Politics Now: Morrison’s tax cut package passes Lower House
Scott Morrison’s $158 billion tax cut package has passed through the House of Representatives after three hours of debate.
- Religion shouldn’t divide us: PM
- We don’t respect your mandate: Greens
- CA ‘close’ to tax deal
- Rate cut would ‘bolster’ Labor’s tax case
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra. The 46th Parliament of Australia kicks off today with pomp, ceremony, and an almighty push to pass Scott Morrison’s full tax cuts agenda.
Meanwhile, the PM has warned the Coalition partyroom religion should not be an issue that divides Australians.
Jessica Cortis 9.25pm: Tax cut package passes Lower House
Scott Morrison’s tax cut package has passed through the House of Representatives.
The government successfully defeated attempts by Labor to amend its full $158 billion tax package and will look to secure four key crossbench votes in the Senate before the legislation returns to the lower house.
If the full tax package passes through the Senate unamended Anthony Albanese will convene a shadow cabinet meeting on Thursday to re-assess Labor’s existing position to fast-track stage two of the cuts and carve out stage three.
The only ‘No’ votes in the House were from Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent MP Andrew Wilkie.
Just me and @AdamBandt voting against the Government’s unfair tax plan that gives MPs and other high income earners a handsome tax cut. After all their complaining, Labor rolled over – again – and sat with the Government. #auspol #politas pic.twitter.com/xkuwRfqXNP
— Andrew Wilkie MP (@WilkieMP) July 2, 2019
Labor leader Anthony Albanese said it was a sensible proposition given the central bank’s second interest rate cut in as many months.
The Opposition also failed to remove the third stage of the tax plan from the bill, which flattens the tax bracket in 2024/25.
“That’s all about politics, not about good sound economic policy,” Mr Albanese told the lower house.
But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it would give Australians confidence their future pay rises were protected from bracket creep.
“This bill lowers taxes for hard working Australians, it puts more money in their pockets.” Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie supported the bill on her understanding the minor party would reach an outcome with the government on ways to bring down gas prices.
But Ms Sharkie noted her two Senate colleagues were still continuing negotiations with the government.
Labor will now try to convince Senate crossbenchers to support the amendment on Thursday, but the government appears to be moving closer to a deal to get the whole package passed before parliament rises.
The Coalition needs the support of four out of six crossbenchers to succeed. The two Centre Alliance senators are likely to back it, with leader Rex Patrick saying they were working through the final details of a deal to make sure the extra money in taxpayers’ pockets doesn’t get gobbled up by higher power bills. Former Liberal Cory Bernardi also backs the tax relief package, leaving the government just one vote short.
This means returning Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie is likely to be the deal maker or breaker, but she’s yet to declare her hand.
She is working with Centre Alliance in a very loose alignment, with the three senators meeting several times over the last 24 hours since arriving in Canberra.
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 flattens the tax rate from 32.5 per cent to 30 per cent for people earning between $45,000 and $200,000 from mid-2024.
With AAP
Richard Ferguson 4.47pm: ‘No mandate for full tax cuts agenda’
Anthony Albanese says the government does not have a mandate for its full tax cuts agenda because “100 per cent of people” did not vote Liberal and he did not hear voters talk about tax cuts in 2024-25.
“We’ve had an election on May 18. Guess what? 100 per cent of people didn’t vote for the Coalition,” he told Sky News.
“What they said of course is that on tax they were concerned about some of our proposals but by and large it was a negative proposal from the government.
“Did you hear anyone in the election campaign talk about what happened in 2024-25? And do you think that people reading some of the tabloids know they are not actually proposing a tax cut for all Australians?”
Richard Ferguson 4.40pm: Labor will fight tax cuts in Senate: Albo
Anthony Albanese says Labor will pass Scott Morrison’s full tax cuts bill through the House of Representatives in order to try and amend it in the senate.
The Opposition Leader has still not said what Labor would do if its amendments fail in the upper house, as they are expected to do.
“We’ll move our amendments, and we’ll vote for them, and then we’ll pass it through so that in the senate it can be dealt with,” he told Sky News.
“Monetary policy can’t do all the heavy lifting … we’re facilitating the debate.
“Shadow cabinet will make the decision (on what happens in the senate when the amendments fail). We have made the decision to fight for our amendments.”
Rosie Lewis 4.05pm: PM warns on religion
Scott Morrison has warned the Coalition partyroom religion should not be an issue that divides Australians, as Attorney-General Christian Porter prepares to run religious freedom “workshops” for backbench MPs.
The Prime Minister and Mr Porter are close to finalising a religious discrimination act, which will be put to federal parliament this year, but Mr Morrison was keen to first consult with colleagues and Labor.
Mr Porter will run presentations for Coalition backbenchers, starting towards the end of this week, to discuss various proposals for the bill. Legislative drafters will be in the room to answer MPs’ questions.
Mr Porter told colleagues as well as being deeply personal, religious freedom was a deeply technical issue.
Addressing the Coalition partyroom, Mr Morrison also acknowledged religion was deeply personal for many people and he asked colleagues to work through the debate “in a manner to achieve enhanced unity, not for political purposes”.
Mr Morrison and Anthony Albanese are due to meet this week to discuss a range of issues, most likely including religious freedom.
The Israel Folau saga, which began in April when he posted on social media that “hell awaits” gay people and said they should “repent”, has revived the political debate on religious freedom.
The former Wallaby star is headed to the Federal Court after Ruby Australia terminated his $4 million contract when he refused to take down the post.
Folau’s lawyers have lodged a claim with the Fair Work Commission arguing the termination of his contract breached section 772 of the Fair Work Act, which deems it unlawful to terminate employment on the grounds of religion.
Mr Morrison said last night it was important employers had reasonable expectations of their employees but that they “don’t impinge on their areas of private practice and private belief or private activity”.
“There’s a balance that has to be struck in that, and our courts will always ultimately decide this based on the legislation that’s presented,” Mr Morrison told the ABC’s 7.30.
“We’re looking at a religious discrimination act which I think will provide more protections for people because of their religious faith and belief in the same way that people of whatever gender they have or sexuality or what nationality or ethnic background or the colour of their skin — they shouldn’t be discriminated against also … There is a gap when it comes to expressions of religious faith, and it’s important our law respects that as well.”
The Opposition Leader said Folau had not respected gay people, who did not have a choice over their sexuality, in his social media post.
I’m certainly of the view that people should have the right to practise their faith and people’s faith should be respected,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.
“People also have a responsibility … to fulfil their contracts … Any true Christian attitude towards people should be about respecting them and respecting who they are and I don’t think that Mr Folau has done that.”
Richard Ferguson 3.50pm: Protester dragged away
A climate change protester hijacked the Governor General’s speech after he finishes speaking.
Senate President Scott Ryan interjects: “Sir, this is not the appropriate time.”
“Stop Adani,” the protester yelled as he was dragged away by security.
“Action is hope … listen to (child climate activist) to Greta Thornburg,” said the protester.
Richard Ferguson 3.47pm: Indigenous Australia
David Hurley says his government will continue to look for consensus on constitutional recognition for indigenous Australians as the push for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament continues.
“My government will continue to prioritise interest of Aboriginal and Torres straight Islander people,” he says.
“For the first time in Australian history and Aboriginal member of this parliament will have responsible for policy affecting indigenous people. (Ken Wyatt).
“My government will also continue to work to find consensus on a way forward for constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians and develop ground up governance models for enhanced, inclusive and local decision-making in issues impacting the lives of indigenous Australians.”
The Governor General also notes Labor frontbencher Linda Burney in her role as opposition indigenous affairs spokeswoman.
Richard Ferguson 3.30pm: Home ownership focus
Governor General David Hurley says Scott Morrison will make his First Home Loan Deposit Scheme a key legislative priority in the upcoming months.
“My government believes in home ownership and seeing more Australians in their own homes. My government will use the dividends of a strong economy to make it easier for more Australians to buy their first home,” he says.
“It will introduce the first Home loan deposit scheme to help people who want to buy their home, to access finance without having to save a 20% deposit, so they can get into the market more quickly.
“On the 1 January 2020, first home buyers who have already saved at least 5% of their deposit and to earn up to $125,000 for a single person or $200,000 for couples will be able to get better and earlier access to mortgage finance.”
The first home buyers’ scheme was the marquee announcement of the Prime Minister’s election campaign launch a week before his against-the-odds win.
It has fallen from public view somewhat as tax cuts has dominated the agenda and Labor promised to match the scheme before the election.
Richard Ferguson 3.22pm: Crack down on union officials
Governor General David Hurley outlines the government’s plan to crack down on union officials and its review of the wider industrial relations system.
“My government will introduce legislation to deal with registered organisations and individuals who make the law. It will prohibit officials who are not fit and proper persons from holding office and stop the misuse of worker entitlement funds,” he says.
“As well, the Minister for Industrial Relations (Christian Porter) is reviewing impediments to shared workplace gains for employers and employees.
“This work will be evidence-based. It will protect the rights and entitlements of workers and identify a way forward that will benefit our economy and most importantly the workers who rely on it.
Richard Ferguson 3.20pm: GG outlines tax agenda
Governor General David Hurley says Australians elected a government which trusts Australians with its own money and outlines Scott Morrison’s tax cuts agenda.
“On 18 May 2019, more than 15 million Australians had their say about the future of our country and what they expect for the government and Parliament they have elected to serve them for the next three years,” he says.
“These hardworking Australians made a simple and humble demand that they are honest and decent aspirations for the future be respected and supported by those they elected.
“They voted for a government that understands Australians are focused on raising their families, running their businesses, working hard, volunteering and caring for their family and friends.
“My government will put more power into the hands of Australians by letting people keep more of what they earn. That is why my government’s first legislative priority will be to provide tax relief to hardworking Australians earning up to $126,000 a year.”
The Governor General’s speech at the beginning of each term is similar to the annual Queen’s Speech to the British Parliament, outlining the elected government’s agenda.
It is “his” government because General Hurley represents the Queen and she leads the government according to the Australian constitution
Richard Ferguson 3.15pm: ‘We are blessed’
Governor General David Hurley opens his speech with an indigenous greeting and lauds the successes of the Australian nation.
“We are a nation that has achieved great things and earned a special place in the modern world and the region in which we live. We are home to one of the world’s oldest living cultures,” he tells the joint sitting of parliament.
“We are blessed with an environment boasting oceans, forests, soils, water, coast, rivers, deserts and other ancient landscapes beyond compare that we must steward responsibly. We are now in our 28th year of uninterrupted economic expansion.
“More Australians are working than ever before and fewer Australians are working — of working age are dependent on welfare than in generations.
“Our economic strength has been won by the enterprise, innovation and termination of a hardworking people, especially those running small and family businesses.”
Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: Hurley in the House
Governor General David Hurley has taken the chair in the senate and will speak shortly.
Also sitting in the senate floors’ advisers boxes are his wife Linda and Scott Morrison’s wife Jenny.
He has asked the Usher of the Black Rod to invite House of Representatives MPs to the upper house to hear him speak. They will be led by the Prime Minister and Anthony Albanese.
Richard Ferguson 2.55pm: Star-studded gallery awaits GG
Senators and dignitaries are gathering for Governor General David Hurley’s address to a joint sitting of parliament.
Chief Justice Susan Kiefel has arrived in the upper house chamber to start off proceedings.
In the public gallery, there is quite an array of Coalition heavyweights: former prime ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott, former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop and Mr Howard’s wife Jannette.
David Rogers 2.33pm: RBA cuts rates again
The RBA has delivered the first back-to-back interest rate cuts since 2012, reducing the official cash rate to 1 per cent — a new record low.
Richard Ferguson 12.10pm: Bishop’s job ‘may breach standards’
Labor senate leader Penny Wong has accused Julie Bishop of potentially breaching ministerial standards for taking a seat at the board of global consulting firm Palladium.
The Palladium board position is Ms Bishop’s first big business appointment since she left parliament at the last election
Senator Wong said Ms Bishop’s role at the company — which works with governments, corporations and NGOs — was similar to recent controversy surrounding former defence minister Christopher Pyne’s new role as a defence consultant.
Will Glasgow 11.55am: Frost reheats Frydenberg role
Victorian Liberal director Simon Frost is resigning as Victorian Liberal director to return to Josh Frydenberg’s staff. Read more in Margin Call.
Richard Ferguson 11.35am: Back-pats for Speaker Smith
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have both congratulated House Speaker Tony Smith.
“You bring a real honour to this institution. This is the second time that you have been elected to this position, following an election unchallenged and I think that says much about the respect with which you are held by all members of this House,” the Prime Minister says.
“You understand its responsibility. You understand that we all come here, particularly on a
day like today, expressing great hopes noble intentions, but these are things that you have always lived as a man, as a member of your community, in your family, as a friend and as a member of this House.”
The Opposition Leader says Labor’s decision to back a Liberal as Speaker is proof of the entire parliament’s respect for Mr Smith.
“Mr Speaker, you are for the third time elected unopposed. That is the first time that that has occurred in more than a century since the beginning of, indeed, this Parliament going back to federation,” Mr Albanese says.
“The fact that you have been nominated by the government’s side and seconded by the opposition side is to your credit and also I think will be welcomed by Australians who want to see solutions, rather than arguments, in this place wherever that is possible.
“Of course, from time to time, it will be the case that there are arguments, but you have always conducted yourself with diligence, grace and good humour.”
.@ScottMorrisonMP speaking to @TonySmithMP after he was re-elected as House Speaker: You bring a real honour. This is the second time you have been elected to this position following an election unchallenged. You best understand its responsibility.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) July 2, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/zcyyflAY2Z pic.twitter.com/JyH36Ixg3H
Richard Ferguson 11.28am: Smith back as Speaker; McKim loses
House Speaker Tony Smith has been re-elected to his chair unopposed, with backing from both Liberal and Labor MPs.
Government MP Lucy Wicks and opposition MP Maria Vamvakinou both spoke of the Speaker’s fairness, respect and love of V8 supercars.
The two MPs then dragged him to the chair as has been the tradition for many centuries. Speakers are supposed to resist the job as English kings have in the past beheaded presiding officers who delivered them bad news from parliament.
Meanwhile in the Senate, Scott Ryan was re-elected as that chamber’s president after Nick McKim’s failed challenge.
Richard Ferguson 11.15am: No mandate: Green challenges Senate ‘stitch up’
Greens senator Nick McKim has declared that the Greens do not recognise that the government has a mandate for its program in the upper house as he challenged the Coalition’s Scott Ryan for the post of Senate President.
“They (the government) has no mandate in the upper house … (the Australian people) have elected a balance of power senate,” Senator McKim tells the Senate.
“For too long, the major parties have used their collective majority in this place to determine how this place is run.
“This cosy stitch up is not serving our country and not serving the people of Australia.”
Senator McKim is unlikely to prevail against Senator Ryan. Labor has not put up a candidate.
Senator McKim’s declaration that the Greens want to shake up politics comes ahead of the first big vote of the term this week — the government’s tax cuts package which is likely to head to the Senate for debate as early as tonight.
Richard Ferguson 10.40am: Swearing in history lesson
Lower house MPs, led by Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese, are now walking into the senate chamber to be sworn in.
As she is sitting as the Governor General’s deputy, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel cannot go to the House of Representatives.
The Crown or their representative traditionally only ever goes to the upper house of parliament, due to Charles I storming into the then English Parliament in 1625 to demand the heads of MPs.
Charles’ actions that day are considered one of the catalysts of the English Civil War. Chief Justice Kiefel will be careful not to set off any similar skirmishes in Canberra today.
Richard Ferguson 10.35am: Senate making it official
Chief Justice Susan Kiefel has arrived at the senate to swear in Australia’s new MPs and senators.
The senate will spend half an hour swearing in the half of the chamber which were elected last month, and then they will re-elect the Liberals’ Scott Ryan as Senate President.
The Chief Justice will swear in MPs in her role as the Governor General’s deputy.
The new Governor General, David Hurley, will addresses MPs and Senators himself at 2.25pm a joint sitting of parliament.
Richard Ferguson 10.20am: RBA rate cut would ‘bolster’ Labor: Chalmers
Labor’s treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers says a possible interest rate cut today would “bolster” his proposals to only pass parts of Scott Morrison’s tax cuts agenda.
“I don’t make predictions about the Reserve Bank … but if they do cut rates again today, I think that will bolster our already strong case that we need to get more stimulus into the economy,” he told Sky News.
“That means bringing forward some of these tax cuts, passing stage one, and bringing forward part of state two. If the Reserve Bank cuts rates today, it will bolster our argument.
“They’ve already cut rates since the election. They’ve cut rates because they say there’s a problem in the economy with household consumption and stagnant wages … the government is just promising more of the same.”
Labor wants to bring forward tax cuts scheduled for 2022-23 and carve-out stage three, which from 2024-25 lowers the tax rate from 32.5 per cent to 30 per cent for Australians earning between $45,000 and $200,000.
Mr Chalmers today again labelled part three of the government’s tax package “irresponsible.”
Richard Ferguson 9.25am: Reconciliation ‘work in progress’
Scott Morrison has opened parliament by saying the nation has a “long way to go” towards indigenous reconciliation but noted his hope the nation will get there given the progress so far.
“This is a work in progress. Being at peace with our past, being at one with our past and while we reflect on how far we have to go, consider how far we have come,” he said in Parliament’s Great Hall.
“This year, my Government appointed Ken Wyatt as the first ever Aboriginal person to hold the position of Minister for indigenous Australians and as a member for cabinet and I welcome him here and this morning.
“I am also pleased, as I know that the Leader of the Opposition is, that he will be joined in the parliament by the member of Barton, Linda Burney and senators Patrick Dodson, Malarndirri McCarthy and Jacqui Lambie, but together, between Linda and Ken, I think Anthony and I are both very optimistic about the partnership that can be forged.
“Here we are, walking together, all Australians, indigenous or not, walking together, side-by-side towards reconciliation, towards equal opportunities, towards closing that gap once and for all.
“We have a long way to go, we know, but we will walk that journey together.”
Richard Ferguson 9.20am: Brown backs new anti-Adani group
Former Greens leader Bob Brown has launched a last-ditch effort to halt the planned Adani coal mine, rallying supporters to raise half a million dollars to purchase land to establish a base to train activists and plan protests against the mine.
Richard Ferguson 9.15am: PM ‘prayers for Alek’
Scott Morrison says an Australian student missing in totalitarian North Korea has been the focus of his prayers and that he will do everything to ensure he is brought home safely.
Richard Ferguson 8.25am: Frydenberg confident over tax
Josh Frydenberg says he is confident the government’s full tax cuts package will pass parliament by the end of the week.
“We’re confident that it will. We’re in constructive discussions with the crossbench. The tax cuts are really important to the economy,” the Treasurer told Sky News this morning.
“But it’s clear that Anthony Albanese in continuing to oppose these tax cuts has learnt nothing from the election defeat and heard nothing from his listening tour.”
Richard Ferguson 8.15am: CA warns over medivacs bill
Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff warns the government could scupper future negotiations with him if it tries to repeal the medivacs legislation for refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.
But while it could haunt Scott Morrison over the next three years, Senator Griff told ABC radio that medivacs would not get in the way of him supporting the Prime Minister’s tax cuts bill.
“We certainly oppose any repeal and I think it’s very much a brave move for a government to propose repealing a process which has worked well,” he told ABC radio.
“We don’t link bills … we’re going to link medivacs with tax as such.
“But in sense of medivacs, it will certainly sully the relationship with me at least and I hope it doesn’t progress..”
Senator Griff confirmed he and fellow Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick has had a brief conversation with independent senator Jacqui Lambie about the medivacs bill, but said she would “make up her own mind.”
Richard Ferguson 8.05am: CA ‘close’ to tax deal
Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff says his party is “close” to a deal with Scott Morrison to pass his full tax cuts agenda and tackle high gas prices.
“It’s getting close … we’re a 100 per cent behind income earners getting an extra boost in their pay packet,” he told ABC radio.
“We just need to cross the t’s and dot the i’s to ensure that the money given in not taken away with increased energy costs.
“I’m confident we’ll get there in the next day or two. We’re moving along very positively.”
Senator Griff also dismissed the Labor Party’s proposals to split the tax cuts bill in the senate.
“If it’s altered in the upper house it will go back to the lower house, and it will not get through,” the Centre Alliance MP said, “It’s an all or nothing proposition for the government.”
Richard Ferguson 7.40am: Albo stands firm against tax cuts
Anthony Albanese is standing firm against the third stage of Scott Morrison’s tax cuts, arguing he is trying to make the government’s package “fairer” and denying he is politically damaging Labor. “What we’re going to do is fight for making this package better for the economy and also fairer. We’re prepared to facilitate the debate. We’re doing that tonight,” he said in Canberra this morning. “We won’t be terribly concerned about the 24-hour media cycle. What we’re talking about here is the Government saying it’s prepared to block tax cuts for workers now because of tax cuts that might happen, that it wants to happen, in 2025. Quite frankly, I believe that is an arrogant position on behalf of the Government.
“We’re prepared to facilitate debate in the House. And, what’s more, we’re prepared, and support, the House and the Senate remaining here in Canberra on Thursday, continuing to sit, until these issues are all dealt with.”
Labor MPs have warned Anthony Albanese that internal division is blunting opposition attacks over penalty rate reductions and cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other services.
Richard Ferguson 7.30am: Cormann holds Bishop in ‘high regard’
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says he holds former foreign minister Julie Bishop in “very high regard” despite reports she labelled him the “most disloyal man and someone you can’t trust”. In The Australian columnist Nikki Savva’s new book Plots and Prayers, she writes that Ms Bishop exploded over Senator Cormann’s backing of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton in the Liberal leadership crisis which tore down Malcolm Turnbull.
Ms Bishop believed Senator Cormann was “complicit and she told the Turnbull leadership group: “I told all of you years ago that this is the most disloyal man and someone you can’t trust.”
Today, the Finance Minister batted off questions about the revelations about his former Liberal colleague. “I hold Julie Bishop in very high regard. She’s obviously made an outstanding contribution to our country, through an extensive period of public service, a long period of public service,” he told ABC News. “I’m not going to provide any commentary on these things … I wish Julie Bishop all the very best.”
Richard Ferguson 7.25am: Cormann wants tax cuts by end of week
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says he wants Australians to get tax cuts by the end of next week but does not take crossbench support for the government’s full bill for granted.
“I don’t ever take anything for granted when it comes to non-government senators,” he told ABC News. “Obviously, they’re conversations that are continuing. We want to see this passed by the end of the week so obviously hardworking Australians can start to get their tax refunds into their bank accounts by the end of next week.
“If Labor had come on board more swiftly, accepting the verdict of the Australian people, respecting the verdict of the Australian people, you know, there would have been an opportunity for very efficient passage of this important reform that Australians voted for.”
There is growing confidence the Coalition will secure Senate crossbench support from Jacqui Lambie, Cory Bernardi and Centre Alliance’s Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff.
Without the support of Labor or the Greens, the government has to win over four of the six Senate crossbenchers to pass legislation. It appears to be on the verge of securing the numbers off the back of new measures to reduce gas prices.
Richard Ferguson 7.15am: Hanson won’t back tax bill
Pauline Hanson is still refusing to back Scott Morrison’s tax cuts bill as she returns to Parliament. “These tax cuts are only going to help those people who are working,” the One Nation leader told the Nine Network. “Not the pensioners or those people on welfare who are not putting on their heaters in winter, the gas, because they can’t afford the power.
“Tax cuts can be given to people but they can be taken away just as quickly by any incoming government. By putting infrastructure projects in place and lower power prices and water security, that’s for now and future generations.”
Senator Hanson has said over the past few weeks that increased infrastructure spending, a coal-fired power station and a Bradfield water scheme are her key priorities in tax cut negotiations.
Richard Ferguson 7am: What’s making news
The fate of Scott Morrison’s flagship $158 billion tax cut package will be decided by parliament within days, as Labor MPs warn Anthony Albanese that internal division is blunting opposition attacks over penalty rate reductions and cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and other services.
New US ambassador Arthur Culvahouse has called on Australia to play “a great power leadership role” in the Pacific, saying he expects Scott Morrison will increasingly call out “malign influences” in the region as China increases pressure on vulnerable nations through its Belt and Road Initiative.
Former independent MP Kerryn Phelps will lobby key crossbenchers — including Jacqui Lambie — not to repeal the contentious medivac legislation, urging them to “open their mind and hearts to the plight of people on Manus Island and Nauru”.
A parliamentary inquiry into Christopher Pyne’s new job is inching closer to reality with a senior Labor frontbencher backing the probe, which is also likely to receive support from the Greens and key crossbenchers.
New Governor-General David Hurley declared Australia was “not a finished product” as he vowed to put community engagement on par with his constitutional duties in his role as the Queen’s representative.
Anthony Albanese has warned colleagues against leaking and declared his MPs need to speak with a “single voice”.
Simon Benson writes: Anthony Albanese is discovering just how hard it is to manage Labor in opposition.
Alice Workman’s Strewth: A ministerial staffer sent an exasperated text to Strewth on the eve of the 46th Parliament.
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