Jacqui Lambie blasts Labor, Greens over ‘shameful’ act ahead of workplace Bill
The firebrand independent senator has put the government and the Greens on blast, accusing them of not really caring about women.
Firebrand independent senator Jacqui Lambie has ripped into Labor and the Greens, accusing them of failing to put their money where their mouths are when it comes to women.
Ahead of the vote on the government’s workplace relations Bill, which ultimately passed, Senator Lambie said neither party could claim they were “for women”, unless they waved through her amendments.
The senate voted on Closing Loopholes No. 2 on Thursday afternoon, after securing the support of the Greens, and independent senators David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe.
Senator Lambie did not support the Bill, citing concerns about small and medium businesses, but had said Labor and the Greens should get behind her amendment to allow a secret ballot for the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union to leave CFMEU Victoria.
“Give these women their rights,” Senator Lambie said.
Jenny Kruschel, the union’s secretary, said female members and staff felt “unsafe” around the CFMEU, citing allegations of sexual assault levelled against state secretary John Setka – which he has strongly rejected.
“We had to move our division out of the building and it’s a very uncomfortable environment,” Ms Kruschel said.
Senator Lambie said the government had refused to endorse the secret ballot, causing her to question whether Mr Setka was “running the Labor Party”.
“Don’t you women dare stand up and talk about women’s rights in that chamber, because as of today, in my eyes, your credibility has gone down the gurgler,” Senator Lambie said.
“You are shameful, absolutely shameful.
“You have about two hours to get your crap together and do what is the right thing. Show leadership for the women in this country.
“Every bit of work that you think you’ve done for every woman in Australia has just gone down the gurgler.”
She accused the Greens of also bending to the CFMEU.
Coalition’s fresh tax cut attack
Anthony Albanese has made reference to a lot of movies during question time this week, but it seems nobody informed him there was a screening of Groundhog Day occurring just across the way in Parliament House.
Over in the Senate, the Coalition continued its attacks on the government’s tax cuts, questioning whether Labor would break its promise on any other election commitments – namely negative gearing and the capital gains tax.
Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume wanted to know whether Treasury had provided “options” on changes to either scheme “after the call from your legislative partners, the Greens?”.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong threw her head back as she laughed off the question.
However, her deputy in the Senate, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher didn’t directly answer the question.
“What I can confirm for Senator Hume is that this government remains completely focused on looking at ways to alleviate cost of living pressures on Australians,” she responded.
“I told you that the government has sought advice and support from our departments around cost of living relief and that’s what you’ve seen flow through our budget.”
‘Concerned’: MP’s question for AG on youth crime
A Queensland MP has questioned the Attorney General over whether the government would reverse its commitment to raising the age of criminal responsibility at a federal level – and encouraging states to do the same – in the wake of a “devastating wave of youth crime”.
It comes after a 70-year-old grandmother was allegedly stabbed to death by a 16-year-old on bail this week.
In response to a question from Michelle Landry, Mark Dreyfus said “every single person in this chamber should be rightly concerned” about youth crime, but said the government would continue to engage in “serious discussions” about raising the age.
“We are very concerned about youth crime … just as we are concerned with the detention of our young people in youth detention centres,” Mr Dreyfus said.
After some argy-bargy and a point of relevance from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Mr Dreyfus reiterated that the matter would “continue to be discussed in the Standing Council of Attorneys-General”.
‘Condemned’: Albo condemns anti-Semitism racism
Anthony Albanese has condemned racism “in all forms”, notably the rise in anti-Semitism, after Peter Dutton asked him about a Greens motion from the day prior.
On Wednesday, Adam Bandt tried – and failed – to suspend standing orders over the government’s ongoing pause in humanitarian support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Mr Albanese downplayed the Green’s push as a “micky vote” he didn’t wish to “elevate”, but did condemn NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong over comments she made about the Israeli lobby’s “tentacles” being everywhere.
“It’s a serious question in the context of the worst social disharmony that I have seen, not just in my time in politics but in my time that I have been alive in this country,” he said.
“It shouldn’t be weaponised. I condemn, totally, any form of anti-Semitism, including the comments by my local member, the member for Newtown, whose comments about tentacles, with regard to the Jewish community, I find offensive.
“I find it had its origins in anti-Semitism, and I condemn it unequivocally.”
Mr Albanese said he condemned all forms of “Islamophobic comments and behaviour as well”.
Defence is “on a journey”
Defence Minister Richard Marles has conceded his department has a “way to go” before it has a “culture of excellence”.
In light of reports that Mr Marles and his department are at war, the minister refused to deny he dressed down senior public servants.
He blamed the Coalition for leaving “a lot of mess to clean up”.
“The Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force, is on a journey, and we are working very cooperatively with the senior leadership of the Department of Defence and the ADF in relation to that journey,” he said.
“But I make no excuses or apologies for demanding excellence and a culture of excellence in the Department of Defence and in the Australian Defence Force.”
Moving act to mark ‘historic moment’
Australia has been urged to not “give up hope” on Papua New Guinea’s future in a historic address to the federal parliament by Prime Minister James Marape.
Mr Marape became the first Pacific leader to address a joint sitting of both houses, as MPs and Senators packed the chamber to witness what he described as a “truly historic moment”.
He expressed a “humble and deep” gratitude to Australia, and former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam, for “cutting the umbilical cord” and granting PNG independence almost 50 years ago.
“This is why Papua New Guinea has a very special and very unique relationship with Australia. We are the only country Australia has birthed,” he said.
Mr Marape’s visit in the wake of riots that gripped capital Port Moresby just last month.
He acknowledged PNG still had many social and economical difficulties to face but said democracy “remains strong as ever”.
“As I visit with you in Australia today, I ask of you ‘Please, do not give up hope on Papua New Guinea’,” he said.
“We have always bounced back from low moments and we will continue to grow, learning from past experiences.”
Mr Marape said a “strong, economically-empowered Papua New Guinea” would mean a “stronger and more secure” Australia and Pacific.
Last December, Mr Marape and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a major bilateral security agreement to help bolster PNG’s internal security through more assistance in policing, and co-operation on climate change and cyber security.
In a joint statement released annual talks between Mr Albanese and Mr Marape said they agreed to “closer co-operation on peacekeeping, including through joint training at the ADF Peace Operations Training Centre”.
The pair also “reaffirmed their commitment to the region’s existing security architecture as a key driver of security co-operation”.
PNG will also become a pilot country for a new streamlined, online lodgement arrangement for regular travellers to Australia.
“This new lodgement arrangement is anticipated to make the process of applying for a visa faster and easier for Papua New Guineans who are regular visitors to Australia,” the leaders said.
Mr Albanese said that it was “fitting” the honour of first Pacific leader to address Australia’s parliament belonged to Mr Marape, given Australia’s connection with PNG “stretches back thousands of years” to Torres Strait Islanders and Indigenous traders”
“Australia and Papua New Guinea are close in every sense of the word. We are the nearest neighbours, the most steadfast and trusted of partners, and the very oldest of friends,” he said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he was “moved” by the PNG’s leader’s remarks in 2018 about his country “seizing its own destiny”, drawing a line between that and the “precarious times” currently facing the Indo-Pacific region.
“Australia supports you and your country in that noble endeavour,” he said.
“We find ourselves in times of embolden autocrats who have no hesitation in using inducement, coercion and outright force against other nations to realise their zero sum ambitions.
“The autocrats who use the carrot one day and the stick the next, have a complete disregard for sovereignty, for law, and liberty.
“Our forebears knew only too well the price paid for insecurity and aggression, which goes undeterred.
“May our memory of them compel us to be stronger together through our defence and security co-operation, and may we form fellowships of greater strength with our mutual partners and friends in the Pacific and wider region.”
Labor sings familiar script over negative gearing
A federal minister has raised eyebrows after using an all-too familiar phrase to address rumours that Labor will introduce changes to negative gearing.
It comes amid speculation that the Albanese government may make changes to the contentious negative gearing scheme that allows taxpayers to offset the costs associated with an investment property against their taxable income.
Under probing from Today show host Karl Stefanovic on Thursday, Aged Care and Sports Minister Anika Wells said the government “haven’t changed our position” on the policy – a phrase repeatedly used by Labor leaders before it switched its position on the stage 3 tax cuts.
“In relation to family trusts and negative gearing, have you made your mind on that one yet. Or are you just planning not to?” Stefanovic probed.
“I hope I don’t get pinged for smiling just then,” Ms Wells joked.
“Um uh. We haven’t changed our position on that.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has denied Labor was looking to revisit its old policy on negative gearing, telling reports in January the government was “not contemplating or considering resurrecting the policies that we took to the 2019 election”.
The government’s move to overhaul stage 3, despite promising otherwise, has prompted intense speculation from the Coalition on whether Labor would revive the 2019 policy.
On Wednesday, three Senate crossbenchers – Jacqui Lambie, David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe – all confirmed they wanted to see negative gearing put back on the table.
It’s understood the Greens will use debate on Labor’s Help to Buy scheme to push for reforms to the scheme and the capital gains tax discount.
Earlier, Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor dodged a question on whether the government was willing to move as part of negotiations.
Instead, he pivoted to criticising Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for reluctantly supporting Labor’s reworked tax cuts.
“Peter Dutton’s holding his nose and voting with the government, it appears, and now … he wants to invent all sorts of things and talk about everything other than the legislation that’s before the parliament,” he told the ABC. He called on Mr Dutton to give an “iron-clad guarantee” that he will not roll back the tax changes, if they were in power.
Bosses face fines for harassing workers
Sweeping new workplace laws set to pass parliament on Thursday will give millions of casual workers greater rights to full-time work and allow staff the right to ignore their bosses after hours.
Labor’s Closing Loopholes Bill is expected to pass parliament after the federal government brokered deals with key senate crossbenchers including ACT senator David Pocock, who pledged his support late on Wednesday.
Key reforms include a creating a pathway for casual workers to return to permanent work and introducing new powers for the Fair Work Commission to set minimum standards for gig economy workers, such as rideshare and food delivery drivers.
Other changes include a Greens-led demand that will create a right to disconnect from work for employees. Similar laws are already in place in multiple other countries including Spain, France and Germany.
Under right to disconnect laws, workers can take their bosses to the Fair Work Commission to stop being contacted after hours. Employers could face fines if they continue to make unreasonable contact.
Workplace reforms are expected to sail through the Senate later on Thursday before being rubber stamped in the lower house.
They have faced significant backlash from business groups and the Coalition who claim the workplace overhaul will target small businesses and drive up prices for consumers.
Nationals leader David Littleproud slammed the laws as “overreach” and said Australian employers were concerned about the major changes.
“If this means that it's all too hard and all too expensive, ultimately they [employers] will start to make decisions about who they are employing and how many people they are employing, especially casual staff,” he told Sky News.
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has ripped into the proposed ban to curb bosses from harassing their staff after work, calling it “dysfunctional.”
Ahead of a major Senate vote on Thursday, the independent crossbencher – who is tipped to vote against the Greens-led changes – argued she had little detail on how the provision would function and warned it would create more red tape for businesses.
“I have to say those judges in Australia must be thinking what a bunch of bloody drongos who keep making laws in the Senate. Fair Dinkum,” she told Sky News.
“I find this part [of the IR reforms] really dysfunctional and I just don’t know how it’s going work.”
Earlier, Liberal senator James Paterson slammed the right to disconnect provisions as “absolutely ridiculous.”
“Ultimately this just feeds through higher costs to consumers during a cost of living crisis,” he told Sky News.
PM called to ‘step in’ over defence quarrel
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson has called on Anthony Albanese to “step in” over reports that the Defence Minister was clashing with officials in his own department.
Reports from the Australian Financial Review published early on Thursday have accused Defence Minister Richard Marles of failing to secure sufficient funding to meet military demands and ignoring “hundreds” of emails from his staff.
Senator Paterson called on Mr Albanese to intervene, claiming politicians could not afford to clash with the Defence Force during a time of “strategic peril.”
“The Prime Minister needs to step in and sort this out. We can’t afford any more conflict even when it comes to defence, it is far too dangerous,” he said.
“And he’s (Mr Marles) responded by saying they (defence staff) are incompetent and that they can’t deliver what the government has asked of them.”
Speaking at a press conference earlier, opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie called on Mr Marles to “lift his game.”
“He needs to step up and lead,” Mr Hastie said.
“He can’t be a part-time Defence Minister – he has to devote all his energies to this. Defence officials are speculating that he’s using the defence portfolio to climb his way to the top and become Prime Minister. He should focus on protecting this country.”
Mr Males office has been contacted for comment.
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