Budget reply: Bill Shorten pledges big tax cuts, extra funds for health and education
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor will deliver big tax cuts for low-income workers, while also pledging extra money for health and education | VIDEO
- Pyne’s emotional farewell
- Social media crackdown passes
- Anning: no Cottrell help
- Labor budget reply ‘lies, taxes’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s blog on the happenings at Parliament House in Canberra.
Bill Shorten has delivered his budget reply speech as Labor readies for an election campaign.
Health, education and tax cuts centrepiece
Bill Shorten’s pitch to be Prime Minister has started with billions of extra dollars for health and education, and bigger personal income tax cuts for workers.
He’s promising $1.2 billion to make almost all cancer scans free and another $1bn to create 150,000 apprenticeships.
The Labor leader’s budget-reply speech included a promise for six million free X-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds, and PET and CT scans.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said Labor merely had a plan for “$200 billion in higher taxes”.
“The truth is Labor does not know how to manage money. That is why they are coming after yours,” Senator Cormann said.
“Labor has not delivered a surplus but since 1989. In fact, when Labor was last in government for six years, they delivered sick record deficits totaling $240 billion.
“We have finally turned the corner. We are back on track and back in the black. We are about delivering a surplus in 2019-20. This is not the time to go back. This is not the time to go back to the discredited Labor ways of the past.”
Senator Cormann said voters could not trust Labor to be able to pay for the $2.3bn cancer fund.
“You can’t trust anything that Labor is saying because they are not giving you any details. There is no details, (no) costings,” he said.
He added the government had already been investing in better treatment and services for cancer patients.
“What I would point out that when Labor was last in government, not only did they deliver $240bn in total deficits over a 6-year period, they also stopped listing medicines, recommended medicines on the PBS because they ran out of money, literally,” he said.
“They delayed the listings of key medicines, including for cancer treatment, until fiscal conditions permitted.”
Shorten finishes by telling people to not be swayed by government fear campaigns against the prospect of a Labor government.
“I’m optimistic about our nation’s future because this country has so much going for us, a continent to call our own, next to the fastest growing economies in the world,” he says.
“The resources to be an energy superpower. We have the skills and science and get up and go to create new industries, and best of all, we have our people. Australians are hardworking, caring, brave, smart and generous.
“Labor offers stability and unity and a vision for the nation, we choose hope over fear, we choose the future over the past. We choose the best support possible for people with cancer.”
People in public gallery, clearly stacked with Labor supporters, cheered “Bill, Bill Bill” over and over after the speech ended.
Leader of the House Christopher Pyne also received a loud sendoff when he left the House of Representatives for the last time. He was hugged at the door by Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman.
Greg Brown 8.07pm: Medicare pledge
Shorten unveils what he says is “the most significant investment in Medicare in a generation”, a $2.3 billion “Medicare cancer plan”.
Under the policy, there will be $600m towards eliminating costs for diagnostic imaging.
“Over four years this will mean six million free cancer scans funded by Medicare: CT scans, PET scans, mammograms, x rays and ultrasounds, reducing the out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients from hundreds of dollars to zero,” he says. “This will apply to MRIs too.”
There will also be $433m provided to cover cancer specialists under bulk billing.
Greg Brown 7.55pm: Shorten’s roads map
The Labor leader commits $1.5 billion for roads in Queensland. “We will deliver $1.5 billion to upgrade the Gateway Motorway from Bracken Ridge to the Pine River and the next stage of the Bruce Highway from the northern suburbs to Caboolture,” he says.
Greg Brown 7.52pm: ‘Made in Australia’
The Opposition Leader says Australians should be building electric cars and solar batteries.
“When it comes to clean technology, I believe we can make three words famous right around the world - ‘made in Australia’,” he says.
Greg Brown 7.50pm: Education boost
Shorten announces an extra $1 billion of funding for TAFE.
Labor will pay upfront fees for 100,000 Australians and create a $200 million fund to renovate and expand campuses.
“I am proud to announce that 20,000 of these places will be allocated to a new generation of aged care workers and paid carers for the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Shorten says.
Greg Brown 7.46pm: ‘Climate change is real’
Shorten talks up Labor’s plan to tackle intergeneration inequity, including cracking down on negative gearing and tackling climate change.
“The climate change debate has poisoned this parliament for ten years and it’s most certainly paralysed the current government,” Shorten says.
“So tonight let’s deal in simple facts: climate change is real. It is doing real damage to our economy and to our environment and we can measure the cost of inaction - bushfires, droughts, floods, extreme weather and damage to our farmland and our reef.
“For the sake of the Australia that we hand on to our children, a Labor government will reform, will not shirk the task of reform, it will take real action on climate change.”
Greg Brown 7.41pm: Bigger tax cuts promise
Shorten confirms Labor will give bigger tax cuts for workers earning less than $40,000, noting 57 per cent of those workers are women.
He says there will be an extra $1 billion for these workers.
“6.4 million working people will pay the same amount of income tax under Labor as the Liberals and another 3.6 million will pay less tax under Labor,” Shorten says.
But we will not be signing up to the Liberals’ radical, right-wing, flat tax experiment, way off in the future, a scheme that would see a nurse on $50,000 paying the same tax rate as a surgeon on $200,000.”
Greg Brown 7.38pm: NDIS ‘shortchanged’
Shorten slams the government for “shortchanging” the National Disability Insurance Scheme by $1.6 billion to “prop up its flimsy budget surplus forecast”.
“Tonight I can give every Australian living with a disability and the people who love them this personal commitment: that if we are elected as the next government of Australia: we will lift the NDIA cap on staff numbers so we can get the support out the door, keep the promises made to people with disabilities and we will put people with disability at the centre of decision-making in the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Shorten says.
“We will get the NDIS back on track.”
Greg Brown 7.30pm: Shorten’s pledge
Bill Shorten opens his budget reply speech with different take on Gough Whitlam’s famous “men and women of Australia” line. This time women were first.
“Women and men of Australia,” he says, leading to a few groans from the government benches.
He starts by promising to restore “every single dollar” the government “cut” from schools and hospitals.
6pm: Unions mobilise
Immigration Minister David Coleman’s marginal Sydney seat is in the sights of Australia’s peak union body with hundreds of doorknockers and campaigners set to hit the streets, AAP reports.
Mr Coleman - the only Liberal MP to win Banks - is the first NSW member targeted by the Australian Council of Trade Unions, which is pushing for a change of laws around wages and penalty rates.
About 300 volunteers are expected to kick-off the campaign in Revesby on Thursday night.
“We’ll have even more people out on the streets protesting, giving out leaflets, knocking on doors and making sure the electorate of Banks knows how important it is to change the government,” ACTU president Michele O’Neil told AAP. Banks, which includes the suburbs of South Hurstville, Revesby, Padstow and East Hills, was retained by Mr Coleman in 2016 on a margin of just 1.4 per cent. Labor is a $1.65 favourite to win the seat in May, according to bookmaker Sportsbet. The immigration minister is at $2.10.
The ACTU says lessons from the recent NSW election included that voters are concerned about insecure work.
“People understand that the rules that affect how much you earn and your wages are federal rules,” Ms O’Neil said.
“These are issues (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison and his government are in denial about.” Mr Coleman’s office has been contacted for comment.
5pm: Palmer’s legal move
Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party says it is asking the High Court to stop the Australian Electoral Commission publishing theoretical election results before all polls close, AAP reports.
Mr Palmer and his federal candidates from Western Australia and the Northern Territory have launched the High Court application, saying early theoretical results could give misleading information in states where polls are still open. “Because of the time differences across Australia, the current procedure improperly favours major parties,” Mr Palmer said in a statement.
4.30pm: Embattled MPs query Adani move
A delegation of Queensland MPs have held an urgent meeting with Scott Morrison to air concerns about the coalmine — read more here
David Swan 3.55pm: ‘Just extreme sloppiness’
Atlassian’s founders have bagged laws designed to prevent the live streaming of violent material — Read more here
Richard Ferguson 3.45pm: Bishop’s early exit
There was one notable absence while Defence Minister Christopher Pyne gave his last speech in parliament - former foreign minister Julie Bishop.
The Defence Minister famously sided with Scott Morrison in last August’s Liberal leadership spill, despite his factional alignment and long friendship with Ms Bishop.
It is understood Ms Bishop had to leave parliament early to get back to Perth.
Richard Ferguson 3.30pm: ‘He was better than most of us’
Manager of opposition business Tony Burke gets to his feet and praises Christopher Pyne.
“The Leader of the House is someone who has always loved the Parliament. Always loved the Parliament,” he says.
“The Leader of the House has been better than almost any of us at having moments where a bit of grace and a bit of levity is thrown in.
“He has referred to the stage of this Parliament. I do not think anyone sees it as a stage quite the way the Leader of the House does.
“Wherever your career takes you, particularly if you are there at an awards night, receiving a Logie award for your future theatrical performances, please remember, we were all there with you at the beginning.”
Richard Ferguson 3.25pm: Pyne moved to tears
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne’s farewell to parliament is causing much merriment.
“I’ve had a fortunate life. I do not have a log cabin story like so many people in this place but I once had to get my own lemon for my own gin and tonic,” he says.
“I once described this house as my natural habitat, you are all my fellow species in this unnatural space. This place brings out the best of us and the worst in us.
“I’ve seen some truly dreadful people come through here over the last quarter of a century, Mr Speaker.”
Mr Pyne’s voice breaks and he burst into tears as he ends his career in parliament.
“Thankyou, goodbye and good luck,” he says.
Some of the first people to hug him are Labor frontbenchers Tanya Plibersek and Richard Marles.
Richard Ferguson 3.20pm: ‘The Fixer’ bids farewell
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne is giving his last speech in parliament.
“In April 28, 1992, I was preselected for Sturt. The opening lines of my speech were - ‘in 1966, after 17 years, Sir Keith Wilson handed Sturt other to his son, Ian. Now 26 years later now it’s time to change again.’ Of course I went on to win that preselection,” he says.
“Like the member of Grayndler (Anthony Albanese), I’m a team man, I happen to go for the team that is the election-winning machine.
“I fixed it. I thank Sky News for giving me that moniker, which I’ve never been able to shake.”
Richard Ferguson 3.15pm: PM ends Question Time
Scott Morrison is giving his last dorothy dixer answer, outlining how the government is keeping his promises.
Labor MPs pull out posters of Malcolm Turnbull which read: “WHERE’S MALCOLM GONE?”
The Prime Minister perseveres.
“In meeting our commitments to the Australian people. Mr Speaker, that is in stark contrast - stark contrast - to what happened back in 2007 when the people of Australia chose to go on a different path and elect a Labor government,” he says.
“Under this government, that surplus had been achieved, the boats have been stopped, the carbon tax has been abolished and we’re building the infrastructure of the 21st century.”
And with that, the last question time of the 45th parliament ends.
Richard Ferguson 3.10pm: Trouble in the crib?
Independent MP for Chisholm Julia Banks asks Environment Minister Melissa Price if the Health Minister Greg Hunt opposes a Crib Point gas project in his electorate, and whether he has raised the project with her.
Mr Hunt is against the project, and Ms Banks is running against him in his seat of Flinders.
Ms Price responds: “The Crib Point gas point projects are intended to provide a cost-effective, secure supply of natural gas to south-eastern Australia by importing LNG from Australia to international markets.”
“Once it’s finalised, separate decisions will be made by the Victorian and the Commonwealth governments.”
She does reveal whether Mr Hunt has raised Crib Point with her.
Richard Ferguson 3.05pm: ‘Ashamed of their record’
Opposition health spokesman Catherine King asks Health Minister Greg Hunt about cuts to a number of hospitals.
The Health Minister responds: “I am delighted, delighted in the budget that the government has set out record funding for hospitals. Record funding for hospitals.
“You know what, Mr Speaker? That funding is up from $13.5 billion under Labor, $13.3 billion under Labor to this budget.
“In essence, Labor cannot tell the truth. The reason why is because they are ashamed of their own record.”
In attacking Labor, Mr Hunt accidentally says: “We are the Medi-frauds.”
He corrects his statement and says the government are “Medi-friends.”
Richard Ferguson 3pm: ‘I’m being molested by the member ...’
Liberal MP for North Sydney Trent Zimmerman struggles to deliver a dorothy dixer.
“I’m being molested by the member for Leichhardt (Warren Entsch),” he says. “I think he’s turned after he saw the photos of the Treasurer this morning.”
See Caroline Overington’s piece today for pictures of a younger, buffer, more mullet-er Josh Frydenberg.
Richard Ferguson 2.55pm: ‘Who do you believe?’
Bill Shorten asks Scott Morrison whether he believes Dunkley MP Chris Crewther or Environment Minister Melissa Price over whether community projects in his electorate were funded (Ms Price just told the House they were not.)
The Prime Minister responds: “I believe both members are passionate about the environment.”
“We don’t believe that you have to choose between having a clean environment and a strong economy.”
Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: Price checks Labor attack
Opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke asks Environment Minister if Dunkley MP Chris Crewther misled his electorate about environment grants.
Ms Price responds: “What we do know is that he (Mr Crewther) has got very, very good projects that he has identified for the communities environments program.”
“I mean, what have you got against the wildlife shelter in Frankston? What is wrong with that? We went there to talk about an expression of interest.”
Richard Ferguson 2.50pm: Burke tries again
Opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke asks Environment Minister Melissa Price why she says no decisions have been made about community environment program funding.
Mr Burke notes the Environment Minister appeared in a video and press release about four projects put out by Dunkley MP Chris Crewther.
“The good member for Dunkley identified four very, very good environmental projects that he proposed to be able to put forward for expressions of interest. Nothing more and nothing less,” Ms Price says.
Richard Ferguson 2.40pm: MP Price in the spotlight
Opposition environment spokesman Tony Burke asks Environment Minister Melissa Price why one MP announced tens of thousands of dollars in environment grants before applications opened.
Ms Price says these particular grants were never open to applications. “It’s no surprise that the members opposite have not been out there engaging with their communities,” she says.
“Their spokesperson for the environment has said, ‘should they occupy these benches’, not that they’re not going to, they’re going to abolish the $22 million program.”
Zoe Samios 2.35pm: ‘Shock, concern’ at new laws
Australian media and technology companies say they are shocked and concerned by the federal parliament’s bipartisan backing for rushed new laws preventing violent footage appearing on social media platforms.
NewsMediaWorks chief executive, Peter Miller, told The Australian he was very surprised by the “risky” decision to pass the legislation, when the government had been advised by a number of media businesses to “take a deep breath”.
“There was so much coverage in the press this morning saying settle down, and they haven’t done so. It seems very risky. We’ll be talking to our members to understand their position,” Mr Miller said.
NewsMediaWorks is the industry body for news publishers, News Corp, Nine and Seven West Media.
The legislation has united small and large publishers in opposition after they were caught up in regulation aimed at the tech titans such as Facebook and Google that live streamed and enabled sharing of footage of the Christchurch massacre with a global audience.
This morning the Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material bill passed through the House of Representatives with the support of Labor, despite the opposition’s legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus noting eight issues with the legislation. The Bill passed the Senate on Wednesday evening.
Free TV chief executive Bridget Fair, who represents commercial free-to-air television broadcasters, said the body remained concerned with the news legislation.
“We would welcome an opportunity to work with the Government to consider these issues in more detail,” Ms Fair said.
“There is a fundamental difference between reporting the news and the streaming of unedited live terrorist footage with no editorial decision making process. FreeTV does not believe that criminal sanctions are an appropriate mechanism in relation to public interest news reports by legitimate Australian news providers.”
“While we support the intention of the legislation and welcome the Government’s measures to limit the exposure of news reporting, we remain concerned by any attempt to criminalise public interest journalism which serves an important role in a healthy democracy,” a Nine spokeswoman added.
Chris Wirasinha, co-founder of Pedestrian Group, which runs Pedestrian TV, Business Insider and Gizmodo, said while the move to legislation was a step in the right direction, the rushed approach raised strong concerns.
“The ability for news organisations to publish often difficult or challenging material in the public interest is an important part of the news media’s role in society. This effect will be felt particularly strongly by journalists from smaller and independent organisations without access to legal teams,” Mr Wirasinha said.
Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: Another NDIS query
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney asks Scott Morrison again about the NDIS underspend and mentions families who have waited 10 months for support.
The Prime Minister says: “I refer to my earlier answer - the NDIS is one of the biggest social projects we have been engaged in.”
“What is shameful is for the member to seek to exploit the disabilities of Australians and to cause fear and anxiety amongst Australians who are living with disability, Mr Speaker. That is what is shameful.
“I would appeal to the Labor Party not to engage in these dark political shameful questions that reflect not on the morality of the Government, but on the morality of the Leader of the Opposition.”
Richard Ferguson 2.25pm: Aged care ‘record funding’
Independent MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie asks Josh Frydenberg why he just funded 10,000 extra packages for older Australians seeking support at home in the budget, when the waiting list is up to two years.
“I can inform her that we actually funded 40,000 new additional home-care packages since the 2017-18 MYEFO and that in 2019-2020,” the Treasurer responds.
The government is providing $21.6 billion to fund better services for aged care led by the minister and this is an increase of more than 50 per cent, an increase of more than 50 per cent, for aged care funding since 2013-2014.
“We believe in helping those Australians who need our help and we are funding it in record amounts.”
Richard Ferguson 2.20pm: ‘How low will you go?’
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney asks Scott Morrison why there is an underspend on the NDIS and accuses him of “starving” the disability scheme.
The Prime Minister and government MPs act angrily to her question. “Shame on you,” one calls.
Josh Frydenberg shouts: “How low will you go?”
Mr Morrison says: “The National Disability Insurance Scheme is fully-funded under the budget. It’s fully-funded, Mr Speaker.”
“There is no impediment whatsoever to the additional of funds to the NDIS for this program.
“And for the opposition to cause needless anxiety amongst people in families with disabilities shows just how low they are prepared to go at this election, Mr Speaker.”
Richard Ferguson 2.15pm: Laming’s retro look
There is much merriment after Liberal MP Andrew Laming asks a dorothy dixer.
He is wearing what can be best described as a very colourful shirt and Labor MPs note it.
Josh Frydenberg cannot stop laughing while he is supposed to respond.
Speaker Tony Smith allows him to take a moment and says laughingly: “I understand the issue.”
Frydenberg says he's glad Andrew Laming is wearing a shirt from 1989. It certainly is quite something. Many giggles across the chamber. #qt pic.twitter.com/OyczUR6Pi9
— Katina Curtis (@katinacurtis) April 4, 2019
Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: $80m budget addition under scrutiny
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen asks Scott Morrison why the deputy secretary for his department told senate estimates he did not know about an $80m addition to energy payments until he’d heard it on the radio.
“Once again, another member of the Labor Party, this time the Shadow Treasurer, who can’t come to the Despatch Box and tell the truth,” the Prime Minister responds.
Mr Bowen interjects: “The question was about evidence at Senate estimates about the energy payment.”
Mr Morrison continues: “We took that measure for, and Mr Speaker, what we then decided to do is that we wanted to have that legislated as quickly as possible to ensure that that measure would get to those pension recipients.
“There was a clearly a mood within this chamber that they wanted to see that extended to other benefits, and we took the practical decision, Mr Speaker, the honest decision to do the right thing and to not engage in the argy-bargy of partisanship and politics.”
Richard Ferguson 2.05pm: ‘Incapable of telling the truth’
Bill Shorten opens up the last Question Time of the 45th parliament asking about “cuts” to schools and hospitals in the budget, and why Malcolm Turnbull is not prime minister.
Scott Morrison responds that the Opposition Leader is “incapable of telling the truth.”
“Under our government over the last five years, funding from the Commonwealth for hospitals has increased by 63.2 per cent,” the Prime Minister says.
“Under our government, when it comes to public schools, it’s state schools, those funding over the last five years, that funding is up by 62 per cent.
“So the Labor Party, they will go to the Australian people and they won’t tell them the truth, Mr Speaker, about what the Government has done, but I tell you what they will do — they’ll tax Australians and they’ll tax them hard.”
Richard Ferguson 12.20pm: ‘I’m not going there’
Barnaby Joyce has refused to dwell on his ex-wife’s extraordinary transformation into an award-winning bodybuilder, which she says was a direct result of their very public split.
The ex-Nationals leader was ashen-faced today as he told Sky News he wanted to focus on the people of regional Australia and not his ex-wife on the front pages.
.@Barnaby_Joyce on his former wife entering a body building competition:
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 4, 2019
I’m not even going to enter that space. I don’t think there are any votes in talking about yourself.
MORE: https://t.co/GKENbaMpRh #thekennyreport pic.twitter.com/80UUGmnP8B
“I’m not even going to start going to that space, I’m going to concentrate on other people, I’m going to concentrate on the people of my electorate,” he said.
“I don’t think there are any votes in speaking about yourself.”
But when pressed by Sky News, Mr Joyce did reveal that he was also trying to keep fit.
“I go for a swim. I’ll do that as soon as I can (after the interview).”
To read the article in full, click here.
Rosie Lewis 12.45pm: Tech groups lash laws
The Digital Industry Group lashed the “pass it now, change it later” approach adopted by Labor and the Coalition to the Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material bill, which it said did nothing to address hate speech.
“Let’s be clear: no one wants abhorrent content on their websites, and DIGI members work to take this down as quickly as possible. But with the vast volumes of content uploaded to the internet every second, this is a highly complex problem that requires discussion with the technology industry, legal experts, the media and civil society to get the solution right -- that didn’t happen this week,” DIGI managing director Sunita Bose said.
“This creates a strict internet intermediary liability regime that is out of step with the notice-and-takedown regimes in Europe and the United States, and is therefore bad for internet users as it encourages companies to proactively surveil the vast volumes of user-generated content being uploaded at any given minute.
“This ‘pass it now, change it later’ approach to legislation, such as we saw with the encryption law, creates immediate uncertainty for Australia’s technology industry. It threatens employees within any company that has user-generated content to be potentially jailed for the misuse of their services -- even if they are unaware of it. This is not how legislation should be made in a democracy like Australia.”
Alice Workman 12.35pm: ‘Get elected, not mad’
The outgoing independent member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, has vowed in her valedictory speech that she’s not leaving politics just taking a step back.
Ms Gowan was greeted by loud cheers from a crowd of supporters in the public gallery dressed in her signature campaign orange when she declared that people in marginal seats have the power to change the upcoming election result.
“Our work is not yet done; don’t get mad, get elected.”
Richard Ferguson 12.30pm: Tech crackdown “flawed”
New social media laws rammed through parliament after the Christchurch terror attacks have one big opponent — billionaire and Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar.
“Never has petty party politics so clearly been on display. This flawed legislation just passed parliament. The ALP agreed it was flawed but supported it anyway (WTF?). We elect officials to do what’s best for the country, but they are point scoring instead,” he tweeted.
“As of today, any person working at any company (globally) that allows users to upload videos or images could go to jail. Guilty until proven innocent. They need to violate users privacy to police this. Whistleblowers highlighting human rights abuses aren’t excluded.”
Never has petty party politics so clearly been on display. This flawed legislation just passed parliament. The ALP agreed it was flawed but supported it anyway (WTF?). We elect officials to do what's best for the country, but they are point scoring instead https://t.co/Ap0r3diFCV
— Scott Farquhar (@scottfarkas) April 4, 2019
As of today, any person working at any company (globally) that allows users to upload videos or images could go to jail. Guilty until proven innocent. They need to violate users privacy to police this. Whistleblowers highlighting human rights abuses aren't excluded.
— Scott Farquhar (@scottfarkas) April 4, 2019
Primrose Riordan 12.20pm: “Don’t drop guard” on Islamists
Home Affairs Secretary Michael Pezzullo has said security agencies should not “over-correct” in response to the Christchurch terrorist attack to focus too heavily on far right extremism at the expense of more organised Islamic terror groups.
Speaking a Senate Estimates hearing, Mr Pezzullo said Australian agencies could not “drop their guard” in relation to surveillance and disruption of Islamic terror groups.
He said these groups had shown themselves capable of controlling entire territories and training large groups of people to become soldiers.
He said it was “abhorrent” what had occurred in Christchurch and he has previously said agencies in his department had increased their focus on far right groups.
Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds said: “extremism is extremism if it’s right or left”.
Alice Workman 12.12pm: “My 100 year sleep kiss”
Outgoing Liberal MP Steven Ciobo has used his valedictory speech to muse on his track record of always backing the person who comes second in leadership contests — from Peter Costello to Peter Dutton.
The member for Moncrieff said his Liberal colleagues would shift uncomfortably when they realised they were backing a Ciobo horse.
“It’s the reverse Sleeping Beauty fairytale; my kiss could put someone to political sleep for 100 years.”
Mr Ciobo is retiring after 17 years in Parliament. He served as the minister for International Development and the Pacific in the Abbott government before being promoted to cabinet with the portfolio of Trade and Investment by Malcolm Turnbull. He was then demoted to Defence Industry following the most recent spill that saw Scott Morrison elected leader.
Mr Ciobo said he’s always struggled with the pragmatic side of politics, preferring the warmth of philosophy and ideology.
12.10pm: Law reform recommended
A parliamentary inquiry has kicked the idea of a bill of rights down the road, but suggested in the short-term ensuring all Australian laws align with international pacts on freedom of religion or belief.
A second interim report was tabled in parliament on Thursday by the human rights sub-committee.
The inquiry found while Australians generally enjoy freedom of religion and relief, there is little formal protection to this right.
“The right of individuals to believe in, and a society’s tolerance towards, differing religions or beliefs is a fundamental component of any healthy democracy,” committee chair and Liberal MP Kevin Andrews said. The report recommends Australian law be reformed to fully align with Articles 18 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights.
AAP
Rosie Lewis 11.45am: Social media crack down passes
New laws designed to crack down on tech giants and prevent another terrorist attack from being livestreamed online has passed federal parliament with bipartisan support, despite traditional media, lawyers, cyber security and tech experts warning they could have unintended consequences.
The Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material bill sailed through the House of Representatives with Labor’s support, minutes after the opposition’s legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus listed no less than eight problems with the legislation.
Labor received the draft bill on Monday night, today it is law.
“This is no way to approach law making in this country and the precedent the government has set, not just on this bill, is atrocious. Not even New Zealand, where the Christchurch atrocity occurred, has attempted to make this change in such a short timeframe,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“However because Labor agrees the streaming of the Christchurch terrorist attack has shown there’s a need for measures to prevent such conduct occurring in the future, Labor will not stand in the way of the Morrison government’s clumsy attempt to deal with this issue.”
Here are the chief problems with the bill according to Mr Dreyfus (although no doubt Attorney-General Christian Porter will disagree):
— The bill could potentially undermine Australia’s security co-operation with the US, forcing US internet service providers to share content data with the AFP in breach of American law
— The bill may encourage proactive surveillance of internet users by social media platforms
— The bill could have an adverse impact on legitimate whistleblowing activity
— The bill could treat television networks differently to Twitter if they show the same video
— The bill does not jail social media executives (Mr Porter has already disputed this)
— The bill adds extra compliance costs on a big number of companies
— The bill means hundreds of small companies will be caught and may not have the technical capability to comply with the “onerous new regulation”
— The bill does not make clear if the AFP or eSafety commissioner have been given extra resources to deal with the influx of notifications from online companies reporting abhorrent violent material
Niki Savva 11.30am: Dollars count, so does trust
There is no mystery surrounding the greatest negative plaguing the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government. It is there for all to see, with research on both sides confirming that the No 1 impediment to its re-election is disunity.
A by-product of that, after years of what focus groups describe as clusters, with the F-bomb attached — one after the other after another — is the deep resistance of voters to efforts to woo them back.
Cynicism flourishes. The challenge for Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday night was to get people to forget the Coalition’s ritual disembowellings, to regain their trust and to get them to focus on its record of delivery on the economy — solid, measurable achievements — including the first surplus in 12 years as living proof of fiscal responsibility.
Except there isn’t one. Despite the drum rolls, the hype and the ramped-up expectations, there is no surplus. Not yet. Saying, as they had been, that they would hand down a budget surplus was, strictly speaking, untrue. It was spinful, something of which the voters have had a gutful.
To read Niki’s commentary in full, click here.
Bernard Salt 11.00am: The 11 seats that matter
At the upcoming May election less than a dozen electorates will determine the course of the next three years, which will have direct implications for the property industry in terms of negative gearing and capital gains tax and possibly immigration policy.
To read Bernard Salt’s full, insightful analysis, click here.
Lilly Vitorovich 10.45am: ABC warns of ‘tough decisions’
Acting ABC managing director David Anderson has warned that “tough decisions” will need to be made on staffing and services after the government refused to meet the public broadcaster’s demand for a big funding boost in the federal budget.
Mr Anderson, who took charge following the axing of Michelle Guthrie last year in September, has written to staff about the implications of the budget, which included the Morrison government’s commitment to provide $43.7 million to help fund its rural and regional journalism for the next three years. The enhanced news gathering funding package increases the ABC’s triennial base operational funding to almost $3.2 billion from $3.16bn.
To read the article in full, click here.
Richard Ferguson 10.40am: Shorten’s budget run in
Bill Shorten has not let his big moment tonight ruin his pre-election fitness routine.
The Opposition Leader jogged into Parliament House early this morning, before getting ready for his budget-in-reply speech tonight.
It will be his fifth budget reply speech and most likely his last, whether he wins next month’s election or not.
Richard Ferguson 9.45am: Anning rules out Cottrell help
Far-right senator Fraser Anning has ruled out campaigning with convicted criminals Blair Cottrell or Neil Erikson in the upcoming election, after having his new party registered.
Senator Anning was condemned for attending a rally with the infamous pair — both with neo-Nazi ties — earlier this year at an anti-immigration rally.
Mr Erikson also led a group of men to perform a “citizen’s arrest” of a 17-year-old protester who threw an egg at Senator Anning last month, and the young man became unconscious.
Senator Anning told The Australian today that neither Mr Cottrell nor Mr Erikson would be candidates for Fraser Anning’s Conservative National Party, but he said he does have people ready to run for both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“No I wasn’t considering that at all ... I haven’t done so far (campaigned with them) and I don’t plan to into the future,” Senator Anning said.
“I don’t know who those people run with. I’ve heard different things, I don’t know whether it’s media hype or not.
“I certainly wouldn’t run with anyone who’s white supremacist or neo-Nazi or any of those sort of things.”
Richard Ferguson 8.50am: Labor tax hit in for long haul
Opposition finance spokesman Jim Chalmers says Labor’s budget repair tax hit on high income earners will stay until the surplus is one per cent of GDP, which is not expected till 2026/27.
“Our budget repair levy is designed to be in place until we have a strong, sustainable surplus,” he told Sky News.
“It’s best to think about it is as a proportion of the economy. Our rough rule of thumb, and these things are not set in concrete, but our rough rule of thumb has previously been one per cent of GDP, which we don’t hit till 2026 or 27 on the government’s current numbers.”
Richard Ferguson 8.25am: ‘No class war’
Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek has dismissed suggestions Bill Shorten is waging a “class war” by focusing on bigger tax cuts for lower income workers, but not providing relief for people earning just over $125,000 a year.
“It is quite an unusual government that wants to give an $11,000 tax cut to someone on $200,000 a year, but can only find 5 bucks a week if you’re earning $35,000 a year,” she told ABC News.
“Why is it class war to expect people on low incomes to be treated fairly? Honestly, every time, we want to stand up for people on low incomes, or middle incomes, that’s suddenly class war.
“I don’t get that criticism at all. I mean people on low incomes are really struggling. They’re struggling with cuts to penalty rates.”
.@tanya_plibersek: We still have a significant gender pay gap in Australia. It's reduced a little bit because men's wages have not been growing in some male-dominated industries.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 3, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/USSIMWXq1b #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/setrcvIPCI
Richard Ferguson 8.19am: PM defends NDIS funding
Scott Morrison has continued to defend the level of funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme in his pre-election budget after Labor targeted an underspend.
“It’s a result of the estimated demand that we expected to be in by July 1 2019, that mark won’t be met till July 1, 2020,” he said.
“If there is additional demand, and if there are improvements that can be made, and that there is more demand that comes forward then it will be met, it will be absolutely met.
“There is absolutely no obstacle whatsoever that if demand increases beyond the estimates that are in the budget for disabilities, then those bills will be spend.
“There is absolutely not a cent being withheld from one program, one package.”
Prime Minister @ScottMorrisonMP has accused @AustralianLabor of playing politics with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. https://t.co/F26NYtbDH2
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 3, 2019
Richard Ferguson 8.15am: Labor’s ‘lies and taxes’
Scott Morrison says Bill Shorten’s budget-in-reply speech will be all “lies and taxes” as he lays out his pre-election line of attack on the Opposition Leader.
“What you won’t hear from Bill Shorten tonight is the $200bn of higher taxes he’s going to put on the Australian economy, but you’ll hear a lot of lies,” the Prime Minister said after a tradie breakfast this morning.
“What Australians I think will be more familiar with as we head towards the next election is that all you’ll hear ultimately from the Labor Party is lies and taxes.
“That’s what Bill Shorten is about: telling lies about what the government has done, and funding anything he talks about with higher taxes.”
.@ScottMorrisonMP: What you won't hear from @billshortenmp tonight is the $200bn of higher taxes he'll put on the economy. All you'll hear are lies and taxes. After five-and-a-half years people have concluded Shorten is someone who can't be trusted.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 3, 2019
MORE: https://t.co/USSIMWXq1b pic.twitter.com/oPlsf4xQD9
Richard Ferguson 7.45am: Josh dismisses surplus warnings
Josh Frydenberg has dismissed global credit agency concerns his projected surplus could be whittled away by a weakening economy.
“If you look at our MYEFO forecast and our budget outcome ... there’s a $2.3bn improvement to the bottom line,” he told a PWC budget breakfast this morning.
“When you look at those credit agencies — Fitch, Standard and Poors, Moody’s — they have given us a AAA credit rating. We are only one of 10 countries in the world to have one.”
When asked if he thinks the credit agencies are as confident of his projected surplus as he is, the Treasurer said: “I think so.”
Richard Ferguson 7.30am: Natalie Joyce’s body building transformation
Barnaby Joyce’s ex-wife has wowed judges, Instagram fans and political observers with her transformation into an award-winning bodybuilder.
Natalie Joyce has shed 15kg and donned a green bikini to won two medals at the Compete Naturally (ICN) North Coast Classic bodybuilding competition at New Lambton, NSW on Sunday.
Ms Joyce told The Daily Telegraph her daughters “thought I had gone mad when I told them I would be strutting my stuff wearing nothing more than a skimpy bikini, flexing my muscles for all to see”.
Ms Joyce split from the former deputy prime minister last year after it was revealed he had an affair with his staffer and now-partner Vikki Campion.
The now-bodybuilder told Women’s Day magazine this weekend that the public split left her “in a bad place” and led to her incredible body transformation.
“I had two choices: either unravel, or shake myself off and aim to get the best out of myself,” she said.
“In June last year I looked in the mirror and thought ‘I’m not going to let someone else’s appalling behaviour derail me’. So I joined the local gym, and I’ve never looked back. And I’ve always wanted to compete in a bodybuilding comp.”
Richard Ferguson 7.05am: PM joins tradie BBQ
It would not be a post-budget week without a Prime Ministerial photo opportunity with tradies.
Scott Morrison will host a barbecue breakfast in regional NSW today for a number of tradies this morning alongside Small Business Minister Michaelia Cash.
The Prime Minister will be selling the benefits of his $525m skills package as well as handing out bacon rolls, sausages and burgers.
Apprentices are due to receive $2000 payments and their employers will be offered $8000 to offer a placement to a young tradie.
What’s making news:
Bill Shorten will promise to extend personal tax cuts to three million more low-income workers, pledge bigger budget surpluses and chart a course to end government debt, in a bid to neutralise Scott Morrison’s key election strategy painting Labor as an economic wrecking ball.
Australians living in marginal electorates are the big winners from the Morrison government’s “congestion busting” budget infrastructure package, with road upgrades, rail projects and commuter carparks sprinkled over battleground seats.
Australia’s media companies have warned that their journalism could be criminalised and news stories forcibly removed from websites and television broadcasts under the Morrison government’s legal crackdown on tech giants, which is set to become law today.
The Morrison government’s projected budget surplus could be whittled away as the economy weakens, according to global ratings agencies, which have warned of a slowing path to restoring the nation’s finances.
The Coalition has made a post-budget call to extend a one-off cash payment to people on the dole and other allowances, adding one million people and $80 million to the measure after deciding the legislation would not pass without the concession.
Millions of Australians remain ignorant of Labor’s proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax for property investors, with only a third of voters saying they understand the measures.
The first medical transfer of a refugee has been made under Labor-backed medivac laws, with a male detainee brought from Manus Island to Australia for treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Labor says drivers of electric vehicles will be able to use roads free of charge for the foreseeable future under its blueprint to lift EV sales to 50 per of new cars sold by 2030, as new figures reveal owners of petrol-driven cars pay more than $650 a year in fuel excise to maintain the road network.
Labor Senate leader Penny Wong has launched a blistering attack on the Coalition over race and “hate speech” on the back of a bipartisan censure of far-right senator Fraser Anning, but refused to support suspending the independent, anti-Muslim senator.
James Jeffrey’s Sketch: How Josh Frydenberg’s mullet became a political weapon of choice.
Niki Savva writes Josh Frydenberg did OK, however the Libs can’t paper over the chaos, dysfunction and instability.
Additional reporting: Rosie Lewis
Add your comment to this story
Payman and Hanson in unlikely alliance over staff cuts
Former Labor senator Fatima Payman has taken a swipe at Anthony Albanese and suggested his decision not to allocate her any personal staff was politically motivated.
Not a second to waste on day of many firsts
The first question time of the 48th parliament is over, so too are the final firsts for women, but the battles over education, childcare, climate and housing are only just firing up and it’ll take more than pronouns to fix them.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout