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John Setka abandons challenge to his expulsion from Labor party – politics live John Setka abandons challenge to his expulsion from Labor party – politics live
(32 minutes later)
Move over latte sippers - you have officially been scrapped, according to Paul Fletcher:
That has been very well received in regional Australia because our members for Parliament on this side of the House don’t live inside the goat ‘s cheese circle like most of the people on the other side of the House.
I mean, it’s not exactly new - goat’s cheese was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey- and according to Agrifutures, it is also a really good industry for farmers:
It is estimated that Australian goat milk production is around 16 million litres per year with an estimated farm gate value of $20 million. There are approximately 68 dairy goat farms and 15 goat milk factories in Australia. A large portion of the dairy goat farms process their own milk and supply direct to wholesalers.”
But yes, let’s once again shit on consumers of products that support Australia’s farmers, who are at the top of the government’s support list, for buying and eating those products.
Ed Husic to Christian Porter:
How many workers have died in workplace accidents over the last year?
Porter:
I will take that on notice and provide the number, any number above zero is too many. This government takes very seriously those issues, those are matters that are part of a very broad approach, recently, at the ministerial Council for ministers for industrial relations, those issues were front and centre, including the way in which laws around manslaughter can be better drafted or enforced, it’s a very serious matter. I don’t have the exact number to hand, I apologise I will get it.
Anthony Albanese on John Setka:
One of my first acts as Leader of the Labor Party was to take action to suspend John Setka from membership of the Australian Labor Party. I did that because I thought over a long period of time through his actions, he demonstrated values that were not consistent with the values which the Australian Labor Party holds dear. One of those values is respect for women. The fact that he’s been convicted of breaching a family violence order and the fact that he was also convicted and pleaded guilty to harassment indicates that that’s the case. But there’s also been a range of activity which are in breach of both the Victorian rules of the ALP and the values of the Australian Labor Party.
As people would be aware, John Setka contested that action in the courts and lost. Today John Setka has withdrawn his appeal to that decision and John Setka has now been removed as a member of the Australian Labor Party. This is something that I think is important. It’s been important that we demonstrate that Labor’s values as a party are greater than any individual and that we’re prepared to stand up for those values. I think that this is a good outcome for the Australian Labor Party that allows us to draw the line under these issues and to confront a Government that attacks workers’ rights, that doesn’t stand up for working values. Just today we had to move amendments to its Big Stick legislation to ensure that workers entitlements were protected.
Labor will continue to stand up for the rights of working people and we will not allow ourselves to be distracted from that task by the actions of any individual. Mr Setka’s removal as a member of the Australian Labor Party removes that opportunity for the Government in seeking to attack workers, to single out any one individual and use that as an excuse, and allows us to ensure that we conduct ourselves on the merits.
I would like to thank the Tveeder transcription feed for this new title for Angus Taylor
Feminist effort energy and emissions reduction - - the minister.
Tanya Plibersek to Scott Morrison:
Why did the prime minister say we want to lift the status of vocational education in Australia when the truth is, under his government, there are now 150,000 fewer apprenticeships and trainees, the Australian Industry Group says three-quarters of businesses surveyed can’t find the qualified staff they need, Tafe training programs have been shortchanged by nearly $1bn.
Morrison:
I have learned from long experience with the member for Sydney, never to take at face value any information, including on geography, she brings to this House. The figures she refers to considering the spending of the government, she knows relates to estimate variations for a demand-driven project. The only difference in expenditure from previous Estimates relates to demand and the measures that are required to meet that demand.
That member would also know, if that is the case, if there is an adjustment between a measure that is published at a particular amount, and then demand is less than that, the amount spent is less. She would know that because when she was minister for health, there was a $1.5m underspend on hospitals.
A $1.5m underspend on schools under the Labor party, a $500m underspend on carers, and underspend on veterans. A $2bn underspend on seniors, a $3bn underspend on carers again.
She can come to this dispatch box and put these lies as an attempt to buy relevance and seek to smear the government. The facts just don’t bear what the member is saying out. When it comes to the serious issue, when it comes to the number of apprenticeships, we have that commitment to establish 80,000 additional apprenticeships as we set out at the last election. We agree and I would hope members opposite agree because I am making constructive progress with the state premiers and chief ministers of the territories, that our skills system needs big change because it is not delivering the outcomes that we would want to achieve.
These programs are run by the states and supported by the commonwealth. We need a different approach to what we are doing with this, that is what we are working with the states and territory members to achieve. I’m happy to speak over the interjections. We will continue to work constructively with the states and territories to reform our vocational education system.
The third point is this, when we came to government we had to pick up the absolute debacle ... The figures the leader of the opposition are pointing to refer to it, the reason the people came off as we think were no longer paying people for courses they weren’t doing and were being registered as being trained. On our side of the House, we want people to get actually trained for real jobs.
Angus Taylor gets a big stick dixer from John McVeigh.
In it, he again appears confused about what a climate emergency declaration would mean. Again, he could just have a chat to some of the conservatives in the UK.
He refers to Mark Butler as “Nigel Nofriends” to which Tony Smith gives a big ‘no’ and not just because it is a lame burn that Gen X really need to retire, because, honestly, popular culture has moved on. Read a book.
“Come back Nigel,” Ed Husic yells, as Taylor is called back to the dispatch box.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
Tony Burke to Christian Porter:
Can you confirm cuts to penalty rates and attacks on unions are a deliberate design feature of the Morrison government’s plan to keep wages low?
Someone from the government benches “what the fuck?”
Porter gives an answer about moving people from welfare to work and the steady employment rate.
The prime minister has released a statement on Malka Leifer:
Today I met with courageous sisters Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer.
Their brave campaign for justice for the horrific allegations of abuse committed against them, and others, is to be commended and supported.
We acknowledge how deeply traumatic and painful it must be for those having to revisit the hurts of the past, and we acknowledge the immense bravery of the victims in this case, and all similar cases.
We stand with them.
My Government is strongly committed to ensuring that justice is served in the case of Malka Leifer.
This matter is currently before the justice system in Israel and we call for the matter to be resolved transparently and quickly. We also reaffirm our commitment to have Malka Leifer extradited to Australia to face 74 charges of child sexual abuse.
I have previously raised this commitment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will continue to raise this issue with the incoming Israeli leadership. The matter has also been raised frequently by Foreign Minister Marise Payne and the embassy officials.
Australia is a strong and committed friend and partner of Israel.
That friendship is based on many things, including our shared commitment to justice, democracy and the rule of law.
The Australian Government will be unswerving in seeking justice in this matter.
We are committed to ensuring all Australian children are safe and protected from abuse.
We are back with another dixer on just how great the economy is.
Josh Frydenberg again mentions “accumulated deficits”, which, again, is not actually a thing.
You can have total debt. But there is no such thing as “accumulated deficits”.
Adam Bandt raises a point of order on relevance, so Scott Morrison finishes with this:
Let me make it really clear. I don’t think the mining industry is responsible for the drought.
Adam Bandt has the independent’s question and it is to Scott Morrison:
When will the prime minister apologise to the communities being told they may run out of water and the farmers suffering through record drought for exporting record amounts of thermal coal and making the climate crisis worse?
Morrison:
I can confirm based on discussions I’ve had particularly with the New South Wales government that the situation being faced by those towns in NSW which are confronting those dreadful water shortages, that they have measures already in place to ensure that those towns will continue to get access to and until the first quarter of next year, they have plans in place to see how that should be rolled out beyond that point. Whether it is state or commonwealth government, we are taking all the measures that are required and are being urged and working with the rural sector to ensure that they are getting the financial support and the other forms of support they need to work through what is this dreadful drought.
Mr Speaker, the member makes references to resources industry and seeks to blame that industry for the drought. I do not share that view, Mr Speaker, I don’t share that view because the resources sector is, has also been one of the greatest supporters of rural communities in this country.
I particularly remember during the dreadful and devastating floods in north Queensland which I visited so soon after, you know whose machinery and equipment came in to clear those rotting carcasses off those farmers’ people’s properties which were breaking their hearts?
The mining companies. In coalmining companies needing a hand, and helping the communities and helping them restore.
So John Setka is blaming the free trade agreements for his resignation.So John Setka is blaming the free trade agreements for his resignation.
Cool beans.Cool beans.
It concludes:It concludes:
Mental health is a very serious issue for many families just like mine. Instead of supporting my wife and I who have sought professional help to address these issues, Mr Albanese has used our personal life for political gain to expel me from the Labor Party.Mental health is a very serious issue for many families just like mine. Instead of supporting my wife and I who have sought professional help to address these issues, Mr Albanese has used our personal life for political gain to expel me from the Labor Party.
And now he seems to have passed the baton to Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus, who has added criticism of former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to my alleged shame file.And now he seems to have passed the baton to Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus, who has added criticism of former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to my alleged shame file.
I have been determined to fight their moves to push me out, given that false accusations were used to justify them.I have been determined to fight their moves to push me out, given that false accusations were used to justify them.
But enough is enough. I can no longer ignore the personal toll, along with Anthony Albanese’s betrayal of working Australians and the values the Labor Party and Union Movement were founded on.But enough is enough. I can no longer ignore the personal toll, along with Anthony Albanese’s betrayal of working Australians and the values the Labor Party and Union Movement were founded on.
My focus right now, and that of my union brothers and sisters, is resisting the Ensuring Integrity Bill being driven by the Morrison Government. This is the same bill that, for good reason, failed under Tony Abbot in 2017.My focus right now, and that of my union brothers and sisters, is resisting the Ensuring Integrity Bill being driven by the Morrison Government. This is the same bill that, for good reason, failed under Tony Abbot in 2017.
If passed, it will leave Australia with the most extreme workplace laws in the world, restricting workers’ rights to seek fair pay and better working conditions by nobbling the unions that represent them.If passed, it will leave Australia with the most extreme workplace laws in the world, restricting workers’ rights to seek fair pay and better working conditions by nobbling the unions that represent them.
This bill undermines the fundamental democratic right of union members to elect their leaders, handing power to the government and its big business mates to have union officials removed and unions shut down for even the most minor or technical breaches of workplace laws.This bill undermines the fundamental democratic right of union members to elect their leaders, handing power to the government and its big business mates to have union officials removed and unions shut down for even the most minor or technical breaches of workplace laws.
Despite this and the threat posed to the rights of millions of working Australians, the Labor Party appears to have gone missing in action in the fight to stop the Ensuring Integrity Bill.Despite this and the threat posed to the rights of millions of working Australians, the Labor Party appears to have gone missing in action in the fight to stop the Ensuring Integrity Bill.
My decision to resign from the Labor Party is simple but regrettable. I cannot remain a member of the party while Anthony Albanese is leader.My decision to resign from the Labor Party is simple but regrettable. I cannot remain a member of the party while Anthony Albanese is leader.
John Setka statement continues:John Setka statement continues:
Just when I thought the Labor Party couldn’t betray its principles and workers any further, it sided with the Morrison Government on new free trade deals with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru.Just when I thought the Labor Party couldn’t betray its principles and workers any further, it sided with the Morrison Government on new free trade deals with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru.
These agreements are a disaster for Australian jobs and living standards. Talk about sending a signal to unions and workers on where the party stands. And, it no longer appears to be on their side.These agreements are a disaster for Australian jobs and living standards. Talk about sending a signal to unions and workers on where the party stands. And, it no longer appears to be on their side.
Mr Albanese claims I have brought the ALP into disrepute. I know I’m not always politically correct and yes, I do swear! Notwithstanding my flaws, nothing has hurt the Labor Parties’ reputation like Mr Albanese’s leadership over the past 5 months.Mr Albanese claims I have brought the ALP into disrepute. I know I’m not always politically correct and yes, I do swear! Notwithstanding my flaws, nothing has hurt the Labor Parties’ reputation like Mr Albanese’s leadership over the past 5 months.
It is no coincidence the smear campaign against me came just days after I announced that the CFMEU would no longer financially back the Labor Party.It is no coincidence the smear campaign against me came just days after I announced that the CFMEU would no longer financially back the Labor Party.
The smears that followed initially centred on claims I denigrated family violence campaigner Rosie Batty, someone I admire deeply. I have denied these accusations from the beginning and have been supported by those at the National Executive meeting at which they were purported to have been made.The smears that followed initially centred on claims I denigrated family violence campaigner Rosie Batty, someone I admire deeply. I have denied these accusations from the beginning and have been supported by those at the National Executive meeting at which they were purported to have been made.
My personal life has also been dragged into this muckraking. I acknowledge that I have made mistakes in my marriage - which I have answered to in the courts - but using my personal life for political means is an incredibly low blow. My personal life has also been dragged into this muckraking. I acknowledge that I have made mistakes in my marriage – which I have answered to in the courts – but using my personal life for political means is an incredibly low blow.
These personal attacks have caused me and my family enormous mental anguish at a time when we are rebuilding our lives together and addressing our problems.These personal attacks have caused me and my family enormous mental anguish at a time when we are rebuilding our lives together and addressing our problems.
John Setka statement:John Setka statement:
My decision to quit the Australian Labor Party after 15 years has - everything - to do with Anthony Albanese. My decision to quit the Australian Labor Party after 15 years has – everything – to do with Anthony Albanese.
This is a personal decision I have made; it will not affect The CFMEU VIC / TAS branch’s ability to advocate within the Labor party for better policies on behalf of CFMEU members and working Australians.This is a personal decision I have made; it will not affect The CFMEU VIC / TAS branch’s ability to advocate within the Labor party for better policies on behalf of CFMEU members and working Australians.
The Opposition Leader has waged a very public campaign to have me expelled from the party, based on false allegations motived by old-fashioned political payback.The Opposition Leader has waged a very public campaign to have me expelled from the party, based on false allegations motived by old-fashioned political payback.
While they have taken a personal toll on me and my family, the dirty tricks directed at me are not the reason I have decided to hand in my party membership card.While they have taken a personal toll on me and my family, the dirty tricks directed at me are not the reason I have decided to hand in my party membership card.
The reason is simple: I cannot continue to be a member of the Labor Party while Anthony Albanese is its leader.The reason is simple: I cannot continue to be a member of the Labor Party while Anthony Albanese is its leader.
Mr Albanese is selling out Australian workers and turning his back on the values that underpin both the party and the Union Movement.Mr Albanese is selling out Australian workers and turning his back on the values that underpin both the party and the Union Movement.
Under his leadership, the Labor Party has lost its spine. Worse still, it is in danger of losing its soul.Under his leadership, the Labor Party has lost its spine. Worse still, it is in danger of losing its soul.
It has, in record time, abandoned its own policy platforms that were geared at restoring employee bargaining power, standing up for a progressive tax system, properly funding education and abolishing the undemocratic, anti-union Australian Building and Construction Commission.It has, in record time, abandoned its own policy platforms that were geared at restoring employee bargaining power, standing up for a progressive tax system, properly funding education and abolishing the undemocratic, anti-union Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Thumbs up (for something). #qt ⁦@AmyRemeikis⁩ ⁦@murpharoo⁩ ⁦@mpbowers⁩ pic.twitter.com/PPzA1ZWGbaThumbs up (for something). #qt ⁦@AmyRemeikis⁩ ⁦@murpharoo⁩ ⁦@mpbowers⁩ pic.twitter.com/PPzA1ZWGba
It’s Michael McCormack time.
I’m pretty sure he could announce he was moving to Antarctica to live as king of the penguins and no one would pay any attention. That includes his own side of the house.
Lisa Chesters to Scott Morrison:
In the face of the drought crisis, what additional measures are being provided by the government to people like farm hands, stockhands, jackaroos and jillaroos - people who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods but are not farmers.
Morrison:
I’m happy for the Minister for to respond to the answer
The second phase of our drought plan involves investing in local communities which keeps them turning over for their economy.
What the Member may not be aware of is the additional tax incentives we provided to farmers in the building of silage done by the contractors you talk and farmhands, also $50 million in grants to farmers to support the work they are doing on on-farm watering infrastructure.
She may be not aware but that is done by people who work on farms. Our comprehensive drought response, and those recommendations came from directly engaging with the farming communities.
I will ask the Minister for drought to add further to the answer.
David Littleproud:
It is a good question because it underlies the complexity of the drought. That it reaches far beyond the farm gate, goes to the communities as the Prime Minister has articulated. Some of those programs are about making sure there is stimulation with the communities and at the farm gate.
We have committed over eight years, we did not start this yesterday. Over $50 million have been put into it. Let me tell you what that has done. In western Queensland, they have built things called dog fences, they mean while they have been restocked, farmers have been able to build fences with aid workers to be able to put up fences that exclude wild dogs so that when it does rain we see lambing rates go from 5% to 85%.
It brings shearers back to communities. They leave more money at cafe ‘s and service stations. That is why our three pillar approach to Australia’s about the here and now, making sure there is money in the pockets of farmers to keep them going with and respect. It is about the community and understanding it goes further than the farmer but the families that support those farmers.
The Future Drought Fund will continue to deliver programs and will give the resilience we need in the future. That’s how you tackle this insidious disease that is drought.
It’s not the same as other net draw disasters when you can measure it by fixing a house or a road, it depletes landscapes and bank balances, you have to -- escalate to approach through the community, from the farm gate to those who work in the communities so to make sure there is regional survival.
*Not sure the drought is an insidious disease. It’s not a virus or bacteria that is spreading across the land - it’s climate change.
We’re heading back to the Antarctic
From Sussan Ley:
The measurements of the world’s ice sheets will improve projections of future sea level change caused by a changing climate and allow more accurate forecasts of annual sea ice extent.
The partnership with NASA is one of the many scientific endeavours that will be undertaken by the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) in the months ahead.
This year more than 550 expeditioners will travel south from Hobart with the AAP supporting and undertaking research on seabirds, glaciers, the ice cap and the Southern Ocean.
Other projects this summer include biological and geotechnical surveys around the site of Australia’s proposed new runway near Davis research station, development of our traverse capability and a new station on Macquarie Island.
The first of ten Airbus flights this season departs Hobart today for Australia’s ice runway, Wilkins Aerodrome, while the first voyage of the season on our icebreaker Aurora Australis departs Hobart on Friday.
Six flights are planned using the Royal Australian Air Force’s C-17A to transport heavy equipment south.
It is a clear demonstration of the Morrison Government’s ongoing commitment to scientific research, to climate science and to maintaining Australia’s leadership in Antarctic exploration.
I wish our entire Antarctic team every success.
We are on to the first dixer, and it is again about how great the government is at managing the economy.
At least press releases are quieter
Joel Fitzgibbon has a question for Scott Morrison, on when the government will set up a national drought strategy.
Morrison:
We are already implementing a national drought strategy. After the national drought summit, which the member who asked the question attended, we released a comprehensive set of measures we have added to since that time.
As each stage of the drought ... progressed, we have stepped up our response to that drought. It began with the establishment of the national drought future fund, combined with measures to support farm household assistance directly to farmers and their families around this country.
It began as the second phase of the plan by supporting areas and communities affected by drought, by putting money directly into the local councils and shires that kept the economy going, kept people at work to make sure local towns and communities denied the income that would come from the agricultural sector during a drought was getting that support.
Going back to the direct assistance to farmers, we are rolling out greater mental health support, which I know the member would agree with and endorsed at the time. Making sure mental health support is getting to those communities, and outreaching through remote type access mechanisms using technology and directly by getting to the councils.
The financial counselling assistance, sitting around the kitchen tables of farmers and graziers, helping them with the decisions they need to make.
The increase to the farm household announcement, which means over a period of four years the families have access to the program, we have liberalised access...
We have made sure there is a flexibility mechanism which will enable the government to move, considering how the drought progresses after June next year to do further assistance, should that be required. We are responding to the drought, we will continue to respond, and people in country areas know that.
Yesterday we met with the farmers federation, and there was a lot of overlap between the measures we are putting in place and what they are calling.
On rate relief, that is a matter for state and territory governments. One of the things they are responsible for are our freight and fodder subsidies... We will continue to work with the NFF. There are so many members from country communities affected by this drought, they will continue to provide an excellent conduit.
The Victorian CFMEU boss, John Setka, has withdrawn his legal challenge against his expulsion from the Labor party.
Anthony Albanese just made the announcement:
Today, John Setka has withdrawn his appeal to that decision and John Setka has now been removed as a member of the Australian Labor party.
Anthony Albanese has called a press conference for just before question time.
I am going to try to find some go-go juice to hook into my veins as I head over to the chamber for question time because this entire place is very, very low-energy today.
Joel Fitzgibbon is still pushing for a drought ‘war cabinet’.
He says the prime minister’s dismissal of a ‘war cabinet’ as not having existed when Australia was actually at war, is just “semantics” and the main point is there needs to be a drought strategy put in place for the future.
That is also what the NFF is calling for – the main point from its plan released today is that Australia needs a drought strategy for the future. Because droughts are now part of the future.
On the AAT stuff, Peter Dutton had this to say:
Well because... you’re talking about whether we should subvert the court process. So there are constitutional rights in relation to access to administrative decision review, as well as people having the capacity to run it all the way to the high court.
So we’ve looked at some ways in which we can streamline that. As you know the Labor party is seeking to strike out a pretty efficient way that we deal with those reviews at the moment through a version of the AAT. There are some laws that we can change, which if the Labor party would support it and we can tighten that review process up, I’d do it tomorrow, but they won’t support it and I issued a request to Senator Keneally last week or the week before; tell me what laws you think should be tightened in relation to border protection, I’ll support it. She has not come up with one suggestion.
So we’ll have a look at ways in which we can tighten the law because there is a rorting through the AAT, I’ve been clear about that for years and Ian Callinan has done a review so the attorney is considering that at the moment, but there are constitutional restrictions about how far you can go to tighten up those processes. Some people will use the judicial process to delay their departure and remit money back to their country of origin because if they’re earning money here, it’s a king’s ransom by the time it goes back and if the Labor party is proposing ways in which we can tighten that, then I’m very happy to support it.