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| PM says Alek Sigley is safe and well – question time live | PM says Alek Sigley is safe and well – question time live |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The tax debate has resumed in the Senate. It will go until it’s passed, today. | |
| The many moods of question time, as performed by Anthony Albanese: | |
| There’s been a bit of excitement over Cory Bernardi telling the ABC that “that is a safe bet” in response to a question about him being unlikely to see out his Senate term. | |
| Bernardi has said repeatedly he would leave the Senate when he is 50. He turns 50 at the end of the year. | |
| He also confirmed what we reported yesterday – that his Senate spot would be likely to go to the Liberals. That’s because he was elected as a Liberal. When he steps down, it goes back to them. The SA parliament technically sends the senator, but it’s only been Joh Bjelke-Petersen who has ignored the will of the party. Shocking, I know. | |
| Scott Morrison told the chamber that Alek Sigley is now inside the Australian embassy in Beijing, effectively meaning he is on Australian soil. | |
| Question time ends. | |
| The Australian reported this: | |
| Centre Alliance has received a written guarantee outlining the Morrison government’s gas policy, which the key minor party demanded in exchange for its support for the $158 billion personal income tax cuts package. | |
| The copy of the draft gas policy, which has been signed by the government, was given to Centre Alliance senators last night ahead of a crucial vote in the Senate today on the tax cut. | |
| Which Murray Watt just asked about in Senate question time: | |
| My question is to the minister representing the prime minister, Senator Cormann. I refer to breaking reports from The Australian that Centre Alliance has received a written guarantee outlining the Morrison government’s gas policy. Does the written guarantee provide a guarantee that the price of gas will be reduced to $7 a gigajoule, as promised this morning by Senator Patrick? If so, will the minister be upfront with the Senate and undertake to table a copy of the written guarantee in this place? | |
| And Mathias Cormann denied: | |
| I think it’s always prudent not to believe everything you read in the newspaper. | |
| Over in the Senate, Kimberley Kitching has been asking Mathias Cormann about when the prime minister decided to write to his head of department over Christopher Pyne’s new job: | |
| KK: My question is to the minister representing the prime minister, Senator Cormann. Former minister for defence Christopher Pyne announced he had taken a position with EY stating that he was ‘looking forward to providing strategic advice to Ernst & Young as the firm looks forward to expanding its footprint in the defence industry’. In response, the minister for trade, tourism and investment, Senator Birmingham, warned that everybody should adhere to that code of conduct, and that includes Christopher. | |
| I note the statement made by a minister, and to the Senate earlier today. When did the prime minister write to his secretary asking him to investigate Mr Pyne’s employment with Ernst and Young? | |
| MC: As Senator Kitching has quite rightly outlined, the prime minister has written to Dr Parkinson in the terms I advised to the chamber earlier. In fact, he wrote to him on 3 July. | |
| KK: Senator Abbott has said: people do expect a standard from the ministers, and then former ministers, to ensure that that which they have learnt and gleaned from their ministerial roles are not imported into other roles on which they can potentially gain financially. | |
| Has the prime minister or his office discussed Mr Pyne’s employment with EY with Mr Pyne? If so, when and with whom did the discussion take place? | |
| MC: I am aware of a public statement that former Minister Pyne issued in relation to some of these other matters. But I will take them on notice. But, as I have indicated to the Senate, the prime minister has written to Dr Parkinson seeking advice on these matters, as appropriate. And, as I have indicated to the chamber, we will provide an update on these matters in due course. | |
| KK: The Liberal member for Barker, Tony Pasin, has said: what I do know is the fact we are talking about it is indicative that it just doesn’t pass the pump test. | |
| While the prime minister’s secretary is investigating Mr Pyne’s employment with Ernst & Young, what arrangements are in place to ensure Mr Pyne does not take advantage of information obtained due to his former ministerial responsibilities? | |
| MC: There is absolutely no indication that former minister Christopher Pyne has or is acting in breach of the statement of ministerial standards, but the prime minister has sought advice in relation to these matters, as I have indicated to the chamber – | |
| KK: My question was not whether there had been a breach. My question was in relation to what arrangements are in place to ensure that there isn’t one. | |
| MC: As I have indicated to the chamber, the prime minister sought advice from Dr Parkinson and I’ll provide an update at the appropriate time. With that, I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper. | |
| The government tries to take the question after Sharkie’s, but the Speaker, Tony Smith, says he isn’t interested in those games and hands it back to the leader of the opposition. | |
| Anthony Albanese: | |
| Why has the national economy fallen from the eighth fastest growing economy in the OECD when they were elected in 2013 to the 20th today? | |
| Morrison: | |
| I am pleased to see the leader of the opposition is being very inclusive with his new team today, very inclusive. Apparently they are a team of one on that side. A team of one. I suspect that speaks volumes about the support that the leader of the opposition. | |
| Mr Speaker, GDP growth, the growth of the economy today is stronger than every G7 economy except the United States. We are in the 28th year of uninterrupted growth. Our economy, when I was recently at the G20, is the economy that other world leaders want to know more about because of its success, and one of the reasons they want to know that is because 1.4 million jobs have been created on the watch of this government since we were first elected in 2013. | |
| Albanese interrupts with a point of order, but Smith says he believes the prime minister is in order – that there can be more than one reason. | |
| Morrison moves on to the Labor party being obsessed with tax. | |
| Tony Burke gets up for his first challenge of a ruling. | |
| Smith says he believes Morrison is in order. Morrison continues: | |
| The Australian people have had their say on the economy, and they voted with the Coalition. | |
| Rebekha Sharkie gets a question and it is on a federal integrity commission: | |
| My question is to the Attorney General. A March 2019 polled by the Australian Institute found 80% of the Australian support the establishment of a commission to prevent investigate and expose corruption. 67% polled said they held a low to very low trust in politicians in our Federal Parliament. When will the government introduced legislation to create an integrity commission with real powers to reduce corruption and hopefully restore public trust in us in this chamber? | |
| Christian Porter: | |
| I thank the member for Mayo for her question and I am glad I asked who her second independent question was to come and when she said it was tome, that was very useful. The exact date is going to court - might depend on the consultation that will happen between now leading up to December, indeed. It is always good to get a tipoff. It is the case that those surveys have been published, and they do indicate that this is an area that requires significant work. | |
| It is also the case that we must remember that Australia is consistently ranked by transparencyInternational is another less corrupt countries in the world, but we are committed, absolutely committed, absolutely committed to a Commonwealth integrity commission. | |
| You will of course recall that on 13th December 2018 the Prime Minister and I announced the establishment of a Commonwealth integrity commission, we released a very detailed public consultation paper with respect to the model that we have put forward. | |
| The model is one in two parts, whether law-enforcement integrity division will have the same functions and powers as the current Australian commission for law enforcement integrity, but broader jurisdiction. The second an entirely new part of the organisation will be the public sector integrity division. That will investigate alleged criminal corruption involving the remainder of the public sector, including departments and their staff, parliamentarians and their staff, the staff of federal judicial officers and in appropriate circumstances, recipients of Commonwealth funds and will have a very broad jurisdiction. | |
| It would not escape the members noted that in the last budget, the forward estimates now show $145.2 million committed to this body, that is $104.5 million of new funding and includes the existing budget of $40.7 million. I might note in evidence of the commitment of the government to this organisation that is funding well in excess of what members opposite had budgeted for their variant model of this body. During the consultation process that has happened so far, we have had 78 submissions and they were with respect to the very detailed draft discussion paper that we had out, the next part of this phase will be to take a basic drafting out and consult with a range of stakeholders and then of course cabinet, but we are totally committed to this. This is something that absolutely has to be got right, it is detailed and the price of getting it wrong is to decrease public confidence in all of us and our civil service and we will not let that happen. | |
| Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: | Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: |
| Given the severity of the drought, what is the Morrison government doing to address international regulators in the water market putting up the price of water for farmers? | |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| Thank you. I will make a brief remark then hand over to the minister for water resources. The national drought fund was brought into this parliament before the election, it was the product of the national drought summit that was intended to provide ongoing permanent support to build drought resilience in this country. | |
| I hope the opposition now on the other side of the election will change their position and support this initiative. And provide a much-needed support and encouragement to people and families in rural and regional Australia, whether they are on the farm or living in farming communities, this parliament should support that initiative and the many other initiatives we brought to address the ongoing drought, Mr Speaker. | |
| The leader of the opposition interjects but, Mr Speaker, the leader of the opposition was part of the same shadow cabinet before the last election which voted against the national drought fund. They said they would oppose it, they were not supported. And they sent an appalling message. So, Mr Speaker, they may wish to reconsider that matter and I would ask the minister for water resources. | |
| David Littleproud: | |
| Let me go to the point around the water market. Obviously as I have got around and done meetings with irrigators up and down the basin in the north and south, one of the great concerns that I was hearing, particularly exacerbated by the drought, is the cost of water. Ninety three per cent of trades happen in the southern basin where a lot of the conjecture are. Fourteen per cent of those that own water licences don’t own land. When state government separated water from land, I don’t know whether that was the intent of where the market has evolved itself to now. So the government took swift action after listening to people on the ground. The real people. In farmers’ sheds listening to their concerns. | |
| And I have now nearly finalised with the treasurer a terms of reference for the ACCC to get under the bonnet of the water market, to make sure that the original intent of how this market was created is still working, and that small farming families are not taken out of it. This is a responsible step to make sure that we understand the market if you are aware of what it was intended to be and we will make sure that the terms of reference are broad enough so that the ACCC can give confidence to everybody, the transparency that is required within this basic plan is seen through, and it states also... | |
| Albanese interrupts to say the question was very specific and Littleproud has not answered it. | |
| Littleproud: | |
| I will simplify it for the leader of the opposition. Within that 14% are international players. Not running away from that and that is why the ACCC will look at it. They will be taken into this inquiry by the ACCC. That 14% are part of the cohort we are looking at, they are responsible actions of a government that listens to the people, not just the bureaucrats, with those in the sheds and listen to real people. | |
| Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: | |
| Will the prime minister work with me to work in a way that is consistent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for mentioning the Constitution in a way that is consistent with the Uluru Statement from the Heart. | |
| Morrison: | |
| We have discussed since the last election this matter. There is definitely a spirit of cooperation we are seeking to establish. When it comes to advancing these issues, we had the historic opening of this parliament, not only that the first cabinet minister to be an Indigenous Australian but the first minister was an Indigenous person in the unique opportunity that is presented by the fact that the shadow minister for Indigenous Australians is also an Indigenous Australian. | |
| This gives us a great opportunity and we should not limit our options and how we continue to progress this. The government endorsed the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition and we are going to continue to implement the outcomes of that report and the recommendations it provided. | |
| We have agreed to work together with the opposition to that end but to all parties, all members of this parliament and the other place, I would say that we are seeking a non-partisan perspective on this, not just a bipartisan one, and we welcome everyone to the table in seeking to advance this agenda and we have allocated $7.3m for a co-design process to include local and regional decision-making. | |
| We have set aside $160m in the contingency reserve for a future referendum once a model has been determined, so we are serious about progressing in this matter. The ultimate models and options that are considered by the government will be a process of this ongoing consultation for Indigenous Australians and the shadow minister. | |
| As important as this issue is, the priority for my government is addressing the terrible curse of Indigenous suicide. This is heartbreaking. The rates of Indigenous suicide in remote regional communities is just unthinkable but it is real. | |
| In the program as we have announced to address that, in the funding that we have provided, I know is supported by the opposition. | |
| I think also the former leader of the opposition. We’ll continue to work each and every day. Towards zero. That must be our goal. The fact that young Indigenous Australians see taking their life as the way forward. There are the challenges of Indigenous education. These will always be front and centre in my government, our government and our parliament. | |
| Albanese: | Albanese: |
| I think the prime minister for his answer, and thank him for the spirit in which he has reached out to the opposition to work particularly with the new minister, and I congratulate the minister for on his employment and shadow minister and I am sure they can advance in a united way and work together to try and achieve some outcomes for something that frankly has been intractable for a very long period of time, and I am sure that if this parliament, this 46th parliament can advance this agenda, both in terms of constitutional recognition and practical reconciliation, I think that would be a marvellous achievement. | |
| Someone just asked Stuart Robert a dixer, reminding us all of his existence. | Someone just asked Stuart Robert a dixer, reminding us all of his existence. |
| Moving on. | Moving on. |
| And Scott Morrison’s official statement: | And Scott Morrison’s official statement: |
| We are pleased to announce that Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). He is safe and well. | We are pleased to announce that Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). He is safe and well. |
| Swedish authorities advised the Australian Government that they met with senior officials from the DPRK yesterday and raised the issue of Alek’s disappearance on Australia’s behalf. | Swedish authorities advised the Australian Government that they met with senior officials from the DPRK yesterday and raised the issue of Alek’s disappearance on Australia’s behalf. |
| Earlier this morning we were advised that the DPRK had released Alek from detention, and he has now safely left the country. | Earlier this morning we were advised that the DPRK had released Alek from detention, and he has now safely left the country. |
| On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance in securing Alek’s prompt release. | On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Swedish authorities for their invaluable assistance in securing Alek’s prompt release. |
| This outcome demonstrates the value of the discreet, behind the scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consular cases, in close partnership with other governments. | This outcome demonstrates the value of the discreet, behind the scenes work of officials in resolving complex and sensitive consular cases, in close partnership with other governments. |
| We couldn’t be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is, but that he is safe. | We couldn’t be more pleased that we not only know where Alek is, but that he is safe. |
| The Senate has also acknowledged Alek Sigley’s freedom: | The Senate has also acknowledged Alek Sigley’s freedom: |
| Marise Payne: | Marise Payne: |
| Following from the prime minister’s comments in the House of Representatives I am very pleased to advise the Senate that young Australian Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in North Korea. | Following from the prime minister’s comments in the House of Representatives I am very pleased to advise the Senate that young Australian Mr Alek Sigley has today been released from detention in North Korea. |
| He is safe and he is well. Swedish authorities advised the Australian government they met with senior officials from the DPRK yesterday and raised the issue of Alek’s disappearance on Australia’s behalf. | He is safe and he is well. Swedish authorities advised the Australian government they met with senior officials from the DPRK yesterday and raised the issue of Alek’s disappearance on Australia’s behalf. |
| Earlier today, we were advised the DPRK has released him from detention and he has now safely left the country. | Earlier today, we were advised the DPRK has released him from detention and he has now safely left the country. |
| May I express our deepest gratitude to Swedish authorities for their prompt action to secure Alek’s release. | May I express our deepest gratitude to Swedish authorities for their prompt action to secure Alek’s release. |
| It does demonstrate the value of careful, behind-the-scenes work by officials in resolving cases like this in close partnership with other governments. I won’t be making further comment out of respect for Alek’s privacy and his family, but I can say his father has been advised. | It does demonstrate the value of careful, behind-the-scenes work by officials in resolving cases like this in close partnership with other governments. I won’t be making further comment out of respect for Alek’s privacy and his family, but I can say his father has been advised. |
| He is enormously relieved and grateful and has asked me to convey, the family has asked that we convey the thanks to everyone who has expressed support to them for the last few days. | He is enormously relieved and grateful and has asked me to convey, the family has asked that we convey the thanks to everyone who has expressed support to them for the last few days. |
| Penny Wong: | Penny Wong: |
| On behalf of the opposition, can I welcome this announcement and share in the foreign minister’s thanks to the Swedish authorities for their valuable work to secure Mr Sigley’s release and also acknowledge all officers for their work. | On behalf of the opposition, can I welcome this announcement and share in the foreign minister’s thanks to the Swedish authorities for their valuable work to secure Mr Sigley’s release and also acknowledge all officers for their work. |
| I thank the minister for her cooperation, and the approach the opposition takes, as you will have seen on public statement, is a bipartisan and public approach and we are very pleased this matter has been resolved satisfactorily. | I thank the minister for her cooperation, and the approach the opposition takes, as you will have seen on public statement, is a bipartisan and public approach and we are very pleased this matter has been resolved satisfactorily. |
| Tony Smith just told Angus Taylor that if he didn’t know the answer to take it on notice. | Tony Smith just told Angus Taylor that if he didn’t know the answer to take it on notice. |
| This is the greatest thing to happen this week. | This is the greatest thing to happen this week. |
| We are now 1.5 minutes into [the answer], and I say to the minister, he needs to address the specifics of the question. No longer address the general policy topic or simply wind up his answer or take it on notice. | We are now 1.5 minutes into [the answer], and I say to the minister, he needs to address the specifics of the question. No longer address the general policy topic or simply wind up his answer or take it on notice. |
| Taylor: | Taylor: |
| We will continue to work for more affordable gas prices for Australians. | We will continue to work for more affordable gas prices for Australians. |
| Anthony Albanese offers to answer the question for Taylor, but sadly, Smith has to tell him that is not in the standing orders. | Anthony Albanese offers to answer the question for Taylor, but sadly, Smith has to tell him that is not in the standing orders. |
| Better than a shot of karsk. | Better than a shot of karsk. |
| Angus Taylor takes this question for the prime minister: | Angus Taylor takes this question for the prime minister: |
| Have the government committed to gas prices of $7 per gigajoule or less for Australian households? | Have the government committed to gas prices of $7 per gigajoule or less for Australian households? |
| He launches into some Angus Taylorisms on electricity, and Tony Smith is all – yeah, nah – stop talking about electricity, the question was on gas. | He launches into some Angus Taylorisms on electricity, and Tony Smith is all – yeah, nah – stop talking about electricity, the question was on gas. |
| Taylor is a Rhodes scholar don’t ya know ladies and gentlemen. | Taylor is a Rhodes scholar don’t ya know ladies and gentlemen. |
| Michael McCormack was literally dancing in his seat as Scott Morrison gave that answer. | Michael McCormack was literally dancing in his seat as Scott Morrison gave that answer. |
| Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: | Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: |
| The chief economist of the National Australia Bank has said we are getting readings that are basically as bad if not worse than the bottom of the GFC. What does that say about the economy on his watch, particularly for small business? | The chief economist of the National Australia Bank has said we are getting readings that are basically as bad if not worse than the bottom of the GFC. What does that say about the economy on his watch, particularly for small business? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| Mr Speaker, the National Australia Bank business survey that came out after the election saw business confidence rise seven points following the election and that is the largest single monthly increase since the time of the 2013 election. Mr Speaker, business confidence has been restored as a result of the re-election of this government and the reason it was under threat was because of the prospect of a Labor government. | Mr Speaker, the National Australia Bank business survey that came out after the election saw business confidence rise seven points following the election and that is the largest single monthly increase since the time of the 2013 election. Mr Speaker, business confidence has been restored as a result of the re-election of this government and the reason it was under threat was because of the prospect of a Labor government. |
| If it’s under threat, because of the biggest risk to the Australian economy, was those that sat opposite and the good grace and wisdom of the Australian people who go out everywhere. | If it’s under threat, because of the biggest risk to the Australian economy, was those that sat opposite and the good grace and wisdom of the Australian people who go out everywhere. |
| ... In a note, Mr Speaker, whether it was on the retiree tax or the housing tax or the small business taxes and the plethora of taxes, they all remain the Labor party’s policy. As I look down the front bench of the Labor party, I see the same old faces. | ... In a note, Mr Speaker, whether it was on the retiree tax or the housing tax or the small business taxes and the plethora of taxes, they all remain the Labor party’s policy. As I look down the front bench of the Labor party, I see the same old faces. |
| The same old faces in the same old arrogance in the same old class envy in the same old smugness, which says we don’t think Australians should keep more of what they earn. They think the answer to a stronger economy is higher taxes. | The same old faces in the same old arrogance in the same old class envy in the same old smugness, which says we don’t think Australians should keep more of what they earn. They think the answer to a stronger economy is higher taxes. |
| The Australian people don’t agree with them. They disagree with them and they voice their disagreement by telling them in the lowest primary vote for the Labor party in 100 years as sick to death of Labor seeking to kill aspiration in this country. | The Australian people don’t agree with them. They disagree with them and they voice their disagreement by telling them in the lowest primary vote for the Labor party in 100 years as sick to death of Labor seeking to kill aspiration in this country. |
| This is a Labor party which has more in common with Jeremy Corbyn than Paul Keating. | This is a Labor party which has more in common with Jeremy Corbyn than Paul Keating. |
| Because we’ve seen the Snapchat and Instagram posts, they are buddies in arms, all part of the new Labor agenda, which would take this country back decades and decades and decades. | Because we’ve seen the Snapchat and Instagram posts, they are buddies in arms, all part of the new Labor agenda, which would take this country back decades and decades and decades. |
| Our plan for a stronger economy was taken to the Australian people. The Australian people rejected this mob, Mr Speaker. They rejected them absolutely and with good cause because Labor’s policies, which remain unchanged, are to undercut, to douse the aspiration of hard-working Australians. | Our plan for a stronger economy was taken to the Australian people. The Australian people rejected this mob, Mr Speaker. They rejected them absolutely and with good cause because Labor’s policies, which remain unchanged, are to undercut, to douse the aspiration of hard-working Australians. |
| On this side of the house, we will always stand up for them and put forward policies that respect them and encourage them, while on that side Labor have learned absolutely nothing by their rejection at the last election. | On this side of the house, we will always stand up for them and put forward policies that respect them and encourage them, while on that side Labor have learned absolutely nothing by their rejection at the last election. |
| Albanese: | Albanese: |
| I seek leave to table an article from Thursday 20 June 2019, ABC News, a growing number of small businesses struggling with economic downturn. | I seek leave to table an article from Thursday 20 June 2019, ABC News, a growing number of small businesses struggling with economic downturn. |