This was published 6 years ago
We'll wrap up the blog right there.
The day has seen attention on tax cuts, trade negotiations, Clive Palmer, Wayne Swan and the ABC.
We'll be back in the morning.
Until then, you can find me on Facebook here and Twitter here. Photos today were from Alex Ellinghausen – find him on Twitter here.
As always, feel free to email me hot tips and feedback at fergus.hunter@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
Here's how Alex Ellinghausen saw Question Time.
The PM.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Opposition Leader.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Treasurer.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
And in the Senate.
The Jobs Minister.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Finance Minister.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Clive Palmer is back to remind us that in politics, megalomania never gets old.
This time, he’s added a dash of Trumpery, complete with “Make Australia Great” billboards littering the nation’s landscape and the charge that reporters make up their own version of the news, particularly about him.
Palmer’s announcement in a Parliament House courtyard that he was establishing a new party – United Australia – didn’t go particularly well, however.
The champion windbag had barely got out of first gear trying to defend himself from a spray by Queensland Labor MP Cathy O’Toole about the plight of former workers at his collapsed company's closed-down nickel works in North Queensland when the Parliament House sprinkler system revolted and set about wetting him from the cuffs of his pants up to his belly.
“Courage is one of the most rarest [sic] commodities in politics,” he’d said. “It is very hard to find it, especially in this place.”
Quite. The sprinklers defeated him.
“We have got to call it quits,” he said, scuttling away across the courtyard in the midst of a second spray. “See you later. Bye.”
He might have saved his dignity if he’d called it quits before he started.
Read on here.
Question from Queensland Liberal Luke Howarth to Paul Fletcher.
Howarth asks about investment in infrastructure in Queensland.
Fletcher rattles off a list of projects the government is backing.
And with that, QT is over.
Question from Labor MP Terri Butler to Malcolm Turnbull.
Butler says company profits growth has been much larger than wages growth. She asks why the PM is backing penalty rate cutes for low-income workers while cutting company taxes.
Turnbull says Labor has previously accepted the economic arguments for company tax cuts.
"The fact of the matter is that a more competitive corporate sector results in more investment, more jobs," he says.
Question from Queensland Liberal Andrew Wallace to Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.
Wallace asks about government policies to reduce power prices.
Frydenberg says Labor's energy policies have been a failure and would drive up energy prices.
He says the government is securing better deals from energy retailers for customers, boosting the supply of gas to the domestic market and making the energy system more reliable with the National Energy Guarantee.
"Only the Coalition will deliver a more affordable and reliable power system," he says.
Question from Bill Shorten to Malcolm Turnbull.
Shorten quotes the managing director of SBS as saying the broadcaster probably would have retained the World Cup rights if it weren't for budget cuts.
He asks Turnbull to apologise to football fans for the cuts.
Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher, representing the Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, takes the question.
Fletcher says the SBS made its own commercial decision not to secure the World Cup rights.
"On this side of the house, we believe they are best placed to make those decisions," he says.
Question from Queensland Liberal Ross Vasta to Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Vasta asks about a stronger economy enabling investment in drug and alcohol support services.
Hunt says the government is investing in on-the-ground servies in Queensland, including in Longman, the seat facing a byelection on July 28.
Question from Labor frontbencher Stephen Jones to Malcolm Turnbull.
Jones says there were warnings cuts to the SBS could hurt the ability of Australians to watch the World Cup. He asks the Prime Minister to apologise to people now watching "second-rate coverage".
Turnbull says he is inspired by the Socceroos.
He says he has spoken to the chief executive of Optus about the streaming issues. He says the issues are expected to be resolved by tonight.
"Go the Socceroos," he finishes.
Question from Victorian Nationals MP Damian Drum to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
Drum asks about infrastructure investment.
McCormack talks about investment in safer roads and mobile blackspot program.
He says the government is delivering for regional Australians.