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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
(30 minutes later)
‘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‘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
Médecins Sans Frontières says the medevac repeal will endanger patients and is “unethical and harmful to vulnerable people and the entire medical profession”.
“Asylum seekers and refugees who remain indefinitely contained on Nauru and PNG have been blocked again from accessing treatment for critical health conditions where adequate care is not available locally,” said Paul McPhun, executive director of Médecins Sans Frontières Australia.
MSF noted there was still no access to proper psychiatric care on Nauru, a problem that has existed for almost a year.
“During our time working with patients on Nauru, MSF psychiatrists and psychologists determined that the majority had their lives impaired by mental illness,” McPhun said.
“To now deny medical professionals from taking decisions in patients’ best interests – and to effectively hand that power back to unqualified officials – entrenches dangerous precedents set in the last years and puts those most sick and vulnerable at risk.
“Preventing access to medical care as a policy tool is unethical and harmful to vulnerable people and the entire medical profession.”
We’ve got some vision now of Jacqui Lambie’s speech to the Senate.
The Human Rights Law Centre has issued a statement on the repeal of medevac. It says the government stripped away “a humane, transparent and doctor-led process for the refugees in its care”.
David Burke, the centre’s legal director, said it was a “shameful day” for the government and the senators who voted with them.
“Fear and lies have dominated at the expense of men and women who need medical care,” Burke said.
“Peter Dutton and the Morrison government have today played cruel, bloody-minded politics with peoples’ lives. The Morrison government has stripped away the basic shred of humanity that meant that when someone was sick they could get the care they needed.”
The centre said since the laws came into effect in March 2019, about 200 people have been evacuated to get medical care. More than 500 people remained in PNG and Nauru, Burke said.
“Now that the government has robbed these people of the medevac laws, it is more urgent than ever that they ensure every single person is resettled to safety. We will continue to challenge these cruel policies.”
The near-universal reaction to those GDP figures? They’re softer than expected and of concern.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: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 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.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.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: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%.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.