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| Peter Dutton claims war veterans want medevac laws scrapped – politics live | Peter Dutton claims war veterans want medevac laws scrapped – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Katharine Murphy and Paul Karp have put together exactly what happened when Labor voted against the Greens motion to stop the government from scrapping the education infrastructure fund, in favour of redirecting it to emergency disaster responses: | |
| Labor has done a deal with the Morrison government to pass legislation redirecting education infrastructure money to disaster relief despite significant objections from the education spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek. | |
| The opposition made the decision to sign on to the emergency response fund in a special shadow cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, which also considered Labor’s stance on the free trade deal with Indonesia. | |
| But Guardian Australia understands Plibersek objected, and concerns persist within the caucus that the decision will blunt Labor’s ability to pursue the Coalition over cuts to education funding. | |
| Labor MPs, including the former research minister Kim Carr, have expressed concern that the redirection will deliver a significant blow to investment in research infrastructure. | |
| I have been flipping through some annual reports this morning. | |
| The Department of Employment provides us an update on the progress of its struggling $250m PaTH internships program. You might remember it’s the scheme where the government pays businesses like Hungry Jacks and Woolworths $1000 to host young welfare recipients. The interns get an incentive payment, which unions say equates to about $4 a day. | |
| The program was supposed to offer 30,000 internships a year – instead there have only been 6,464 since April 2017. The report does say that 65% of those internships led to a job. | |
| “Those who have completed Youth Jobs PaTH have achieved strong outcomes, but take-up continues to be a challenge,” the report says. | |
| The government poured another $10m into the scheme in August. | |
| Nick Martin (the doctor from the post a few down) approves this message | |
| Nailed it. https://t.co/B0IJJYu7ep | |
| Here’s the dairy industry inquiry motion Pauline Hanson put up and won (with the support of most of the Senate, excluding the government). | |
| That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by the third sitting day in March 2020: the performance of Australia’s dairy industry and the profitability of Australian dairy farmers since deregulation in 2000, with particular reference to – | |
| (a) the ability of Dairy Australia to act independently and support the best interests of both farmers and processors; | |
| (b) the accuracy of statistical data collected by Dairy Australia and the Australian Bureau of Statistics; | |
| (c) the funding of Dairy Australia and the extent of its consultation and engagement on the expenditure of levies revenue; | |
| (d) the merits of tasking the ACCC to investigate how it can regulate the price of milk per litre paid by processors to dairy farmers to ensure a viable dairy industry; | |
| (e) alternative approaches to supporting a viable dairy sector; | |
| (f) the introduction of a mandatory industry code of practice; and | |
| (g) any related matters. | |
| The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi has also unleashed on Labor for its decision not to back a motion to save the education fund (Jacqui Lambie was also very, very angry at the move). | |
| Labor and the Government have teamed up to stab education in the back by abolishing billions in education funding. | |
| I don’t expect any better of the regressive Liberals who have cut education funding at every turn, but Labor used to be the party of education. Now they are just selling out communities and young people to remain politically relevant. | |
| Labor are so eager to please the Liberals they voted to abolish the infrastructure fund they themselves established. The reality is unis, Tafes and research have all suffered under this Liberal-National government. Education in Australia is being dangerously underfunded. | |
| The official Labor press conference on the free trade agreement decision is out. | The official Labor press conference on the free trade agreement decision is out. |
| From Madeleine King’s office: | From Madeleine King’s office: |
| We will back these agreements, although we are concerned about how this Government will implement them. | We will back these agreements, although we are concerned about how this Government will implement them. |
| We have consulted widely on these issues with stakeholders in the union movement, industry, academia and the public service. | We have consulted widely on these issues with stakeholders in the union movement, industry, academia and the public service. |
| I have written to Trade Minister Simon Birmingham seeking firm commitments to ensure that the implementation of the agreements safeguard Australian jobs and maximise market access for Australian businesses. | I have written to Trade Minister Simon Birmingham seeking firm commitments to ensure that the implementation of the agreements safeguard Australian jobs and maximise market access for Australian businesses. |
| We are seeking: | We are seeking: |
| A guarantee that these agreements protect Australian jobs. | A guarantee that these agreements protect Australian jobs. |
| An assurance that working holiday makers are not exploited and are appropriately qualified for the work they undertake. | An assurance that working holiday makers are not exploited and are appropriately qualified for the work they undertake. |
| The termination of the existing bilateral investment treaty with Indonesia. | The termination of the existing bilateral investment treaty with Indonesia. |
| The termination or updating of out-dated bilateral investment treaties and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses. | The termination or updating of out-dated bilateral investment treaties and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses. |
| A review of recent ISDS mechanisms in trade agreements. | A review of recent ISDS mechanisms in trade agreements. |
| An inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) into Australia’s treaty-making process. | An inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) into Australia’s treaty-making process. |
| An assurance that there is no inference from the agreements that would require the privatisation of government services, nor restrict any future decision to bring acquire public assets. | An assurance that there is no inference from the agreements that would require the privatisation of government services, nor restrict any future decision to bring acquire public assets. |
| Labor’s call for the Government to pursue the termination of the existing Bilateral Investment Treaty between Australia and Indonesia was recently backed by JSCOT’s recent review of these trade agreements. | Labor’s call for the Government to pursue the termination of the existing Bilateral Investment Treaty between Australia and Indonesia was recently backed by JSCOT’s recent review of these trade agreements. |
| This old treaty contains ISDS clauses with poor safeguards. | This old treaty contains ISDS clauses with poor safeguards. |
| Labor does not support the inclusion of ISDS provisions in trade agreements, but the report noted that the provisions in these new agreements include strong safeguards. | Labor does not support the inclusion of ISDS provisions in trade agreements, but the report noted that the provisions in these new agreements include strong safeguards. |
| Labor MPs on the JSCOT committee were instrumental in ensuring that these recommendations were included in the final report. | Labor MPs on the JSCOT committee were instrumental in ensuring that these recommendations were included in the final report. |
| Back in the Senate, One Nation put forward a motion to set up an inquiry into the “performance of Australia’s dairy industry and the profitability of farmers since deregulation in 2000”. | Back in the Senate, One Nation put forward a motion to set up an inquiry into the “performance of Australia’s dairy industry and the profitability of farmers since deregulation in 2000”. |
| Labor, the Greens and the crossbench all supported the inquiry. | Labor, the Greens and the crossbench all supported the inquiry. |
| The government opposed it. | The government opposed it. |
| Ayes - 33 | Ayes - 33 |
| Noes - 28 | Noes - 28 |
| It is not often you see that section of the chamber supporting something One Nation puts up, but there you go. | It is not often you see that section of the chamber supporting something One Nation puts up, but there you go. |
| Just on Peter Dutton’s latest intervention on medevac, I have been reminded of this story from earlier in the year: | Just on Peter Dutton’s latest intervention on medevac, I have been reminded of this story from earlier in the year: |
| A doctor on Nauru who blew the whistle on the deliberate medical neglect of refugees and asylum seekers on the island has been awarded a global award for free speech. | A doctor on Nauru who blew the whistle on the deliberate medical neglect of refugees and asylum seekers on the island has been awarded a global award for free speech. |
| Dr Nick Martin, the former senior medical officer for International Health and Medical Services on Nauru, spoke out publicly against what he described as Australia’s “inflexible, unswerving, and shameless” offshore immigration regime, that deliberately harmed asylum seekers and ignored doctors’ recommendations to treat dangerously ill people. | Dr Nick Martin, the former senior medical officer for International Health and Medical Services on Nauru, spoke out publicly against what he described as Australia’s “inflexible, unswerving, and shameless” offshore immigration regime, that deliberately harmed asylum seekers and ignored doctors’ recommendations to treat dangerously ill people. |
| In London on Wednesday night, he was awarded the 2019 Blueprint for Free Speech prize, an award previously won by Chelsea Manning, who revealed US military abuses and suspected war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and John Kiriakou, the former CIA intelligence officer who revealed information about torture techniques including waterboarding. | In London on Wednesday night, he was awarded the 2019 Blueprint for Free Speech prize, an award previously won by Chelsea Manning, who revealed US military abuses and suspected war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and John Kiriakou, the former CIA intelligence officer who revealed information about torture techniques including waterboarding. |
| Martin is a veteran military doctor. | Martin is a veteran military doctor. |
| The drug testing bill is on its way to the Senate. | The drug testing bill is on its way to the Senate. |
| House of Representatives passed Social Services Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing Trial) Bill 2019 https://t.co/FusF2Vwh1A #auspol | House of Representatives passed Social Services Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing Trial) Bill 2019 https://t.co/FusF2Vwh1A #auspol |
| Labor is supporting the government’s call to abolish the $4bn education investment fund (the Coalition has wanted it gone since 2014 and, when it couldn’t get rid of it, just stopped spending the money from it, meaning it has sat there untouched), mostly because it doesn’t want to be seen as standing in front of emergency response fund (which is where the government wants to put this money). | Labor is supporting the government’s call to abolish the $4bn education investment fund (the Coalition has wanted it gone since 2014 and, when it couldn’t get rid of it, just stopped spending the money from it, meaning it has sat there untouched), mostly because it doesn’t want to be seen as standing in front of emergency response fund (which is where the government wants to put this money). |
| Jacqui Lambie has been calling for more Tafe funding for Tasmania since returning to the Senate. That’s why she is so angry. The money that is there, for that purpose, is now being officially taken away. | Jacqui Lambie has been calling for more Tafe funding for Tasmania since returning to the Senate. That’s why she is so angry. The money that is there, for that purpose, is now being officially taken away. |
| Oh FFS. | Oh FFS. |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has claimed Australian war veterans want refugee medical evacuation laws scrapped. | Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has claimed Australian war veterans want refugee medical evacuation laws scrapped. |
| Mr Dutton is locked in negotiations with Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, herself an army veteran, as he seeks to repeal the so-called medevac laws. | Mr Dutton is locked in negotiations with Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie, herself an army veteran, as he seeks to repeal the so-called medevac laws. |
| “I believe very strongly that most Australians and certainly the vast majority of veterans would want us to abolish this law,” he told 2GB Radio on Thursday. | “I believe very strongly that most Australians and certainly the vast majority of veterans would want us to abolish this law,” he told 2GB Radio on Thursday. |
| There does not seem to be any evidence for this, other than Dutton is courting Lambie’s swing vote on this. | There does not seem to be any evidence for this, other than Dutton is courting Lambie’s swing vote on this. |
| We were expecting a press conference on the party’s position on free trade agreements after a lively caucus debate this morning, but it has now been called off. | We were expecting a press conference on the party’s position on free trade agreements after a lively caucus debate this morning, but it has now been called off. |
| We are still waiting to get the details of what has been agreed upon, but expect something on scrapping old investor state dispute settlement clauses with Indonesia, independent economic analysis of the trade deals, and a concession on future labour market access. | We are still waiting to get the details of what has been agreed upon, but expect something on scrapping old investor state dispute settlement clauses with Indonesia, independent economic analysis of the trade deals, and a concession on future labour market access. |
| The unemployment figures are out | The unemployment figures are out |
| Jobless rate edges down to 5.2% (s/a) but on a weak 14.7k lift in employment. Trend steady at 5.3% | Jobless rate edges down to 5.2% (s/a) but on a weak 14.7k lift in employment. Trend steady at 5.3% |
| That vote Paul Karp has been telling you about, on the $4bn education investment fund, is happening. Labor created it when it was in government. | That vote Paul Karp has been telling you about, on the $4bn education investment fund, is happening. Labor created it when it was in government. |
| The Greens put in a motion to protect it. | The Greens put in a motion to protect it. |
| Labor is voting against the motion. | Labor is voting against the motion. |
| Jacqui Lambie is ESPECIALLY pissed about it. | Jacqui Lambie is ESPECIALLY pissed about it. |
| Jacqui Lambie has just got stuck into the deal struck between the Coalition and Labor – describing it as “pretty pathetic” that Labor has agreed to abolish a $4bn education investment fund in return for $50m for Tafe. | Jacqui Lambie has just got stuck into the deal struck between the Coalition and Labor – describing it as “pretty pathetic” that Labor has agreed to abolish a $4bn education investment fund in return for $50m for Tafe. |
| “I can get more out of the government with just one of me, than all of you put together,” Lambie said. | “I can get more out of the government with just one of me, than all of you put together,” Lambie said. |
| The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi says the $50m is “measly” and criticises Labor, which she said “used to be the party of public education”. | The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi says the $50m is “measly” and criticises Labor, which she said “used to be the party of public education”. |
| Mathias Cormann has moved the bill out of the committee phase and is now setting a limit on the time for debate – so we’re going to have a final vote by 11.45. | Mathias Cormann has moved the bill out of the committee phase and is now setting a limit on the time for debate – so we’re going to have a final vote by 11.45. |
| Is there anyone in this building not having a tantrum right now? | Is there anyone in this building not having a tantrum right now? |
| If so, feel free to swing by the Guardian office for a chocolate. | If so, feel free to swing by the Guardian office for a chocolate. |
| Because this whole place is one giant sulk right now, on all sides. | Because this whole place is one giant sulk right now, on all sides. |
| Like I said, totally and absolutely, fine. | Like I said, totally and absolutely, fine. |
| 1 senior Nat is furious that the PM dropped payment announcement on 2SM same time Nats held their Presser. “They’re shitting on us. Is PM going to go on TV when Dutton is? We look dopey standing around like swinging dicks at Class B presser because Class A is up at same time.” | 1 senior Nat is furious that the PM dropped payment announcement on 2SM same time Nats held their Presser. “They’re shitting on us. Is PM going to go on TV when Dutton is? We look dopey standing around like swinging dicks at Class B presser because Class A is up at same time.” |
| Everything is fine. | Everything is fine. |
| Please see my statement below. pic.twitter.com/xMUpnuVp08 | Please see my statement below. pic.twitter.com/xMUpnuVp08 |