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| Federal election 2019: Chris Bowen says Labor policy now a 'blank canvas' as he confirms run for leadership – politics live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Question: You’ve got a personality clash with head office. How are you going to negotiate that? | |
| Bowen: It’s a fair question. I’ve had my differences with Michaela at various points over the years. I’ve spoken to her. I would work very effectively with her. This is not a factional ballot, as I said. There’s... I could work with people across the party, I think. And that wouldn’t be an issue for me. | |
| Question: Why won’t you run as a deputy? | |
| Bowen: The deputy ballot position is entirely a matter for the Caucus. I would leave it as a matter for the Caucus. I’m not running a ticket. Traditionally, if I won, the deputy would come from the left. I would expect that to continue. It may be that Tanya Plibersek would like to continue. That would be fine with me. It may be that the party might want to, if she didn’t want to do that, move to somebody like Linda Burney or Mark Butler but that would be for the Caucus to decide. | |
| Q: Some of your colleagues are saying that you know that you can’t win the ballot but just doing it in case the Albo experiment doesn’t work and you’re next cab off the rank. | |
| Bowen: I’m happy to concede that Albo probably goes in favourite. The Labor Party went in on Saturday as favourite, too, I’m a bit over favourites. It doesn’t always work out so well! | |
| Question: You’ve mentioned franking credits and you’re also closely linked to some other policies that were unpopular in this election. Negative gearing and capital gains tax and many of the policies and you told people - if they don’t like your policies - don’t vote for you and they didn’t. What makes you think that they’ve got the right instincts to take the fight up to Scott Morrison? | |
| Chris Bowen: I don’t accept that all of our policies were unpopular. Sure, negative gearing was controversial. It also had a lot of support in a lot of segments, particularly young people. So these always swing in roundabouts. On a particular comment that I made in that radio interview, what I was trying to say is that we have had the courage to put the policies out there for the Australian people to judge, unlike the Liberal Party, who, threw 100,000 people off the aged pension after saying no changes to the pension. That of the point that I was making. I could have worded it better, I’m happy to concede. I could have worded it better. I meant - no offence to anybody, but on the contrary, I deeply respect people who have worked hard and saved all their life. I respect them so much, we put the policy out there for them to judge. That of the point that I was making, trying to make. You know, those of us in public life do, and as many of you know, do many interviews and sometimes you could do things a bit better here and there and that was one of them. It was, I think, taken out of context, I think, by the Liberal Party, they knew what I was saying but it didn’t suit their purposes. But I accept responsibility for saying it. I just could have worded it better. | |
| Q: Has Bill Shorten encouraged you to run? | |
| Bowen: I’ll leave it up to Bill to comment. I’ve been ringing around colleagues. Some will vote for me and some won’t. They’ve been very honest with me. I’m not here to speak on behalf of Bill Shorten. I’ve spoken to him. And I am... | |
| Q: What did he say? | |
| Bowen: Well, I don’t want to put words in his mouth. With respect. Nor any other colleague. There are colleagues who told me that they’re voting for me.There’s colleagues who said that they won’t. I haven’t spoke been to all because obviously I only decided to do this yesterday. But I fully respect everybody’s decision. | |
| Question: You mentioned the review of policies. Does that mean that Labor should scrap negative gearing? | |
| Chris Bowen: All policy, I think it’s a blank canvass. You know, as I said... | |
| Q: So you would ask for that? | |
| Bowen: It’s a blank canvass. They were policies for the 2019 election. News flash - the 2019 election is over. We’re facing the 2022 election. Now, it may be that we look at the policies and think of better ways of achieving the better objective. We’ll come up with new policies as well in different areas. You know, family trust is an area that I don’t think was controversial. That would be available for the party to adopt as well. But all of these things, regardless of whether I’m leader or not, it’s automatic that they’d be reviewed. I’d expect Anthony to do the same. | |
| ...Those policies were for the 2019 election. We faced and fought the 2019 election and lost it. | |
| Bowen then says he will not be standing as a deputy leader, “under any circumstances”: | |
| One thing Anthony and I would agree on is that the shadow Cabinet needs to be brought together to work collectively on policy development. | |
| I believe the next election might seem like a funny thing to say, just a few days after this election is eminently winnable for the Labor Party. | |
| A Government that was elected without plan, policy or strategy. Is, I think, not a good government for Australia, but I congratulate them on that. | |
| But our job is to bring the Labor Party together, to all think about how we can best serve the party. | |
| As I said, I think that I can best serve the party as leader. I will completely accept the verdict if the party decides otherwise and serve Anthony loyally, and I won’t be a candidate for deputy leadership of the Labor Party under any circumstances. | |
| Chris Bowen says Labor’s policy platform is now “a blank canvas”. | |
| I do want to deal with one thing upfront, and let’s talk about the elephant in the room. | |
| Some say Labor lost the election because of franking credits which is a policy that I designed. | |
| I designed it to invest more in schools and hospitals, to give Labor a good program of investment. | |
| We lost this election for a whole range of reasons – some of probably we haven’t yet determined. Franking credits was a controversial policy. A controversial policy, for which, no doubt, we lost some votes. | |
| But I don’t accept that it is why we lost the election in it’s entirety. | |
| We also lost the election because the policies we don’t have, like a death tax. | |
| They are more people raising the death tax on the polling booths with me than on the franking credits. I woke up on Sunday morning devastated. | |
| I admit – devastated for myself, devastated for my party and devastated for the country. But also, deep respect for the verdict of the people of the country. Deeply respectful. | |
| What I didn’t wake up thinking on Sunday morning is that all of a sudden, the tax system is now fair. | |
| I didn’t wake up suddenly on Sunday morning thinking that we don’t need to spend any more money on health and education. | |
| I didn’t wake up on Sunday morning thinking that we should no longer worry about giving first homebuyers a go. | |
| These are the values which underpinned all the policies and they’ll continue to be my values and they’ll continue to inform my policymaking if I’m leader, or in whatever capacity I serve the party. | |
| But no political party ever takes to the next election, exactly the same policies they took to the last. That would be dumb. They all have to be reviewed. It’s a blank canvas. We start again with new policies, collectively. | |
| Bowen continued: | |
| I make it clear that this is not a factional ballot. There will be no seeking to bind rightwing members. That is entirely a matter for them. I would hope and expect for people to weigh up the two options and vote for whom they think is the best candidate. | |
| There will be no ill-will from me for anybody who determines that they should vote for Anthony. | |
| And also would expect, and I know that that will apply from the left as well, that they will vote for the best candidate available. | |
| I’ll be talking to branch members, many of whom are not in a faction, and pulling my case. | |
| Chris Bowen: | |
| I want to make it very clear – Anthony Albanese is a friend of mine, a good man. | |
| I think that he would make a good leader of the Labor party. And if he wins the ballot, he will have my full and undivided loyalty. But I think that the party deserves contest. | |
| I think that the party deserves choice. It deserves to hear competing ideas. I think it would be wrong of me not to provide that choice to the party. I believe in growth and opportunity, economic growth. | |
| I believe in reconnecting with the suburbs like this and the regions. | |
| I believe in connecting with people from all walks of life – manufacturing workers for example. | |
| Just up the road from here is the Smithfield Weatherill Park industrial estate, the biggest industrial estate in the southern hemisphere. I believe in government working with private sector to ensure that Australia has a manufacturing future. I believe in these things deeply. | |
| I believe that this government has no plans or policies for economic growth for the future. | |
| Economic growth lifts people out of poverty, turns aspiration into reality. It is the poverty alleviation program ever invented. | |
| I want to lead that debate for Labor. | |
| To ensure that it is spread across the regions of our great country. This will be a great process. As I said, Anthony is a good man and you’ll hear not one word of criticism leave my lips about him. I’ve spoken to him this morning and told him what I’m doing, and this will be a good balance | |
| Chris Bowen is holding his press conference in the street he grew up in – in front of the house he grew up in. | |
| The truth of the matter is, this is the house I grew up in. Dad was a shift worker working with the NRMA. Worked every Sunday. Worked most Christmas. Every Easter. | |
| My mum was a childcare worker. She looked after children in this home, including fostering disabled children. Raised my brothers and I here. This is an important end of who I am. They still at the other end of Smithfield. Smithfield is an important part of me and my story. That’s why I’ve asked you here today. I’ve asked you here today so that I can announce that I will run for the leadership of the Australian Labor party. | |
| Chris Bowen is due to address the media very soon to formally announce his candidacy for the Labor leadership | |
| Samantha Maiden from the New Daily had been reporting the very real possibility of the tax rebate being delayed, because of the almost impossibility of that timetable being workable, almost as soon as the budget was handed down. | Samantha Maiden from the New Daily had been reporting the very real possibility of the tax rebate being delayed, because of the almost impossibility of that timetable being workable, almost as soon as the budget was handed down. |
| We followed it up here as well, but at the time, Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg both said it was possible and they would do it. Well, what do you know – turns out it it is an almost impossible turnaround, given the writs have to be returned before parliament can resume. | We followed it up here as well, but at the time, Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg both said it was possible and they would do it. Well, what do you know – turns out it it is an almost impossible turnaround, given the writs have to be returned before parliament can resume. |
| You probably won’t have to wait a year, if you are eligible for the rebate. The ATO would “amend” your tax return, which means, if you already have your return, they’ll send you whatever else you are owed, later. | You probably won’t have to wait a year, if you are eligible for the rebate. The ATO would “amend” your tax return, which means, if you already have your return, they’ll send you whatever else you are owed, later. |
| That’s going to be a pretty big administrative burden, but it was also the most likely outcome. | That’s going to be a pretty big administrative burden, but it was also the most likely outcome. |
| It’s only now, after the election, that the government is admitting it. | It’s only now, after the election, that the government is admitting it. |
| Remember by little obsession that Parliament might not be able to come back to legislate tax cuts by July 1 ? Turns out I was right PM now talking about amended returns but not necessarily from July 1) https://t.co/d25HLXORDu | Remember by little obsession that Parliament might not be able to come back to legislate tax cuts by July 1 ? Turns out I was right PM now talking about amended returns but not necessarily from July 1) https://t.co/d25HLXORDu |
| Christopher Knaus has spoken to South Australian senator Rex Patrick about the government’s proposed federal integrity commission, which we reminded you about yesterday. | Christopher Knaus has spoken to South Australian senator Rex Patrick about the government’s proposed federal integrity commission, which we reminded you about yesterday. |
| It is not Icac – there are no public hearings, you won’t know if someone is under investigation, and you’ll only find out if it goes to court and someone is found guilty. | It is not Icac – there are no public hearings, you won’t know if someone is under investigation, and you’ll only find out if it goes to court and someone is found guilty. |
| Patrick is not a fan: | Patrick is not a fan: |
| A key figure in the emerging Senate crossbench, Rex Patrick, has warned his party will not support the Coalition’s proposed anti-corruption body unless it is given stronger powers. | A key figure in the emerging Senate crossbench, Rex Patrick, has warned his party will not support the Coalition’s proposed anti-corruption body unless it is given stronger powers. |
| The makeup of the Senate is still being finalised, but the two Centre Alliance senators appear likely to play a critical role where Labor and the Greens oppose legislation and One Nation votes with the government. | The makeup of the Senate is still being finalised, but the two Centre Alliance senators appear likely to play a critical role where Labor and the Greens oppose legislation and One Nation votes with the government. |
| The Centre Alliance lower and upper house members have all campaigned strongly on greater government integrity and transparency, speaking for the need to reform anti-corruption bodies, donations rules and freedom of information regimes. | The Centre Alliance lower and upper house members have all campaigned strongly on greater government integrity and transparency, speaking for the need to reform anti-corruption bodies, donations rules and freedom of information regimes. |
| Patrick told Guardian Australia that the Coalition’s flagship integrity proposal – a national integrity commission – was not sufficient. | Patrick told Guardian Australia that the Coalition’s flagship integrity proposal – a national integrity commission – was not sufficient. |
| Crossbenchers will not support anti-corruption body unless it gets stronger powers | Crossbenchers will not support anti-corruption body unless it gets stronger powers |
| Anthony Albanese officially announced his bid for the Labor leadership in the pub where the NSW Labor party was born. | Anthony Albanese officially announced his bid for the Labor leadership in the pub where the NSW Labor party was born. |
| Chris Bowen will be announcing his bid on the street he grew up in, in Smithfield. | Chris Bowen will be announcing his bid on the street he grew up in, in Smithfield. |
| Anthony Albanese is continuing his leadership bid with a chat to Neil Mitchell this morning on Melbourne radio 3AW. | Anthony Albanese is continuing his leadership bid with a chat to Neil Mitchell this morning on Melbourne radio 3AW. |
| He has floated what seems like a bit of a compromise position on what Labor’s position on franking credits, saying the party could look at grandfathering it, and then putting a cap on it. | He has floated what seems like a bit of a compromise position on what Labor’s position on franking credits, saying the party could look at grandfathering it, and then putting a cap on it. |
| He’s also said the Victorian voters have said no to the East-West Link, so it shouldn’t be built. And reminded listeners that the money is in the government’s contingency fund – not actually put forward. | He’s also said the Victorian voters have said no to the East-West Link, so it shouldn’t be built. And reminded listeners that the money is in the government’s contingency fund – not actually put forward. |
| Asked if voters ever saw the real Bill Shorten, Albanese says no one could have worked harder and repeat that “you won’t hear any criticism of Bill from me”. | Asked if voters ever saw the real Bill Shorten, Albanese says no one could have worked harder and repeat that “you won’t hear any criticism of Bill from me”. |
| Off the Labor leadership for a moment – there has been, obviously, reflection and examination of the role Queensland state Labor played in the party’s electoral defeat in that state. | Off the Labor leadership for a moment – there has been, obviously, reflection and examination of the role Queensland state Labor played in the party’s electoral defeat in that state. |
| That is necessary, and the shockwaves will be felt for sometime. While, as reported here, Labor had been downplaying its chances of picking up any seats even before the election, it did not expect to go backwards – especially as backwards as it has gone. | That is necessary, and the shockwaves will be felt for sometime. While, as reported here, Labor had been downplaying its chances of picking up any seats even before the election, it did not expect to go backwards – especially as backwards as it has gone. |
| But this front page is beyond the pale. And politicians from across the spectrum are rightly condemning it. | But this front page is beyond the pale. And politicians from across the spectrum are rightly condemning it. |
| Appalling editorial decision on two levels... violence against women is a national scourge and suggesting any public figure is in the ‘crosshairs’ is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. It would be easy to make the political point without implied violence. Please apologise. pic.twitter.com/nL8FVYTrBr | Appalling editorial decision on two levels... violence against women is a national scourge and suggesting any public figure is in the ‘crosshairs’ is irresponsible and potentially dangerous. It would be easy to make the political point without implied violence. Please apologise. pic.twitter.com/nL8FVYTrBr |
| Don’t depict politicians in violent situations. Just don’t do it. | Don’t depict politicians in violent situations. Just don’t do it. |
| Of course, that leaves Jim Chalmers in a bit of a tricky spot. | Of course, that leaves Jim Chalmers in a bit of a tricky spot. |
| And we have a contest – Chris Bowen is in the race for the Labor leadership. | And we have a contest – Chris Bowen is in the race for the Labor leadership. |
| Breaking: Chris Bowen will run for the Labor leadership @AmyRemeikis #auspol | Breaking: Chris Bowen will run for the Labor leadership @AmyRemeikis #auspol |
| And we have a contest - Chris Bowen is in the race for the Labor leadership | And we have a contest - Chris Bowen is in the race for the Labor leadership |
| Asked on ABC Breakfast this morning about whether he was putting his hand up for the Labor leadership, Joel Fitzgibbon didn’t say he was going to. But he didn’t say he wouldn’t, either. | Asked on ABC Breakfast this morning about whether he was putting his hand up for the Labor leadership, Joel Fitzgibbon didn’t say he was going to. But he didn’t say he wouldn’t, either. |
| I, ideally, would like the leader, for a change, to come from a regional area – someone outside the capital cities … | I, ideally, would like the leader, for a change, to come from a regional area – someone outside the capital cities … |
| Well, I’m a realist about the contest. We have some very, very good candidates, Anthony Albanese, for example, already declared. I’m less about who the person is, but more about what the person stands for. | Well, I’m a realist about the contest. We have some very, very good candidates, Anthony Albanese, for example, already declared. I’m less about who the person is, but more about what the person stands for. |
| And what that person is prepared to commit to. So, if one of those candidate, whoever that might be, is prepared to say, requesting, “I’ll give regional Australia a big seat at the decision making table,” I will clearly show my support for the coalmining industry. | And what that person is prepared to commit to. So, if one of those candidate, whoever that might be, is prepared to say, requesting, “I’ll give regional Australia a big seat at the decision making table,” I will clearly show my support for the coalmining industry. |
| I will make it clear that I’m prepared to get gas out of the ground to fuel the manufacturing sector and to create jobs in regional Australia. | I will make it clear that I’m prepared to get gas out of the ground to fuel the manufacturing sector and to create jobs in regional Australia. |
| Then I would be happy to get behind that person. | Then I would be happy to get behind that person. |
| Not so much who it is about. We have a number of talented people. | Not so much who it is about. We have a number of talented people. |
| It’s about what Labor stands for, and people want to hear us say – we support blue-collar jobs and we support our manufacturing sector and we support our coalmining sector. | It’s about what Labor stands for, and people want to hear us say – we support blue-collar jobs and we support our manufacturing sector and we support our coalmining sector. |
| After all, they are our policies. | After all, they are our policies. |
| On the government’s tax rebates and the new Senate, David Crowe at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age has had a chat to some of the crossbenchers, who don’t believe the Morrison government has a mandate to have everything passed: | On the government’s tax rebates and the new Senate, David Crowe at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age has had a chat to some of the crossbenchers, who don’t believe the Morrison government has a mandate to have everything passed: |
| “The only true mandate is when voters give a single party control of both houses and that hasn’t happened in this particular instance,” [Centre Alliance] Senator [Stirling] Griff said. “So there’s really no such thing as having a mandate for everything you propose.” | “The only true mandate is when voters give a single party control of both houses and that hasn’t happened in this particular instance,” [Centre Alliance] Senator [Stirling] Griff said. “So there’s really no such thing as having a mandate for everything you propose.” |
| The way the new Senate is shaping up, the government would need five of the eight crossbenchers. | The way the new Senate is shaping up, the government would need five of the eight crossbenchers. |
| Welcome to the ongoing wash-up of the 2019 election, as Scott Morrison waits to find out just how comfortable his majority in the lower house will be. | Welcome to the ongoing wash-up of the 2019 election, as Scott Morrison waits to find out just how comfortable his majority in the lower house will be. |
| It’s not all smooth sailing – the promise to legislate the low and middle income tax rebate before the end of the financial year looks to be delayed, because parliament can not be returned until the writs are issued for the 2019 election – and that is going to take some time. | It’s not all smooth sailing – the promise to legislate the low and middle income tax rebate before the end of the financial year looks to be delayed, because parliament can not be returned until the writs are issued for the 2019 election – and that is going to take some time. |
| Morrison did an interview with Sky News overnight, where he conceded the timeline isn’t looking likely. | Morrison did an interview with Sky News overnight, where he conceded the timeline isn’t looking likely. |
| At the moment, it is not looking like until the back of end of June. So that really does make very narrow, that opportunity to do it before June 30 and I think that is very unlikely with the advice I have received. | At the moment, it is not looking like until the back of end of June. So that really does make very narrow, that opportunity to do it before June 30 and I think that is very unlikely with the advice I have received. |
| Which means the ATO faces amending tax returns, retrospectively. In April, it said: “If the law for these tax cuts passes after June, we could also retrospectively amend assessments to provide the tax cut once the law is passed.” | Which means the ATO faces amending tax returns, retrospectively. In April, it said: “If the law for these tax cuts passes after June, we could also retrospectively amend assessments to provide the tax cut once the law is passed.” |
| It would be an administrative burden, but it could do it. | It would be an administrative burden, but it could do it. |
| But first the government would have to get it past the new Senate. And that will depend on whether or not it decides to do its whole package, which includes scheduling the 2024 tax rebates for high-income earners, which the Australia Institute costed at $77bn, or focus on the low- and middle-income rebates. So watch this space. | But first the government would have to get it past the new Senate. And that will depend on whether or not it decides to do its whole package, which includes scheduling the 2024 tax rebates for high-income earners, which the Australia Institute costed at $77bn, or focus on the low- and middle-income rebates. So watch this space. |
| Meanwhile, Labor is still sorting out its new leadership. Joel Fitzgibbon has potentially thrown his hat in the Labor leadership contest, which already has Anthony Albanese as a contender. | Meanwhile, Labor is still sorting out its new leadership. Joel Fitzgibbon has potentially thrown his hat in the Labor leadership contest, which already has Anthony Albanese as a contender. |
| Fitzgibbon, who suffered a 10% swing against him in his coal-reliant electorate of Hunter, told Seven this morning: | Fitzgibbon, who suffered a 10% swing against him in his coal-reliant electorate of Hunter, told Seven this morning: |
| I am prepared to run for change. I am getting a bit old as you can see. I’ve been around a long time and I would rather a younger person take up the mantle, but if I need to do [it] I will do it. | I am prepared to run for change. I am getting a bit old as you can see. I’ve been around a long time and I would rather a younger person take up the mantle, but if I need to do [it] I will do it. |
| Last night the Anthony Albanese/Jim Chalmers ticket was firming up, but anyone can nominate. The official nomination process begins tomorrow. | Last night the Anthony Albanese/Jim Chalmers ticket was firming up, but anyone can nominate. The official nomination process begins tomorrow. |
| We’ll keep you up to date as the day – and the count – continues. Keep an eye on Cowan, Macquarie and Lilley. | We’ll keep you up to date as the day – and the count – continues. Keep an eye on Cowan, Macquarie and Lilley. |
| Ready? | Ready? |
| Let’s get into it | Let’s get into it |