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Medevac repeal bill passes after Jacqui Lambie votes with Coalition – politics live Medevac repeal bill passes after Jacqui Lambie votes with Coalition – politics live
(32 minutes later)
‘Cruel, heartless’ deal provokes outrage from refugees, Greens and Labor as deal described as ‘dark day’ for Australia. Plus Nationals under pressure over Murray-Darling Basin plan. Follow all the day’s political news live ‘Cruel, heartless’ move provokes outrage from refugees, Greens and Labor as deal described as ‘dark day’ for Australia. Plus Nationals under pressure over Murray-Darling Basin plan. Follow all the day’s political news live
The near-universal reaction to those GDP figures? They’re softer than expected and of concern.
Mike Bowers was in the chamber for that vote to repeal medevac, where Lambie used her critical vote to side with the government. Refugee advocates, Labor, the Greens, and human rights groups say it is a “dark day” for Australia. Here’s how it unfolded in the chamber:
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have updated GDP figures for the September quarter.The Australian economy grew 0.4% in seasonally adjusted chain volume terms in the September quarter 2019 and 1.7% through the year. Growth of 0.4% this quarter is down from 0.6% in the June quarter.ABS chief economist, Bruce Hockman, said:
The government had held out hope that the September quarter would produce a bounce on the back of tax cuts for middle income earners of up to $1,080.
Household gross disposable income increased by 2.5% due to the tax cuts and lower mortgage repayments after three interest rate cuts this year.
But the results show household expenditure increased by just 0.1%, with weakness in spending on discretionary goods and services.The household saving ratio rose to 4.8. Hockman said:
While mining investment declined 7.8% this quarter and 11.2% through the year, the public sector was again the saviour: Government final consumption expenditure rose 0.9% in the quarter and remains strong through the year at 6.0%.
The New Zealand government has refused to confirm whether they have recently been approached by the Australian government on the Manus deal, only reiterating that the offer remained live.The New Zealand government has refused to confirm whether they have recently been approached by the Australian government on the Manus deal, only reiterating that the offer remained live.
“The offer to take 150 refugees is still on the table” immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway said in a statement to the Guardian. “The offer to take 150 refugees is still on the table,” immigration minister Iain Lees-Galloway said in a statement to the Guardian.
In November last year, the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, reiterated her government’s offer to take up to 150 refugees after a weeks-long standoff at Manus Island detention facility led to a desperate humanitarian situation for the remaining detainees.In November last year, the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, reiterated her government’s offer to take up to 150 refugees after a weeks-long standoff at Manus Island detention facility led to a desperate humanitarian situation for the remaining detainees.
New Zealand has made the same offer to the Australian government since 2013, but it has been strongly and repeatedly refused. The Australian home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, described it as a “bad option” and suggested it may encourage people-smuggling boats to intensify their efforts to reach Australia.New Zealand has made the same offer to the Australian government since 2013, but it has been strongly and repeatedly refused. The Australian home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, described it as a “bad option” and suggested it may encourage people-smuggling boats to intensify their efforts to reach Australia.
There is a precedent for New Zealand accepting refugees that Australia does not want. In 2001 Helen Clark’s Labour government offered asylum to 130 refugees who were rescued from the Tampa after it sunk off the Australian coast.Twenty of the 130 asylum seekers were young boys and adolescents, and became known as the “Tampa boys”.Abbas Nazari ,23, a Tampa refugee who resettled in New Zealand, recently won a Fullbright scholarship to study in the US. He says the country welcomed him with open arms. There is a precedent for New Zealand accepting refugees that Australia does not want. In 2001 Helen Clark’s Labour government offered asylum to 130 refugees who were rescued from the Tampa after it sunk off the Australian coast. Twenty of the 130 asylum seekers were young boys and adolescents, and became known as the “Tampa boys”.Abbas Nazari, 23, a Tampa refugee who resettled in New Zealand, recently won a Fullbright scholarship to study in the US. He says the country welcomed him with open arms.
“I can’t recall any instances of racism, and that’s the same experience for the vast majority of my family and community,” says Nazari. “I can’t recall any instances of racism and that’s the same experience for the vast majority of my family and community,” says Nazari.
“We wove naturally into the fabric of New Zealand society. So when I hear stories of prejudice and racism, I know for sure that it exists but my experience in New Zealand has been amazingly warm and welcoming.”“We wove naturally into the fabric of New Zealand society. So when I hear stories of prejudice and racism, I know for sure that it exists but my experience in New Zealand has been amazingly warm and welcoming.”
Reactions are flowing thick and fast after that vote. Shamindan, a refugee still in Papua New Guinea, said it was a “very dark day” that would allow politicians to deliberately deny medical care to those who need it.Reactions are flowing thick and fast after that vote. Shamindan, a refugee still in Papua New Guinea, said it was a “very dark day” that would allow politicians to deliberately deny medical care to those who need it.
Anthony Albanese said “you can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity”.Anthony Albanese said “you can be strong on borders without being weak on humanity”.
Richard Di Natale said it was clear someone had lied about the deal struck between Lambie and the Coalition. He just held a press conference:Richard Di Natale said it was clear someone had lied about the deal struck between Lambie and the Coalition. He just held a press conference:
Amnesty International Australia has described it as a “shameful day” for Australia. Advisor Graham Thom said:Amnesty International Australia has described it as a “shameful day” for Australia. Advisor Graham Thom said:
Although one Labor amendment was voted on (to continue the medevac process for those with existing applications), I’m advised the rest weren’t circulated in time so the gag motion effectively prevented them being voted on.Although one Labor amendment was voted on (to continue the medevac process for those with existing applications), I’m advised the rest weren’t circulated in time so the gag motion effectively prevented them being voted on.
Jacqui Lambie leaves the chamber alone. She walked past Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick, without making eye contact.Jacqui Lambie leaves the chamber alone. She walked past Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick, without making eye contact.
The medevac repeal bill is passed 37 votes to 35.
This is effectively the end of the medevac laws.
As they vote, Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff has sent us this statement:
We’re now up to the final vote on this bill.
This is it. We’re expecting the repeal bill to be passed. Division in progress.
Lambie is voting against this amendment and it is defeated by one vote.
That’s a pretty grim forecast for the rest of Labor’s proposed amendments.
We’re currently voting on an amendment to allow people already in the medevac process to remain in the medevac process. Seems sane. Let’s see what our Senate thinks.
Pauline Hanson is shepherding Jacqui Lambie through these divisions.
At the moment, Lambie is penned between Hanson and the Liberal frontbencher Anne Ruston. It must be pretty intense, sitting between Hanson and Ruston right now.
We’re now into a series of votes on the second reading of the medevac repeal bill.
Labor is attempting now to move its amendments. The amendments are unlikely to be passed, but if they are, the bill will need to return to the lower house.
Kristina Keneally is using the amendments to call for government backbenchers “with some semblance of a beating heart” for support.
Labor has put in a whole bunch of amendments to the medevac bill. If Jacqui Lambie continues voting with the government they may not be successful, but they will trigger a series of votes after 11am that will delay its final passage.These amendments would:
Require home affairs minister Peter Dutton to make a detailed report every time a refugee or asylum seeker is settled in a third country.
Allow minors to continue to come to Australia for psychiatric and medical assessments.
Continue the work of the Independent Health Advice Panel in making independent health assessments which then must be tabled in parliament
Stipulate that where the minister fails to make a decision about a proposed transfer, the more generous medevac provisions will continue to apply.
These would, in effect, soften the blow of repeal and try to set new rules to prevent the government refusing to deal with proposed medical transfers, as occurred before the medevac provisions were introduced.