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Greens to issue challenge to Labor on Adani mine – politics live Morrison defends dumping energy policy despite Turnbull speech – question time live
(35 minutes later)
On Monday Centre Alliance voted with the governmentto delay a scheduled vote on Labor’s bill to repeal religious exemptions that allow schools to discriminate against LGBT students.
Today after question time there will be two motions on this issue: the government will try to send the bill to committee; and Labor’s Penny Wong will push for the bill to be voted on on Wednesday. It sounds like Centre Alliance could help the bill come to a vote this week.
Senator Rex Patricktold Guardian Australia:
“The 24 hours has provided us with clear air and has been very helpful. We are close to determining a position that might see a vote tomorrow.”
Patrick said the party was still weighing “the right landing point” to ensure “no discrimination but with appropriate religious protections”
2018 House of Reps class photo @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @GuardianAus #PoliticsLive https://t.co/OQvAblZlh3 pic.twitter.com/6OKT9Tt6TX
The class of 2018 - Auspic have captured some group photos of Members of the House of Representatives in the 45th Parliament. pic.twitter.com/1DEZaoP3l8
Rebehka Sharkie to Michael McCormack:
There have been three deaths in Mayo in the last fortnight. South Australia has 7% of the nation’s population. South Australia received supplementary road funding which was cut by the Abbot government in 2014. Centre Alliance successfully negotiated with the Turnbull government to reinstate $40 million’ supplementary road funding over two years but that will end in June 20 19. Will you commit to extending the road funding beyond June 2019 so we can have an equitable share of the federal road funding?”
McCormack talks about wanting to bring all road deaths to zero and says the government will consider it.
That gives him another three minutes to Michael McCormack the chamber on road funding.
In Senate question time Labor’s Kimberley Kitching has asked about this statement in November from Scott Morrison ruling out a change in leadership rules:
“John Howard also had this strong view and it is that we represent our elected members of Parliament, they go to Parliament and they elect who their leader is to run their Parliamentary party ... So we don’t have any plans to change our processes”
The finance minister Mathias Cormann explained the prime minister’s change of heart:
“The leadership team have had a number of conversations [to ensure] the Australian people can be confident if Scott Morrison is successful at the next election he will remain the prime minister until the election after that.”
Kitching also noted that in August Morrison said “regulating for culture is never effective”.
Bill Shorten comes back with some more Malcolm Turnbull. I don’t think Turnbull has ever been so popular in the chamber before.
Shorten:
Does the current Prime Minister agree with the recently retired former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who said today, there’s never been a national energy policy that has had more universal support than the national energy guarantee? And why won’t the Prime Minister implement a national energy guarantee with his own energy targets?
Scott Morrison: (while the backbench pretend to be interested)
The Leader of theOpposition may not be aware that the former Prime Minister has just tweeted, ‘I have not endorsed Labor’s energy policy. Labor have not demonstrated that their 45%emissions reduction target will not push up prices’. That’s what the former Prime Minister said, and he is absolutely right. Labor have not and they cannot demonstrate that their reckless 45% economy wrecking, as the Business Council has said, emissions reduction target of 45% will not increase power prices, because of course it will increase power prices. Our target of 26% has been clear for years. It is unchanged. The whole purpose of the design of the original national energy guarantee...
Shorten:
“On direct relevance. I asked thePrime Minister about former Prime Minister Turnbull’s comments on the national energy guarantee, and then I asked him, why won’t the Prime Minister implement them with his own emissions targets? The Prime Minister has studiously avoided dealing with Prime Minister Turnbull’s comments on the Neg.”
Morrison (effectively)
We have targets and we are meeting targets and we will smash Kyoto 2.
“We will meet our 2030 target, Mr Speaker”.
Ummm, I interject to say, no, it doesn’t actually, on the facts, look like we will be meeting our 2030 targets. As Greg Jericho reports:
On Friday the government released the latest quarterly greenhouse gas emissions figures. For once the government did not try to bury the news, but they certainly were not eager to highlight the figures which show that our emissions continue to rise and that we are nowhere near a path towards reaching our Paris commitment to reduce emissions by 26% from 2005 level by 2030.
The way the government releases greenhouse gas emissions data gives a pretty good insight into the low regard they have for the issue of climate change.”
Andrew Gee provides the runway for more Michael McCormack.
Excuse me while I go make a cup of tea.
And Scott Morrison answers with this:
The policy that was being pursued by the government did not include a 45% emissions reduction target. As a result, Mr Speaker, when we pursued this policy, it was not with the policy being suggested by the Labor party.
“The Labor party refuses to be honest with the Australian people, that a 45% emissions reduction target, which is the centrepiece of their national energy guarantee, a 45% emissions reduction target that will wipe-out smelting industries, that will wipe out steel industries, Mr Speaker, which will wipe out agriculture...
“... Which of these industries will go first under the Labor party with their economy-wrecking 45% emissions reduction target?
“The Business Council of Australia made it pretty clear, the emissions target of 26%, they said, that’s their words, if you’d like to reread it for them ... The emissions target of 26% reduction is achievable. That’s what we’re doing and that’s what we’re committed to.
“They said a 45% emissions reduction target is, I quote, an economy-wrecking target, Mr Speaker. That’s what the Labor party is proposing if their elected. Make no mistake, if the Labor party is elected, they are promoting and proposing dramatic and wide scale changes to the economy of this country.
“They are looking to change it all, Mr Speaker, when it comes to the economic management of this country. That is exactly what they did back in 2007. In 2007, they pretended to be fiscal conservatives, and we all know that that was a big fat lie, Mr Speaker, and they sought to hoodwink the Australian people back in 2007.
“Following the election of the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government at that time, they pursued reckless economic policies that drove the budget into deficit, which drove the economy to its brink, Mr Speaker.
“For the last period we’ve cleaned up their wreckage. Next April we will bring surplus for the first time in more than a decade because of sensible, rational economic policies. The Labor party wants to put up taxes. More than $200bn worth of higher taxes on the Australian economy.
“That will throw a wet blanket on jobs, Mr Speaker, and it will drive up the cost of living for Australians, whether they’re pensioners, mums and dads, paying school fees or just trying to get ahead, Mr Speaker. The Labor party is proposing radical change to the economic management of this country and that spells a weaker economy and higher taxes under the Labor party.”
The Rudd-Gillard-Rudd attack was much more effective when it wasn’t Abbott-Tunbull-Morrison.
As Bill Shorten asks this:
Does the current prime minister agree with the previous prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said today about the national energy guarantee, and I quote, there was a minority of Coalition MPs who effectively torpedoed what was fundamentally a very good technology agnostic energy policy which united climate and energy policy and would enable us to bring prices and keep the lights on.
Turnbull tweeted this:
I have not endorsed “Labor’s energy policy”. They have adopted the NEG mechanism ✔️ but have not demonstrated that their 45% emissions reduction target will not push up prices. I encouraged all parties to stick with Coalition’s NEG which retains wide community support.
Bert van Manen gets the first dixer and Scott Morrison is very happy to talk about how great the government is.
We get a reminder that Peter Dutton is still on medical leave and then get straight into it.
Bill Shorten to Scott Morrison:
Does the current prime minister agree, with the recently retired former prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, who said today about the national energy guarantee, and I quote, ‘it was a vital piece of economic policy. It had strong support, and none stronger, I might say, than that of the current prime minister and current treasurer’.”
Morrison:
The proposal, Mr Speaker, that was considered by the government that the former prime minister had brought to cabinet, and had been considered by that government, had a 26% emissions reduction target, a 26% emissions reduction target.
“What the Labor party is proposing is to legislate to make law a 45% emissions reduction target. This side of the house do not support a 45% emissions reduction fund get, which is part of the Labor party’s plan.
“They might like to dress up their 45% emissions reduction target as a national energy guarantee, but what it is is a 45% emissions reduction target, which is a thumping big electricity tax, Mr Speaker. It will force up electricity prices, whether you’re a pensioner, householder, raising kids, small or family business, Labor’s policies will meanAustralians will pay more.
“They will pay more in taxes, more for their electricity and private health insurance. They will pay more under what Labor is proposing because Labor only thing the only way to run a government is to make everything cost more, to put your taxes up, Mr Speaker.
“You know why they do that? Because they don’t know how to run a strong economy, they don’t know how to manage a budget. That’s their history every time they get into government and the people know it. They know the leader of the Labor party and all of the Labor party members cannot manage money, and they cannot manage a budget and that’s why they can’t be trusted in government to run a budget. Because if you can’t run a budget, you can’t run an economy, you can’t guarantee essential services.”
Tony Burke interrupts to say Morrison has spent two minutes talking about the Labor party but did not actually answer the question.
Morrison continues, but does not answer the question.
Question time is about to begin.
It is time for Who’s that MP – and it is Craig Kelly.
This seems a very bad idea no matter how you look at it – Latika Bourke from Fairfax reports Stuart Robert plans on headlining a Liberal party fundraiser about … the banking royal commission.This seems a very bad idea no matter how you look at it – Latika Bourke from Fairfax reports Stuart Robert plans on headlining a Liberal party fundraiser about … the banking royal commission.
From Bourke’s report:From Bourke’s report:
Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert will headline a Liberal Party fundraiser that promises political donors an insight into the government’s potential response to the banking royal commission.Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert will headline a Liberal Party fundraiser that promises political donors an insight into the government’s potential response to the banking royal commission.
“The lunch, hosted by Liberal National Party backbencher Andrew Wallace, has been slammed by Labor as a crass attempt to capitalise on an explosive probe the Coalition had long opposed.”“The lunch, hosted by Liberal National Party backbencher Andrew Wallace, has been slammed by Labor as a crass attempt to capitalise on an explosive probe the Coalition had long opposed.”
We could save you some money.We could save you some money.
The government voted against it almost 30 times, then were forced into it after the National party began to revolt. Then the banks, trying to end the endless bad publicity, called on the government to call one.The government voted against it almost 30 times, then were forced into it after the National party began to revolt. Then the banks, trying to end the endless bad publicity, called on the government to call one.
And then we got the Hayne review.And then we got the Hayne review.
The three stages of not being able to catch a breakThe three stages of not being able to catch a break
So to pass the divesture legislation, the government needs two more votes.So to pass the divesture legislation, the government needs two more votes.
Bob Katter would be a yes. But they need one more crossbencher to come across to pass the legislation.Bob Katter would be a yes. But they need one more crossbencher to come across to pass the legislation.
The committee looking at increasing Asis officers’ use of force have tabled its report:The committee looking at increasing Asis officers’ use of force have tabled its report:
The committee supported the two main aims of the bill which were to:The committee supported the two main aims of the bill which were to:
enable the minister to specify additional persons outside Australia who may be protected by an Asis staff member or agent, andenable the minister to specify additional persons outside Australia who may be protected by an Asis staff member or agent, and
provide that an Asis staff member or agent performing specified activities outside Australia will be able to use reasonable and necessary force in the performance of an Asis function.provide that an Asis staff member or agent performing specified activities outside Australia will be able to use reasonable and necessary force in the performance of an Asis function.
enable the minister to specify additional persons outside Australia who may be protected by an Asis staff member or agent, andenable the minister to specify additional persons outside Australia who may be protected by an Asis staff member or agent, and
provide that an Asis staff member or agent performing specified activities outside Australia will be able to use reasonable and necessary force in the performance of an Asis function.provide that an Asis staff member or agent performing specified activities outside Australia will be able to use reasonable and necessary force in the performance of an Asis function.
In its report the committee noted the extensive consultation process that Asis undertook with the inspector general of intelligence and security (Igis) in the drafting of the bill.In its report the committee noted the extensive consultation process that Asis undertook with the inspector general of intelligence and security (Igis) in the drafting of the bill.
In judging the legitimacy reasonableness and transparency — including appropriate oversight — of the bill the committee had regard to the:In judging the legitimacy reasonableness and transparency — including appropriate oversight — of the bill the committee had regard to the:
comprehensive consultation and decision making process that must be undertaken by the minister before authorising the use of these powers,comprehensive consultation and decision making process that must be undertaken by the minister before authorising the use of these powers,
guidelines surrounding the use of these powers, andguidelines surrounding the use of these powers, and
oversight provided by referral of these guidelines to the Igis and this committee.oversight provided by referral of these guidelines to the Igis and this committee.
comprehensive consultation and decision making process that must be undertaken by the minister before authorising the use of these powers,comprehensive consultation and decision making process that must be undertaken by the minister before authorising the use of these powers,
guidelines surrounding the use of these powers, andguidelines surrounding the use of these powers, and
oversight provided by referral of these guidelines to the Igis and this committee.oversight provided by referral of these guidelines to the Igis and this committee.
The committee noted that the oversight requirements in the bill replicate existing oversight requirements and provide an appropriate level of transparency recognising the necessary sensitivities of Asis activities.The committee noted that the oversight requirements in the bill replicate existing oversight requirements and provide an appropriate level of transparency recognising the necessary sensitivities of Asis activities.
The committee was satisfied with the provisions contained in the bill and recommended that the intelligence services amendment bill 2018 be passed.The committee was satisfied with the provisions contained in the bill and recommended that the intelligence services amendment bill 2018 be passed.
The PJCIS chair, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said the tabling of this report is an example of the non-partisan and consultative manner in which the committee are able to scrutinise national security legislation.The PJCIS chair, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said the tabling of this report is an example of the non-partisan and consultative manner in which the committee are able to scrutinise national security legislation.
Further information about the inquiry can be accessed via the committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/pjcis.Further information about the inquiry can be accessed via the committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/pjcis.
Mike Bowers has also had some fun with the light in the press gallery today.Mike Bowers has also had some fun with the light in the press gallery today.
John Howard gets a library, as seen by Mike Bowers.John Howard gets a library, as seen by Mike Bowers.
We are approaching full inception.
Here’s @mpbowers lying down on the job just behind Josh Frydenberg and Angus “Biggus Stickus” Taylor pic.twitter.com/HsQrxpGEs4
Here is how the government are explaining the changes:
The Liberal National Government will introduce legislation which will provide a range of penalties and remedies for companies that engage in misconduct.
The legislation follows a review conducted by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which identified problems in the retail, wholesale and the contract market calling the situation “unacceptable and unsustainable.”
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Prohibiting Energy Market Misconduct) Bill 2018 will amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (CCA) to define the energy market misconduct to be prohibited and to provide a series of graduated and targeted remedies.
Prohibited misconduct in the electricity sector includes:
· A retail pricing prohibition focussed on conduct by retailers where they fail to reasonably pass through sustained and substantial electricity supply chain cost savings to end consumers.
· A contract liquidity prohibition to prevent energy companies from withholding hedge contracts for the purpose of substantially lessening competition.
· A wholesale conduct prohibition to stop generators from manipulating the spot market, such as withholding supply.
Where prohibited misconduct is found by the ACCC to have occurred, the following remedies will be available:
ACCC issued warning notices and infringement notices.
Court-ordered civil penalties up to the greatest of: $10 million; three times the value of the total benefit attributable to the conduct or 10 per cent of the annual turnover of the corporation in the 12 months before the conduct occurred.
On the recommendation of the ACCC, Treasurer-issued Contracting Orders that will permit the Treasurer to require electricity companies to offer electricity financial contracts to third parties.
On the recommendation of the ACCC, and following an application by the Treasurer, Federal Court issued Divestiture Orders relating to misconduct in thewholesale market.
Under the legislation court ordered Divestiture Orders can only be made where the corporation’s conduct is fraudulent, dishonest or in bad faith, for the purpose of distorting or manipulating prices, and the Divestiture Order is proportionate and targeted to the conduct. The Treasurer can only make an application to the court where both the ACCC and Treasurer are satisfied the order would result in a net public benefit.
The legislation will apply to government owned enterprises. In such cases any divestiture may be made to another government owned energy company where the two entities genuinely compete with one another.
The legislation will sunset in 2025, at the conclusion of the ACCC monitoring inquiry. There will be a Government led review of the legislation in 2024.
The Government’s legislation as it applies to divestment is industry limited, sunsetted and requires a court order. It is consistent with similar laws in the United Kingdom which permit divestiture under the Enterprise Act and the United States which permits divestiture under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
Introducing legislation to hold energy companies to account for misconduct is part of our plan to deliver a more affordable and reliable energy system and a stronger economy.
Lyndal Curtis, a legend around these press gallery halls, is doing a little photography work experience with Mike Bowers today.
Former PM John Howard walks past his old work place on the way to opening the John Howard Library at Old Parliament House (deleted first tweet because of typo 🤓) pic.twitter.com/TOOiwPdCGP
The sky writer doesn’t seem to agree with Angus and Josh @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus @murpharoo #PoliticsLive https://t.co/OQvAblZlh3 pic.twitter.com/hfouTC6SY8
So basically the changes boil down to the ACCC pinging the company for being on their radar for bad behaviour. If it doesn’t change its behaviour, then it can let the treasurer know. The treasurer can then put together a proposal for divesture which the federal court can then rule on.
The old proposal was the treasurer would have the final say.
So the big stick now has a hell of a lot of bubble wrap around it.
So the potential legal challenges, and the discomfort from members of the party room, has seen Josh Frydenberg confirm a watered-down version of the divesture legislation.
The backbench got everything it wanted, in short.
But the biggest star of the press conference was the sky writer who was busy constructing a giant NO just above Frydenberg and Angus Taylor as they spoke.
The Australian Greens held their party room meeting this morning.
During the meeting, the WA Greens senator Rachel Siewert stood aside as co-deputy leader and Larissa Waters, the recently returned to parliament Queensland Greens senator, was unanimously re-elected as co-deputy leader.
The Greens plan to introduce a motion in the Senate today saying “the Adani Carmichael coalmine should not go ahead”, to see how Labor votes on it. They say they’re sick of Labor trying to have a bet each way on the Adani mine and it’s time it picks a side.
Waters wants to bring on her “Stop Adani” bill for debate in the Senate on Thursday afternoon, in general business time, assuming that the government doesn’t modify the Senate schedule.
The Greens also want to introduce a bill to the Senate tomorrow saying the Galilee coal basin should not be opened up for coalmining.
The Greens say Bill Shorten could stop the mine tomorrow by announcing that he’ll place all the environmental approvals under review. They say the Franklin River Dam campaign was won with a Labor leader from opposition saying he’d stop the project if elected, so if Shorten made a similar announcement today the whole thing would grind to a halt.
On encryption, the Greens say it doubts Labor has the spine to stand up to the government on this. It says if Labor begins trumpeting a compromise, you can be you’ll need to be extra careful about the detail.
As reported by Katharine Murphy last night, (and hinted at in her column on Saturday) the government was looking at major changes to its divesture policy after a group of dissenters starting raising objections to the very un-Liberal idea of splitting up private companies.
Angus Taylor, biggus stickus himself, and Josh Frydenberg have just called a press conference.
Labor’s caucus met this morning, and the main items of business were a series of private member’s bills being pushed by the newly emboldened crossbench.
Labor agreed to support the Greens’ bill to prevent public funds being used to indemnify new coal power plants. Labor will support Rebekha Sharkie’s live export ban bill.
It will not oppose the national integrity commission bill, and noted that it has already been referred to a Senate inquiry.
Labor will support Kerryn Phelps’ bill for medical transfers from Manus and Nauru subject to three conditions:
The minister or his/her delegate must have signoff on all medical transfers.
If a transfer is refused the minister must provide a statement of reasons to parliament.
The establishment of an independent health advice panel.
All speakers were supportive of the bill: one was pleased it extends to adults; another said the minister must retain responsibility in order for there to be proper merits review of decisions.
John Howard has a library:
Mr Howard, I want to thank you for your friendship and advice over a long period of time. I want to thank you both for your lifetime of service that continues. It is an honour to open the Howard Library. MORE: https://t.co/ikBy3bk5d1 #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/oxz9Tjc7mZ