanitarian grounds, because we believe we should start acting like a law-abiding country, with integrity.When we go to the minister and ask him to intervene, it’s for genuine humanitarian grounds, because we believe we should start acting like a law-abiding country, with integrity.
Scott Morrison has called a press conference in the prime minister’s courtyard – the FANCIEST and most serious of the press conference locations – and it’s with education minister Dan Tehan.Scott Morrison has called a press conference in the prime minister’s courtyard – the FANCIEST and most serious of the press conference locations – and it’s with education minister Dan Tehan.
Looks like the solution to the Catholic schools funding issue has just become clear.Looks like the solution to the Catholic schools funding issue has just become clear.
Further to Andrew Wilkie’s speech on why the motion should have been supported (which I am working on bringing you), it might be worth having a look at this story from Katharine Murphy, if you haven’t already:Further to Andrew Wilkie’s speech on why the motion should have been supported (which I am working on bringing you), it might be worth having a look at this story from Katharine Murphy, if you haven’t already:
The president of the Australian Medical Association has urged Scott Morrisonto take urgent action to remove families and children from Nauru, preferably to the Australian mainland, to safeguard their physical and mental health.The president of the Australian Medical Association has urged Scott Morrisonto take urgent action to remove families and children from Nauru, preferably to the Australian mainland, to safeguard their physical and mental health.
In a letter to Morrison from Dr Tony Bartone, seen by Guardian Australia, the AMA president says the medical profession is “demanding a change of policy” in recognition that the situation on Nauru is now “a humanitarian emergency requiring urgent intervention”.In a letter to Morrison from Dr Tony Bartone, seen by Guardian Australia, the AMA president says the medical profession is “demanding a change of policy” in recognition that the situation on Nauru is now “a humanitarian emergency requiring urgent intervention”.
As well as urging the new prime minister to change the policy he presided over as a former immigration minister, the AMA president has asked Morrison to facilitate access to Nauru for a delegation of Australian doctors to assess the health and wellbeing of people in detention.As well as urging the new prime minister to change the policy he presided over as a former immigration minister, the AMA president has asked Morrison to facilitate access to Nauru for a delegation of Australian doctors to assess the health and wellbeing of people in detention.
You could suggest that Peter Dutton just saved Peter Dutton from a potentially very humiliating exercise.You could suggest that Peter Dutton just saved Peter Dutton from a potentially very humiliating exercise.
The motion to suspend standing orders fails by one:The motion to suspend standing orders fails by one:
Ayes: 67Ayes: 67
Noes: 68Noes: 68