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| PM’s department evades question on Brian Houston's White House invite – question time live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Anthony Albanese to Michael McCormack: | |
| Can he confirm that the gap between what the government promised on budget night and what they’ve actually spent on infrastructure is on blackspots, $123m, heavy vehicle safety program, $134m, bridges renewal, $154m, cattle supply, 96, northern Australia roads, $266m, western Sydney infrastructure, $915m, major road projects $2.8bn and asset recycling initiatives $1.5m. | |
| McCormack is talking, but for some reason, all I can think about is over-boiled cauliflower. | |
| Melissa Price just told Anthony Albanese he was “very rude”. | |
| This is where we are. | |
| Alicia Payne to Scott Morrison: | |
| Since coming to office the government has spent a total of $5bn less on infrastructure than it promised including $123m less than it promised on blackspots. Why? | |
| Morrison: | |
| Mr Speaker, as members opposite would know, the program and schedule of projects, which the government pursues, one that is put together in partnership with the states and territories as we seek to implement that plan. | |
| And, Mr Speaker, and indeed whether it’s with local government even on projects that we pursue, our job is to ensure that we provide the allocation of the funds and to set the priority projects and to sit down with the state and territory governments. | |
| Now those opposite would know, and in particular the leader of the opposition would know, from his time when he served as a minister for infrastructure, that the scheduling of projects is set out together with the states and territories and the profile for the delivery of those projects is often revised based on the advice provided by those states and territories. | |
| And that is why the changes in the schedule arrive as they have. I’d make this point, though. Under our government, this year we will spend around $10bn on infrastructure. That is what is budged to be spent in this very financial year. All around the country. | |
| Now, Mr Speaker, that’s almost double, almost double, what we inherited from the Labor party when we came to government and the leader of the opposition, who sits at the table now, I think from memory, and I’ll be happy to stand corrected on this figure, but I understand the figure at that time was around $6bn. | |
| And so this year we’re spending $10bn or thereabouts just slightly less than that, and the reason we’re doing that is because two budgets ago we decided to put in place the $75bn pipeline of projects over 10 years, and in the last budget, recognising the difficult situation that we’re facing in the global economy, we increased that pipeline of investments over the next 10 years $100bn. | |
| We upped it, Mr Speaker, because we knew that’s what the Australian economy would need just not now but over the next 10 years and, more importantly than that, we have the budget discipline and the budget to back those sorts of commitments up. | |
| So, Mr Speaker, the reason for any change in schedules is not because of the lack of fiscal capacity or discipline because of this government but because of any changes to scheduling that is done in relation to our negotiations with the states and territories. | |
| Well, I know from those opposite when they’re in government the reason they cut defence spending the reason they don’t list pharmaceuticals, the reason they have to [insert] flood levies and all these things is because they never know how to manage money. Australians knew they could trust this government to deliver and manage money. | |
| Again, the last time Labor was in government, there was the GFC. | |
| (No) right to knowWhile question time rolls on, officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet are declining to answer a bunch of questions. | |
| They won’t say whether Brian Houston appeared on a list of possible guests to attend the state dinner in Washington supplied by the PMO on the basis that might prejudice international relations. (No I’m not joking). | |
| They won’t answer questions about Alexander Downer on the same basis. Officials from PMC also said they don’t know who Scott Morrison told Donald Trump was the primary point of contact for the Barr inquiry, even though Trump made a special call to Morrison to ask for that point of contact. | |
| An official from PMC tells the hearing he got a short read-out of the call between Morrison and Trump from a member of Morrison’s staff afterwards, but the read-out was verbal and he didn’t take notes, (so there’s no paper trail to FOI.) He says the Department of Foreign Affairs is the lead agency. | |
| Finance minister Mathias Cormann says the first point of contact is our “outstanding and distinguished” ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey. | |
| Milton Dick to Scott Morrison: | |
| Can the prime minister confirm for every $100 of the roads of strategic fund only 50 cents will be spent in Queensland this year. | |
| Michael McCormack is given the nod, meaning Milton Dick is on my list. | |
| We are getting on with funding, funding, roads of strategic importance. | |
| And projects in Queensland. And I have asked Mark Bailey, the minister responsible to bring forward projects. We’re getting on with making sure that we build the roads, build the ports, and do everything that we need to do as a government to build a better Queensland. | |
| We’re getting on with the job of making sure that if it comes to Queensland or indeed any state or territory that we’re building roads of strategic importance. Those opposite wouldn’t ever have funded a program such as the roads of strategic importance because they never, ever worried about a regional program unless they could rort it. And speaking of the chief rorter here she is. | |
| That’s Catherine King he is referring to, as she is at the despatch box. She asks for the comment to be withdrawn. | |
| “How do you know he was talking about you,” says a government minister, proving just how much attention they are paying to McCormack. | |
| Because he said it as she was at the despatch box, genius. | |
| McCormack withdraws, but he is still speaking, and now he is talking about truck drivers and whether or not people have been in them lately and just saying “strategic importance” randomly, like he has just discovered the phrase. | |
| The government is supporting “hardworking businesses”. | |
| So all you slackarse businesses take note. | |
| Anthony Albanese is trying to have a dixer to Angus Taylor ruled out of order, because it referred to “emissions reductions” and emissions are going up. | |
| Taylor: | |
| We haven’t just turned around the financial deficit, we have turned around their abatement deficit. | |
| Every moment I refrain from running from the chamber rampaging is a victory. | |
| “We are getting on with planning,” Michael McCormack says. | |
| Bookmark that as an election slogan. | |
| And to think he actually used to work with words for a living. | |
| Kate Thwaites to Scott Morrison: | |
| Can the prime minister confirm that none of the eight Victorian projects listed under the roads of strategic importance fund has even reached the planning stage? | |
| Morrison: | |
| We have a timeline and we are working on it with the premier of Victoria | |
| (That’s a paraphrasing because I have lost the will to live) | |
| The opposition may want to engage in the theatre of politics on these matters, but the premier of Victoria and I are engaging in the business of delivery of infrastructure projects in Victoria. | |
| Oh dear JLo. Now Michael McCormack is at the despatch box. He is talking about pipelines and I am willing my cells to start collapsing in on themselves because it would be less painful. | |
| Josh Frydenberg just took a lickspittle which is only helping to prove while the entire question time process in Australia needs to be scrapped, and started again. | |
| #deathtodixers | |
| Catherine King to Scott Morrison: | Catherine King to Scott Morrison: |
| Why did the government spend nearly $17m on taxpayer-funded congestion funding advertising in the lead-up to this year’s election but did not spend a single cent from the urban congestion fund the whole of the last financial year? | |
| Alan Tudge takes it – and that’s enough for me to become exceptionally fascinated with my cuticles. | |
| Penny Wong maintains the public has a right to know if the Prime Minister wanted pastor Brian Houston to get an invite to the White House state dinner. She says Scott Morrison should be man enough to say if he sought an invite for the Hillsong leader #estimates | Penny Wong maintains the public has a right to know if the Prime Minister wanted pastor Brian Houston to get an invite to the White House state dinner. She says Scott Morrison should be man enough to say if he sought an invite for the Hillsong leader #estimates |
| Jason Falinski asks Josh Frydenberg a dixer about his trip to the IMF meeting. | Jason Falinski asks Josh Frydenberg a dixer about his trip to the IMF meeting. |
| We hear about how important it is (I guess it is an example of positive globalisation) so at the end of the answer, Jim Chalmers asks to table a transcript where Falinski described the IMF as a “leftwing organisation”. | We hear about how important it is (I guess it is an example of positive globalisation) so at the end of the answer, Jim Chalmers asks to table a transcript where Falinski described the IMF as a “leftwing organisation”. |
| Permission is not granted. | Permission is not granted. |
| Zali Steggall has the independent’s question: | Zali Steggall has the independent’s question: |
| Foodbank is the large provider of food and groceries to food relief charities around Australia. These charities provide relief to over 815,000 Australians each month including people in my electorate and farmers affected by the drought. 252 tonnes of food and groceries were shipped out of the New South Wales warehouse, alone, 110 tonnes went to regional and remote areas in New South Wales yet foodbank is not receiving any emergency funding to meet the demand. Will the government increase funding and support food support strategy as part of Australia’s response to climate change? | Foodbank is the large provider of food and groceries to food relief charities around Australia. These charities provide relief to over 815,000 Australians each month including people in my electorate and farmers affected by the drought. 252 tonnes of food and groceries were shipped out of the New South Wales warehouse, alone, 110 tonnes went to regional and remote areas in New South Wales yet foodbank is not receiving any emergency funding to meet the demand. Will the government increase funding and support food support strategy as part of Australia’s response to climate change? |
| Scott Morrison: | Scott Morrison: |
| I thank the member for her question and I will ask the minister representing the minister for social services to respond further to the member’s question. The government does provide support to Foodbank. We do to many Foodbank services around the country. And we are pleased to do so because we acknowledge the tremendous work that they do. As we continue to work particularly in response as part of our drought program, we are working with a whole host of different charitable organisation. We have provided over $50m in fact to organisations like the Salvos and Vinnies and others, the Country Women’s Association, in ensuring we’re providing the support where we can. I’ll ask the minister for - representing the for social services to add further. | |
| Paul Fletcher: | Paul Fletcher: |
| I do thank the member for her question and the prime minister for the opportunity to add some further information in relation to the support that the government provides for food banks. $750,000 a year in funding over a 4.5-year period. That of course is not the only food relief program that the commonwealth government, Morrison government supports. We also provide funding for two other significant charities in this area, Second Bite and OzHarvest. These are all important measures designed to provide support to needy Australians, to vulnerable Australians, and of course we continue to work with these important agencies for the delivery of this funding. And continue to work with them and a whole range of other agencies to support Australians affected by drought. | |
| Jim Chalmers to Scott Morrison: | Jim Chalmers to Scott Morrison: |
| When the Reserve Bank, the IMF, the Business Council of Australia, AI group, Master Builders and others have all call for action by the government to support the economy, why is the government refusing to consider a proportionate, measured and responsible stimulus program to boost the economy by bringing forward infrastructure investment? | When the Reserve Bank, the IMF, the Business Council of Australia, AI group, Master Builders and others have all call for action by the government to support the economy, why is the government refusing to consider a proportionate, measured and responsible stimulus program to boost the economy by bringing forward infrastructure investment? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| The government’s budget contains some almost $10bn of infrastructure in this financial year, Mr Speaker. | The government’s budget contains some almost $10bn of infrastructure in this financial year, Mr Speaker. |
| That’s monies that is hitting right cross the country. In addition to that, Mr Speaker, the tax cuts that were legislated by this country, fought against by the Labor party, who said these shouldn’t happen and in fact the Labor party argued at the election that we should be imposing $387bn of higher taxes. | That’s monies that is hitting right cross the country. In addition to that, Mr Speaker, the tax cuts that were legislated by this country, fought against by the Labor party, who said these shouldn’t happen and in fact the Labor party argued at the election that we should be imposing $387bn of higher taxes. |
| Higher taxes on the Australian economy. I don’t know what sort of a stimulus package $387bn of higher taxes constitutes, but that was the description that was ... member for Lyons. | Higher taxes on the Australian economy. I don’t know what sort of a stimulus package $387bn of higher taxes constitutes, but that was the description that was ... member for Lyons. |
| That was offered by the shadow treasurer when he was the shadow finance minister and he was the joint architect, Mr Speaker, with the former shadow treasurer and the former leader of the opposition who said they thought at this time of great uncertainty in the global economy that adding $387bn to the tax burden of Australians would be a good idea. Now, we don’t share that view, Mr Speaker. We believe and we have demonstrated in our budget that the right way to go about addressing the issue in the global economy, indeed in the domestic economy is the stable and considered approach of rolling out our program of reducing the costs of doing business, whether it’s on removing unnecessary regulation, ensuring that we’re training people for the skills needs of the future, delivering tax relief to Australians, taking further out, Mr Speaker, our trade barriers to ensure that we’re dealing with in more and more countries in the world, taking our trade agreements coverage from 26% to 70%, and we’re seeking to go further. | That was offered by the shadow treasurer when he was the shadow finance minister and he was the joint architect, Mr Speaker, with the former shadow treasurer and the former leader of the opposition who said they thought at this time of great uncertainty in the global economy that adding $387bn to the tax burden of Australians would be a good idea. Now, we don’t share that view, Mr Speaker. We believe and we have demonstrated in our budget that the right way to go about addressing the issue in the global economy, indeed in the domestic economy is the stable and considered approach of rolling out our program of reducing the costs of doing business, whether it’s on removing unnecessary regulation, ensuring that we’re training people for the skills needs of the future, delivering tax relief to Australians, taking further out, Mr Speaker, our trade barriers to ensure that we’re dealing with in more and more countries in the world, taking our trade agreements coverage from 26% to 70%, and we’re seeking to go further. |
| So, that is the economic plan that we took to the election. The Labor party would have us engage in the reckless spending policies that they last implemented when the member ... who asked the question ... the member for Rankin, and instituted one of the most reckless, reckless spending packages which crashed the budget and took money away from things like pharmaceuticals, defence spending and a whole range of other important priorities ‘cause the Labor party did not know how to manage money. | So, that is the economic plan that we took to the election. The Labor party would have us engage in the reckless spending policies that they last implemented when the member ... who asked the question ... the member for Rankin, and instituted one of the most reckless, reckless spending packages which crashed the budget and took money away from things like pharmaceuticals, defence spending and a whole range of other important priorities ‘cause the Labor party did not know how to manage money. |
| Now, he refers to the governor of the Reserve Bank and I’m happy to quote him. ‘The Australian economy’, on 1 October, ‘Appears to have reached a turning point. The economy has been through a soft patch recently but we are expecting a return to around trend growth over the next year. | Now, he refers to the governor of the Reserve Bank and I’m happy to quote him. ‘The Australian economy’, on 1 October, ‘Appears to have reached a turning point. The economy has been through a soft patch recently but we are expecting a return to around trend growth over the next year. |
| There are a number of factors that are supporting this outlook. These include the low level of interest rates, the recent tax cuts, ongoing spending on infrastructure, signs of stabilise identification in established housing markets.’ | There are a number of factors that are supporting this outlook. These include the low level of interest rates, the recent tax cuts, ongoing spending on infrastructure, signs of stabilise identification in established housing markets.’ |
| Just your standard reminder that the GFC happened when Labor was in power. | Just your standard reminder that the GFC happened when Labor was in power. |
| The department of agriculture has put out this statement, after the footage of horses being mistreated was shown on the ABC’s 7.30 | The department of agriculture has put out this statement, after the footage of horses being mistreated was shown on the ABC’s 7.30 |
| The regulation of animal welfare remains the responsibility of the states and territories. | The regulation of animal welfare remains the responsibility of the states and territories. |
| The Department of Agriculture’s role is limited to export abattoirs where it works to ensure Australian export standards are met. | The Department of Agriculture’s role is limited to export abattoirs where it works to ensure Australian export standards are met. |
| Consistent with the department’s responsibilities, we are conducting a critical incident audit of the facility at the centre of recent footage depicting the mistreatment of horses. | Consistent with the department’s responsibilities, we are conducting a critical incident audit of the facility at the centre of recent footage depicting the mistreatment of horses. |
| Queensland authorities are working closely with the department on this audit. | Queensland authorities are working closely with the department on this audit. |
| A preliminary report will be produced early this week. | A preliminary report will be produced early this week. |
| The department will then determine any regulatory action to be taken. | The department will then determine any regulatory action to be taken. |
| The department understands that Queensland has requested the original footage from the ABC, which will assist in determining a number of important factors, such as when the incidents took place. | The department understands that Queensland has requested the original footage from the ABC, which will assist in determining a number of important factors, such as when the incidents took place. |
| The department urges anyone with evidence or concerns about animal welfare to immediately report it to the relevant state jurisdiction. | The department urges anyone with evidence or concerns about animal welfare to immediately report it to the relevant state jurisdiction. |
| In environment estimates Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is asking about the statutory review of Australia’s environment laws (the EPBC Act) that is due to commence this month. | In environment estimates Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is asking about the statutory review of Australia’s environment laws (the EPBC Act) that is due to commence this month. |
| The department confirms it will begin in the next 10 days but doesn’t have a date. A terms of reference has been drafted that will be released when the review is announced.They can’t tell the hearing who will be leading the review. | The department confirms it will begin in the next 10 days but doesn’t have a date. A terms of reference has been drafted that will be released when the review is announced.They can’t tell the hearing who will be leading the review. |
| “It will commence within the next 10 days,” the department’s deputy secretary Dean Knudson says. | “It will commence within the next 10 days,” the department’s deputy secretary Dean Knudson says. |
| “The last review took about a year. I expect this will be of a similar length.” | “The last review took about a year. I expect this will be of a similar length.” |
| Officials say a department team of 13.4 full-time equivalent staff has been set up for the review. | Officials say a department team of 13.4 full-time equivalent staff has been set up for the review. |
| Just on Scott Morrison’s answer just before: | Just on Scott Morrison’s answer just before: |
| If we get to the point where the leader of the opposition wants to arbitrarily, outside the law ... decide who gets prosecuted and who doesn’t, Mr Speaker, then that’s not a country that I think Australians would want to live in. | If we get to the point where the leader of the opposition wants to arbitrarily, outside the law ... decide who gets prosecuted and who doesn’t, Mr Speaker, then that’s not a country that I think Australians would want to live in. |
| That is pretty much what the attorney general does. He will look at the brief that is put forward by the commonwealth director of public prosecutions and then decide if the commonwealth pursues it. | That is pretty much what the attorney general does. He will look at the brief that is put forward by the commonwealth director of public prosecutions and then decide if the commonwealth pursues it. |
| That’s a pretty big part of the nation’s first law officer’s job. | That’s a pretty big part of the nation’s first law officer’s job. |
| Someone has subjected us to Michael McCormack at the despatch box, and it’s as substantial as watching rice boil over. | Someone has subjected us to Michael McCormack at the despatch box, and it’s as substantial as watching rice boil over. |