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Former NSW fire chief says Coalition 'fundamentally doesn't like talking about climate change' – politics live Stuart Robert grilled about whether Centrelink robodebts are illegal – politics live
(32 minutes later)
‘Do we simply get gagged?’ asks Greg Mullins as NSW and Queensland bushfires rage on. All the day’s events, live Government services minister tries to avoid question at National Press Club, but urged to address the issue. All the day’s events, live
Stuart Robert had to be schooled by Press Club president Sabra Lane that journalists can ask any question they like of speakers, regardless of what the topic of the speech is on, after Paul Karp asked about robodebt. The way the sun is coming through the Senate chamber makes it seem like Scott Ryan has been anointed from above to descend from the mountain.
PK: Can I ask with your government services hat on about the robodebt program. The former senior AAT member has said that Robodebts are illegal because you can’t calculate a debt based on estimates of income, and he cites his evidence on the fact that when welfare affiliate appeal debts, Centrelink folds its tent, it waives the dead and it refuses to fight the issue in court. So could I please ask, if you are so confident that the it’s a legal way has Centrelink never defended them and bought? Mathias Cormann on the economy:
“The only thing we have floundering here is the shadow treasurer,” he says.
Weird flex, but cool.
Senate question time begins with a statement from Penny Wong, about Bridget McKenzie not answering questions today.
Wong says that the changes mean that the deputy leader of the National party isn’t being trusted to answer questions on behalf of the National party.
Mathias Cormann says she is on her way to New Zealand, and has to leave early, so arrangements were made to replace her portfolio responsibilities (in terms of answering questions).
It is all very awkward though, because McKenzie is in the Senate, sitting there like she has just seen a school of CARP and told that’s tonight’s dinner.
The Greens have just passed a motion in the Senate, calling on Scott Morrison to meet with Greg Mullins and the other former emergency chiefs.
They will meet with David Littleproud. The Senate motion won’t compel Morrison to meet with them though – that’s the decision of him and his office.
At least someone is:
Stuart Robert had to be schooled by the National Press Club president, Sabra Lane, that journalists can ask any question they like of speakers, regardless of what the topic of the speech is, after Paul Karp asked about robodebt.
PK:
SR:SR:
I don’t think I’ve ever been asked by an NDIS participant about income complaints or earned income compliance. I’m not too sure NDIS participant listening are really interested in it.
I am a focused on terms of how actually deliver services quicker, seamlessly and left bureaucratically in terms of participants who desperately need the services. So today is probably not the day to talk about income complaints and where. Happy to look at it another time.
Sabra Lane:Sabra Lane:
Robert then sort of addresses the issue:Robert then sort of addresses the issue:
SR: As Australians engage with us and provide information to us, many times they can actually prove that they haven’t earned too much, and in fact in 19.9% of cases, Australians actually demonstrate to their bank account records or salary payslips that they don’t have a debt. SR:
Speaking to Hunter Valley radio station 2NM, Joel Fitzgibbon agreed with Scott Morrison that people need to chill on the climate change debate while the fires are burning, because that’s his role now.Speaking to Hunter Valley radio station 2NM, Joel Fitzgibbon agreed with Scott Morrison that people need to chill on the climate change debate while the fires are burning, because that’s his role now.
OK, so I have just had a chance to read through the Australian Bureau of Statistics data on jobs.OK, so I have just had a chance to read through the Australian Bureau of Statistics data on jobs.
The economy shed 19,000 jobs in the last month – the biggest fall since May 2014 (thank you Shane Wright) which equated to 10,300 full-time jobs and 8,700 part-time jobs.The economy shed 19,000 jobs in the last month – the biggest fall since May 2014 (thank you Shane Wright) which equated to 10,300 full-time jobs and 8,700 part-time jobs.
That means the number of people out of work increased by about 17,000, which brings the number of people without a job to just over 726,000.That means the number of people out of work increased by about 17,000, which brings the number of people without a job to just over 726,000.
So on the seasonal adjustment measure, unemployment rose by 0.1% to 5.3% from a low of 4.9% in February, and way off the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target of 4.5%.So on the seasonal adjustment measure, unemployment rose by 0.1% to 5.3% from a low of 4.9% in February, and way off the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target of 4.5%.
Suddenly, Stuart Robert appears to have found the figures the ABC couldn’t get in its FOI request:Suddenly, Stuart Robert appears to have found the figures the ABC couldn’t get in its FOI request:
Labor has just had two motions pass on the voices in the Senate.Labor has just had two motions pass on the voices in the Senate.
One of them is a continuing order for the production of documents, meaning the government will have to now disclose monthly onshore protection visa claims – the people who arrive in Australia by plane, and then apply for protection.One of them is a continuing order for the production of documents, meaning the government will have to now disclose monthly onshore protection visa claims – the people who arrive in Australia by plane, and then apply for protection.
Under the order, which was put forward by Kristina Keneally, the government will have to disclose, monthly, the statistics on:Under the order, which was put forward by Kristina Keneally, the government will have to disclose, monthly, the statistics on:
· Country of origin of people making these claims· Country of origin of people making these claims
· Grants· Grants
· Refusals· Refusals
· The number awaiting a refugee status determination· The number awaiting a refugee status determination
· The number of refusals deported· The number of refusals deported
· The number of refusals yet to be deported (among other things)· The number of refusals yet to be deported (among other things)
The second motion was about a national agricultural day – asking the government to address labour supply issues in the ag industry.The second motion was about a national agricultural day – asking the government to address labour supply issues in the ag industry.
The government opposed both, but didn’t force either to a division, meaning it passed on the voices.The government opposed both, but didn’t force either to a division, meaning it passed on the voices.
The prime minister’s office has pointed to this response from Scott Morrison’s February press club address, to show that yes, the government is comfortable talking about climate change, in response to Greg Mullin’s comments:The prime minister’s office has pointed to this response from Scott Morrison’s February press club address, to show that yes, the government is comfortable talking about climate change, in response to Greg Mullin’s comments:
JOURNALIST: Quentin Dempster from the New Daily Prime Minister. You’ve recently been in Tasmania and Townsville as you’ve mentioned in your address, to comfort and support Australians suffering from wildfires and unprecedented inundation and flooding. Now, insurance actuaries are constantly revising risk assessments and are now factoring in climate change as an exacerbating factor in the higher frequencies of extreme weather events. Do you acknowledge that climate change is now the major factor affecting extreme weather events and if you do, doesn’t that mean that Australia’s national disaster response needs greater national coordination than what you’ve been able to announce under the national security umbrella that you’ve canvassed today?JOURNALIST: Quentin Dempster from the New Daily Prime Minister. You’ve recently been in Tasmania and Townsville as you’ve mentioned in your address, to comfort and support Australians suffering from wildfires and unprecedented inundation and flooding. Now, insurance actuaries are constantly revising risk assessments and are now factoring in climate change as an exacerbating factor in the higher frequencies of extreme weather events. Do you acknowledge that climate change is now the major factor affecting extreme weather events and if you do, doesn’t that mean that Australia’s national disaster response needs greater national coordination than what you’ve been able to announce under the national security umbrella that you’ve canvassed today?
Scott Morrison:Scott Morrison:
Josh Frydenberg, through the Australian, announced the government would be looking at foreign capital tax concessions for infrastructure projects, as the government tries to kickstart productivity. From the Simon Benson story:Josh Frydenberg, through the Australian, announced the government would be looking at foreign capital tax concessions for infrastructure projects, as the government tries to kickstart productivity. From the Simon Benson story:
Jim Chalmers says that was announced in the 2018-19 budget papers, and was legislated in April.Jim Chalmers says that was announced in the 2018-19 budget papers, and was legislated in April.
Stuart Robert is at the press club.Stuart Robert is at the press club.
Paul Karp is taking that one for you.Paul Karp is taking that one for you.
Simon Birmingham says the prime minister takes the issues of climate change, the drought, and ensuring the community is safe “extremely seriously”, in response to questions about Greg Mullins comments.Simon Birmingham says the prime minister takes the issues of climate change, the drought, and ensuring the community is safe “extremely seriously”, in response to questions about Greg Mullins comments.
He says David Littleproud will meet with the group.He says David Littleproud will meet with the group.
Could someone let the senators know that we are all watching for a change, and they should probably have their act together in terms of procedure?Could someone let the senators know that we are all watching for a change, and they should probably have their act together in terms of procedure?
I mean, it shouldn’t be their first rodeo.I mean, it shouldn’t be their first rodeo.
We are still a little unclear on why the government wants the Senate timetable clear – but yes, the calls are being made.We are still a little unclear on why the government wants the Senate timetable clear – but yes, the calls are being made.
Jordon Steele-John says the motion to gag the NDIS debate (so it is dealt with by a certain time) is denying disabled people a chance to receive clarification on what the bill will mean for them.Jordon Steele-John says the motion to gag the NDIS debate (so it is dealt with by a certain time) is denying disabled people a chance to receive clarification on what the bill will mean for them.