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| Angus Taylor addresses questions over grasslands saga – politics live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| It’s the downhill slide into question time. | |
| Angus Taylor has attempted to get in ahead with his statement. Will it work? Hit me up with your predictions. | |
| And the beginning of the statement, which I originally missed: | |
| First, Mr Speaker, I want to address the matter of my declaration of interests. | |
| I am required by the rules of this place to disclose my shareholdings. | |
| My Register of Member’s Interests discloses my shareholdings in my family company, Gufee Pty Ltd. | |
| I am required by the rules of this place to disclose any partnerships I am part of. | |
| My Register of Member’s Interests discloses Gufee’s interest in Farm Partnerships Australia. | |
| This is a legal partnership set up with my three brothers and a business associate over twenty years ago to farm across this region, close to where I stand now, via leased, managed and owned farms. | |
| We originally set it up to work with ageing and absentee farmers, to allow them to continue to living on, and owning their farms, beyond their ability to farm themselves. | |
| This farming partnership – a common legal structure for rural holdings – has in recent years held a one third interest in a farm near Delegate in South Eastern NSW | |
| If the Register of Interests were required to record minority, non-controlling interests held at three levels down in a family company structure, this would be a major change to the current practice. | |
| For instance, investments made by public companies held by members would need to be disclosed. | |
| It would require changes in disclosures for many in this place, including for those opposite. | |
| I therefore have fully met my obligations to declare my interests in Gufee and Farm Partnerships Australia. | |
| Mr Speaker, I turn to the revised EPBC listing, the natural temperate grasslands of the Southern Tablelands Ecological Community. | |
| In late 2016 and early 2017 I spoke with farmers from Boorowa and Goulburn in my electorate, and Yass which had been in Hume until mid 2016, about this listing and their concerns with the listing. On 21 February 2017, I spoke with a farmer near Yass who expressed strong and detailed concerns about the revised listing, pointing out that it had occurred despite the concerns of the National Farmers’ Federation and NSW Farmers, and with little consultation with farmers themselves. All of these farmers were completely disconnected from our family farming operations. | |
| Angus Taylor continues: | |
| Officials in attendance were determined by the department. | |
| In conclusion, Mr Speaker, the facts are clear and straightforward: | |
| · My interests have been declared in complete adherence to the rules. | |
| · I have had no association with the events leading to the compliance action that has been the subject of these allegations, and I have never made a representation in relation to it. I never would. All available information supports my repeated statements that the compliance action was never raised. | |
| · My focus was advocating for the interests of the farmers in my electorate and across the region. This is my job as the elected representative for Hume with a large farming population and agriculture sector | |
| Mr Speaker, I am proud to represent the interests of farmers - the backbone of so many regional communities. I will continue to do this at every opportunity. | |
| Angus Taylor: | |
| There has been strong antagonism expressed by the farming community about federal and state native vegetation regulation for some time. The concern was very serious. The revised listing requires farmers to assess whether there is 50% native vegetation down to parcels of one-tenth of a hectare and highly unfavourable times of year, because clover, an introduced species, must be excluded from the assessment. | |
| The revised listing extends beyond most of my electorate’s farming country, both pre and post the 2016 redistribution, as well as much of Eden-Monaro. It goes well beyond NSW regulations, and is costly and unmanageable, as it is difficult or impossible to be sure that routine pasture improvement, or weed management, is compliant. | |
| The revised listing would ultimately halt pasture improvement and efficient weed control across the southern tablelands and Monaro. It has the potential to do untold damage to agriculture productivity throughout the region, undermining the livelihoods of 2500 people who work in agriculture in my electorate. | |
| On the 21st of February 2017, at the suggestion of the Yass farmer, I contacted the policy director of the NSW Farmers’ Association, who provided me with their June 2014 submission to the then department of environment, expressing serious concerns about the proposed revised listing. On the basis of these concerns, I sought a briefing on the revised listing from the then-ministers office, which I made clear was not to include any discussion of compliance matters. | |
| This has already been confirmed by departmental documents released to journalists under FOI in which an official writes in internal correspondence, that the meeting with me was, and I quote ‘to answer questions on the technical aspects of the listing outcome and highlights that they would stay out of completely any compliance action under way’. | |
| The official also writes, and I quote, ‘we will confine discussion to the EPBC Act listing process’. | |
| On the 20th March 2017, I attended the meeting. At no time during this meeting was any compliance matter or any personal interest of mine discussed. At that meeting we discussed precisely what the departmental official said we would discuss. | |
| Christian Porter is attempting to have this dealt with tomorrow, while Adam Bandt is asking the House to deal with it immediately. | Christian Porter is attempting to have this dealt with tomorrow, while Adam Bandt is asking the House to deal with it immediately. |
| The government has the numbers. | The government has the numbers. |
| The House has received a message from @AuSenate, in relation to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Leader of the House @cporterwa has moved that the message be made an order of the day for the next sitting. pic.twitter.com/1aap0bBFAJ | The House has received a message from @AuSenate, in relation to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Leader of the House @cporterwa has moved that the message be made an order of the day for the next sitting. pic.twitter.com/1aap0bBFAJ |
| He says all the available information backs up what he is saying, and he has never been involved in the compliance action. | He says all the available information backs up what he is saying, and he has never been involved in the compliance action. |
| “My interests have been declared in complete adherence to the rules,” Angus Taylor says. | “My interests have been declared in complete adherence to the rules,” Angus Taylor says. |
| Angus Taylor is making a statement in the House about the grasslands issue. | Angus Taylor is making a statement in the House about the grasslands issue. |
| So far, the government is not budging, in terms of policy, on raising Newstart. | So far, the government is not budging, in terms of policy, on raising Newstart. |
| This was Scott Morrison on July 18: | This was Scott Morrison on July 18: |
| It’s about getting people into jobs. The latest jobs figures show 20,000 additional full-time jobs. That’s good news, that’s great news, more jobs. How good are jobs. | It’s about getting people into jobs. The latest jobs figures show 20,000 additional full-time jobs. That’s good news, that’s great news, more jobs. How good are jobs. |
| At the moment, Newstart is only slated to rise by the usual indexation increase. | At the moment, Newstart is only slated to rise by the usual indexation increase. |
| The Senate is getting down to the government business of the day: | The Senate is getting down to the government business of the day: |
| The time for considering private senators' bill has now expired and the #Senate has moved on to government business. Currently being debated are three Timor Sea Maritime Boundaries Treaty Bills. The bill homepages are available from Dynamic Red https://t.co/Wi8bN9E81O | The time for considering private senators' bill has now expired and the #Senate has moved on to government business. Currently being debated are three Timor Sea Maritime Boundaries Treaty Bills. The bill homepages are available from Dynamic Red https://t.co/Wi8bN9E81O |
| That’s pretty definitive, but will also be used by Pauline Hanson to gain support from her supporters. | That’s pretty definitive, but will also be used by Pauline Hanson to gain support from her supporters. |
| Just the standard Cornelian dilemma thrown up by the Senate | Just the standard Cornelian dilemma thrown up by the Senate |
| The Senate has voted 54-2 against @PaulineHansonOz's proposal for a plebiscite into Australia's immigration rate #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/7UUp3CrF6G | The Senate has voted 54-2 against @PaulineHansonOz's proposal for a plebiscite into Australia's immigration rate #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/7UUp3CrF6G |
| This is very interesting: | This is very interesting: |
| Victoria is on track to get an extra seat before the next election while WA & the NT could both drop one according to the boffins in the Parliamentary Library. This would take Vic to 39 seats in a 150 seat House - up from 37 since 2016. #auspol https://t.co/nTIMcyuo2o | Victoria is on track to get an extra seat before the next election while WA & the NT could both drop one according to the boffins in the Parliamentary Library. This would take Vic to 39 seats in a 150 seat House - up from 37 since 2016. #auspol https://t.co/nTIMcyuo2o |
| On ensuring integrity: | On ensuring integrity: |
| .@ayrestim on the Ensuring Integrity Bill:Labor will vote against the bill. It’s bad for Australian workers and unions and I believe bad for democracy.MORE: https://t.co/QfeCMf5xuo #firstedition pic.twitter.com/gxJ3D09ESe | .@ayrestim on the Ensuring Integrity Bill:Labor will vote against the bill. It’s bad for Australian workers and unions and I believe bad for democracy.MORE: https://t.co/QfeCMf5xuo #firstedition pic.twitter.com/gxJ3D09ESe |
| Barnaby Joyce on Sunrise this morning: | Barnaby Joyce on Sunrise this morning: |
| I wouldn’t have picked the headline ‘I’m skint’. I would have said, you know, I have a greater empathy for what people are going through on Newstart. Someone has got to speak up for them and so often, Nat, if you say, you know, we have to do a better deal for these people and people say, “How would you know? You’re a politician.” A lot of people, I suppose, hate to really talk about it but I have to because of the front page. In a marriage breakdown you go from supporting one family to supporting two, in many instances. | I wouldn’t have picked the headline ‘I’m skint’. I would have said, you know, I have a greater empathy for what people are going through on Newstart. Someone has got to speak up for them and so often, Nat, if you say, you know, we have to do a better deal for these people and people say, “How would you know? You’re a politician.” A lot of people, I suppose, hate to really talk about it but I have to because of the front page. In a marriage breakdown you go from supporting one family to supporting two, in many instances. |
| And here are his comments in the Courier-Mail, which kickstarted all of this: | And here are his comments in the Courier-Mail, which kickstarted all of this: |
| I’m just saying these circumstances have made me more vastly attuned … it’s just a great exercise in humility going from deputy prime minister to watching every dollar you get. | I’m just saying these circumstances have made me more vastly attuned … it’s just a great exercise in humility going from deputy prime minister to watching every dollar you get. |
| A politician [renting a duplex without a dishwasher] for 415 bucks a week, he’s not living high on the hog, is he? There is a reason for that and that’s basically what I can afford. You do become a lot more mindful. | A politician [renting a duplex without a dishwasher] for 415 bucks a week, he’s not living high on the hog, is he? There is a reason for that and that’s basically what I can afford. You do become a lot more mindful. |
| So the big thrill of the day, to be honest, is a cup of coffee. We [he and Vikki] rarely, if ever, go out for dinner. | So the big thrill of the day, to be honest, is a cup of coffee. We [he and Vikki] rarely, if ever, go out for dinner. |
| Because 2019 is the new 2004, Pauline Hanson wants to make the next election about immigration numbers. | Because 2019 is the new 2004, Pauline Hanson wants to make the next election about immigration numbers. |
| Let’s look at the numbers, shall we? | Let’s look at the numbers, shall we? |
| The government has announced an immigration target of 160,000. That is no change from what is actually happening, because in the last year, despite a high ceiling of 190,000, just 162,000 permanent residents were accepted in Australia. | The government has announced an immigration target of 160,000. That is no change from what is actually happening, because in the last year, despite a high ceiling of 190,000, just 162,000 permanent residents were accepted in Australia. |
| Over that same period, Australia’s economy grew by just 1.8%. Low, but growth is growth. Of that, about 94% of growth was attributed to population growth – our economy grew because of the extra people in it. Total per capita growth was 0.1%. | Over that same period, Australia’s economy grew by just 1.8%. Low, but growth is growth. Of that, about 94% of growth was attributed to population growth – our economy grew because of the extra people in it. Total per capita growth was 0.1%. |
| Without migrants, Australia’s economy goes backwards. The government knows that. It’s why it dances a line between cutting immigration and just keeping things at the status quo. | Without migrants, Australia’s economy goes backwards. The government knows that. It’s why it dances a line between cutting immigration and just keeping things at the status quo. |
| But hey – it gets breakfast TV headlines, so let’s dance. | But hey – it gets breakfast TV headlines, so let’s dance. |
| "I ask the question: Do you think the current rate of immigration to Australia is too high?" - @PaulineHansonOz #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/8GMG5fflyb | "I ask the question: Do you think the current rate of immigration to Australia is too high?" - @PaulineHansonOz #auspol @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/8GMG5fflyb |
| IMMIGRATION VOTE@OneNationAus leader Pauline Hanson will today ask the Senate to support a vote on immigration numbers.PLEBISCITE (FUTURE MIGRATION LEVEL) BILLhttps://t.co/72EwrrAtyS #Auspol pic.twitter.com/1PJNqwktU7 | IMMIGRATION VOTE@OneNationAus leader Pauline Hanson will today ask the Senate to support a vote on immigration numbers.PLEBISCITE (FUTURE MIGRATION LEVEL) BILLhttps://t.co/72EwrrAtyS #Auspol pic.twitter.com/1PJNqwktU7 |
| The Australian is reporting that #deathtodixers is gathering steam. | The Australian is reporting that #deathtodixers is gathering steam. |
| OK, it is not that specific. But Greg Brown has some detail on the parliamentary procedures committee: | OK, it is not that specific. But Greg Brown has some detail on the parliamentary procedures committee: |
| The conduct of federal parliament’s question time — including Dorothy Dixers, the behaviour of MPs and arcane standing orders — will be the subject of an inquiry, amid warnings from across the political spectrum that it diminishes the reputation of politicians. | The conduct of federal parliament’s question time — including Dorothy Dixers, the behaviour of MPs and arcane standing orders — will be the subject of an inquiry, amid warnings from across the political spectrum that it diminishes the reputation of politicians. |
| Coalition and Labor MPs on the parliament’s procedures committee will this week finalise the terms of an inquiry of how question time can be reformed, with submissions to be sought from the public. | Coalition and Labor MPs on the parliament’s procedures committee will this week finalise the terms of an inquiry of how question time can be reformed, with submissions to be sought from the public. |
| Liberal National MP Ross Vasta and Labor MP Milton Dick, the chairman and deputy chairman of the committee, said the community was “fed up” with the spectacle of question time, which is the only part of parliament that is televised every sitting day. The inquiry will examine whether Dixers — prearranged questions from government backbenchers to ministers — should be axed. | Liberal National MP Ross Vasta and Labor MP Milton Dick, the chairman and deputy chairman of the committee, said the community was “fed up” with the spectacle of question time, which is the only part of parliament that is televised every sitting day. The inquiry will examine whether Dixers — prearranged questions from government backbenchers to ministers — should be axed. |
| The government’s big push this week, ahead of the five-week break, will be unions, with the ensuring integrity bill to dominate much of the debate. | The government’s big push this week, ahead of the five-week break, will be unions, with the ensuring integrity bill to dominate much of the debate. |
| So far, the numbers are not there in the Senate. One Nation has concerns, Centre Alliance wants to expand the definition of organisation to include the private sector and Jackie Lambie isn’t thrilled with John Setka, but hasn’t landed on a final position as yet. | So far, the numbers are not there in the Senate. One Nation has concerns, Centre Alliance wants to expand the definition of organisation to include the private sector and Jackie Lambie isn’t thrilled with John Setka, but hasn’t landed on a final position as yet. |
| Christian Porter spoke to RN this morning about it. | Christian Porter spoke to RN this morning about it. |
| Katharine Murphy has spoken to Cory Bernardi over whether he will support the motion to launch a Senate inquiry into Angus Taylor and the grasslands issue and says he has decided to vote no. | Katharine Murphy has spoken to Cory Bernardi over whether he will support the motion to launch a Senate inquiry into Angus Taylor and the grasslands issue and says he has decided to vote no. |
| So that’s that then – the numbers are not there. | So that’s that then – the numbers are not there. |
| This being a sitting Monday, the morning is set aside for Private Members’ Business. On today’s agenda, we have two bills on altering the Constitution, introduced by @MakeMayoMatter, followed by motions from @RowanRamseyMP and @JoanneRyanLalor. | This being a sitting Monday, the morning is set aside for Private Members’ Business. On today’s agenda, we have two bills on altering the Constitution, introduced by @MakeMayoMatter, followed by motions from @RowanRamseyMP and @JoanneRyanLalor. |