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Labor pursues Coalition over superannuation schism – question time live
Labor grills Angus Taylor over company interests – question time live
(32 minutes later)
Josh Frydenberg has the next dixer and is demonstrating how to make three minutes feel like 10.
The motion to suspend standing orders has been called.
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
Here is the motion Labor wants to move
Butler jumped up, but Gladys Liu tried to beat him. She was originally called up then Tony Smith realised Butler had beat her to his feet and calls Butler.
The motion Labor is attempting to move regarding Angus Taylor; pic.twitter.com/0vMWaSInoI
“Well done, Gladys,” one of her colleagues says.
A #qt tableau. @murpharoo @mpbowers @AmyRemeikis pic.twitter.com/3h23xSERzE
Butler:
Tony Burke seeks leave to move a motion to suspend standing orders.
I refer him to his previous answer. I have a copy of the minister’s statement of interests. Will the minister confirm it contains no reference whatsoever to Jam Land?
He wants an explanation to the House from Angus Taylor, covering off the questions Labor has asked today.
The government has the numbers in the House. This will go no where.
Scott Morrison:
We have talked a lot about the impact of thuggish unions and them trying to thieve workers’ wages and we know about the union coming here and trying to kick down doors of Parliament House, as we saw in 1996, but this week we had a state Labor party come and try to kick down the door of a hotel room, Mr Speaker.
That is the sort of behaviour they think is OK in the Labor party, and we are seeing that in the same way.
Tony Burke:
Mr Speaker, I accept with a question like that it is really hard to not be relevant. The question was as broad as it could possibly be. And the prime minister has managed not to be relevant to the question.
Tony Smith says he thinks the prime minister has finished his preamble, and Morrison gets down to drought, tax and WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON, probably.
This dixer is literally:
Will the prime minister update the House on further action the government has taken this week to deliver on its priorities?
Zali Steggall to Scott Morrison:
Businesses in Warringah are bound by Australian consumer law. In particular, they’re not allowed to mislead and deceive customers about their products or services, yet in contrast, it is a free-for-all in political advertising during campaigns, where misleading and outright false claims are made by all sides of politics, resulting in a loss of trust in our political system and undermining of our democracy.
Will the government introduce or support legislation for a minimum standard of truth in political advertising during political campaigns?
Steggall is referring to some of the ads which were run against her during the election campaign.
Morrison:
And I thank the member for Warringah for her question. She would be aware that the joint standing committee on electoral matters undertakes a review of all matters in relation to the conduct of the most recent election and it will bring forward a report and that will be considered indeed by the government and the parliament and that is the appropriate place for those matters to be addressed and to be considered as they come before this parliament.
But I would agree with the member for Warringah that the activities by GetUp in the most recent election and the actions they took against the former member for Warringah was some of the grubbiest and some of the most despicable actions I’ve seen (‘what, are you jealous’, yells someone from Labor) by what is, indeed, a political organisation masquerading as something independent, Mr Speaker.
And the actions that GetUp took against by the former member for Warringah, and stood up to by the member for Boothby and I commend the member for Boothby for staring them down at the last election, and also the member for Dickson, the member for Kooyong, and I’m so pleased to see them here again, Mr Speaker because the Liberal party and the National party will never be intimidated by the bullying tactics and the big union money that goes into GetUp and the Labor party.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
My question is to the Minister for Energy and emission reduction and I refer to his previous answer. Did the minister’s meeting with departmental officials discuss any of the following matters later references in departmental correspondence about the threatened species.
Whether the minister could act against the committee’s advice and if the minister acted against the committee’s advice could the minister keep the reasons secret?
Taylor:
Taylor:
As I said a moment ago, my indirect interest in Jam Land has been widely reported – has been widely reported in the media ... and it was declared in accordance with the rules through my family company. Now, there are many ... who have farms. Who are part of family farms. And we invest through our family companies. That’s how we own our farms. Now, those opposite who have never participated in small businesses or farming wouldn’t understand that.
The briefing was a technical briefing with respect to a revised listing of the EPBC which had the potential to impact thousands of farmers in my electorate, their livelihoods, their well being.
They wouldn’t understand that for a moment. Mr Speaker.
Peter Dutton:
This issue has been raised by those opposite as a grubby smear campaign against me and my family. A grubby smear campaign against me and my family and I can safely say ... that the work that I have done ... with respect to the listing that has been referred to in this place in the last 24 hours was to protect interests of the farmers in my electorate and they need protection against most, of all, the sorts of policies that those opposite brought to the last election.
We know that during the course of this last election, only in May of this year, that vessels had already departed in anticipation of a Labor government being elected.
Michael McCoramack is Michael McCormacking his way through a dixer and talking about magistrates needing to go back to magistrate’s school.
Mr Speaker, there were 41 people on a boat, on their way to Australia, anticipating a Labor government and the Labor Party had, just before the election, decided to introduce a very dangerous bill called the Medevac law which - which sent the wrong message to Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
Not even his own side is paying attention.
They have been all over the place for years now when it comes to border protection policy.
Andrew Bragg was called to the vice principal’s office
This Leader of the Opposition is trying to be as sneaky as the last Leader of the Opposition.
Asked in Senate Question Time whether he agrees with new Senator Andrew Bragg that superannuation should be made voluntary, Mathias Cormann: "The answer is no and I've told him that privately..... and now publicly" #auspol #QT
He is trying to pretend to the Australian people that he’s on their side when it comes to border protection policies but, of course, he is not, Mr Speaker.
Peter Dutton jumps up with a point of order about Ed Husic’s (alleged) comment and asks him to withdraw it.
The Australian public’s worked out Labor. They know that Labor remains weak on border protection policies and if Labor was ever re-elected, the boats would restart and the kids would be back in detention”
“Whilst the minister was on his way to this dispatch box there was an un-parliamentary and offensive comment by the member for Chifley and I ask him to withdraw it.”
There was also a very serious and tragic series of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But strangely that doesn’t seem to get a mention.
“Ooooohhhh, I’m getting to you,” Husic replies.
Australian Council of Social Service head Cassandra Goldie has welcomed the Senate inquiry into Newstart:
He’s asked if he made an un-parliamentary comment.
“This is yet another indication of the growing parliamentary support for an increase to Newstart.
He says he didn’t. We move on.
“A Senate Inquiry will confirm the existing overwhelming evidence for an increase to Newstart and should not prevent the government from acting now and providing a minimum increase of at least $75 per week, which is urgently required.”
“That went well,” someone else from Labor calls out.
Andrew Hastie invites Peter Dutton to tell the chamber JUST HOW SAFE ARE YOU.
Mark Butler to Angus Taylor:
(Answer, as safe as possible because of Coalition policies, but OMG who knows what could happen with Labor).
I refer to the minister’s answer yesterday about his declaration and the requirement to declare any relevant interest in any shares whether held directly or indirectly. The minister has not declared his interest in Jam Land. Why?
The next election is three years away.
Taylor gets the call-up.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
“Minister for dodgy omission*s,” someone, who may or may not be Ed Husic calls out.
My question is to the minister for energy and emissions reduction. On Tuesday the minister said, and I quote, ‘I have always disclosed my interests and I have been very clear about those interests’. When did the minister relinquish his interest in the Cayman Islands?
Christian Porter raises a point of order that it is outside his portfolio.
Tony Burke says it relates to an earlier answer.
But it’s ruled out of order.
Scott Morrison has embraced the opportunity to get some extra work done during question time with gusto.
This is the fourth question time Labor has utilised its new “weak link” strategy (my terminology).
But if you haven’t caught on, the opposition has decided to shine a spotlight a little brighter on some of what it sees as the government’s weaker links. Morrison is a good performer, and they know that, so they are benching him as much as possible.
Minister @AngusTaylorMP defends his disclosures while the PM @ScottMorrisonMP catches up on some reading. #qt @murpharoo @mpbowers @AmyRemeikis pic.twitter.com/xJhs1T8uzl
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
At the meeting to which the minister referred, did he ask for the listings? Was that the minister’s idea or the treasurer’s?
Taylor:
Taylor:
As I made absolutely clear yesterday, my indirect interest in Jam Land, which is part of our family farms, has been widely reported in the media, and was declared in accordance with the rules, Mr Speaker. In accordance with the rules. It is very clear ...
Look, Mr Speaker, I make absolutely no apology for seeking and receiving briefing on policies that affect the farmers in my electorate.
Labor gets a bit rowdy, so Tony Smith tells them to calm down.
And I am a proud farmer in my electorate and I will always seek and receive briefings on policies that impact them, Mr Speaker. That impact them.
Terri Butler to Angus Taylor:
I refer the minister to a claim he did not refer for a member to be present at his grasslands meeting. If it wasn’t idea, whose was it? Did the treasurer advise the compliance officer was there …
Taylor:
Taylor:
As I said yesterday, I had no association, have no association, with the compliance action and I have never made a representation in relation to it, Mr Speaker. But I tell you what I’ve made representations with respect to, with respect to the farmers in my electorate, Mr Speaker. The farmers in my electorate. And I note the comment from the member for Eden-Monaro yesterday that the issue wasn’t raised with him. I have to confess, I wasn’t surprised by it. Despite the fact that this listing covers his electorate as much as mine. I wasn’t surprised one bit, Mr Speaker. I’ll tell you why. I know why the farmers of Eden-Monaro aren’t raising the issue with their local member, because he doesn’t care. His constituents are raising it with me as are mine. We stand up for farmers on this side of the House. Those opposite simply don’t.
The department determines who comes to these meetings. Let me be very clear. I didn’t ask for, nor indeed know that, a compliance officer was present at the meeting.
*I went back and checked this, he said omissions. I originally misheard.
Ed Husic continues his trolling, this time aiming at Alan Tudge and telling him “is this your serious face - raise your eyebrows more” as Tudge talks about his many, many concerns about Labor not being supportive of the Westconnex project.
Hands up if you’re not a fan of the CFMMEU’s John Setka. The AG @cporterwa in #qt. @murpharoo @mpbowers @AmyRemeikis pic.twitter.com/Lm7sAJa2l8
“Tolls,” Labor MPs call out.
Christian Porter is back with another segment of WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON: UNIONS ARE TERRIBLE edition.
Tony Burke asks him to table the letter, because he says he has one with identical language, but a different date to the one Angus Taylor indicated.
Seems he has taken a leaf out of Labor’s book, by writing all the questions on the same issue.
Taylor says it is a confidential document and can not be tabled. We move on.
Rebekha Sharkie has the independent’s question:
Mr Speaker, my question is to the minister for drought. Farmers in my electorate are grappling with the impact of climate change, hotter and drier seasons and more frequent severe weather events. For two successive years we had hail storms devastating our apple orchards leaving growers desperate for horticultural netting to safeguard from such disasters in the future. In 2018 you initiated work on climate change. Would you please advise the House on the content and timing for the strategy?
David Littleproud:
You are right, in April last year, one of the first achievements after becoming agricultural minister, my first ministerial council of all agricultural ministers, state and myself, was to be able to get an agreement on a nationally coordinated approach to help our farmers to adapt to a changing climate.
With the support of the Victorian government, I need to acknowledge the former agricultural minister who took the lead and commissioned a report that was provided to the last ministerial council meeting in September last year.
The final report will be provided in September this year. So it is important we get a coordinated approach between state and federal agencies to ensure that we’re not duplicating expenditure.
But it is also important to understand the work our farmers and the government has already done, particularly ...
Our farmers have been adapting to a changing climate and we put $1.1bn a year to farmers to give them to tools to adapt to a changing climate for research they need. It is important to improve our landscapes. $1.1bn has gone into land care itself.
A great movement has changed the practices of our farmers for the better, not only for environmental outcomes but profitability. Only last night, this government was able to pass the Future Drought Fund. $100m dividend, year in, year out. It is legislated. We will be going out and consulting with the community. What a crazy idea the government might go out and ask those whose money it is how it might be spent. We will talk about climate risk and make sure farmers take up the research and development we’ve got to adapt to a changing climate. The government should be agile and be there to deliver money that is purposeful and will be spent properly.
Milton Dick goes on my list for being the first to inflict Michael McCormack on question time.
When will work on the Rockhampton ring road commence?
Sliced White (AKA McCormack):
As I said yesterday, as I said yesterday, work is phased in. When you have a $100bn infrastructure rollout across this nation ... work gets rolled out. What we’re not going to do for when Labor makes election commitments in their own electorates prior to an election, we don’t have to meet those particular commitments because Labor didn’t win the election. News flash: Labor didn’t win on May 18, we did.
But we are, indeed, rolling out $100m of infrastructure right across the nation, Mr Speaker. And when it comes to the member who asked the question’s electorate, we are spending $250m. Financial assistance grants up to $50m, Mr Speaker. Major projects, business case funded $25m.
He’s asked to stick to the topic.
SW:
As I hear the leader of the opposition say it is not local government, it is also state governments, we have to work in conjunction with the state governments. Maybe if the Queensland treasurer’s house was near the road they might be forth right with approving the projects and let us get on with building them.
In very exciting niche news, they have finally replaced all the blown globes in the chamber roof.
This observation obviously has nothing to do with Christian Porter’s dixer delivery. It is quite normal to look to above for escape routes. It always pays to be prepared.
Jim Chalmers to Josh Frydenberg:
When will the prime minister cave into pressure from members of his government on changing the legislated changes to the super guarantee, making super voluntary, and include the home on the assets test just like he did on the National Energy Guarantee?
Frydenberg:
There’s only one side of this place that is promising $34bn of higher taxes and it’s those opposite, Mr Speaker. $34bn of higher taxes. And those opposite, and when it comes to superannuation, want to ban the catch-up contributions, Mr Speaker.
“Craig Kelly is more influential than you,” someone, who may have been Stephen Jones, yells.
Then we are back to WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON: UNIONS ARE TERRIBLE with Christian Porter.
Christian Porter gets the first dixer on just how terrible unions are.
THEY ARE VERY TERRIBLE (at times) is the gist of the answer.
He includes this in his answer:
Now, when we look at Queensland, there are proceedings that were commenced in December of last year against a CFMEU organiser for his behaviour towards a Queensland government occupational health and safety inspector. The construction site was Cairns Performing Arts Centre. The safety inspector was in the course of inspecting exit signage. He was confronted by the CFMEU official who, within centimetres of the face of the safety officer said, “You are an Fing dog”. Not once, not twice, but three times. The up shot of all this...
Tony Smith reminds him that you can’t use un-parliamentary language, even in a quote.
Porter wrote the answer, so this is all new to him.
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
Given the government has ruled out changes to the legislated increase to the superannuation guarantee, making superannuation voluntary and including the family home in the pension assets test, what is the prime minister’s response to the many members of his government still campaigning for those very policies?
Morrison:
As the treasurer reminded the House yesterday, and I made it very clear in the lead-up to the last election, our policy is unchanged.”
“Whose side are they on?” someone in Labor yells.
“They didn’t get the memo!”
Morrison continues:
And what I know is unchanged is the Labor party have a policy for $34bn of extra taxes on superannuation. They also have a policy that continues to to strip away the dividend imputation credits for retirees. That remains their policy and they continue to pursue these matters of policy as fixed items on the Labor agenda. We know why. Because Labor are always for higher taxes, Mr Speaker.
Albanese tries for a point of order on relevance, but it is on the policy topic, so Morrison can continue.
“Labor, Labor, Labor,” yells someone from the opposition benches.
Morrison:
Labor are for higher taxes and I’ll tell you why – because they don’t know how to control spending either. They went to the 2016 election and weren’t voted in because the deficits were too big and in the 2019 election they weren’t voted in because the taxes were too big. The answer is consistent. Labor can’t manage money, they will be for higher taxes and bigger deficits. It is why they can’t be trusted with the management of our economy and Australians who depend on essential services and a stronger economy can never rely on Labor.
“You’re the government,” a Labor MP yells.
Today is going well. Today, we all wish we were Nick Champion, who is allowed to miss this, because he got kicked out for 24 hours yesterday. I am still trying to work out how that is a punishment.
What a time to be alive
Labor's Katy Gallagher says appointment of Gaetjens to PMC "paints a picture that we're concerned about" because he used to be Morrison's CoS, but says Labor will give him "the benefit of the doubt". Quite mild!! #auspol
Craig Kelly is on ABC TV and is doing nothing to calm down the super split in the Coalition:
The question that Senator [Andrew] Bragg was putting forward was that someone who is earning under $50,000, is that person better off having that money taken off them and put in a super account, or would they be better off having that as an increase in salary? And I think that is a reasonable debate to be having, and certainly all ideas in the space have to be welcomed.
Scott Morrison, Mathias Cormann and Josh Frydenberg have all ruled out changes to super.
Labor, the Greens and Centre Alliance are basically moving every single amendment the parliamentary joint security and intelligence committee wanted for the temporary exclusion bill, to force the government to vote against it.
The bill will go through. CA will probably abstain, the Greens are not supporting it, but Labor is, even without the amendments.
Labor just wants it on the record that the government did not support these recommendations.
