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Question time under way as Labor says Coalition 'running from democracy' – politics live Kelly O'Dwyer: Coalition 'is the natural government for Australian women' – politics live
(35 minutes later)
Greg Hunt takes the last dixer.
Scott Morrison is almost ready to go – you can tell, because he starts putting his papers in order, and he puts his green folder on top.
It’s a fun organisational tic he seems to have.
Chris Bowen to Josh Frydenberg
Does the Treasurer agree with himself then he said, ‘If you believe in lower power prices, if you want to see Australian households $550 a year better off if you want to see the wholesale price down by 20 per cent... You get behind the National Energy Guarantee.”
Frydenberg:
Well, as the Prime Minister made very clear, the Leader of the Opposition, when the National Energy Guarantee was being discussed, called it a Frankenstein policy, Mr Speaker, and in doing so he revealed everything that he’s about. Just politics. It’s all about politics. It’s not about reducing power prices.
Frydenberg continues with almost the same answer Scott Morrison gave just a bit ago, which is not surprising given Morrison quickly scribbles down a note, circling part of it and moves it in front of Frydenberg.
You can say one thing about Cory Bernardi – he is incredibly consistent.
From his latest blog:
This week we also saw the Greens party’s prime show phony Sarah Hanson-Young claim her turgid performance and histrionics over the past decade has been due to sexism. She clearly doesn’t realise that her hopelessness and rotten ideas aren’t a product of her gender but of the loathsome ideology she espouses.
There was even a claim by a Labor senator that, the ‘tone’ used by a Coalition Senator during a formal motion was sexist. Honestly, you cannot make this garbage up. But such nonsense isn’t confined to the kooky Greens and Labor.
Lady Liberals are now piling on to the supposed endemic sexism and bias in the party. Surprisingly, they remained silent while they rose through the ranks and participated in every Machiavellian maneuver to advance their careers but now they can afford to ‘speak out’ to ‘make change’.
Mark Butler to Scott Morrison:
“Does the prime minister agree with himself when he said ‘the national energy guarantee achieves lower energy prices?’”
Morrison:
The misrepresentation of the National Energy Guarantee as being some measure that the opposition has somehow taken from the Coalition I think is deeply misleading.
I’ll tell you why.
In the proposal considered by the government the emissions reduction target was 20%. It wasn’t 45%. The Labor party cannot use the National Energy Guarantee as some sort of trojan horse to legislate a 45% emissions reduction target, Mr Speaker.
The Australian public should not be fooled by this lie, Mr Speaker, because it is a very tricky and shifty lie from the leader of the Opposition.
Very tricky and very shifty. 45% emissions reduction target will turbo-charge electricity prices high, Mr Speaker.
That will hit pensioners, it will hit families, it will hit small businesses, it will hit the agriculture industry. It will help the smelting industry. It will hit businesses and regions all across the country, Mr Speaker.
If you’re interested in taking electricity’s prices down, you do not have reckless targets when it comes to managing your emissions. We have a sensible target. It’s 26%. We’re committed to it and we will continue to meet it.
Scott Morrison is attempting to tell parliament the NEG isn’t the NEG if it has a 45% target. Strange, then, the ESB officials saying constantly the NEG target was scalable and that was a key feature of the design #qt
Barnaby Joyce asks David Littleproud a dixer.
The most I can take from this is Littleproud has been attending the same non-yelling lessons as the prime minister.
Eventually, Tony Smith allows the question.
Kelly O’Dwyer:
I thank the member for her question. It gives me an opportunity to be able to explain again to the House how this government is the natural government for Australian women.
I can’t tell you what she says next, because I don’t think I have ever heard Labor exclaim so loud.
They are unable to control themselves. Julia Banks does not look up from her bench. Neither does Julie Bishop. Labor looks like it has been handed a Bob Hawke for a new generation for Christmas and no one is even pretending to hold themselves together.
O’Dwyer:
As I said, we are the government that naturally represents Australian women. We represent their hopes and aspirations.
(interjections)
Tony Burke asks for the answer time to be extended.
O’Dwyer:
You won’t listen to a woman at the despatch Box, so I will not take a lesson from you on that.
“Well done, Kelly,” say Coalition MPs. “Disgraceful”. Clare O’Neil and Madeleine King get thrown out under section 94a.
O’Dwyer continues listing the government achievements, but Labor has made its point.
Linda Burney to Kelly O’Dwyer:
The minister failed to answer the question yesterday, so I ask – does the minister agree with herself and this Liberal Government that – that this Liberal Government is widely seen as, I quote “homophobic, anti-women, and climate change deniers”?
Tony Smith raises the issue that the question sounds the same as the one which was asked yesterday. Tony Burke says the question is different, and that the rule only applies if the question is fully answered.
Burke says how answered the question was is not a judgment Burke can make.
The clayton’s crossbencher, Kevin Hogan (he still goes to the National party room meetings, but has moved to the crossbench – it’s complicated) is the latest visitor to Julia Banks’s bench.
Kelly O’Dwyer is giving a dixer answer on the women’s economic security statement.
She mentions the gender pay gap.
“What’s the gender pay gap in the Coalition,” Julian Hill yells.
He’s thrown out under 94a.
You may have noticed the theme of the government’s answers today “by contrast”.
It’s in almost all of them.
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Why won’t the prime minister listen to the member for Curtin and work with Labor on the National Energy Guarantee, a policy which the current treasurer designed and the current prime minister said would lower power prices?
Morrison (who has done a lot of work in non-yelling rehearsals):
The leader of the Opposition referred to this policy as a Frankenstein policy, (he did, I just missed the preamble) Mr Speaker. So what will that demonstrate? You can never believe anything this bloke says, Mr Speaker. He is for everything and he’s against everything. You have no idea...
...After five years the Australian people have come to a conclusion on the leader of the Labor party and that is he can’t be trusted. He can’t be trusted on anything. He will blow with the wind whichever way political opportunism follows, Mr Speaker. That is the nature and the character of the leader of the Opposition.
If you scratch him, you won’t find a belief, if you scratch him, you won’t find a conviction. All you will find is rank opportunism and hubris. All you will find is ambition, Mr Speaker as he took down one leader after the next, Mr Speaker.
Labor explodes into a cacophony of theatrical outrage at this.
That’s his bag, Mr Speaker. That is his bag.
That is what he’s known for. That is why people don’t trust him and that’s why all of his backbenchers don’t trust him either, Mr Speaker.
The leader of the Opposition cannot be trusted. He can’t be trusted by his colleagues. He can’t be trusted by the Australian people when it comes to the economy, he can’t be trusted by the workers of Australia, who he sold out as their advocate, Mr Speaker.
He sold them out as their representative as a union, Mr Speaker, for nothing other than his own vain ambition. The Australian people have a clear line of sight on this bloke, and they know he cannot be trusted.
By contrast, Mr Speaker, what we’re saying when it comes to electricity prices is we are working to bring them down and as the energy minister has clearly stated today, both AGL and Energy Australia have taken decisions after discussions with the government, which have resulted in actual, real savings for hundreds of thousands of Australians on their electricity bill. Now, those opposite do not support the big-stick legislation that will take it to the electricity companies to ensure we keep them in line. The Labor party are not – they’re going to side with companies that have been increasing their profits at the expense of householders.
“Oh the BIG STICK” yells Labor.
The minister for reducing electricity prices and also big sticks, Angus Taylor is up next with the dixers, which perks Labor up, because there is nothing they seem to like more these days, then referencing big sticks.The minister for reducing electricity prices and also big sticks, Angus Taylor is up next with the dixers, which perks Labor up, because there is nothing they seem to like more these days, then referencing big sticks.
Anne Aly to......Josh Frydenberg Anne Aly to... Josh Frydenberg
I refer to reports that the Treasurer has cancelled his planned trip to meet with his international counterparts at the G20, because of government chaos and division. Now, given the Treasurer’s recent success as a cinematographer, has the Treasurer considered sending a video message to the G20 instead? I refer to reports that the treasurer has cancelled his planned trip to meet with his international counterparts at the G20, because of government chaos and division. Now, given the treasurer’s recent success as a cinematographer, has the treasurer considered sending a video message to the G20 instead?
There is laughter, and Frydenberg looks jovial as he approaches the despatch box (I mean, you have to find the joy where you can, right? And if you can’t laugh at your own accidental hostage video homage, what can you laugh at) but Scott Morrison gives him the little shake of the head.There is laughter, and Frydenberg looks jovial as he approaches the despatch box (I mean, you have to find the joy where you can, right? And if you can’t laugh at your own accidental hostage video homage, what can you laugh at) but Scott Morrison gives him the little shake of the head.
Which means – serious face.Which means – serious face.
Frydenberg pivots mid answer.Frydenberg pivots mid answer.
Both the Prime Minister and I are having a session with Mark Humphries shortly. Both the prime minister and I are having a session with Mark Humphries shortly.
The reality is the economy is a serious business. The Australian economy and the jobs of more than 100,000 young people who have been in a job, put in a job as a result of a strong economy, that we have helped create is a serious business. The Labor Party left us an economy where there was unemployment that was rising, investment that was in free-fall and debt was rising and as the Deputy Prime Minister reminds this place, confidence was falling. Now, Mr Speaker in contrast, we have delivered what Liberal and National Parties do - more jobs, lower taxes, and unemployment which is now at its lowest level since 20112. The reality is the economy is a serious business. The Australian economy and the jobs of more than 100,000 young people who have been in a job, put in a job as a result of a strong economy, that we have helped create is a serious business. The Labor party left us an economy where there was unemployment that was rising, investment that was in free-fall and debt was rising and as the deputy prime minister reminds this place, confidence was falling. Now, Mr Speaker in contrast, we have delivered what Liberal and National parties do – more jobs, lower taxes and unemployment which is now at its lowest level since 2012.
The Prime Minister will represent this country at the G20 meeting, accompanied by the Finance Minister and he will be talking Australia up, unlike the Labor Party, which talks Australia down. The prime minister will represent this country at the G20 meeting, accompanied by the finance minister and he will be talking Australia up, unlike the Labor party, which talks Australia down.
Parliament House is experiencing a few temperature issues at the moment, and half the building is freezing and the other half is hot.
Given that the house of reps is in the half of the building which is distinctly icy these days, it is, entirely possible that hell has actually frozen over.
Dear Beyonce, I don’t know what hell mouth has been opened, but Josh Frydenberg is being forced to answer his third question in a row, and really no one, no one deserves that sort of punishment.
He was just forced to make a Taylor Swift joke.
Oh this is why he’s here – Bob Katter has the crossbench question.
And he is taking advantage of every extra second given to the crossbench to ask their questions – it’s the Katter rule, because he never managed to get a question in under the 30 seconds. But Katter is yet to give a question he can’t pontificate on, so here we are.
Treasurer, biggest farm in Australia, dairies owned by China, second biggest one owned by China, biggest grain farm owned by China, Kidman’s, controlled by China, states two and three owned by China, Australia’s most strategic port, Darwin, owned by China, tax hire industry, foreign-owned, car manufacturing, glass, texttiles, white goods, all gone overseas. To Australians free trade means jobs exported, cheap labour imported. Treasurer, do we have a new regime that won’t continue to sell off Australia or is it business as usual - Australia for sale?
(I’ve seen this ad. It was awful)
Josh Frydenberg:
Foreign investment, Mr Speaker, is absolutely critical to lifting Australia’s living standards, to jobs and to growth in the Australian economy.
And it’s about meeting the savings gap that we have in Australia, which is about 3.5% of GDP ... Now, we have put in place a number of safeguards around the agriculture space in relation to foreign investment. We’re now requiring more transparency and openness around the sales process. When it comes to critical infrastructure we take the advice and the input that comes from not only the foreign investment review board led by David Irvine but from the Critical Infrastructure Committee which involves a number of the leading agencies.
I would say to the member for Kennedy, it’s about getting the balance right. And that balance is about foreign investment, which is in Australia’s national interests.
It’s a very serious topic. It’s not a free for all. There’s considered opinions and inputs that are taken and whether it comes - whether it’s in the agriculture or in critical infrastructure or other aspects of the Australian economy, the Morrison government, the Liberal and National government will always take decisions in the national interest.
Chris Bowen to Josh Frydenberg:
Why has the treasurer cancelled at the last minute his planned trip to meet with his international counterparts at the G20, the leading forum of the world’s major economies?
Frydenberg:
“Well, as the member for McMahon would know, it’s a leaders’ meeting...
Labor loses its mind at this statement.
Ed Husic is living his best life heaping heckles on his mate, (“Josh, you’ve changed – I never thought you were that modest”, but is asked to leave. Frydenberg keeps talking, prompting Tony Smith to say “treasurer, just stop talking for a moment” and Husic leaves, having delivered his gift.
Frydenberg talks more about Australia’s economy being the envy of the world, but there is room for only one star here, and for this brief shining moment, it’s Husic.
Craig Laundry has the next dixer. And if things weren’t despairing enough in that corner of the Liberal party, it’s to Michael McCormack.
Labor asks him when he’s coming over to the crossbench. He does seem to look over there for a moment.
But then Bob Katter (he made it!) wanders over to talk to Julia Banks, and the moment is lost. The grass, it seems, is not always greener.
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Can the prime minister confirm that since moving on Malcolm Turnbull, the government has cancelled parliament because they couldn’t decide who is the prime minister, lost two government members and its majority, and next year will run a part-time parliament? Has the government given up on even pretending to govern? Why isn’t Malcolm Turnbull still the prime minister of Australia?
Morrison:
This goes on for a while, but it ends with this:
This is a government that knows how to keep our economy strong, how to keep Australians safe, Mr Speaker. We are getting on with the job of doing all of those things. This is a leader of the Opposition who thinks all he has to do is to turn up in parliament”
Which is an interesting way to end the ‘your face is’ point, when you have only scheduled about 10 sitting days before the election next year.
We have got to the bottom of the seating plan confusion.
A seating plan was released yesterday after Julia Banks moved to the crossbench, which showed Julie Bishop to have no seat mate.
But then another one was produced sometime between then and now, which moved Jane Prentice next to her.
Queensland again gets the first dixer (holy moly, anyone would think they need that state). Ross Vasta asks something about can the prime minister explain how this is the best government to ever govern, ever and are there any alternatives.
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
The government has discontinued funding to the Keeping Women Safe in their Homes program, which helps protect women who experienced family violence. This program improves security for women and children, including changing the locks on the front door and sweeping for listening devices in the home. Australian women shouldn’t have to choose between staying at home or staying safe. So will the prime minister match Labor’s announcement from yesterday and commit $18 million to continued support for this vital program?”
Morrison:
As the leader of the Opposition would know, this is a program that had a set period of funding and we are in the process of working through interest consultation phase of how that funding can be extended and we’re working through that in the normal budgetary process. (Kelly O’Dwyer interjects that it is still funded until June).
It is still funded until June, Mr Speaker. We are providing that funding to address the serious issue of preventing domestic violence.
Now, Mr Speaker, preventing domestic violence is a shared commitment of every single person in this place.
Mr Speaker, I must say I’m a little disappointed that the leader of the Opposition would seek to make some political capital of this issue in this place.
Mr Speaker, our national plan to reduce violence against women and children from 2010-22 is a commitment from all governments through COAG. It will again be addressed at the meeting this year.
Since the national plan has been in place the Commonwealth has invested over $700 million to reduce domestic violence.
There’s an additional amount for the 1800 RESPECT service. It will increase the amount of people to ensure people can get help.
In 2018 they answered almost 100,000 telephone and online contacts, which was a 54% increase from the previous year.
This year the service is expected to answer more than 160,000 such contacts and through the women’s safety package, the Commonwealth gave some states and territories supplementary funding for the Keeping Women Safe in their Homes and local support coordinator’s program.
Mr Speaker, we are getting on with the job of delivering these essential services and we should be committed as an entire parliament, together with state and territory, to address the very serious issue of addressing domestic family violence.
We’re committed to that. I have no doubt that other members in this place, those who sit opposite, in the crossbench, are also committed. I would ask we continue to address these issues in a bipartisan way and not seek to play politics with it.
Meanwhile, Jane Prentice has been moved to sit next to Julie Bishop in the House.
Bishop seemed a little confused as to what was happening at first, and consulted the new seating plan, (at least that is what it looked like from up here in the press gallery benches) but all is sorted now.