Protester dragged out of Governor-General David Hurley’s speech
Tax cuts for millions of Australians have passed a crucial hurdle in Parliament tonight.
Scott Morrison’s $158 billion tax cuts package have passed a crucial hurdle in Parliament tonight, bringing hip pocket relief of up to $1080 for millions of Australian workers one step closer.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on voices tonight on the first day of the 46th Parliament with Labor’s support.
It will see the package sent to the Senate on Thursday, where it could pass with crossbench support.
Labor has indicated it will push for amendments in the Senate but has left the door open to backing the package.
Workers earning up to $126,000 could receive the tax cut within the next two weeks if it passes Parliament this week.
As debate on the tax cuts began tonight, Mr Albanese seized on today’s RBA interest rate cut to a historic low of 1 per cent to argue the government should bring forward the tax cuts’ second phase.
He argued raising the threshold for the middle tax bracket from $90,000 to $120,000 in 2019, rather than 2022, would help reignite the economy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned MPs in the Coalition’s first party room meeting today that they would be staying in Canberra until the tax cuts pass.
PRESS FREEDOMS INQUIRY
Labor will push to establish a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom this week in response to last month’s Australian Federal Police raids on the ABC and a senior News Corp journalist.
The inquiry would examine whistleblower protections, the AFP’s independence, and the “appropriate balance” between the public’s right to know, the freedom of the press and Australia’s national security.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally slammed a “culture of secrecy ” in government as she announced the move today.
“The events of the past month have raised the question – is a free press a right Australians can continue to rely on under the Morrison Government,” she said.
“There is a culture of secrecy and perverting the public’s right to know that has been making its way through this Government for too long, and it’s time to call it out.”
Labor will move a motion to establish the inquiry on Thursday.
It would also look at the public reporting of sensitive and classified information, including the “appropriate regime” for authorities seeking warrants regarding journalists and media organisations.
Media bosses from News Corp, the ABC and Nine last week united to urge Prime Minister Morrison to take immediate action to reform protections for whistleblowers and journalists.
News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller said an inquiry was not necessary.
“Prime Minister Morrison has said that if there’s evidence that there was a need for improvement to press freedom, that he’s open to it. Prime Minister, the evidence is in,” Mr Miller told the National Press Club in Canberra last week.
Labor’s proposed inquiry would not report until November.
Earlier today, an anti-Adani protester was dragged out of the Senate following Governor-General David Hurley’s official speech to mark the start of the 46th Parliament this afternoon.
The man called out “Stop Adani” and “action is hope” as he was escorted out of the chamber by security.
The older man had risen to his feet to call out environmental protest statements in the public gallery immediately after Mr Hurley’s official speech, which revealed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s top priorities for the 46th Parliament.
Senate President Scott Ryan warned the man he would be removed if he didn’t resume his seat, saying it was not the appropriate occasion for his remarks.
Mr Hurley’s speech outlined the government’s agenda, headlined by a $158 billion income tax cuts package to be debated later in the week.
The speech named tax cuts and action to help drought-affected farmers as the government’s top priorities.
It also highlighted the Coalition’s election and budget commitments for new online safety laws, action to tackle domestic violence and youth suicide rates, and updated laws to help intelligence and law enforcement agencies tackle terrorism and foreign interference.
Mr Hurley also noted the government would seek to strengthen Australia’s alliance with the US and continue a ‘step up’ in investment in the Pacific, while also looking at opportunities to “expand and deepen” ties with China.
“Evidence based” industrial relations reforms were named as another key priority.
The address capped a day of ceremonial fanfare to mark the start of the 46th parliament, with the leadership of both houses also settled.
JULIE BISHOP ‘DOESN’T PASS THE PUB TEST’
Meanwhile, Julie Bishop has been accused of a potential breach of ministerial standards for taking a new job with international development company Palladium.
The former foreign affairs minister’s first job since politics doesn’t “pass the pub test,” Labor frontbencher Penny Wong says.
Senator Wong hit out at Ms Bishop this morning for taking a role on Palladium’s board of directors, saying the company had profited more than $500 million from decisions taken while Ms Bishop was a minister.
“Second, Palladium itself has said that she has been appointed in part, for example, because of her extensive network of global contacts,” Senator Wong told ABC News.
“Now, the Ministerial Code says very clearly you can’t use information, knowledge, et cetera, that you have attained as a minister that is not available to the general public.
“I think the statement by Palladium makes it clear Ms Bishop has been appointed because of her unique knowledge.”
Former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne has also been accused of a potential breach of ministerial standards for taking a role as a defence consultant with Ernst and Young.
Labor is considering whether to back a Senate inquiry into Mr Pyne’s appointment.
“It isn’t sufficient for either Christopher Pyne or Ms Bishop to say, ‘I think I am complying and that to be the end of the matter,” Senator Wong said.
Ms Bishop confirmed her appointment this morning a day after it emerged she was also seeking a potential television role as the host of a new talk show.
“Working with Palladium is a continuation of my long-standing interest in economic development,” she said in a statement.
“Palladium has a focus on private sector engagement to deliver effective, sustainable development and I hope to provide further support to the company’s efforts.”
TAX CUTS THE PRIORITY AS PARLIAMENT RESUMES
Tax cuts were the first item on the agenda for federal politicians today after Australia’s 46th Parliament was officially declared opened this morning.
It began with a church service and a smoking ceremony, before High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel formally declared the Parliament open on behalf of Governor-General David Hurley just after 10.30am.
Former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott were in the Senate’s public gallery along with former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop for the Governor-General’s speech to open the 46th Parliament.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison spoke briefly with former Opposition leader Bill Shorten in the House of Representatives this morning before new senators and MPs elected on May 18 were sworn in.
Earlier, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann accused Labor of being “deeply divided” on the tax cuts package this morning.
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The tax cuts are likely to come down to winning Jacqui Lambie’s support in the Senate.
The returning Tasmanian senator is yet to declare her hand, but her vote will be vital for the government, if it is to pass its three-stage plan.
Former Liberal Cory Bernardi and the two Centre Alliance senators support the tax relief package, leaving the government just one vote short.
Labor has indicated it will push to amend the package in the Senate to bring forward the second phase of the tax cuts and split the bill to delay debate on the third phase, which would drop the 32.5 per cent tax bracket to 30 per cent, delivering tax relief for 94 per cent of workers.
Mr Morrison last night accused Labor of going against the public’s wishes after its MPs agreed in caucus yesterday to shelve the third phase of the tax cuts.
“They voted for the personal income tax plan that we set out in the budget,” he told ABC’s 7.30 program on Monday.
“I’m very confident we’ll be able to take these bills through the parliament, with the support of the parliament and those parliamentarians who don’t want higher taxes.”
The first stage of the plan will deliver up to $1080 to low and middle-income earners when they lodge their tax returns in coming months.
The second stage will top up a low income tax offset, which means more people — earning up to $45,000 instead of $41,000 — will get a 19 per cent tax rate. The final stage will flatten the tax rate from 32.5 per cent to 30 per cent for people earning between $45,000 and $200,000 from mid-2024.
PM’S WARNING TO MPS
Mr Morrison issued a warning to Coalition MPs today in a bid to avoid a repeat of the first week of the last parliament, where a number of politicians including senior ministers Peter Dutton and Christian Porter flew home early.
It saw the Coalition lose three votes on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The Prime Minister warned MPs in the Coalition’s party room meeting to be disciplined and where they needed to be on time.
He also declared they would not be leaving Canberra until tax cuts were passed this week.
Mr Morrison also told colleagues they needed to be “humble” after their election victory.
SMITH RE-ELECTED SPEAKER
Liberal MP Tony Smith made history today as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives to be elected unopposed three times since Australia’s first Speaker, Frederick Holder.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese praised him as the most “fair and impartial” Speaker he had seen on either side of politics in his more than two decades in parliament.
Former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, who was not as universally loved by both sides, watched on as a guest in the chamber as Parliament was opened.
The Australian Greens attempted to get one of their senators, Nick McKim, elected as Senate President but Liberal Senator Scott Ryan was ultimately re-elected to the role 62 votes to 10.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ‘PRESSING PRIORITY’
Attorney-General Christian Porter will be holding workshops for Coalition MPs this week on proposed new laws to protect religious freedoms.
Senator Cormann insisted this morning that protecting Australians’ right to religious freedom was a pressing priority but declined to offer an example of what he wanted religious observants to be able to say or do, which they cannot already.
Mr Morrison intends to introduce a new Religious Discrimination Act by the end of this year.
“I do believe it’s a pressing issue to protect Australia’s right to religious freedom,” Senator Cormann told ABC News this morning.
“The prime minister and others have made very clear that this is something that we will pursue through legislation by the end of this year,” he said.
“At the right time, the attorney-general will obviously explain all of the ins and outs of what we’re proposing to do.