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| Scott Morrison grilled on keeping drought report 'secret' – politics live | |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Patricia Karvelas: So why are these MPs so grumpy? | |
| Barnaby Joyce: Patricia, we’re in a position of a drought. There is so much pressure coming onto us from our constituency. We just want to make absolutely certain that people clearly know the reason you have a dairy code is because the Nationals pushed for it. The reason you have a national investment corporation is the Nationals pushed it. A sugar code - the Nationals pushed it. Nationals’ policy is an APVMA. | |
| PK: So your issue was that that wasn’t being articulated clearly enough from the leadership, right? | |
| BJ: The reason you had the road from Waverton to Boulias was part of my agreement with Malcolm Turnbull at the start to build it, just like the $10 billion Inland Rail. These are Nationals policies. We can get these things because, without the Nationals, there would be no coalition government. | |
| PK: As Leader of The Nationals, isn’t Michael McCormack ultimately responsible for driving your party’s response to issues like drought? | |
| BJ: And Michael does the very best job that he can. He is also dealing with the incredible pressure that would be coming on him to make sure that we just keep focus on the people on the drought all the time. We do that as well as deal with the myriad of other issues that go before us. But there is no senator by themselves in a place which really doesn’t deliver the policy that is brought about a -- has brought about a dairy code, a sugar code. Nationals did that. Regional Investment Corporation - Nationals did that. | |
| PK: Let’s not get too repetitive. People hate hate repetition. | |
| BJ: No, they don’t. | |
| Barnaby Joyce says there is frustration that the Nationals aren’t getting credit for the work its MPs are doing, but won’t say why that is. | |
| Patricia Karvelas: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken the lead on drought policy, which would normally be the domain of the Nationals - your party. Do Nationals MPs feel sidelined? | |
| Barnaby Joyce: Well, the Prime Minister made it that, when he became issue, there was issue No. 1. We’re happy about that. That means we can drive the agenda. And we are doing that. And I suppose what the Nationals get upset with is we drive an agenda, we do so much work in a space, then obviously if Pauline Hanson comes out and announces it, it’s not that she developed the policy, it’s not that she drove the agenda - we did. We did. | |
| PK: So who are you frustrated at? | |
| BJ: Well, the process that people clearly understand at the Nationals are hard at work continuously. We are dealing with our constituents continuously. | |
| PK: So is it your view your leadership is misrepresenting the work that you’re doing on this and giving credit to One Nation? That’s what you’re saying. | |
| BJ:No, it’s not. I do believe that sometimes they get the jump on some of these things and they don’t deserve to. Remember, even where they live - we live in regional areas. We don’t have to go to a drought area. We just have to open our back door. It’s right there. We talk to the people who are dealing with drought every day. And we hear the angst. When I’m sit in Question Time and should be dutifully listening to everybody, I’m actually reading so many emails from people in drought areas. I understand their frustration. I hear it. I was up there on the weekend talking to people, on the ground, so they speak - not too hard when I actually own the ground and I’m selling cattle myself. These are the issues that we fight for, and we drive home agendas such as changes to the FHA, drive home agendas such as concessional loans. We created the policy to set up the national federation. That was Nationals policy. | |
| PK: So your view is you’re not getting the credit. So who’s responsible for that? | |
| BJ: There’s the Regional Investment Corporation - we drove that... | |
| PK: You keep telling me you’re not getting the credit. Why aren’t you getting the credit? | |
| BJ: I’m just saying - looking after the people at the Defence Forces in Rockhampton... | |
| Barnaby Joyce is speaking to Patricia Karvelas: | |
| Q: Now, the coordinator-general for drought, Major-General Stephen Day, delivered his final report in April to the Prime Minister. Why won’t the Prime Minister release that report? Should he just release that report to settle this? | |
| BJ: | |
| No, that’s a question for the Prime Minister. PK, I’ve been through the iterations of this. People saying there’s no report, then you show them there’s umpteen reports, and then they just go down a rabbit warren basically trying to say, “Well, you’ve done so much work - why don’t you put it in the public record?” Well, because it’s a report directly to the Prime Minister. | |
| It’s up to the Prime Minister whether they want to print it or not. If they don’t, I can understand that. I can be quite frank that a lot of my discussions with the Prime Minister are direct, to the point, and he would have taken what I said into account - I know that because of some of the policy outcomes - but I wasn’t talking to Australia, I was talking directly to him. | |
| Q: Should you have done a bit more work than just sending some text messages and having some conversations? | |
| BJ: Patricia, that’s also wrong. What you said there is wrong. And actually, you would have seen - you probably didn’t, but there was a Facebook post where I actually showed I think it was eight or nine paper reports, as well as text messages, as well as other electronic means of directly speaking to the Prime Minister at the spot on that day. Now, Patricia, this is the reality - the reality is, the assertion that we didn’t send written reports is wrong. They’ve got it wrong. | |
| Q: Hang on a minute. You didn’t do your own report, though. That’s clear. You sent maybe other reports, and some messages. | |
| BJ: I may have sent reports to the Prime Minister over and over again, Patricia. That is the actual truth. | |
| Q: Your own report, with evidence and recommendations? | |
| BJ: Patricia, to Scott Morrison, from Barnaby Joyce, with details of the drought - is that a report or is that a report? | |
| Just a reminder that the original ‘there is no report’ came from David Littleproud to the parliament, when it asked for Joyce’s report to be tabled. | |
| And Peter Dutton will be on Sky, talking Medevac. | |
| On @abcnews TV #afternoonbriefing at 4pm my guests are @Barnaby_Joyce plus my panel with Labor’s Ed Husic and Tim Wilson #auspol | |
| A couple of absences: George Christensen and Mike Kelly. | |
| LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO MEMBERMr Porter (Leader of the House) moved—That leave of absence until 22 November 2019 be given to Mr Christensen, for personal reasons. | |
| LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO MEMBERMr Burke (Manager of Opposition Business) moved—That leave of absence until 5 December 2019 be given to Dr M. J. Kelly, for personal illness and consequential surgery.(Yes, both of these are legitimate.) | |
| Richard Marles is making a personal explanation to the house about one of Dutton’s answers (part of which I highlighted below) pointing out that Labor supported the passage of the Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014 in the House and Senate and Dutton was wrong. | |
| Peter Dutton is back (it’s a double Dutton dixer day) but all I can see is Scott Morrison has stacked the folders, meaning we are done. | Peter Dutton is back (it’s a double Dutton dixer day) but all I can see is Scott Morrison has stacked the folders, meaning we are done. |
| Shayne Neumann to Scott Morrison: | Shayne Neumann to Scott Morrison: |
| Since 2016-17, the Government has Prommed to spend $145 million on improving Australia’s cattle supply change, but has only spent $40 million. An underspend of more than $100 million. Why? | Since 2016-17, the Government has Prommed to spend $145 million on improving Australia’s cattle supply change, but has only spent $40 million. An underspend of more than $100 million. Why? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| Mr Speaker, not going to take lectures from a Labor Party who shut down the live cattle trade, Mr Speaker, in the panicked decision of one television program. Mr Speaker, under our Government, what we’re working towards is $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030. And this afternoon, I’m looking forward to sitting down with the National Farmers’ Federation, not only to talk about those projects, Mr Speaker, but to achieve and realise what can be - what can be gained in our agricultural sector, and the agricultural sector at the moment, of course, is going through a difficult period because of the drought and we have see more than 10% fall in farm GDP because of that, Mr Speaker, but what we do have are the plans to continue to build it. What I am so impressed by in our agricultural sector is the resilience of the Australian agricultural sector that despite the setbacks, they continue to invest, Mr Speaker, and realise their future. | Mr Speaker, not going to take lectures from a Labor Party who shut down the live cattle trade, Mr Speaker, in the panicked decision of one television program. Mr Speaker, under our Government, what we’re working towards is $100 billion agricultural industry by 2030. And this afternoon, I’m looking forward to sitting down with the National Farmers’ Federation, not only to talk about those projects, Mr Speaker, but to achieve and realise what can be - what can be gained in our agricultural sector, and the agricultural sector at the moment, of course, is going through a difficult period because of the drought and we have see more than 10% fall in farm GDP because of that, Mr Speaker, but what we do have are the plans to continue to build it. What I am so impressed by in our agricultural sector is the resilience of the Australian agricultural sector that despite the setbacks, they continue to invest, Mr Speaker, and realise their future. |
| Tony Burke: | Tony Burke: |
| The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order. Yeah, Mr Speaker, the question asks about specific expenditure on cattle supply chains, and the underspend related to that. That’s what it asks about. | The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order. Yeah, Mr Speaker, the question asks about specific expenditure on cattle supply chains, and the underspend related to that. That’s what it asks about. |
| Tony Smith: | Tony Smith: |
| I’ll call the Prime Minister again. I mean, he’s - I take the point. The member for Hunter is not - is not helping. Neither is the Minister for Education. The question did ask about some budgeted figures. It also asked about the cattle supply chain. The Prime Minister is certainly being - he’s certainly being relevant to the policy topic and also just very conscious he’s not quite a minute in and I - I’m listening to the Prime Minister. | I’ll call the Prime Minister again. I mean, he’s - I take the point. The member for Hunter is not - is not helping. Neither is the Minister for Education. The question did ask about some budgeted figures. It also asked about the cattle supply chain. The Prime Minister is certainly being - he’s certainly being relevant to the policy topic and also just very conscious he’s not quite a minute in and I - I’m listening to the Prime Minister. |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| Thank you, Mr Speaker. And it gives me the opportunity to again say that the work we’re doing to support our agricultural sector, and I will invite the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, here in the house to add to that. I know the Deputy Prime Minister would like to add to it also, Mr Speaker. Let’s not forget that the Labor Party, when they had the opportunity to support our cattle industry, chopped them off, Mr Speaker. They sold them out and they did so as a result of their addiction to policies of panic and crisis. Our Government does not act in a sense of panic or crisis, Mr Speaker. We act in the stable and certain way which gives people confidence in the future and enables to invest and plan for their future. That’s what we’re doing in the agricultural sector and invite the Minister to add to the answer. | Thank you, Mr Speaker. And it gives me the opportunity to again say that the work we’re doing to support our agricultural sector, and I will invite the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, here in the house to add to that. I know the Deputy Prime Minister would like to add to it also, Mr Speaker. Let’s not forget that the Labor Party, when they had the opportunity to support our cattle industry, chopped them off, Mr Speaker. They sold them out and they did so as a result of their addiction to policies of panic and crisis. Our Government does not act in a sense of panic or crisis, Mr Speaker. We act in the stable and certain way which gives people confidence in the future and enables to invest and plan for their future. That’s what we’re doing in the agricultural sector and invite the Minister to add to the answer. |
| David Littleproud: | David Littleproud: |
| Mr Speaker. Can I just say - this is about respect. | Mr Speaker. Can I just say - this is about respect. |
| Tony Burke: | Tony Burke: |
| The $145 million program which is listed in the budget as for cattle supply chains is an infrastructure project. The Minister who’s just been called, it’s not in his portfolio. It’s in the portfolio of the Deputy Prime Minister who was just complaining we were taking a point of order over who it went to, but... | The $145 million program which is listed in the budget as for cattle supply chains is an infrastructure project. The Minister who’s just been called, it’s not in his portfolio. It’s in the portfolio of the Deputy Prime Minister who was just complaining we were taking a point of order over who it went to, but... |
| Littleproud gets the call again, but Smith does speak for the nation when he tells Michael McCormack to stop talking. | Littleproud gets the call again, but Smith does speak for the nation when he tells Michael McCormack to stop talking. |
| Littleproud: | Littleproud: |
| This is about respect and about restoring a relationship that was destroyed. Destroyed by the panic in 2011 in overnight destroying the live cattle trade. What we are doing is slowly putting an environment around the agricultural industry, particularly the live export industry - $1.8 billion a year it is worth to this country. It’s important that we continue to make that investment, make that money available for industry, to continue to work through the supply chain and particularly more important now, since the ratification of the Indonesian Free Trade Agreement, a proud moment for our nation to be able to trade with our nearest neighbour. 267 million people on our doorstep that we now have the opportunity to trade, to give opportunity to our farmers, that will be able to recover quicker from this drought because of the Free Trade Agreements that we have put in place. | This is about respect and about restoring a relationship that was destroyed. Destroyed by the panic in 2011 in overnight destroying the live cattle trade. What we are doing is slowly putting an environment around the agricultural industry, particularly the live export industry - $1.8 billion a year it is worth to this country. It’s important that we continue to make that investment, make that money available for industry, to continue to work through the supply chain and particularly more important now, since the ratification of the Indonesian Free Trade Agreement, a proud moment for our nation to be able to trade with our nearest neighbour. 267 million people on our doorstep that we now have the opportunity to trade, to give opportunity to our farmers, that will be able to recover quicker from this drought because of the Free Trade Agreements that we have put in place. |
| This is about a suite of measures that complements everything in the agriculture sector whether it’s in infrastructure, whether it’s in agriculture department, whether it’s in water because we understand regional Australia, we understand agriculture and we will deliver for them. | This is about a suite of measures that complements everything in the agriculture sector whether it’s in infrastructure, whether it’s in agriculture department, whether it’s in water because we understand regional Australia, we understand agriculture and we will deliver for them. |
| I don’t know which god I have offended, or why my ancestors have forsaken me, but Michael McCormack is back at the despatch box and surely nothing I have done is worth this punishment | I don’t know which god I have offended, or why my ancestors have forsaken me, but Michael McCormack is back at the despatch box and surely nothing I have done is worth this punishment |
| It’s time for ‘how safe are you’ with Peter Dutton. | It’s time for ‘how safe are you’ with Peter Dutton. |
| BREAKING: as safe as you can be. BUT JUST IMAGINE IF LABOR WAS IN POWER. | BREAKING: as safe as you can be. BUT JUST IMAGINE IF LABOR WAS IN POWER. |
| Mr Speaker, in 2014, we strengthened the Migration Act. It was opposed by the Labor Party to their shame and we have sought to make sure that we strengthen our laws so we can cancel the visas now of 420 non-citizens for child exploitation and child sex offences, Mr Speaker. | Mr Speaker, in 2014, we strengthened the Migration Act. It was opposed by the Labor Party to their shame and we have sought to make sure that we strengthen our laws so we can cancel the visas now of 420 non-citizens for child exploitation and child sex offences, Mr Speaker. |
| And we’re proposing to strengthen the law further which is opposed again by Labor. That’s the reality, Mr Speaker. Now, I point out this because there is a big difference between the Labor Party and the Coalition when it comes to these very important issues, Mr Speaker. The member for Macarthur will leave under 94(a). Combatting child exploitation bill of 2019. It goes to providing more strength and support to policing agencies to make sure we can keep Australian children safe, Mr Speaker. | And we’re proposing to strengthen the law further which is opposed again by Labor. That’s the reality, Mr Speaker. Now, I point out this because there is a big difference between the Labor Party and the Coalition when it comes to these very important issues, Mr Speaker. The member for Macarthur will leave under 94(a). Combatting child exploitation bill of 2019. It goes to providing more strength and support to policing agencies to make sure we can keep Australian children safe, Mr Speaker. |
| Anthony Albanese takes offence to the Dutton’s politicisation of child sex laws. | Anthony Albanese takes offence to the Dutton’s politicisation of child sex laws. |
| “The issue of child sexual exploitation should not be politicised. It should be an issue we should all agree on and the Minister surely could give an answer to a dixer [without politicising the issue] | “The issue of child sexual exploitation should not be politicised. It should be an issue we should all agree on and the Minister surely could give an answer to a dixer [without politicising the issue] |
| Dutton: You wonder why you’re under pressure? | Dutton: You wonder why you’re under pressure? |
| The chamber again explodes again. | The chamber again explodes again. |
| Albanese says today is the anniversary of the apology to survivors and victims of institutional child sex abuse and the government should be above these attacks. | Albanese says today is the anniversary of the apology to survivors and victims of institutional child sex abuse and the government should be above these attacks. |
| There are agruments going on across the chamber, but the Speaker moves proceedings on. | There are agruments going on across the chamber, but the Speaker moves proceedings on. |
| The Australian Communications and Media Authority has defended not making a formal finding against broadcasters that aired the Christchurch terrorist’s footage earlier this year. Acma chair Nerida O’Loughlin told a Senate estimates hearing that overall the TV networks that aired footage or showed still images of the footage “behaved incredibly responsibly” overall. | The Australian Communications and Media Authority has defended not making a formal finding against broadcasters that aired the Christchurch terrorist’s footage earlier this year. Acma chair Nerida O’Loughlin told a Senate estimates hearing that overall the TV networks that aired footage or showed still images of the footage “behaved incredibly responsibly” overall. |
| “In this circumstance, we thought the most benefit was to engage with the broadcasters to talk about where there might be issues that need improving, rather than focusing on what might be very small breaches of practice,” she said. | “In this circumstance, we thought the most benefit was to engage with the broadcasters to talk about where there might be issues that need improving, rather than focusing on what might be very small breaches of practice,” she said. |
| No broadcaster showed any person getting shot, but there was vision of the gun, and some blurred images of the victims. | No broadcaster showed any person getting shot, but there was vision of the gun, and some blurred images of the victims. |
| O’Loughlin said it had been better to engage with the broadcasters about how they could refine their codes of practice to ensure new issues raised could be considered. She said the key issues brought up were the repetition of footage on 24 hour news channels, lack of adequate content warnings, and the need for broadcasters to consider the motive of the person filming the footage before putting it to air. | O’Loughlin said it had been better to engage with the broadcasters about how they could refine their codes of practice to ensure new issues raised could be considered. She said the key issues brought up were the repetition of footage on 24 hour news channels, lack of adequate content warnings, and the need for broadcasters to consider the motive of the person filming the footage before putting it to air. |
| Luke Gosling to Scott Morrison: | Luke Gosling to Scott Morrison: |
| Can the Prime Minister confirm that only $50 million of the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund has been spent since it was announced in 2015? | Can the Prime Minister confirm that only $50 million of the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund has been spent since it was announced in 2015? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| I’ll be pleased to provide the member with a full update of the works of the Northern Australia infrastructure Fund and I’ll arrange that to be provided to him directly. | I’ll be pleased to provide the member with a full update of the works of the Northern Australia infrastructure Fund and I’ll arrange that to be provided to him directly. |
| The House is so rowdy, Tony Smith issues a general warning: | The House is so rowdy, Tony Smith issues a general warning: |
| The level of interjections is becoming ridiculously high. There are conversations going on everywhere. I mean, I’m not going to get upset about it, I’m just going to act on it. For those interjecting, I’m going to remind you of two things: one is for me to make use of the standing order 94(a). You will see in the practice and the standing orders that can happen at any time without a warning. Without a warning. The only other option I have if I feel that’s not getting members’ attention, frankly, is to name someone. | The level of interjections is becoming ridiculously high. There are conversations going on everywhere. I mean, I’m not going to get upset about it, I’m just going to act on it. For those interjecting, I’m going to remind you of two things: one is for me to make use of the standing order 94(a). You will see in the practice and the standing orders that can happen at any time without a warning. Without a warning. The only other option I have if I feel that’s not getting members’ attention, frankly, is to name someone. |
| Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: | Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison: |
| Can the prime minister confirm that the Cairns Southern Access Road will not receive a cent of the promised $180m during this term of parliament? | Can the prime minister confirm that the Cairns Southern Access Road will not receive a cent of the promised $180m during this term of parliament? |
| Michael McCormack is back. Beyonce help us. | Michael McCormack is back. Beyonce help us. |
| The member for Leichhardt knows full well how important these projects are; knows how important projects are in making sure we get the freight lines, supply chains right, making sure we enhance that productivity, making sure that we increase road safety options. And if Mark Bailey, the Queensland minister, can get his people organised, we will certainly look at any road project, indeed any infrastructure project, in Queensland, any other state too, wants to come to the table and work cooperatively with the commonwealth, we got $100 billion of infrastructure that we’re rolling out across this nation. Now, I know, I have actually been to Cairns, I have actually... | The member for Leichhardt knows full well how important these projects are; knows how important projects are in making sure we get the freight lines, supply chains right, making sure we enhance that productivity, making sure that we increase road safety options. And if Mark Bailey, the Queensland minister, can get his people organised, we will certainly look at any road project, indeed any infrastructure project, in Queensland, any other state too, wants to come to the table and work cooperatively with the commonwealth, we got $100 billion of infrastructure that we’re rolling out across this nation. Now, I know, I have actually been to Cairns, I have actually... |
| Thank you for the cheer. And the member for Leichhardt was returned because he talked about our $100bn infrastructure plan. Cheer that too! Cheer that too because it’s well worth cheering about. I know the people of Cairns, the people of North Queensland, the people of that fine state of Queensland, indeed every state, every territory in and across Australia, were cheering us on May 18 because they knew we were building the infrastructure that Australians need, want, expect and most of all deserve. | Thank you for the cheer. And the member for Leichhardt was returned because he talked about our $100bn infrastructure plan. Cheer that too! Cheer that too because it’s well worth cheering about. I know the people of Cairns, the people of North Queensland, the people of that fine state of Queensland, indeed every state, every territory in and across Australia, were cheering us on May 18 because they knew we were building the infrastructure that Australians need, want, expect and most of all deserve. |
| And whether it’s roads of strategic importance, whether it’s the beef roads, whether it’s the northern roads, they are all making sure that we get the infrastructure that Australians want, and whether it’s getting the Cairns access road, whether it’s getting the Toowoomba second range crossing, whether it’s getting the Rockhampton ring road, all those projects are critical importance. | And whether it’s roads of strategic importance, whether it’s the beef roads, whether it’s the northern roads, they are all making sure that we get the infrastructure that Australians want, and whether it’s getting the Cairns access road, whether it’s getting the Toowoomba second range crossing, whether it’s getting the Rockhampton ring road, all those projects are critical importance. |
| The Outback Way, Mr Speaker, which starts in Queensland in Winton, goes through to Laverton in Western Australia, they’re all important projects. We’re getting on and building them and what those opposite who go into the despatch box and ask those questions should do is, after question time, go to the Labor state ministers and ring them up and say, “Look, if there are projects that are in my electorate, indeed in other electorates, get on board with the Commonwealth and help build them.” | The Outback Way, Mr Speaker, which starts in Queensland in Winton, goes through to Laverton in Western Australia, they’re all important projects. We’re getting on and building them and what those opposite who go into the despatch box and ask those questions should do is, after question time, go to the Labor state ministers and ring them up and say, “Look, if there are projects that are in my electorate, indeed in other electorates, get on board with the Commonwealth and help build them.” |
| Now, Mark Bailey has worked in good faith with us, but there are a lot of projects, particularly when it comes to Queensland, we’d like to build dams. We’d like to build dams, but unfortunately - unfortunately - look, weir water is being held up by the Queensland state government. That’s why there was a huge protest in the seat of Capricornia. This is of critical importance to the seat of Flynn. We want to make sure we build dams, the member for Watson says ... | Now, Mark Bailey has worked in good faith with us, but there are a lot of projects, particularly when it comes to Queensland, we’d like to build dams. We’d like to build dams, but unfortunately - unfortunately - look, weir water is being held up by the Queensland state government. That’s why there was a huge protest in the seat of Capricornia. This is of critical importance to the seat of Flynn. We want to make sure we build dams, the member for Watson says ... |
| He runs out of time. I run out of the will to continue. | He runs out of time. I run out of the will to continue. |
| Fair. | Fair. |
| Dan Tehan is taking a dixer, but he has so far spent most of it addressing the backbench, meaning no one can hear him, including the Speaker. | Dan Tehan is taking a dixer, but he has so far spent most of it addressing the backbench, meaning no one can hear him, including the Speaker. |
| Tanya Plibersek gets booted for an interjection. | Tanya Plibersek gets booted for an interjection. |
| Labor is now yelling “through the chair” to Tehan. I have no idea what he is speaking about, because no one can hear him. | Labor is now yelling “through the chair” to Tehan. I have no idea what he is speaking about, because no one can hear him. |
| “Do you want an extension, mate,” Anthony Albanese yells. | “Do you want an extension, mate,” Anthony Albanese yells. |
| It’s all going really, really well. | It’s all going really, really well. |
| Oh, it turns out that the member for Curtin’s eldest son is doing his final exams. This is what the dixer is apparently about. | Oh, it turns out that the member for Curtin’s eldest son is doing his final exams. This is what the dixer is apparently about. |
| Tehan is now talking about “rambling and having no idea” and it seems like a pretty big self-own for a dixer. | Tehan is now talking about “rambling and having no idea” and it seems like a pretty big self-own for a dixer. |
| Catherine King to Scott Morrison: | Catherine King to Scott Morrison: |
| Can the prime minister confirm evidence at Senate estimates last night that his government spent $190,000 on a plan to develop empathy for the inland rail project? Why is the prime minister spending taxpayer money on funded empathy while drought-stricken farm families are being thrown off the farm household allowance? | Can the prime minister confirm evidence at Senate estimates last night that his government spent $190,000 on a plan to develop empathy for the inland rail project? Why is the prime minister spending taxpayer money on funded empathy while drought-stricken farm families are being thrown off the farm household allowance? |
| Morrison gives Michael McCormack the call (excuse me while I call the UN): | Morrison gives Michael McCormack the call (excuse me while I call the UN): |
| Mr Speaker, it is important to have empathy for rural communities and I understand we’re investing $9.3 billion in the inland rail. It’s a 1,700km corridor of commerce between Melbourne and Brisbane. The CSIRO, the report they did last year – I know it was predicated on the building of this on a $10 saving on a tonne, but $76 average now. But it is going to impact upon farmers’ properties. | Mr Speaker, it is important to have empathy for rural communities and I understand we’re investing $9.3 billion in the inland rail. It’s a 1,700km corridor of commerce between Melbourne and Brisbane. The CSIRO, the report they did last year – I know it was predicated on the building of this on a $10 saving on a tonne, but $76 average now. But it is going to impact upon farmers’ properties. |
| We understand that, Mr Speaker. Indeed even in my electorate ... there are farmers for who the inland rail is going to intersect their properties and insect their lives. Of course, we do need to obviously get out there and inform those people about their options. | We understand that, Mr Speaker. Indeed even in my electorate ... there are farmers for who the inland rail is going to intersect their properties and insect their lives. Of course, we do need to obviously get out there and inform those people about their options. |
| We do need to inform those people about what their options are as we construct this inland rail project, which is creating already thousands of jobs, which is creating and going to create thousands of opportunities for those farmers to get their product to port, to make sure that we take advantage of the Free Trade Agreements that this government has been able to broker with South Korea, Japan, China, of course working on one with Indonesia, working on one with India. We want to get more farmers’ product to plate. We want to get more farmers’ product to port within 24 hours and that’s what the inland rail will do. But we’re asked about advertising that is being spent on campaigns. | We do need to inform those people about what their options are as we construct this inland rail project, which is creating already thousands of jobs, which is creating and going to create thousands of opportunities for those farmers to get their product to port, to make sure that we take advantage of the Free Trade Agreements that this government has been able to broker with South Korea, Japan, China, of course working on one with Indonesia, working on one with India. We want to get more farmers’ product to plate. We want to get more farmers’ product to port within 24 hours and that’s what the inland rail will do. But we’re asked about advertising that is being spent on campaigns. |
| McCormack has grabbed a big photocopy of “big Labor waste”. He then refers to it, but looks like he has opened it to the wrong page. | McCormack has grabbed a big photocopy of “big Labor waste”. He then refers to it, but looks like he has opened it to the wrong page. |
| Sure. Red for you over there. That’s red for you red raggers over there. Absolutely red for you red raggers over there. You bunch of socialists. But there’s $69.5m wasted on the carbon tax. How did that work for you? How did the carbon tax work for you? Then there was Julia Gillard, the prime minister ... on running a blog that no-one even commented on...” | Sure. Red for you over there. That’s red for you red raggers over there. Absolutely red for you red raggers over there. You bunch of socialists. But there’s $69.5m wasted on the carbon tax. How did that work for you? How did the carbon tax work for you? Then there was Julia Gillard, the prime minister ... on running a blog that no-one even commented on...” |
| The House explodes. | The House explodes. |
| There are a million points of orders, but none of them are relevant and we are all begging to move on. | There are a million points of orders, but none of them are relevant and we are all begging to move on. |
| This is the equivalent of being allowed into the fancy dining room and then learning they serve Deb-powdered mash potato. | This is the equivalent of being allowed into the fancy dining room and then learning they serve Deb-powdered mash potato. |
| Joel Fitzgibbon to Scott Morrison: | Joel Fitzgibbon to Scott Morrison: |
| Can the prime minister confirm that his government has kicked 600 farming families off the farm household allowance as the drought worsens? And will kick another 500 families off the payment by Christmas? | Can the prime minister confirm that his government has kicked 600 farming families off the farm household allowance as the drought worsens? And will kick another 500 families off the payment by Christmas? |
| Morrison: | Morrison: |
| Mr Speaker, I refer the member to the statement we made last week and I’ll invite the minister to add to my remarks if he would like to. And that was to add an additional supplement for those who are coming off after their four years to receive a payment of $13,000 for family, Mr Speaker. And as we have always done in our response to the drought, Mr Speaker, they are receiving $13,000, Mr Speaker, once the four years has been concluded. And what our government will continue to do, as we have done all the way through this drought and as the minister rightly calls it, as the drought steps up another level, then we step up another level. | Mr Speaker, I refer the member to the statement we made last week and I’ll invite the minister to add to my remarks if he would like to. And that was to add an additional supplement for those who are coming off after their four years to receive a payment of $13,000 for family, Mr Speaker. And as we have always done in our response to the drought, Mr Speaker, they are receiving $13,000, Mr Speaker, once the four years has been concluded. And what our government will continue to do, as we have done all the way through this drought and as the minister rightly calls it, as the drought steps up another level, then we step up another level. |
| We will continue to monitor this issue very closely, Mr Speaker, and as on each occasion we have responded to the advice, we have received on the farm household allowance, remembering it started at three years forever. | We will continue to monitor this issue very closely, Mr Speaker, and as on each occasion we have responded to the advice, we have received on the farm household allowance, remembering it started at three years forever. |
| That was the policy setting that we inherited. Farm household allowance was three years and that’s all you got forever. We increased that to four years and then we increased it to four years in every 10, and now, Mr Speaker, at the end of those four years we said we’ll also add in a further supplementary payment of $13,000, like we said we did last year when we added an additional $12,000 to the payment they were already receiving as part of the step-up of our drought response. | That was the policy setting that we inherited. Farm household allowance was three years and that’s all you got forever. We increased that to four years and then we increased it to four years in every 10, and now, Mr Speaker, at the end of those four years we said we’ll also add in a further supplementary payment of $13,000, like we said we did last year when we added an additional $12,000 to the payment they were already receiving as part of the step-up of our drought response. |
| So on each and every occasion, as the drought has continued, we have continued to step up our response as the step-up has required. And, Mr Speaker, that is why I have said and those opposite have lampooned, the idea that - it is the first call and it is the biggest call on the pressures of our budget, as we consider the issues whether we go into the MYEFO period of next year’s budget. The first call – the first thing I’m going to be sure is addressed is meeting the needs of our drought support programs, Mr Speaker. That’s why they’re getting an extra $13,000. That’s why we’re prepared to provide that support to ensure that they continue to receive the financial assistance that they’re seeking. | So on each and every occasion, as the drought has continued, we have continued to step up our response as the step-up has required. And, Mr Speaker, that is why I have said and those opposite have lampooned, the idea that - it is the first call and it is the biggest call on the pressures of our budget, as we consider the issues whether we go into the MYEFO period of next year’s budget. The first call – the first thing I’m going to be sure is addressed is meeting the needs of our drought support programs, Mr Speaker. That’s why they’re getting an extra $13,000. That’s why we’re prepared to provide that support to ensure that they continue to receive the financial assistance that they’re seeking. |