Federal Election 2019: Campaign Day 11: Labor gets Senate backing on penalty rates

Centre Alliance senator offers support for Bill Shorten’s penalty rates restoration bid.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, flanked by his daughters Abigail and Lily and Deputy PM Michael McCormack, right, on the Rock Star ride at the Royal Easter show in Sydney. Picture: Gary Ramage

Hello and welcome to Politics Now, The Australian’s live coverage of the 2019 federal election campaign. We’re on the road with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to bring you all the latest developments from the campaign trail.

Here’s how today played out.

Rick Morton 3.47pm: Morrison mistaken for John Howard

Scott Morrison has ended his Easter Sunday touring the Royal Easter Show in Sydney with the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in tow.

The walk-through included a litany of selfies, the occasional odd glance and a turn on the thrill ride “Rock Star” which just happened to be playing Back in Black by AC/DC.

The song had to play twice because it started before the Prime Minister made it on.

Mr Morrison inspected some sheep with his daughters Abigail and Lily, handed out top prize to Banjo the kelpie from Mount Druitt for breaking the world record with a jump of 3.2m and pressed the flesh with voters.

Most reacted enthusiastically to Mr Morrison’s presence, although he was variously mistaken for former prime minister John Howard and “that bloke from TV.”

One cheeky punter tried to get Mr Morrison to sign his Sydney City Roosters NRL cap, although the throng moved on.

Mr Morrison flies out of NSW tonight to continue the campaign.

Mr Morrison, his family and Deputy PM Michael McCormack on the Rock Star ride. Picture: Gary Ramage

Alice Workman 3.05pm: Labor gets Senate support on penalty rates

Centre Alliance has backed Bill Shorten’s calls to restore penalty rates to workers within 100 days if Labor wins the federal election on May 18.

The Fair Work Commission approved the penalty rate reductions last year, with further cuts to be phased in from July 1.

Centre Alliance Senator Rex Patrick told The Australian he doesn’t think that penalty rates should have gone backwards and will vote to overturn them in the Senate.

But despite supporting Labor’s position, Senator Patrick doesn’t think it should be a matter for Parliament and would prefer the Fair Work Commission to operate independently.

“Centre Alliance will support the reinstatement, but prefer see the task of setting penalty rates ultimately removed from the Parliament and returned to the Fair Work Commission, perhaps with adjusted input parameters to the Commission’s decision making,” Senator Patrick said.

The Australian revealed on Saturday that Mr Shorten has vowed to make penalty rates a priority of his industrial relations changes, and aims to pass legislation through the Senate before the 45th Parliament expires on June 30.

"We’re seeing the two major parties diverge… they’re quite different now, and people are looking for sensible centre politics and that’s what @centre_alliance offers," says @Senator_Patrick #Insiders #auspol #AusVotes pic.twitter.com/7IoMFTOI01

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) April 20, 2019

Alice Workman 10.03am: Greens urge ALP to back water inquiry

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has written to Labor leader Bill Shorten asking him to establish a royal commission into the management of the Murray Darling Basin if he wins the federal election next month.

“I write today regarding recent reports of water purchases made by former Water Minister Barnaby Joyce,” Senator Hanson-Young’s letter says. “It has been widely reported that these water purchases may not have achieved value for money, and that the water purchased may not have been returned to the river.

“This is of great concerned to all Australians, especially in my home state of South Australia, where what happens upstream affects us here. Our river is drying up after years of mismanagement and corruption. This must be addressed.

I’ve written to Bill Shorten today, urging Labor to work with Greens to establish a Royal Commission into the Murray Darling Basin. So much shonky stuff around Barnaby Joyce, water purchases & cash handouts to big irrigators. It’s time for an independent investigation. #watergate pic.twitter.com/ARE4a8LB1e

— Sarah Hanson-Young💚 (@sarahinthesen8) April 20, 2019

“I write to you as the potential next Prime Minister, to support the Greens’ call for a federal Royal Commission into the management of the Murray Darling Basin. Over the past two years, numerous scandals including water theft and rorting have come to light. They must be fully investigated. As you are aware, the Liberal-National Government and the Murray Darling Basin Authority refused to take part in SA Labor’s state Royal Commission, leaving many questions unanswered.”

Senator Hanson-Young said the Greens will be making a federal royal commission a key priority in the next parliament.

Greg Brown 10.03am: Bill’s Easter message

Bill Shorten has delivered his Easter message, declaring it was a time of “deep meaning” and family.

“We wish you and your loved ones all the best this Easter,” the Opposition Leader said in a video with his wife, Chloe, and daughter Clementine.

“For many Easter is a time that carries deep meaning. It is a time for worship, for reflection and a special opportunity for families to come together.”

Ms Shorten paid tribute to charities that help the poor and unprivileged.

From my family to yours, have a safe and happy Easter. pic.twitter.com/ZU99TYxT9R

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) April 20, 2019

“As we count our blessings we also think of people who are doing it tough and give thanks for all the organisations and charities who lend a helping hand, not just at Easter but every day of the year,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Shorten attended church at Brisbane’s St Andrew’s Anglican Church this morning, with their children Georgette, Rupert and Clementine.

Ms Shorten’s parents, Michael and Quentin Bryce, were also at the service, along with about 100 parishioners.

The church, in the inner-western suburb of Indooroopilly, is close to the home of Ms Bryce, the former governor-general.

Alice Workman 9.53am: Banks’ Twitter cull

It appears the heat of the federal election campaign has become too much for former Liberal turned independent candidate Julia Banks.

Ouch pic.twitter.com/dnE2hduQyp

— Jane Hume (@SenatorHume) April 20, 2019

Ms Banks has blocked her former colleague Liberal senator Jane Hume on Twitter.

“Ouch,” Ms Hume tweeted on Sunday morning with a screenshot showing she has been blocked from following and viewing Ms Banks’ tweets. A number of people replied to Ms Hume saying they had also been blocked by the former Liberal.

Ms Banks defected from the Liberal Party last year after the removal of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister, claiming she had been bullied and there was a culture of intimidation and gender bias. Ms Banks refused to name the Coalition MPs she said were bullying her.

The Australian revealed last week that a young female executive assistant working for pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline was paid compensation after making a bullying complaint against Ms Banks.

Ms Banks is running as an independent against Health Minister Greg Hunt in the seat of Flinders.

Alice Workman 9.31am: ‘Watergate’ inquiry calls grow

Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick has called for a royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin over growing concerns about the government’s $80 million water buyback that has been dubbed “Watergate”.

In August 2017, the Department of Agriculture bought 28.7 gigalitres of overland flow water from two Eastern Australia Agriculture properties. Energy minister Angus Taylor was a co-founder and director of Eastern Australia Irrigation, which was EEA’s ultimate holding company, years before the government purchase.

“There’s lot of secrecy still surrounding the deal and it needs to be brought into the open,” Senator Patrick said.

“Someone that can examine both what’s happened inside the government, but also subpoena documents and summons, witnesses — including ministers, including members of companies involved — and look to the transactions that took place.”

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has demanded the government release unredacted documents explaining the buyback process.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young continued her attack on the coalition’s handling of the basin plan. Picture: AAP

“This was one of the highest recorded payments of taxpayer money … even the company themselves boasted in their annual report that they made over a $50 million profit selling the water. So, something is just not right,” Senator Hanson-Young told the ABC.

“We need to have a full independent audit of how this was done, was it value for money? But we need the documents that have been tabled in the Senate, unredacted.”

Senator Hanson-Young said she will write to Labor leader Bill Shorten later today, asking him to support a royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin plan if he becomes prime minister next month.

In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, Labor’s Tony Burke called on Scott Morrison to answer questions about the sale.

“The purchases that took place in 2017 for this form of unreliable water, or floodwater, was significantly higher than the prices being paid for river water,” Mr Burke said. “Mr Joyce’s defence is like trying to compare a household water bill and the price of plastic bottled water.”

“This purchase stands out as an appalling value for money transaction from the perspective of the Australian taxpayer. From the perspective of the purchaser it looks like a never to be forgotten windfall.”

When asked about the water sale at Westmead Hospital on Saturday, Mr Morrison said the Coalition has already dealt with the issue and rejected any wrongdoing.

“I understand that process was initiated by the Queensland government and the terms of that arrangement were settled at arm’s length from ministers as you’d expect them to,” Mr Morrison said.

“I understand the Senate has actually inquired into this matter and sought production of documents from the government regarding those transactions, which the government has provided.

“That strikes me there’s a high level of transparency on that and this is an issue that has been raised before and has been addressed. I know Labor are revisiting it at the moment, this is what Bill Shorten does when he gets desperate and he can’t answer questions about his own policies, he starts throwing mud around.”

Richard Ferguson 9.23am: The answer is in the stars

Bill Shorten is looking for a campaign reset this week and Scott Morrison is looking to keep up the momentum to win an unlikely victory — the answers for both Taurus men are in the stars.

This is what The Weekend Australian’s Mystic Medusa sees in the horoscopes of our leading political bulls:

“The 22nd to 24th is your hot zone for perfecting a revolutionary, mediocrity-busting agenda and exploiting fast-manifesting opportunities. It’s also a good chance to tune into the frequency from the future and position yourself accordingly.”

Perfecting a revolutionary agenda? Good for the Opposition Leader.

Exploiting fast-manifesting opportunities? Good for the Prime Minister.

Alice Workman 9.15am: Election ‘ceasefire’

It’s day eleven of the federal election campaign and another day of truce — no paid advertising or campaigning from the two major parties.

Scott Morrison’s campaign bus is driving through the Sutherland Shire en route to a church service for Easter Sunday.

Bill Shorten is in Brisbane and also heading to church with his family.

Bill Shorten with his wife Chloe and former Governor-general Quentin Bryce and husband Michael, at St Andrews Anglian Church in Indooroopilly. Picture Kym Smith

On Good Friday both Labor and Liberal campaigners accused the other of breaking the bipartisan blackout before deleting posts from social media.

A Liberal campaign source said they believed the suspension was only limited to paid advertising and posts on social media were fine.

Both campaigns pointed to sponsored Facebook posts that have run over the long weekend by the Greens, the Australian youth Coal Coalition, left-wing lobby group Get Up! and independent candidates Kerryn Phelps and Julia Banks.

Today, the campaigns are squabbling over an announcement made late on Saturday night.

Labor announced just after 11pm last night that it would give $118 million to support veterans and families. As part of this pledge, Labor will give more than 84,000 veterans a $10,000 boost to the one-off funeral payment and also provide $20 million for local communities to upgrade war memorials, honour boards and cenotaphs.

Rick Morton 9.07am Rare glimpse of PM

Scott Morrison will attend his own Horizon Church for an Easter Sunday service in his electorate of Cook this morning.

The Prime Minister is allowing photographers and camera operators into the Pentecostal church with him for the first time.

Mr Morrison will arrive with his family at 9.30 for the service which

runs until 11am.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with his wife Jenny on Easter Sunday at the Horizon Church in Sutherland. Picture: Gary Ramage

The Sutherland Shire’s Horizon Church in Sydney’s south has a 1200-seat auditorium and Mr Morrison, his wife Jenny and daughters Abigail and Lily have been regular attendees for about a decade. He and wife Jenny met while in school and married in their early 20s.

Although the Prime Minister has been open about his Christian faith he has largely tried to keep Horizon Church out of the spotlight during his time as an MP.

Horizon Church senior pastor Brad Bonhomme said his sermon today will be about hope after disappointment, following the message of the resurrection.

“The thing I would like to focus on today is just the extraordinary loyalty of the people who have been disappointed by the death of Jesus, but hope was restored through His resurrection,” he said.

“We all go through times where we feel as though things have been lost but even in disappointment there is always the other side.”

Mr Bonhomme said his congregation, and the church itself, treat the Morrisons as any other family.

“Our goal is to provide them with an opportunity to express their

faith,” he said.