PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison attacks Labor’s pursuit of Angus Taylor
Labor comes under fire as it pushes the PM over the Angus Taylor controversy.
- ‘Question Time, not smear time’
- Murray-Darling review ordered
- Albanese’s 2019 Caucus finale
- McCormack cops ‘passion’ spray
- Labor wants vets’ suicide inquiry
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s blog from Parliament House. Live coverage has wrapped up for the day, we’ll resume again early tomorrow. Read how the day unfolded below:
• Top story: Labor has come under fire over its pursuit of Angus Taylor
5.10pm: ‘Concern’ at crime commission bill
A crossbench MP has flagged concerns about the retrospective nature of a Morrison government bill that ensures crime commission investigations are valid, AAP reports.
The draft laws on Tuesday passed the first hurdle of parliament and are expected to breeze through the Senate with Labor’s support.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has assured the opposition the legislation will be reviewed 12 months after becoming law, Labor’s deputy leader Richard Marles said.
But Centre Alliance MP Rebekha Sharkie told parliament the retrospective application of the law should be scrutinised very closely.
Ms Sharkie supported the bill with “hesitation” but didn’t say if her two Senate colleagues would do so.
Mr Dutton said the measures were technical in nature and wouldn’t give the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission broader powers.
—AAP
4.50pm: Murray-Darling review ordered
The decision to get former federal police chief Mick Keelty to examine the plan came as protesters angry over the plan spent a second day lobbying politicians and rural groups in Canberra.
Olivia Caisley 4.20pm: What we learned in QT
Labor used Question Time on Thursday to attack the Morrison government’s economic management, calling on the Prime Minister to address “mistruths” regarding claims national debt has dropped during his leadership.
“Can the Prime Minister confirm that since coming to office the Government has more than doubled Australia’s debt, meaning more than half of Australia’s debt is Liberal debt?” Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asked.
The Prime Minister seized on the question to attack Labor over its own track record when it comes to the economy.
“Now, I know over there it is a complex sort of thing for him to understand because in the Labor Party, they haven’t had a surplus since 1989,” Mr Morrison fired back.
“Now, when you go into surplus, it means you’re able to reduce debt. That’s what’s happening.”
Josh Frydenberg was also called to the dispatch box to answer why he is “pretending” the economy is doing better than it is.
The Treasurer defended his management, saying the numbers “spoke for themselves.”
“When we came to government, unemployment was 5.7 per cent and today it’s 5.3 per cent and we have helped create more than 1.4 million new jobs,” Mr Frydenberg said. “More jobs for young people, more jobs for seniors and more jobs for women.”
Labor’s quest for the truth continued with another question from Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who asked Mr Morrison to confirm he had “misled” the parliament on every one of the past four sitting days.
But Mr Morrison poured cold water over the claims, saying: “he comes into this place with his tricky little stunts and his clever little lines, treating this parliament like some sort of second-rate high school debating chamber.”
Labor also continued his attack over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” saga, asking why the government would not comply with Senate orders and table a transcript of Mr Morrison’s controversial phone call with the NSW Police Commissioner.
“I advise the members opposite this is question time, not smear time,” Mr Morrison said. “That’s what it is. You’re supposed to ask questions not make baseless assertions as part of partisan political games.”
Mr Taylor later confirmed he had not been interviewed by detectives as part of the NSW Police investigation into a document he used to lash the City of Sydney mayor over her travel expenses.
But perhaps the most dramatic part of QT was when Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack stepped up to answer a dixer on the drought when he was heckled over his interaction with farmers that were protesting outside Parliament House on Tuesday about the government’s handling of the Murray River Darling Plan.
Opposition drought spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon’s decision to stand up on a point of order drew the ire of Mr McCormack, who yelled: “What are you standing up for? You don’t stand up for anything.”
The war of words that erupted between the pair ended with Mr Fitzgibbon being booted from the chamber.
Adam Creighton 4pm: What’s next for rates?
It’s been a tough year for the Reserve Bank, berated by former senior staff, Treasurers, board members, sitting MPs and a barrage of commentators who’ve urged it to resist the black hole of zero interest rates. RBA governor Philip Lowe has chosen to proceed cautiously.
3.20pm: Low wages ‘the new normal’
Media Release - RBA Decision on Interest Rates #auspol #ausecon pic.twitter.com/wUCg6X2z8o
— Jim Chalmers MP (@JEChalmers) December 3, 2019
Olivia Caisley 3.12pm: Dreyfus judgment ‘awful’
Opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus steps up to the dispatch box to ask the Attorney-General whether he accepts that the controversial phone call between Scott Morrison and the NSW Police Commissioner over the Angus Taylor scandal was “inappropriate”.
Mr Porter seizes on the question to attack Mr Dreyfus’s judgment in referring eight people to police, which haven’t resulted in charges.
“Your judgment is just simply awful. Absolutely awful and I know that you’re very interested in the next time that you might be able to exercise your judgment, perhaps as a judge on a Court of Appeal.”
Olivia Caisley 3pm: A matter of trust
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler asks Scott Morrison another question regarding embattled Energy Minister Angus Taylor, this time about his alleged failure to declare interests in a company.
“The Minister for Emissions Reduction told the House that his interests are declared in accordance with the rules, despite his failure to declare the partnership’s 55,000 shares in a company reportedly worth $150 million,” Mr Butler says.
Mr Taylor’s office has previously issued a statement saying he only needs to declare “direct and controlling interests”.
The Prime Minister is asked whether he supports this interpretation of the rules.
Attorney-General Christian Porter takes the question and says that’s always the way interests have been declared.
“The way in which that disclosure has always occurred is where there is a trust or where there is a company with interests in subsidiaries, the trust is declared, the company is declared, but those things inside the trust or the subsidiaries are declared by virtue of declaring the head company or the trust.”
2.55pm: RBA plays wait and see on rates
The RBA has held interest rates steady at its final meeting for 2019, but there are growing expectations of a cut early in the New Year.
Olivia Caisley 2.48pm: ‘Question Time, not smear time’
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler asks Scott Morrison why he won’t provide a transcript of his controversial phone call with NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller over the Angus Taylor “doctored documents” saga, but is “willing to background journalists to downplay the nature and the substance of that strike force?”
“I advise the members opposite this is question time, not smear time,” the Prime Minister says. “That’s what it is. You’re supposed to ask questions not make baseless assertions as part of partisan political games.”
Olivia Caisley 2.43pm: Taylor keeps it brief
Opposition energy spokesman Mark Butler calls on Energy Minister Angus Taylor to answer whether he has been interviewed by detectives from Strike Force Garrard over the “doctored documents” saga.
“No,” Mr Taylor says during a fleeting visit to the dispatch box.
Olivia Caisley 2.40pm: ‘Stop the smear’
Labor leader Anthony Albanese calls on Scott Morrison to confirm he has “misled” the parliament on every one of the past four sitting days.
“Why does the Prime Minister have a problem with the truth?,” Mr Albanese asks.
“The assertion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition is simply not correct. It’s simply not correct,” the Prime Minister says.
Mr Morrison says the Labor Party is only interested in “smearing people” rather than engaging in the serious issues Australians want the government to focus on.
Olivia Caisley 2.36pm: Labor’s debt lesson
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers accuses Scott Morrison of misleading the parliament by claiming the government has not increased the nation’s debt.
“Can the Prime Minister confirm that since coming to office the government has more than doubled Australia’s debt, meaning more than half of Australia’s debt is Liberal debt?” Mr Chalmers says.
The Prime Minister seizes on the question to attack Labor over its track record on economic management.
“Now, I know over there it is a complex sort of thing for him to understand because in the Labor Party, they haven’t had a surplus since 1989,” Mr Morrison fires back.
“Now, when you go into surplus, it means you’re able to reduce debt. That’s what’s happening.
“What I have said is that in the 2019-20 budget, the budget is coming into surplus this year, which means that we are able to pay down debt.”
Olivia Caisley 2.25pm: Wilkie fires up
Independent Andrew Wilkie calls on Scott Morrison to answer whether he will bolster the nation’s firefighting resources by directing defence to develop a heavy firefighting aircraft capability.
“I want to assure you that whatever decisions the government takes are taken on the basis of the advice of those fire chiefs,” Scott Morrison says. “They recommend to us what assets should be used, where those assets should come from, how many there should be, and how they should be deployed.”
“These are matters that are responded to directly by our state and territory governments, and they are doing an extraordinary job. The co-ordinated effort by federal, local, and state agencies in these recent fires has been exemplary.”
Olivia Caisley 2.22pm: Numbers ‘speak for themselves’
Opposition employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor asks Josh Frydenberg another question on the economy.
“Why does the Treasurer pretend the economy is delivering more for working people when plainly it isn’t?” Mr O’Connor asks.
Mr Frydenberg argues the numbers “speak for themselves”.
“When we came to government, unemployment was 5.7 per cent and today it’s 5.3 per cent and we have helped create more than 1.4 million new jobs,” Mr Frydenberg says. “More jobs for young people, more jobs for seniors and more jobs for women.”
Greg Brown 2.16pm: PM committed to religious freedom
Scott Morrison told Coalition MPs he remains committed to a religious discrimination act, despite the process being delayed and criticised by faith groups and business.
Mr Morrison told the Coalition partyroom on Tuesday morning there were differing opinions on the legislation.
“There are even more so across the community. We are seeking the time to get this right,” Mr Morrison told MPs, according to a government spokesman.
He said there needed to be “a lot of listening” so the bill can “bring people together”.
Mr Morrison said he did not want a “partisan element” to the process and outlined his aim for a “smooth passage of the bill through parliament”.
Olivia Caisley 2.14pm: Frydenberg responds to economy criticism
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers calls on Josh Frydenberg to answer what it will take for the Morrison government to be “shaken out of its complacency on this floundering economy.”
The Treasurer takes the question and says he is pleased to tell the House that the IMF and the OECD have said the Australian economy has grown faster than any other G20 country in 2020.
“The Coalition is not only cutting taxes, but it’s creating jobs, while those opposite will always be the party of $387 billion of higher taxes,” Mr Frydenberg says.
Olivia Caisley 2.11pm: QT begins on veterans’ suicide
Question time kicks off with a question on veterans’ suicide.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese asks Scott Morrison to answer whether he will join with Labor to launch a royal commission.
It follows a move by Mr Albanese, who this morning backed a public campaign for an inquiry.
The Prime Minister says the issue has been a key priority as it forms part of his government’s broader focus on addressing mental health issues and suicide prevention.
“What I am seeking to do is to ensure that whenever a veteran has sadly taken their life, whether in the past or sadly I would like to say it will never happen again in the future,” Mr Morrison says. “But no-one can stand at this Despatch Box and say that, that on every single occasion, there must be justice, there must be accountability, there must be learnings, and there must be change and that’s what I am committed to, and my government.”
Greg Brown 1.55pm: PM to consider ‘further action’ on veterans’ suicide rates
Scott Morrison told Coalition MPs he will consider taking “further action” on veterans’ suicide rates over Christmas, after Labor backed a royal commission into the issue.
The Prime Minister “noted proposals for a royal commission” in the Coalition partyroom on Tuesday morning and declared further action on the issue was under “active consideration”.
“We are considering those options. We will take the time,” Mr Morrison told his MPs, according to a government spokesman.
Mr Morrison said he wanted to get the policies right so they could have “lasting value”.
Olivia Caisley 1.46pm: Nats jump on the BBQ
The Nationals are holding their annual seafood Christmas lunch at Parliament House.
PoliticsNow spotted Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie grilling some prawns on the barbie.
A culinary highlight on the parliamentary calendar, politicians, journalists and staffers were treated to a taste of “real Australian seafood”, including King Prawns, scallops, crocodile ribs and marinated barramundi.
Dennis Shanahan 1.10pm: Labor’s Medivac stance doesn’t pass the pub test
Anthony Albanese shouldn’t appeal to logic and reason when attacking the Morrison Government’s attempts to repeal the Medivac laws because it wouldn’t pass a test in a pub in Marrickville selling Albo Ale. The Opposition leader is appealing to Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie to see through the “rhetoric of the Government” on repealing the laws that have allowed doctors to authorise the removal of asylum seekers from Papua New Guinea and Nauru to Australia for medical treatment. Albanese combines the technique of Labor’s time lapse memory and his own masterful twisting of facts in an attempt to embarrass the government in the last week of parliament of 2019. Read Dennis Shanahan’s comment here.
12.45pm: Young LNP in racism backlash
A Young LNP leader in Queensland could be dumped after he was filmed laughing at calls for Australia to “stop celebrating a culture that couldn’t even invent the bloody wheel”.
Barclay McGain, the chair of the Gold Coast Young LNP, is under investigation by his own party over what the Labor government has called disturbing, racist comments about Australian Aboriginal culture. Mr McGain has been condemned on social media after he was filmed interviewing schoolies on the Gold Coast about whether the Australian flag and anthem should be “kept or ditched”. In footage posted online, he’s seen laughing when one school leaver says: “I’m fed up with having all these sports stars stand out on our stages and not sing the national anthem.
“I mean we’ve got to stop celebrating a culture that couldn’t even invent the bloody wheel for God’s sake. We’ve got to start enjoying and living in Western culture.” The young school leaver who made the comments has identified as an LNP volunteer who’s regularly been photographed with senior LNP and Coalition figures.
The footage was posted on the Gold Coast Young LNP’s Facebook page but was removed when the LNP became aware of it on Monday afternoon. “The members involved will be subject to the LNP’s internal disciplinary process,” the party said in a statement, adding the material did not reflect the LNP’s values and beliefs.
Mr McGain said “the powers that be” had banned him from commenting about the incident.
“It has been a whirlwind 24 hours but hopefully I can go back to being a normal 19-year-old. I just have to let it go and move on,” he said.
State Labor’s indigenous Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington must call out racist elements in her party. “These kinds of views should not be allowed to simmer within any organisation. It’s disturbing on many levels.” Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the LNP “being outwardly racist” was a major risk for the Gold Coast as an international tourism destination. “Deb Frecklington needs to show some leadership and hold the young men in this video to account … I’m calling on her to sack Gold Coast Young LNP chair Barclay McGain.” — AAP
12.30pm: Wyatt defends $2.2m contract
The federal indigenous affairs minister is waving off concerns over a contract he awarded without tender to a company linked to Liberal party donors. Ken Wyatt’s spokesman said Vanguard Health was recommended by the Finance Department, and assessed under Health Department standard guidelines, to provide eye surgeries in Aboriginal communities. The $2.2 million contract was given to deliver services at twice the market rate, Nine newspapers reported on Tuesday. But Mr Wyatt’s spokesman says the Vanguard Health contract had originally been signed under the then-Labor government in 2010-11. Vanguard Consulting, which runs Vanguard Health, has donated $21,000 to Queensland’s Liberal National Party — AAP
Andrew Clennell 12pm: NSW issue water demands
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and his Water Minister Melinda Pavey have issued a set of demands to the federal government for staying in the Murray Darling Basin Water Plan, but Mr Barilaro declined to comment on whether he had the approval of state cabinet for his plan.
At a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday morning Mr Barilaro said the minister would take to a ministerial council meeting on December 17 a minimum requirement that “the federal government agree that NSW will not contribute to the 450GL of additional water recovery efforts”. Read more here.
Olivia Caisley 10.15am: Albanese’s final Caucus speech
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has used his final caucus address of the year to attack the government over the flailing economy and its drought response, describing Scott Morrison as an “ad man with no plan.” Mr Albanese made fun of the Prime Minister’s catchcry of “quiet Australians” on Tuesday by telling his party colleagues to not to be quiet and go into 2020 with confidence.
“Scott Morrison talks about quiet Australians. What he really means is everyone should shut up and listen to him,” Mr Albanese said at Parliament House. “We won’t be quiet. Australians won’t be quiet. It’s not our nature as a people. We’re upfront. We’re bold. We talk about things. We put forward our view. It’s the Australian way.”
“We will go into 2020 with confidence. Confidence that we can hold this Government to account. Confidence that we can defeat legislation. Confidence that we can present an alternative vision for this nation and an alternative vision that’s based on fairness, that’s based on creating wealth but also is concerned about its distribution.”
He seized on the Angus Taylor “doctored document” saga, describing it as an “Angus Horribilis” for the government, while posing the question whether the embattled Energy Minister had misled parliament over figures he used to attack the City of Sydney mayor over her travel expenses.
Mr Albanese also paid tribute to Labor Senators for their work opposing the union-busting laws which were defeated last week. “We don’t shy away from our connection with the trade union movement. I’m a proud trade unionist. Without trade unions, we wouldn’t have the working conditions that enable us to enjoy the Australian way of life that we all enjoy today,” he said.
Attorney-General Christian Porter will take the bill to the party room on Tuesday before reintroducing it into the House of Representatives this week. However, the government will not seek another Senate vote on the bill until next year. Parliament will break on Thursday evening and return in February.
Olivia Caisley 9am: ‘Where’s the passion? You’re like a poker player’
Angry farmers have berated Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack over the government’s handling of the Murray Darling River, calling on the Nationals to cross the floor to force Scott Morrison’s hand in scrapping the current water management plan.
Mr McCormack and Nationals MP Damian Drum this morning faced a hostile reception from farmers pushing for the Murray Darling Basin plan to be scrapped.
As Sky News Australia cameras rolled, Kyabram farmer John Russell corner Mr McCormack, accusing him of lacking the spine to take on his Coalition partners on behalf of his farming constituents.
“You could walk up there tomorrow and tell the Liberal Party ‘we’re crossing the floor’ unless they do something. The National Party is not going to exist after the next election unless you grow some spine and stand up,” Mr Russell said.
“Where’s the passion? I haven’t seen any passion from you. You’re like a poker player. Get up there and say ‘this is not f..king good enough — get angry!
“Show some passion! Where’s your passion?”
Mr McCormack responded: “I’m pretty passionate, don’t worry about that.”
But Mr Russell shot back: “Well you’re not showing it. You’re useless. Barnaby (Joyce) was the only bloke who came down here yesterday. He had some spine.”
READ MORE: The Sketch — Loud Australians make a truckin’ big noise | ‘Can the Plan’ irrigators blast reform inaction
Farmers this morning carrying placards including “Barnabribe, a baby won’t fix this affair” and “Vote corruption out”.
This morning’s action outside Parliament House in Canberra followed a similar protest on Monday from a crowd of more than 100 farmers. The delegation later met with Water Minister David Littleproud and Environment Minister Sussan Ley to voice their concerns.
The protesters want the basin plan fixed or scrapped, as well as more dam infrastructure and other measures like carp control to help improve conditions across the Murray-Darling.
More than 50 protesters attended Question Time in the Senate on Monday, with one man removed after labelling the agriculture minister “f..king useless”.
The group stormed out of the chamber after launching a series of verbal volleys at government senators.
The Convoy to Canberra group argue there is water available but government policies were denying farmers access.
Olivia Caisley 8am: Albanese pushes for vets’ suicide royal commission
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has backed calls for a royal commission into veterans’ suicides, declaring it is time for the government to act.
Speaking in Canberra this morning, Mr Albanese said he would support the campaign after meeting with the mother of a Defence veteran who took his own life.
“We can do better. We must do better. We need a royal commission into veteran suicides,” Mr Albanese said.
“Men and women sign up to defend our country and our way of life. They are deserving of our respect and in return we must do everything we can to ensure that both while they serve our nation and indeed after as well, we look after their interests.
“We need to act. Labor is calling upon the government to act.”
We can do better. We must do better.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 2, 2019
We need a royal commission into veteran suicides. pic.twitter.com/Mcz0iRlruH
Mr Albanese was flanked by Labor MP and former soldier, Luke Gosling, who described the push as “very welcome news.”
“We need to have a holistic inquiry by means of a royal commission into veterans’ suicides in this country,” Mr Gosling said.
“For too long people have felt like they haven’t had a voice and there hasn’t been enough action to address the many problems that our serving men and women have (in their) transition from defence back into society.”
He said in 2018, more ADF members had taken their lives than were killed during 20 years of combat and peacekeeping operations
“We clearly have a big problem in this country and we look forward to working with the government,” he said. “They need to call a royal commission.”
Olivia Caisley 7am: What’s making news today
Digital giants Facebook, Google and Twitter have unleashed a last ditch round of political lobbying in Canberra, in a bid to pressure the Morrison government into rolling back its response to the competition watchdog’s digital platforms inquiry.
More than one-third of the asylum-seekers and refugees in Papua New Guinea and Nauru have applied for transfer to Australia under medivac laws, with a rush of applications lodged before a parliamentary vote to terminate the scheme.
EXCLUSIVE: More than half the asylum-seekers and refugees in Papua New Guinea and Nauru have applied for transfer to Australia under medivac laws, with a rush of applications lodged Âbefore a parliamentary vote to terminate the scheme https://t.co/dYZrOWo5sI
— The Australian (@australian) December 2, 2019
Almost 80 per cent of Australians believe respecting religion is “important in a multicultural society”, with a new poll showing more than one in two backed faith-based perspectives being permitted in public debate “even when others find them offensive”.
An Australian nickel miner facing expulsion from the Solomon Islands says Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s chief of staff demanded payments to smooth over problems with the Pacific nation’s government.
Scott Morrison has expressed “great concern” over the Chinese government’s treatment of detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who has been isolated, shackled and interrogated daily in an effort to “break” him.
Irrigators say they are “devastated” the Morrison government is failing to heed their calls for widescale reform or the axing of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Anthony Albanese has seized on a leaked speech by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull savaging Scott Morrison’s “incoherent” energy policy.
Australia’s peak small business lobby has warned the defeat of the government’s Ensuring Integrity bill imposing tougher standards on unions is a “defeat for all women who remain vulnerable and without protection” on worksites.
A push is on for MPs to be covered by rules preventing them acting on behalf of foreign interests, with a Senate committee warning that the nation’s Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme isn’t functioning as intended.
Scott Morrison has vowed to pursue Senate backing for the Ensuring Integrity Bill, accusing One Nation of walking away from assurances it would back the proposed union-restricting laws.
Dennis Shanahan writes: Even Labor has finally decided the “scandal” surrounding Angus Taylor’s climate change fight with Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore is less important than low wages, the economy and stagnant retail sales.
Alice Workman’s Sketch: Not with a whimper but with a bang, the Loud Australians arrived and they weren’t afraid to work blue.
Weak government response means anti-Semites are winning
The Albanese government must now assume Australia’s Jewish community is under active terrorist attack and set up an Operation Sovereign Borders-type multi-agency campaign to combat the deadly rise of anti-Semitism.
Rise of local terror demands better from our leaders
The scourge of anti-Semitism in Australia has become a runaway train that now demands a radically escalated counter-terror mindset from federal and state governments, police and spy agencies.