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Through the lens: A very weird week in politics

By Alex Ellinghausen and Staff reporters

June 7, 2024 — 11.50am

The opposition attacked the government’s handling of immigration and Defence recruitment, Australia’s lowest-paid workers and pharmacies both had wins, the political debate over the war in Gaza erupted, and the Reserve Bank warned interest rates would remain high as long as needed.

Alex Ellinghausen captured the week in politics at Parliament House.

Monday, June 3

Employment Minister Tony Burke welcomed the Fair Work Commission’s decision to lift the minimum wage by 3.75 per cent from July 1. “It is not appropriate at this time to increase award wages by any amount significantly above the inflation rate,” commission president Adam Hatcher said.

Tony Burke addresses the media at a doorstop interview in the press gallery at Parliament House.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Treasury boss Steven Kennedy warned that Australia’s economic growth would be “very weak” over the first half of the year as consumers continued to pull back on spending. But he told Senate estimates he expected the labour market to remain resilient as employers cut hours rather than jobs.

Kennedy and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher during Senate estimates.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The opposition ramped up its attack on the government’s handling of former detainees convicted of serious crimes after embattled Immigration Minister Andrew Giles admitted drones were not being used to track those released into the community.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton during question time, with Nationals leader David Littleproud (left) and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor (right).Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan seized on the development to accuse Giles of “gross incompetence”.

Dutton faces off against Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during question time, while Tehan (seated right) looks on.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Bill Shorten came under fire after it was revealed in Senate estimates that Services Australia had employed a speechwriter, who spent most of her time working for the NDIS and government services minister, on a contract worth $620,000 over two years.

Bill Shorten during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In fiery scenes at Senate estimates, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong accused Greens politicians of collaborating with violent pro-Palestine protesters and inciting attacks on Labor MPs’ offices, a claim rejected by the Greens as a false smear.

Wong (right), alongside DFAT secretary Jan Adams, during Senate estimates. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Health Minister Mark Butler, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Pharmacy Guild president Professor Trent Twomey signed an agreement under which pharmacies will be paid an extra $4.80 by the government every time they give out a 60-day medicine script.

Butler (front left), Albanese and Twomey (front right) during the signing of the 8th community pharmacy agreement at Parliament House.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Warning that the end of cash was sending a chill through many parts of the country, former Nationals MP Andrew Gee introduced a private member’s bill that would require businesses to offer cash as a form of payment.

Gee (centre), with fellow independent MPs Dai Le and Bob Katter, poses with fake money after addressing the media at a press conference.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Under Gee’s proposal, which was supported by fellow independents including Bob Katter and Dai Le, individuals who prevented a cash payment of less than $10,000, would be fined up to $5000. Businesses would face a $25,000 fine.

Tuesday, June 4

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused the government of creating a “dog’s breakfast” with its announcement that foreigners would be allowed to enlist in the military to help address a dire personnel shortage, with ministers providing conflicting explanations about how the policy would work.

Dutton during a press conference at Parliament House.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, a former special forces soldier, withheld support for the policy even though he previously urged the government to consider allowing foreigners to serve in the ADF.

Dutton, Hastie (right) and assistant defence spokesman Phillip Thompson (left) during the press conference.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It emerged that a convicted kidnapper who worked with gangland boss Tony Mokbel had been saved from deportation. The Coalition cited the case to pile more pressure on Giles over dozens of tribunal decisions to let convicted criminals stay in Australia, blaming him for being too lenient under a rule known as ministerial direction 99.

The immigration minister during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But the government hit back by saying Dutton could have cancelled Kevin Farrugia’s visa in 2019 when he was home affairs minister in the previous government.

Dutton and Albanese during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Tehan earlier said Giles had “thrown [his department] under the bus” when he walked back his claim that drones were being used to track detainees.

Tehan and Dutton during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Wednesday, June 5

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock warned that interest rates would remain high as long as needed to bring down inflation. Bullock told Senate estimates she understood high interest rates hurt some households more than others, but emphasised that getting inflation down was the most important thing the central bank could do for the economy and all households.

Bullock during Senate estimates.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said high interest rates were largely to blame for the worst economic growth in decades outside the pandemic. Over the first three months of the year, the Australian economy grew by just 0.1 per cent, taking annual economic growth to 1.1 per cent.

Chalmers at a press conference on the national accounts.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell, pictured here with personnel chief Natasha Fox, appeared at his final Senate estimates hearings this week after six years in the role. He’ll be replaced by ADF vice chief David Johnston next month.

Campbell (left) and Fox during the hearing.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Labor and the Coalition berated the Greens for lending support to pro-Palestinian activists who have targeted federal MPs and vandalised electoral offices, sparking a fierce debate in parliament over domestic protests and the war in the Middle East. “Enough is enough. The time for senators and members of parliament to continue to inflame tensions outside these offices must end,” Albanese said.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King (left), Albanese and Chalmers during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Dutton spoke after Albanese to give bipartisan support for condemning acts of violence wherever they take place.

Albanese and Dutton during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Stung by the criticism from the two leaders, Greens leader Adam Bandt sought to condemn the government for shipping arms to Israel but was shut down after Labor MPs branded him a “fraud” and a “liar” who was spreading misinformation.

Bandt during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Thursday, June 6

Bandt claimed that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus had defamed him by accusing him of encouraging criminal damage to electorate offices.

Bandt addresses the media, with (l-r) Greens senators David Shoebridge, Dorinda Cox and Penny Allman-Payne.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But the Greens leader did not condemn protesters vandalising MPs’ offices until he was asked repeatedly at a press conference if he would call it out.

He also claimed the government “has refused repeatedly to call for a permanent ceasefire”, arguing it had only called for a pause “so that people can be fed and then the bombing can start again”.

The attorney-general, who was booted out of the House of Representatives on Wednesday for heckling Bandt, is yet to comment on the legal letter from Bandt.

Dreyfus during question time. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The Greens leader’s legal threats have ramped up hostilities in an already fiery week. On Thursday morning, Dutton told 2GB’s Ray Hadley that people needed to speak to their kids, grandkids and next-door neighbours about “how evil the current Greens Party is”.

(From left) Bandt and Greens MPs Elizabeth Watson-Brown and Max Chandler-Mather during question time.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

But it was not all fire and brimstone. Albanese had a lighthearted moment with his frontbench during a division in the House of Representatives. And even after a long fortnight and plenty of animosity over the immigration portfolio, the current and former ministers, Giles and Dutton, shared a laugh.