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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/jul/04/government-gets-tax-cut-numbers-politics-live
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| Jacqui Lambie backs Coalition's income tax cuts package – politics live | Jacqui Lambie backs Coalition's income tax cuts package – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says Christopher Pyne's job with EY is "certainly very questionable" given his obligations under the ministerial code of conduct. Asked if there should be an inquiry, Barnaby says there are questions that need to be answered. #auspol | |
| And yes #auspol really is going to give an $11k tax cut to people on $200k before increasing Newstart. Almost 1 million people living on $40 a day or less. No real increase for 25 years. The tax cut alone is almost as much as Newstart! How much longer #auspol? #raisetherate | And yes #auspol really is going to give an $11k tax cut to people on $200k before increasing Newstart. Almost 1 million people living on $40 a day or less. No real increase for 25 years. The tax cut alone is almost as much as Newstart! How much longer #auspol? #raisetherate |
| Barnaby Joyce is speaking on Sky about the need to do something about water – and the need to build dams. | Barnaby Joyce is speaking on Sky about the need to do something about water – and the need to build dams. |
| Goodness. If only he had been in a position to do something about this at some point in time. Like, if he had been deputy prime minister? And the leader of the Nationals? And a longterm parliamentarian? It’s incredible how these are all fairly recent issues. *thinking face emoji* | Goodness. If only he had been in a position to do something about this at some point in time. Like, if he had been deputy prime minister? And the leader of the Nationals? And a longterm parliamentarian? It’s incredible how these are all fairly recent issues. *thinking face emoji* |
| Lyndal Curtis is back in the House, following along as Mike Bower’s “work experience kid”. | Lyndal Curtis is back in the House, following along as Mike Bower’s “work experience kid”. |
| It’s a joke that, as two of the longest serving gallery members, they like to share. You get to reap the benefits though, as Lyndal practices her photography. | It’s a joke that, as two of the longest serving gallery members, they like to share. You get to reap the benefits though, as Lyndal practices her photography. |
| Everyone is friends in the senate. #senate @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @mpbowers pic.twitter.com/HRxoiwB6pu | Everyone is friends in the senate. #senate @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @mpbowers pic.twitter.com/HRxoiwB6pu |
| Listening to the chambers, it seems like you are going to hear this phrase over and over and over and over again from Labor: “this third-term government”. | Listening to the chambers, it seems like you are going to hear this phrase over and over and over and over again from Labor: “this third-term government”. |
| Why? Because it is trying to counter the feeling that Scott Morrison’s win is a fresh start – and a first-term government. | Why? Because it is trying to counter the feeling that Scott Morrison’s win is a fresh start – and a first-term government. |
| Will it work? Given how little actual attention most people pay to politics, no, it probably won’t. | Will it work? Given how little actual attention most people pay to politics, no, it probably won’t. |
| Maiden speeches have begun in the House of Representatives. The new LNP MP for Herbert, Phil Thompson, is up first. | Maiden speeches have begun in the House of Representatives. The new LNP MP for Herbert, Phil Thompson, is up first. |
| The tax debate has started in the Senate. It will go on until 11.45am, when the notices of motion pop up. | The tax debate has started in the Senate. It will go on until 11.45am, when the notices of motion pop up. |
| That will go for an hour. Then it’s back to tax. Then question time at 2pm. Then back to tax at 3.30pm until the bitter end. | That will go for an hour. Then it’s back to tax. Then question time at 2pm. Then back to tax at 3.30pm until the bitter end. |
| There are a lot of noises about “let’s look at raising Newstart” happening again. | There are a lot of noises about “let’s look at raising Newstart” happening again. |
| As we explained yesterday, even the RBA (indirectly) and the business community (directly) are on board. Because those on low and middle incomes spend money. When you don’t have enough money to make ends meet, such as those on the piddling Newstart allowance, which passes as “assistance” in this country, you will spend every single extra cent you receive catching up, and paying for, you know, life. | As we explained yesterday, even the RBA (indirectly) and the business community (directly) are on board. Because those on low and middle incomes spend money. When you don’t have enough money to make ends meet, such as those on the piddling Newstart allowance, which passes as “assistance” in this country, you will spend every single extra cent you receive catching up, and paying for, you know, life. |
| So that puts more money into the economy. Which is what the economy needs. It is why this tax plan is suddenly urgent, despite the hesitation over stage three, because the government really, really wants you to spend that $1,080 eligible earners will receive. | So that puts more money into the economy. Which is what the economy needs. It is why this tax plan is suddenly urgent, despite the hesitation over stage three, because the government really, really wants you to spend that $1,080 eligible earners will receive. |
| Labor thinks raising Newstart should be looked at. The Greens want it raised by at least $75 a week. Other members of the crossbench are on board. The government is like ... maybe we’ll look at it? But is not making any promises either way. | Labor thinks raising Newstart should be looked at. The Greens want it raised by at least $75 a week. Other members of the crossbench are on board. The government is like ... maybe we’ll look at it? But is not making any promises either way. |
| And why is that? | And why is that? |
| Because it has promised a surplus at a time when the national accounts are showing the slowest economic growth since the GFC. Iron ore prices are currently propping up the (operating) surplus, but even then, it’s only $7bn. That is not a lot of money for an almost $2 trillion economy. That’s a natural disaster or two in terms of spending. | Because it has promised a surplus at a time when the national accounts are showing the slowest economic growth since the GFC. Iron ore prices are currently propping up the (operating) surplus, but even then, it’s only $7bn. That is not a lot of money for an almost $2 trillion economy. That’s a natural disaster or two in terms of spending. |
| So the government can’t commit to raising Newstart because that will hit the budget at a time where it’s losing money to tax cuts, while also promising a surplus. It is pure politics, but it’s also the reality. | So the government can’t commit to raising Newstart because that will hit the budget at a time where it’s losing money to tax cuts, while also promising a surplus. It is pure politics, but it’s also the reality. |
| Mathias Cormann has moved the hours motion – which basically moves the Senate agenda around, to clear the decks to get the tax debate done. The Senate will sit until the legislation is passed. That is an inevitability, but there will be a lot of “we don’t like stage three, hopefully we can repeal it” from one side, and a lot of “how good is tax cuts” from the other before we get to that point. | Mathias Cormann has moved the hours motion – which basically moves the Senate agenda around, to clear the decks to get the tax debate done. The Senate will sit until the legislation is passed. That is an inevitability, but there will be a lot of “we don’t like stage three, hopefully we can repeal it” from one side, and a lot of “how good is tax cuts” from the other before we get to that point. |
| The bells are ringing – it is all about to begin. | The bells are ringing – it is all about to begin. |
| That agricultural visa is not a new issue. It’s been kicking around since just after the Coalition was elected in 2013. And still, no ag-visa. Or workable solution. | That agricultural visa is not a new issue. It’s been kicking around since just after the Coalition was elected in 2013. And still, no ag-visa. Or workable solution. |
| Again, if only there was a party dedicated to representing farmers’ interests in this place. | Again, if only there was a party dedicated to representing farmers’ interests in this place. |
| Farmers still want an agricultural visa to deal with work shortages. The head of the National Farmers’ Federation, Fiona Simson, said a survey of members found single farm losses of up to $2m because of the shortage of labour. Basically, the fruit is rotting on the vines. From her statement: | Farmers still want an agricultural visa to deal with work shortages. The head of the National Farmers’ Federation, Fiona Simson, said a survey of members found single farm losses of up to $2m because of the shortage of labour. Basically, the fruit is rotting on the vines. From her statement: |
| Typically, international workers take up farm work via a Working Holidaymaker Visa (often used by backpackers) or the Seasonal Worker Programme, which provides employment opportunities to citizens of Pacific countries and Timor Leste. | Typically, international workers take up farm work via a Working Holidaymaker Visa (often used by backpackers) or the Seasonal Worker Programme, which provides employment opportunities to citizens of Pacific countries and Timor Leste. |
| ‘While both programmes are successful to an extent, they cannot adequately meet agriculture’s labour needs, with only 12 per cent of the survey respondents using the Seasonal Worker Programme. | ‘While both programmes are successful to an extent, they cannot adequately meet agriculture’s labour needs, with only 12 per cent of the survey respondents using the Seasonal Worker Programme. |
| ‘Most farmers choose the allegedly easier, cheaper and less fraught employment option of hiring workers directly and one fifth said they prefer to use labour-hire contractors,’ Ms Simson said. | ‘Most farmers choose the allegedly easier, cheaper and less fraught employment option of hiring workers directly and one fifth said they prefer to use labour-hire contractors,’ Ms Simson said. |
| 63 per cent of respondents opted to instead employ non-residents on their farms. Many said it was necessary because permanent residents were either not available in sufficient numbers, or found farm work too difficult or not to their liking. | 63 per cent of respondents opted to instead employ non-residents on their farms. Many said it was necessary because permanent residents were either not available in sufficient numbers, or found farm work too difficult or not to their liking. |
| In fact, farmers found that non-residents were largely perceived as more reliable than permanent residents. | In fact, farmers found that non-residents were largely perceived as more reliable than permanent residents. |
| ‘This is mainly because farm work is labour intensive, not available all year around and therefore not suited to some Australian job seekers. | ‘This is mainly because farm work is labour intensive, not available all year around and therefore not suited to some Australian job seekers. |
| ‘Australian farmers are known to be fair employers and the stats show it, with almost all of the survey respondents paying their employees more than what’s required by the applicable Award. | ‘Australian farmers are known to be fair employers and the stats show it, with almost all of the survey respondents paying their employees more than what’s required by the applicable Award. |
| ‘Annual employment costs for most farmers range between $100,000 and $500,000 and in some cases almost $2 million,’ Ms Simson said. | ‘Annual employment costs for most farmers range between $100,000 and $500,000 and in some cases almost $2 million,’ Ms Simson said. |
| Simson says an agriculture-specific visa would “diversify the countries from which workers can be sourced, and allow visa holders to move between different farm businesses – depending where and when the work is available”. | Simson says an agriculture-specific visa would “diversify the countries from which workers can be sourced, and allow visa holders to move between different farm businesses – depending where and when the work is available”. |
| “It’s intended to complement the Working Holidaymaker Visa, the Seasonal Worker Programme and the many initiatives designed to see more Australians take up farm jobs.” | “It’s intended to complement the Working Holidaymaker Visa, the Seasonal Worker Programme and the many initiatives designed to see more Australians take up farm jobs.” |
| Rex Patrick plans on moving his motion calling for an inquiry into Christopher Pyne’s new job (and I guess Julie Bishop’s as well) at 11.45. | Rex Patrick plans on moving his motion calling for an inquiry into Christopher Pyne’s new job (and I guess Julie Bishop’s as well) at 11.45. |
| At least someone is happy | At least someone is happy |
| MathiasCormann liked this tweet: https://t.co/ctUKH0sDPy | MathiasCormann liked this tweet: https://t.co/ctUKH0sDPy |
| Why is what Labor will do in the tax bill important, considering its vote is meaningless, at least as far as the legislation matters? | Why is what Labor will do in the tax bill important, considering its vote is meaningless, at least as far as the legislation matters? |
| It’s all about the next election. And while that is a good three years away now, the decision Labor makes will impact what it decides to do in the next term, if there is a change of government. | It’s all about the next election. And while that is a good three years away now, the decision Labor makes will impact what it decides to do in the next term, if there is a change of government. |
| Repealing a tax cut you helped legislate is not a great sell, politically. Hence the wringing of hands within caucus. But then to vote for it is to overturn six years of policy foundation. To not vote for it means not voting for stage one and two, which everyone is in agreement about. | Repealing a tax cut you helped legislate is not a great sell, politically. Hence the wringing of hands within caucus. But then to vote for it is to overturn six years of policy foundation. To not vote for it means not voting for stage one and two, which everyone is in agreement about. |
| Cool beans. | Cool beans. |