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| Nationals MP Andrew Broad quits ministry – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Chris Bowen has commented on Andrew Broad’s resignation: | |
| I’ve seen the report. Obviously his resignation has a personal element for which I have absolutely no comment, that is entirely a matter for him. His resignation doesn’t help the chaos and dysfunction at the heart of the Morrison government. But the rest I have no comment on. | |
| All eyes may be on Andrew Broad but at least the ratings agencies are paying attention to Josh Frydenberg’s Myfeo announcement this morning: | |
| S&P Global Ratings said today that Australia’s credit rating and outlook reflects its expectation that the general government, including state and local governments, will return to surplus by the early 2020s. | |
| We believe today’s midyear budget announcement confirms that the central government is on track to achieve this. | |
| Stronger nominal GDP and terms of trade as well as better labor market conditions are delivering higher revenue growth and lower expenditure outflows than we expected at the time of the 2018-2019 budget, released in May. | |
| This improvement is funding new policy announcements. | |
| “We continue to monitor the effect of spending announcements on the general government budget in the lead up to the 2019-2020 budget and upcoming election,” said S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Anthony Walker. | |
| “This is because political parties can introduce new spending or investment initiatives that are not currently earmarked, and this can weigh on fiscal outcomes.” | |
| Michael McCormack has accepted Andrew Broad’s resignation from the ministry: | |
| Deputy prime minister, minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development and leader of the Nationals, Michael McCormack, has accepted Andrew Broad’s resignation as the assistant minister to the deputy prime minister. | |
| Mr McCormack thanked the federal member for Mallee for his service to the ministry, following his appointment in September this year. | |
| A replacement will be made and announced in due course. | |
| Mr McCormack said due to the nature of the allegations made, it is appropriate for Mr Broad to resign as the assistant minister to the deputy prime minister. | |
| He also stressed the matter may also be subject to future investigation and further media comment on such detail is not appropriate. | |
| Mr McCormack said Mr Broad will continue as an effective and hardworking Member for Mallee, a role he has capably held since 2013. | |
| Broad was what used to be known as a parliamentary secretary, the title was changed to assistant minister, because it sounded more fancy, under one of the Coalition governments (who can remember these days which one it was). | |
| And on border security (because these things always go hand in hand in Oz): | |
| A Shorten Labor government will strengthen Australia’s border security with new measures to disrupt and deter people smugglers from preying on vulnerable people throughout the region. | |
| Labor will triple the number of Australian federal police officers overseas dedicated to working cooperatively with partner nations to deter and disrupt people smuggling operations at their source. | |
| These officers are critical in the fight against people smugglers, by preventing risky boat ventures before they start and stopping people drowning at sea. | |
| “The first aim is to deter and disrupt the ventures from taking to the water in the first instance. That’s a lot more effective; it has a lot less risk, particularly for the people who want to use the people smugglers, so that’s always our preference.” – outgoing Operation Sovereign Borders commander Air Vice-Marshal Stephen Osborne, 21 May 2018 | |
| The Liberals’ cuts and chaos mean they have slashed the number of officers to just four dedicated officerscovering the entire region. This is putting our border protection framework at risk. | |
| Labor has committed $8.5m to establish an additional eight dedicated AFP officers throughout the region to support Australia’s regional neighbours and prevent people smuggling journeys. | |
| Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison have risked Australia’s border security by ordering the Australian border force fleet to stop patrols to save money on fuel and have cut frontline ABF staff at Australian airports over the Christmas period. | |
| Labor will keep the people-smugglers out of business and maintain Australia’s strong borders, ensuring they are never able to exploit the lives of vulnerable people again. | |
| Labor is committed to strong borders, turnbacks when safe to do so, offshore processing and regional resettlement because we know it saves lives at sea. | |
| Unlike the Liberals, Labor will not make cuts to border protection. Under Labor, Operation Sovereign Borders will be fully resourced, we will maintain Australia’s strong border protection measures and strengthen them even further with these new measures to stop people smugglers in their tracks. | |
| Labor’s official statement on the refugee changes: | |
| A Shorten Labor government will ensure our nation can do our part to resettle genuine refugees facing persecution and in need of protection. | |
| While the global humanitarian crisis has continued to grow, with over 25 million refugees worldwide, the Liberals have failed to improve Australia’s humanitarian response on the international stage. | |
| Labor will commit $500m to the work of the UNHCR, to deliver stronger asylum seeker assessment and resettlement processes across the region and closer to source countries – an important measure to ensure vulnerable people are not exploited by people smugglers to travel by boat. | |
| This funding delivered over five years will help make sure regional processing and resettlement is implemented in an orderly and structured way through the UNHCR – by building capacity such as boosting staff, facilities and training throughout the region. | |
| It is in addition to $30m in urgent humanitarian relief announced to address the pressing humanitarian crises in the Palestinian Territories as well as Myanmar and Bangladesh. | |
| A Labor Government will also work more cooperatively with community, faith based and business groups to responsibly support and expand community sponsorship of refugees. | |
| We will reform the Community Sponsored Refugee Program to, over time, allow up to 5,000 refugees to resettle in Australia annually. | |
| This model – akin to the successful program in Canada – will mean groups such as state and local governments, community organisations, businesses, unions, and faith-based organisations, will be able to sponsor humanitarian entrants into Australia. This program does not have a budget impact. | |
| Support for community sponsorship of refugees has been growing in recent years – including community and faith based groups, who are raising funds and actively supporting the settlement and integration of refugees into the community and businesses supporting refugees by securing jobs for humanitarian entrants. | |
| Labor will also appoint a special envoy for refugee and asylum seeker issues to advance Australia’s interests and leadership on refugee issues within the region, secure third country resettlement agreements, develop an Australian refugee commission and provide policy advice for Australia’s humanitarian program. | |
| This comprehensive suite of measures are underpinned by a commitment to maintain Australia’s strong borders – to ensure people smugglers are never able to exploit vulnerable people ever again. | |
| Labor is getting the balance right – we will maintain strong borders, keep the people smugglers out of business, and do our part to address the global humanitarian crisis. | |
| Labor’s policies ensure Australia does its fair share to meet humanitarian need, plays a leadership role in our region, and treats genuine refugees with dignity and humanity. | |
| BREAKING: Andrew Broad has resigned from the Morrison ministry after a woman went on the record about his behaviour on an overseas trip. Story from @CroweDM soon #auspol | BREAKING: Andrew Broad has resigned from the Morrison ministry after a woman went on the record about his behaviour on an overseas trip. Story from @CroweDM soon #auspol |
| What does that announcement mean? | What does that announcement mean? |
| Labor plans on increasing the humanitarian intake from 27,000 people, to 32,000. | Labor plans on increasing the humanitarian intake from 27,000 people, to 32,000. |
| Bill Shorten finishes with this: | Bill Shorten finishes with this: |
| Our approach – Labor’s approach – is strong, compassionate and sustainable. I want to rekindle Australia’s reputation as a good international citizen when it comes to dealing with these complex humanitarian challenges. | Our approach – Labor’s approach – is strong, compassionate and sustainable. I want to rekindle Australia’s reputation as a good international citizen when it comes to dealing with these complex humanitarian challenges. |
| You can have secure borders and you can live up to our humanitarian obligations. | You can have secure borders and you can live up to our humanitarian obligations. |
| You just require leadership in this country. We can keep the people-smugglers out of business but we will most certainly if elected keep faith with our enduring Labor values – proud at home and proud overseas, confident that we can work together as a community and as a nation, listening to each other, getting this right, being a welcoming nation, being consistent and strong. | You just require leadership in this country. We can keep the people-smugglers out of business but we will most certainly if elected keep faith with our enduring Labor values – proud at home and proud overseas, confident that we can work together as a community and as a nation, listening to each other, getting this right, being a welcoming nation, being consistent and strong. |
| This is the Labor mission. | This is the Labor mission. |
| Bill Shorten is announcing what Labor would do, if elected: | Bill Shorten is announcing what Labor would do, if elected: |
| Around the world, one person becomes displaced every 20 seconds. Nearly 70 million people have been driven from their homes. | Around the world, one person becomes displaced every 20 seconds. Nearly 70 million people have been driven from their homes. |
| Many will not find permanent safety. The United Nations reports that in some cases there’s a third generation of children being born into displacement. This is an issue of a most enormous scale and complexity. | Many will not find permanent safety. The United Nations reports that in some cases there’s a third generation of children being born into displacement. This is an issue of a most enormous scale and complexity. |
| No one country can hope to fix it on its own but Australia can do better. So if elected, we will look to take up New Zealand’s offer to resettle refugees from Manus and Nauru by immediately negotiating an agreement on similar terms with that that has already been negotiated with the United States, and today I’m pleased to announce that if elected ... | No one country can hope to fix it on its own but Australia can do better. So if elected, we will look to take up New Zealand’s offer to resettle refugees from Manus and Nauru by immediately negotiating an agreement on similar terms with that that has already been negotiated with the United States, and today I’m pleased to announce that if elected ... |
| [a fire alarm interrupts the speech] | [a fire alarm interrupts the speech] |
| “I’m not going to blame the government,” Shorten laughs. He then continues: | “I’m not going to blame the government,” Shorten laughs. He then continues: |
| I’m pleased to announce today that if elected, we will commit $500m over the next five years to support the important work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. | I’m pleased to announce today that if elected, we will commit $500m over the next five years to support the important work of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. |
| This funding will directly improve orderly regional processing and resettlement in the region and countries closer to where refugees originally come from. | This funding will directly improve orderly regional processing and resettlement in the region and countries closer to where refugees originally come from. |
| This funding will speed up legitimate settlement pathways. It will deny people smugglers a product to sell. | This funding will speed up legitimate settlement pathways. It will deny people smugglers a product to sell. |
| If we are elected, I will seek the immediate advice from the chief of the defence force, the Department of Home Affairs, Asio and other relevant agencies about our state of preparedness to disrupt people smuggling operations before people depart. | If we are elected, I will seek the immediate advice from the chief of the defence force, the Department of Home Affairs, Asio and other relevant agencies about our state of preparedness to disrupt people smuggling operations before people depart. |
| A Labor government will triple the number of Australian federal police officers working overseas in cooperation with other countries to stop the people smugglers at their source, to prevent people even contemplating getting on that unsafe vessel in the first place. | A Labor government will triple the number of Australian federal police officers working overseas in cooperation with other countries to stop the people smugglers at their source, to prevent people even contemplating getting on that unsafe vessel in the first place. |
| And finally, delegates, along with our responsible international role where Australia should have always been, along with our commitment to strong borders, Labor will build on the proven success of the existing community-sponsored refugee program. | And finally, delegates, along with our responsible international role where Australia should have always been, along with our commitment to strong borders, Labor will build on the proven success of the existing community-sponsored refugee program. |
| This means state and local governments, community organisations, businesses and unions and faith-based institutions will be able to sponsor humanitarian entrants into Australia and support the economic and social integration of refugees into communities. We will seek to expand this scheme from 1,000 to 5,000 places. | This means state and local governments, community organisations, businesses and unions and faith-based institutions will be able to sponsor humanitarian entrants into Australia and support the economic and social integration of refugees into communities. We will seek to expand this scheme from 1,000 to 5,000 places. |
| And to be clear – this would be in addition to the existing humanitarian intake, not instead of it. | And to be clear – this would be in addition to the existing humanitarian intake, not instead of it. |
| So we will take more refugees as part of our migration mix. We will make sure that it is a safe process. | So we will take more refugees as part of our migration mix. We will make sure that it is a safe process. |
| Our approach is both more practical and more affordable. We’re not afraid of immigration in the country. Immigration has been a success in this country. Skilled migration, family reunion and indeed refugees. | Our approach is both more practical and more affordable. We’re not afraid of immigration in the country. Immigration has been a success in this country. Skilled migration, family reunion and indeed refugees. |
| What we will do with our sensible, strong-yet-compassionate approach, is we will ensure that people go to where they are needed, wanted and welcomed in this country in a neighbourly way. | What we will do with our sensible, strong-yet-compassionate approach, is we will ensure that people go to where they are needed, wanted and welcomed in this country in a neighbourly way. |
| Labor will empower local communities, country towns, business and community groups, if country towns and regions want to sponsor humanitarian intake. Well, it is not the job of the commonwealth to get in the way. | Labor will empower local communities, country towns, business and community groups, if country towns and regions want to sponsor humanitarian intake. Well, it is not the job of the commonwealth to get in the way. |
| This will make sure there’s no cost to the taxpayer. | This will make sure there’s no cost to the taxpayer. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| It has never meant allowing people’s mental and physical health to deteriorate whilst under direct or indirect Australian care. | It has never meant allowing people’s mental and physical health to deteriorate whilst under direct or indirect Australian care. |
| It has never meant fighting every step of the way against medical advice which says that more needs to be done to treat people. | It has never meant fighting every step of the way against medical advice which says that more needs to be done to treat people. |
| I believe that Australia can meet our international humanitarian and legal responsibilities without compromising our national security or a commitment to strong border protection. | I believe that Australia can meet our international humanitarian and legal responsibilities without compromising our national security or a commitment to strong border protection. |
| I wonder sometimes even deep down that some of our opponents know this to be true – that it is not one or the other – strong borders or indefinite detention. | I wonder sometimes even deep down that some of our opponents know this to be true – that it is not one or the other – strong borders or indefinite detention. |
| Because after all on the current government’s watch, there are 800 asylum seekers in Australia who have been transferred here eventually for medical treatment. | Because after all on the current government’s watch, there are 800 asylum seekers in Australia who have been transferred here eventually for medical treatment. |
| That’s far more than remain on either Manus or Nauru right now. | That’s far more than remain on either Manus or Nauru right now. |
| This has already happened. But have no doubt that our opponents will never let the truth get in the way of the pursuit of low political advantage. | This has already happened. But have no doubt that our opponents will never let the truth get in the way of the pursuit of low political advantage. |
| We saw that when they were in opposition when this current prime minister was the spokesman for immigration and the Liberals decided to team up with the Greens’ political party to vote against the arrangements with Malaysia. | We saw that when they were in opposition when this current prime minister was the spokesman for immigration and the Liberals decided to team up with the Greens’ political party to vote against the arrangements with Malaysia. |
| Never forget that over 600 people drowned on their way to Australia after that decision. | Never forget that over 600 people drowned on their way to Australia after that decision. |
| The Liberals did not vote against the Malaysia arrangement because they thought it wouldn’t work, they voted against it because they were afraid it would work. | The Liberals did not vote against the Malaysia arrangement because they thought it wouldn’t work, they voted against it because they were afraid it would work. |
| They decided that they would rather have a slogan, they would rather weaponise the issue than solve the problem. | They decided that they would rather have a slogan, they would rather weaponise the issue than solve the problem. |
| And we saw a recurrence of this behaviour again in the very last week of parliament, the government relying on Pauline Hanson to run down the clock in the Senate rather than be seen to help a handful of sick children on Nauru get the urgent medical attention they need. | And we saw a recurrence of this behaviour again in the very last week of parliament, the government relying on Pauline Hanson to run down the clock in the Senate rather than be seen to help a handful of sick children on Nauru get the urgent medical attention they need. |
| And every time you see the government ministers on television telling lies about Labor, they are doing the dirty work of the people smugglers. | And every time you see the government ministers on television telling lies about Labor, they are doing the dirty work of the people smugglers. |
| The Liberals are acting as spruikers for the criminal syndicates. | The Liberals are acting as spruikers for the criminal syndicates. |
| Every time they get up and say that there will be a change in terms of border security, they are signalling criminal syndicates to try their hand again. They should be ashamed, they know what they do and they still do it. | Every time they get up and say that there will be a change in terms of border security, they are signalling criminal syndicates to try their hand again. They should be ashamed, they know what they do and they still do it. |
| On asylum seeker policy, Bill Shorten says: | On asylum seeker policy, Bill Shorten says: |
| Today we’ll deal with our policies on border security and refugees. Whilst we debate over the course of the day, I wanted to take this opportunity this morning to say to all of you – I sincerely respect the right of delegates to put arguments, to make the case. | Today we’ll deal with our policies on border security and refugees. Whilst we debate over the course of the day, I wanted to take this opportunity this morning to say to all of you – I sincerely respect the right of delegates to put arguments, to make the case. |
| I appreciate that everyone in this room comes to this issue with a passion that is genuine and deep. | I appreciate that everyone in this room comes to this issue with a passion that is genuine and deep. |
| I’m sure as we did a conference in swift, we will engage in a constructive debate which produces the right policies for our party and, more importantly, for our nation. | I’m sure as we did a conference in swift, we will engage in a constructive debate which produces the right policies for our party and, more importantly, for our nation. |
| Delegates, my own view on this is straightforward – we cannot and we must not and we will not allow criminal people smuggling syndicates to get back into business but, let me say, it is not a crime to want to come to this country. | Delegates, my own view on this is straightforward – we cannot and we must not and we will not allow criminal people smuggling syndicates to get back into business but, let me say, it is not a crime to want to come to this country. |
| All of us other than our First Australians came here from somewhere else. It is not a crime to want to come to this country. | All of us other than our First Australians came here from somewhere else. It is not a crime to want to come to this country. |
| But it is a crime to exploit vulnerable people to put them in dangerous and unsafe vessels and have them drown at sea. | But it is a crime to exploit vulnerable people to put them in dangerous and unsafe vessels and have them drown at sea. |
| We cannot, we must not, and we will not permit the reopening of their trade in human desperation and the drownings and the irreplaceable loss of life that it brings. | We cannot, we must not, and we will not permit the reopening of their trade in human desperation and the drownings and the irreplaceable loss of life that it brings. |
| This requires rigorous security, character and health assessments throughout both our humanitarian and general migration programs. | This requires rigorous security, character and health assessments throughout both our humanitarian and general migration programs. |
| It means pursuing regional resettlement, turning back boats where it is safe to do so and maintaining offshore processing. | It means pursuing regional resettlement, turning back boats where it is safe to do so and maintaining offshore processing. |
| But also in your party we understand that keeping our borders secure and keeping the people smugglers out of business should and has never meant leaving men, women and children to languish for years and years in indefinite detention in substandard facilities and unacceptable conditions. | But also in your party we understand that keeping our borders secure and keeping the people smugglers out of business should and has never meant leaving men, women and children to languish for years and years in indefinite detention in substandard facilities and unacceptable conditions. |
| Bill Shorten: | Bill Shorten: |
| So I can confirm and announce to this conference that if we are elected, a Labor government will initiate an urgent review into the inadequacy of Newstart payments, the overdue first in a quarter of a century. We will ensure the review will be completed within 18 months. I acknowledge the work already of the conference and the delegates to have us arrive at this position. We believe in the greatness of the Australian safety net. We want to lift everyone’s aspirations up, but we are the great safety netters of Australian politics. | So I can confirm and announce to this conference that if we are elected, a Labor government will initiate an urgent review into the inadequacy of Newstart payments, the overdue first in a quarter of a century. We will ensure the review will be completed within 18 months. I acknowledge the work already of the conference and the delegates to have us arrive at this position. We believe in the greatness of the Australian safety net. We want to lift everyone’s aspirations up, but we are the great safety netters of Australian politics. |
| As we reported yesterday, Bill Shorten says that, if elected, Labor will issue an “urgent review” into Newstart, to be completed within 18 months. | As we reported yesterday, Bill Shorten says that, if elected, Labor will issue an “urgent review” into Newstart, to be completed within 18 months. |
| He says Labor is the party of the “safety net”. But, as we also reported, there is no commitment to increase the payment. | He says Labor is the party of the “safety net”. But, as we also reported, there is no commitment to increase the payment. |