PoliticsNow: Public Service commissioner John Lloyd referred for investigation
John Lloyd remains exposed to a potential investigation for allegedly breaching the public service code of conduct.
- Labor questions ‘secret deal’ with One Nation
- Hanson rules out tax rethink
- Snowy 2.0 to ‘out-compete’ coal
- ‘Spoken like a white female politician’
Hello and welcome to PoliticsNow, The Australian’s live blog on the happenings of Parliament House in Canberra.
After being grilled during Senate estimates, Australian Public Service commissioner John Lloyd has been referred for investigation over an alleged breach of the law.
This is where we will leave today’s blog, join us again tomorrow for the latest news and opinion from Canberra.
Rachel Baxendale 9.20pm: ‘Mapping disaster and climate risks’
The Department of Energy and Environment is leading a government disaster and climate resilience reference group jointly with Home Affairs, Senate Estimates has heard.
First Assistant Secretary for the adaptation science and communications division of the department, Helen Wilson, said the reference group was “working to ensure climate-related risks are considered in government policies, programs and assets.”
“Also under that resilience reference group we’re looking at mapping disaster and climate risks, we’re developing guidance and support materials for climate risk management in the Australian public service, and other examples of things that we’re working on include working with the Department of Home Affairs national resilience taskforce, and working with the department of agriculture and water resources as they prepare a paper on climate change adaptation in agriculture,” Ms Wilson said.
Asked by Labor senator Kristina Keneally whether the taskforce would publish any of their reports, Ms Wilson said, “That’s a good question”.
“I would hope that some of the work that we’re going to do jointly with the department of ag and water resources would, yes, and there are I suspect a range of other products that we’re working on with the CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology that I would hope would be published, yes,” she said.
Ms Wilson said she could not provide a timeline of the work.
“No, because as I said what we’re doing is working right across all the departments in the Australian public service to think about how we do take into account the risks and opportunities of a changing climate, so some of the reports will be tailored to particular agencies, but what I’d also like to say is we are working on a more high level document with the CSIRO on exactly how you would go about, how would a department approach the question, taking into account the risks and opportunities of a change in climate,” she said.
“What would you do, where would you find the information? So it’s those sort of more high level products that I would hope to be published too.”
Ewin Hannan 7.30pm: Public service head under probe cloud
Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd remains exposed to a potential investigation for allegedly breaching the public service code of conduct over his dealings with the conservative think-tank, the Institute of Public Affairs.
Mr Lloyd today wrote to a Senate estimates committee, which has been probing his conduct, saying that he was not currently subject to an inquiry for alleged breaches.
But The Australian understands that the office of the Merit Protection Commissioner has not yet decided if it will hold an inquiry into the allegations.
Under a two-stage process, the commission initially assesses the merits of a complaint.
If not dismissed at this first stage, the commission then decides whether or not an inquiry should be held.
A freedom of information request last year to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Martin Parkinson sought emails mentioning the IPA and Mr Lloyd.
The department refused to release two emails, saying their disclosure could prejudice the conduct of an investigation of a breach, or possible breach, of the law.
The allegations against Mr Lloyd were referred by the department to the office of the Merit Protection Commissioner in January
Mr Lloyd was grilled in Senate estimates on Monday over his communications with the IPA but refused to say if he was being investigated.
At a hearing today, Stephanie Foster, who heads up the governance section of the prime minister’s department, confirmed the alleged breach related to conduct by Mr Lloyd.
In a letter read to the committee, Mr Lloyd, who once led the IPA’s “work reform and productivity unit”, said he was not subject to a current inquiry.
He said he would not be seeking public interest immunity on the question of whether an inquiry was being conducted.
Mr Lloyd’s letter was read by committee chair James Paterson, who was at the IPA between 2011 and 2016.
Labor senators have questioned Mr Lloyd over an email he sent to the IPA where he attached material about “generous” provisions in public sector enterprise agreements”.
Annoyed by the media coverage of the estimates hearing, he emailed IPA head John Roskam a day after the hearing.
“John, more publicity for the IPA, including page one of the Canberra Times. Thanks to ALP questioning in estimates yesterday. Regards John Lloyd,’’ the email said.
Mr Lloyd, a former Australian Building and Construction Commissioner, has been regularly attacked by Labor and unions as “partisan”. It would require a vote of both house of parliament to remove him.
Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott said the attacks on Mr Lloyd were a “load of garbage:
He said many public servants were union members who donated to the ALP.
“The Senate estimates process is a serious waste of taxpayers dollars,’’ he said.
Ewin Hannan 6pm: Statement from public service chief
In a letter read to a Senate Estimates hearing tonight, Mr Lloyd said there was not an inquiry being currently held into his conduct.
He said he would not be seeking public interest immunity on the question of whether an inquiry was being conducted.
Primrose Riordan 4.45pm: Bishop meeting not ‘official’: China
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized that a meeting with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was not an official meeting and said it was Australia’s fault that the relationship had got off track.
“Wang Yi said ... I’m meeting with the foreign minister on a multilateral occasion of the G20 meeting, it is not an official meeting.”
“Due to the Australian side, China and Australia are encountering difficulties in the relationship, and communications and co-operation have been affected recently,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Mr Wang said Australia will need to take off “coloured glasses” or discard previous biases in order to improve relations with China.
“What I want to emphasize is, if Australia really hopes the relationship to return to the right track and develop in a healthy way, Australia must get rid off traditional thinking, put down their coloured glasses and see China’s development in a more positive perspective.”
Ewin Hannan 4.05pm: Public Service chief referred for investigation
Australian Public Service Commissioner John Lloyd has been referred for investigation over an alleged breach of the law.
But it is not yet clear whether the investigation has occurred and the nature of the alleged breach.
Mr Lloyd was grilled in Senate estimates yesterday over his communications with the conservative think tank, the Institute of Public Affairs but refused to say if he was being investigated.
At a hearing today, Stephanie Foster, who heads up the governance section of the prime minister’s department, confirmed the alleged breach related to conduct by Mr Lloyd.
Mr Lloyd, who once led the IPA’s “work reform and productivity unit”, refused to tell Senate estimates yesterday whether or not he was being probed over emails relating to him and the IPA.
Labor senators said the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet had refused a freedom of information request, saying the emails could prejudice an investigation into possible law breaches.
Last October, Mr Lloyd was questioned in estimates about his communications with the IPA. Annoyed by the media coverage of the hearing, he emailed IPA head John Roskam a day after the hearing.
“John, more publicity for the IPA, including page one of the Canberra Times. Thanks to ALP questioning in estimates yesterday. Regards John Lloyd,’’ the email said.
4.00pm: More than 200 South Africans seek Australian visas
More than 200 South Africans are in the process of applying for Australian humanitarian visas.
There are a total of 89 applications relating to 213 people, a Senate committee has been told.
“The type of criteria they of course have to meet - or the key one - is evidence of persecution, so that’s exactly what we will be looking at,” Home Affairs deputy secretary Malisa Golightly said in Canberra on Tuesday.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has previously stated persecuted South African farmers deserve special attention, saying in March: “We are certainly applying that special attention now.” Responding to questions from Greens senator Nick McKim, Ms Golightly said the minister had not asked her to prioritise South Africans and, as far as the department was concerned, there was no special attention being given.
“Basically, like anybody, South Africans can apply for any visa they wish and they’ll be assessed against the criterion set out in the law,” Ms Golightly said.
“In terms of processing, the normal arrangements apply where we assess the claims against whichever is the relevant criteria.” Mr Dutton is able to decide which visa decisions he takes and which ones he delegates to his department.
“In terms of those from South Africa, the minister has asked us to prepare the assessment - the work that normally goes into assessing - for submission to him,” Ms Golightly said.
“He will then make a decision about whether he takes the decision or delegates that to the department.”
AAP
3.48pm: ‘Be more positive about China’
The Chinese foreign minister has urged Australia to “take off coloured glasses” and be more positive about his country’s development.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi had talks with Julie Bishop on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Argentina this morning.
Relations with China have soured in the past year and Beijing is especially cranky about Australia’s foreign interference laws.
Greg Brown 3.25pm: Motion defeated
The motion is defeated by 64 votes to 70. Crossbenchers Cathy McGowan, Andrew Wilkie and Adam Bandt sided with Labor to support the motion being debated.
And that is the end of QT.
Greg Brown 3.10pm: Labor moves to speak on ‘secret deal’
Leader of the House Tony Burke attempts to suspend standing orders to move a motion criticising the government’s “secret deal” with One Nation.
A brave move given Labor is five MPs down ahead of the “Super Saturday” by-elections.
The motion calls on the House to recognise that:
- The government has made a secret deal with Senator Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party to give an $80 billion handout to big business, but the Prime Minister won’t tell the Australian people the details of the secret deal.
- Won’t tell the Australian people the cost of a secret deal, and won’t tell the Australian people if the secret deal is even accounted for in the budget.
- Notes that since Senator Pauline Hanson returned to the Australian parliament, and without notice to the Australian people at the last election, the government has: (a) attempted to weaken race hate laws; (b) attempted to introduce a university level English test for One Nation; and (c) refused to commit to putting One Nation last.
- And (the House) therefore calls on the Prime Minister to stop making secret deals with One Nation and to join Labor in putting One Nation last.
Greg Brown 3.03pm: ‘Deal so embarrassing the government won’t say it aloud’
Bill Shorten asks why Malcolm Turnbull has given Pauline Hanson so much say on government policy.
He asks if she influenced proposed changes to section 18C of the racial discrimination act, “university” English tests for migrants and “a secret deal so embarrassing the government won’t say it aloud”.
Malcolm Turnbull says the government will engage with all MPs to ensure its budget passes.
“While it may suit the Leader of the Opposition to give us advice about how to engage with the Senate crossbench, I can assure him we won’t be taking his advice on that or any other matter,” he says.
“We will be focusing on delivering a stronger economy, more jobs for all Australians.”
Greg Brown 2.58pm: Let’s talk about Labor’s CFMEU deal: Pyne
Leader of the House Christopher Pyne turns the tables on Labor, saying the opposition has a “secret agreement” with the CFMEU and its Victorian secretary John Setka.
“That is the person they have a secret agreement with and they need to reveal the agreement to the Australian public,” Pyne says.
“They have been brought into all decision making forums of the ALP by the Leader of the Opposition.”
Greg Brown 2.55pm: All to be revealed when legislation is passed: PM
Labor keeps the pressure on the government over its “secret deal” with One Nation.
Labor MP Anne Aly asks why the government should not be informed about the details on the deal.
Malcolm Turnbull says “all is revealed” when agreements are finalised and legislation is passed.
“We treat every member of the House with respect and consideration, and earnestly urge them to support our program,” the Prime Minister says.
Greg Brown 2.46pm: Budgeting for One Nation deal?
Labor MP Clare O’Neil asks if the government accounted for its “secret deal” with One Nation in this month’s budget.
Leader of the House Christopher Pyne says the question is out of order because it refers to a “secret deal” that he claims doesn’t exist.
Manager of Opposition Tony Burke says the question should stand as the government has never denied a deal with One Nation existed.
“The only agreement or document we are not allowed to ask about is the Coalition agreement. If the government wants to argue this is a Coalition agreement, they are welcome to make that case,” he says.
Speaker Tony Smith rules it out of order as it does not go to a policy issue.
Greg Brown 2.32pm: ‘We must treat crossbench with respect’
Labor’s Chris Bowen asks Malcolm Turnbull to reveal the details of the deal struck with One Nation in an attempt to get the party’s support for the company tax plan.
The Prime Minister gives away no details and repeats his previous answer of treating the crossbench with “respect”.
“We will continue to negotiate respectfully with the crossbench in the Senate on all the measures that the Labor Party and the Greens decide to try to block,” Turnbull says
“We respect every member of the Senate, and we give them the courtesy and the confidence of negotiations.
“The important thing is that when those negotiations are concluded and legislation is passed, it will all be before the Australian public.”
Greg Brown 2.25pm: Secret deal with Hanson?
Bill Shorten asks Malcolm Turnbull to confirm if the government had a “secret deal” with One Nation in return for the support of its company tax plan.
The Prime Minister says negotiations with crossbenchers are conducted “in confidence”.
“We have to seek the support of the crossbench,” Turnbull says.
“And we do so with respect, we do so constructively, and we have all of those negotiations conducted, as indeed they are from time to time with the opposition, in confidence and with the respect that comes from that.”
Greg Brown 2.18pm: Coalition committed to company tax cuts
Bill Shorten opens QT on company tax cuts, asking Malcolm Turnbull if he will still take it to the next election.
The Prime Minister says the government is still committed to it, despite Pauline Hanson pulling her crucial support for the package.
“What the Labor Party says, what they believe is that every profit, every dollar of income earned by an Australian business belongs by right to the government,” Turnbull says.
“So any reduction in tax is a giveaway, this is the hubris of the Labor Party.
“The Labor Party has made it very clear it does not simply oppose the future elements of the enterprise tax plan that has not been legislated. It wants to repeal the tax cuts for millions of a small and medium Australian family owned businesses.”
Greg Brown 2.09pm: PM remembers Sir John Carrick
Malcolm Turnbull opens question time paying tribute to former Liberal senator John Carrick, who died last week aged 99.
The Prime Minister speaks about Carrick’s time as a prisoner of war and service in the army in World War II.
“Generations of Liberals like myself have benefited from his good counsel,” Turnbull says.
“Sir John’s famous reminder that you can’t fatten the peak on market days spoke of the importance of having a plan, sound long-term policy and delivery founded on an during Liberal values.”
Turnbull says Sir John asked his family to hold him as he died.
“In those prison camps, the prisoners of war deprived of all dignity, so far from their families and those they love that home, had a pact between them. That no-one would die alone,” he says.
“And so those raised men who had endured so much were held until they died. And so, Sir John Carrick, he died in arms of he loved.”
Greg Brown 1.40pm: No need for rebel bill: PM
Fourteen Coalition MPs spoke on the government’s live sheep exports bill in this morning’s party room meeting, with a number of MPs raising the overwhelming concern their constituents had with the industry’s handling of animal welfare issue.
Malcolm Turnbull issued a thinly veiled rebuke at Liberal MP Sussan Ley for introducing a private-members bill to ban the industry, telling the party room the Coalition had “good systems” and issues could be raised with ministers rather than introduce a rebel bill to the House.
Party sources say there were no other MPs who indicated they would back Ms Ley’s bill or that the government should move to ban the trade. The government MPs publicly backing Ms Ley’s bill are Sarah Henderson and Jason Wood.
Joe Kelly 1.25pm: Don’t fall for Hanson’s ploy: Labor
Queensland Labor Senator Murray Watt has warned voters not to believe Pauline Hanson’s reversal of support for the government’s corporate tax cuts, arguing it was a calculated political move ahead of the Longman by-election.
“The truth is with Pauline Hanson, she’s like a bad choose your own adventure novel,” Senator Watt said. “You might choose this way, you might choose that way, she might give you this option, she might give you that option. But the one thing you know is that the ending is going to be bad and she’s going to sell out voters every single time. She’ll do it on company tax cuts just as she has on penalty rate cuts, on cuts to health, cuts to pensions, cuts to schools”.
“She cannot be relied upon in terms of what she is saying now about company tax cuts”.
Senator Watt said there was no reason to think that, “once she gets beyond the Longman by-election her position won’t change yet again”.
Joe Kelly 1.19pm: Anning in fierce agreement
Independent Senator for Queensland, Fraser Anning, has expressed concern at the torpedoing of the government’s company tax package by One Nation, but said he was “in complete agreement with the policies that Senator Hanson has taken a stand on”.
“It is critical that we reduce immigration, it is critical that we pay down debt and it is critical that we ensure cheap and reliable energy, however this is not the method to make it happen,” he said.
“The company tax cuts are a vital piece of economic reform which as I have said in the past will enable reinvestment, increases in Australian worker productivity and eventually real wage growth”.
He said it was “imperative that minor parties engage in constructive dialogue with the government and not be a roadblock to critical reforms such as these.”
“The invisible hand of capitalism enriches all that it touches; you can’t pick the fruits of the tree while
striking at its roots”.
Matthew Denholm 12.49pm: Tasmania joins child sex abuse redress scheme
Tasmania will join the national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse, leaving Western Australia as the only hold-out state.
The decision — backed by the state opposition — follows lengthy negotiations between the state and federal governments.
Details are to be announced shortly.
Joe Kelly 12.41pm: Labor stalls live export vote
The Labor caucus has decided not to try and bring on a vote on a private members’ bill to phase out the live sheep trade until after the “Super Saturday” by-elections in a bid to maximise the chances of clinching a victory in the lower house.
Liberal MPs Sussan Ley, Jason Wood and Sarah Henderson are proposing a private members’ bill — which is not supported by Malcolm Turnbull — to phase out the live sheep trade over a five-year period. The bill has the backing of the Labor Party.
The Labor caucus today threw its support behind a proposition from opposition agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon to support the private members’ bill, holding a long discussion on the subject.
The Opposition will be supporting debate each week in private members’ business and plans to bring it to a vote once the five by-elections have concluded and there is a full parliament.
Joe Kelly 12.35pm: Labor agrees on tax amendments
The Labor caucus has agreed on two key amendments to the government’s seven year personal income tax plan.
The amendments are designed to allow tax relief in phase one of the government’s package to flow in the new financial year in 2019-20.
At the same time, Labor will continue to withhold support for the flattening of the tax rate in phase three of the government’s plan, due in 2024.
Labor will seek to amend the bill in both houses.
The first amendment would allow the tax cuts due in the 2019-20 financial year to commence on schedule while the second amendment would expand the size of this tax relief.
While the government has proposed a tax offset of up to $530 for those on incomes of up to $90,000 under phase one of its plan, Labor has proposed nearly doubling the size of this offset to $928.
Ben Packham 12.30pm: Pro-coal Libs take Liddell sale to party
Pro-coal MPs in the Coalition party room have called on Malcolm Turnbull to amend competition laws to force AGL to sell Liddell power station to Alinta.
Craig Kelly, backed by Tony Abbott, called for the competition watchdog to be given new powers that would make it “crystal clear” that closing down an essential service utility when there were “other options”, such as selling to another player, was anti-competitive behaviour.
Mr Abbott endorsed the proposal, saying Liddell was an essential services and “we can’t stand by and watch” while it closed down.
Matthew Denholm 12.23pm: Hanson rules out tax rethink
Pauline Hanson has ruled out a rethink of her decision to block the second stage of the Coalition’s company tax cuts, but kept alive hopes for its full agenda of personal tax cuts.
The One Nation leader stood by her wishlist of reforms, published in The Australian today, and indicated progress on any one of them would not be enough to lure her back to the negotiating table.
Senator Hanson said she would support the government’s first phase tax cuts for businesses with a turnover up to $50 million, but would not back the second stage to reduce the corporate tax rate to 25 per cent for all firms by 2026-27.
“I won’t reconsider,” Senator Hanson said at a press conference in Hobart a short while ago. “Personal tax cuts to the Australian people (is one thing): they need that helping hand, they are struggling to pay their bills, to put a roof over their head ...
“We’ve got homeless. We’ve got 4,000 defence personnel on our streets ... And I’m worried about giving tax cuts to multinationals and big business? Yes, they need a helping hand, as well, but let’s look at this realistically.”
Short of rewriting the federal budget — to overhaul the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax, invest in coal power, pensions, and apprenticeships, among other outlays, while also cutting net spending — the Coalition appears to have lost One Nation’s crucial three votes. “I want a budget that is not on eggshells,” she said.
One Nation would support the first two stages of the government’s personal income tax cuts and would “look at” the third.
While in Hobart for a “personal, family matter”, she flagged her intention to run candidates in the state at the next federal election.
Greg Brown 12.08pm: Fellow Libs let Cormann down: Hanson
Pauline Hanson says she has the “greatest respect” for Finance Minister Mathias Cormann despite not yet telling him she has withdrawn her crucial support for the government’s enterprise tax plan.
The One Nation leader said Senator Cormann was negotiating in good faith but had been “let down” by other members of the government.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to speak to Minister Cormann but let me put this on the record: I have the utmost respect for Minister Cormann,” the One Nation leader said.
“He has been a man that I have faith in and that I have a lot of time for.
“I know he is devastated over this but it is not Minister Cormann it is his colleagues and the government that have let him down.”
Senator Hanson reiterated the list of demands she outlined in The Australian to win back One Nation’s support for big business tax cuts, including immigration numbers, a new coal-fired power plant and faster budget repair.
Joe Kelly 11.58am: Please explain One Nation deal: Wong
Labor Senate Leader Penny Wong has demanded the government explain the contents of a secret deal it struck with One Nation in March to try and win their support for the government’s corporate tax cuts before Pauline Hanson pulled out of the agreement.
Senator Wong pressed Finance Minister Mathias Cormann in a Senate estimates hearing today on key aspects of the now defunct deal — revealed in today’s The Australian — asking whether the government was outsourcing the formulation of government policy to One Nation and overlooking the Coalition backbench.
Greg Brown 11.39am: ‘Always issues with China’: Labor
Opposition trade spokesman Jason Clare says there are “always” going to be issues that arise between Australia and China, although he claimed the government had made tensions worse because of “stupid and silly” comments by ministers.
“Just over 12 months ago the Australian Government signed an agreement with the Chinese government to export chilled beef to China and we’re still waiting for that to happen. What exporters are telling me is that because of some of the stupid and silly things that government ministers have said over the last 12 months, they’re being delayed. They’re having to wait to get their products off the dock,” Mr Clare told Sky News.
.@JasonClareMP on China: We’re a democracy, they’re not. There are always going to be issues where we disagree. When that happens it’s the responsibility of government ministers to sit down and work those issues through.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 21, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/9eoT7RGliY#amagenda pic.twitter.com/pDa4OZm8Jh
Mr Clare said it was positive Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was meeting with her Chinese counterpart.
“There are always going to be issues where we disagree and there are going to be trade issues that flare up from time to time. When that happens it’s the responsibility of government ministers to sit down and work those issues through,” Mr Clare said.
“If the Foreign Minister has done that then that’s terrific and I’d urge the Prime Minister to sort those issues out at his level as soon as possible as well because there are exporters that are hungry to export their goods to China.”
Greg Brown 11.11am: China tensions ‘modest’: Ciobo
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo says tensions between Australia and China have been overblown, arguing the relationship between the two countries was positive.
“We have seen relatively modest concerns being blown up all over front pages, which doesn’t really accurately equate to the nature of the relationship,” Mr Ciobo told Sky News.
“Let’s be clear on a couple of things: if you look at our trade and investment relationship with China that continues to grow, we have seen really strong increases in the volume of exports to China, our investment relationship is very strong.”
.@StevenCiobo on Australia-China relationship: It’s board, it’s deep, it’s mature. Yes, we do have some differences, but let’s not try to pretend the whole thing is no good.
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 21, 2018
MORE: https://t.co/9eoT7RGliY#amagenda pic.twitter.com/zv97NEXUNU
Mr Ciobo acknowledged there were the occasional tensions between Australia and China, which includes the imposition of extra red tape to local wine maker Treasury Wine Estates.
“This is all part and parcel of a relationship which is, have I described on numerous occasions, it is broad, it is deep it is mature, yes we do have some differences but let’s not try to pretend that the whole thing is no good,” he said.
Greg Brown 10.47am: Kearney’s ‘remarkable’ maiden speech
Opposition employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor has labelled Ged Kearney’s maiden speech in parliament yesterday — when she criticised the government’s tough refugee policies — as “remarkable”.
But Mr O’Connor said there was nothing inconsistent about her speech and Labor policy, which supports offshore detention.
“I think Ged’s comments, in what I thought was a remarkable speech yesterday in the parliament, was making clear that we should not see people indefinitely detained,” Mr O’Connor told the ABC.
“It’s a cruelty and I can assure you that an incoming Labor government would be looking at referring people and placing people into countries where they are signatories to the refugee convention.
“But I do think we have to maintain a policy that deters people that are not under persecution leaving ports on un-seaworthy vessels on perilous journeys.”
Remy Varga 10.35am: ‘Spoken like a white female politician’
Liberal Senator Jane Hume caught the ire of Randa Abdel-Fattah for advising women “don’t get bitter, get better” on the ABC program Q&A last night.
In a discussion on the low female representation within the Liberal party, Senator Hume emphasised merit was not a synonym for objectivity and said she wished the word be removed from the debate entirely.
She further said women are not a minority and it was patronising to treat them as such.
“But as a woman, as all the women are in here, we are 50 per cent of the population … we are not a minority and I really dislike being patronised as if I am a minority.”
She said women are not owed anything and if women want to achieve anything they just have to work harder.
“We are capable of anything, but we are entitled to nothing. We have to work for what we want, and for women who don’t get there the trick is work that little bit harder … don’t get bitter, get better.”
.@JulieCollinsMP thinks we have structural entrenched bias against women. @RandaAFattah is in favour of diversity quotas #QandA pic.twitter.com/37KV2Yvu5u
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) May 21, 2018
The Q&A audience loudly jeered in response to Senator’s Hume statement.
Macquarie University research fellow Randa Abdel-Fattah pointed to audience member Sarah’s question earlier in the program and asked the Senator if she would have the same opportunities as someone more privileged.
“Do you think she has just as much chance to get into parliament as somebody who goes to a private school in Toorak? Does she have the same connections and networks?”
The audience loudly applauded drowning out Abdel-Fattah. Senator Hume addressed Sarah and offered to assist her if she chose to join the Liberal party.
“Sarah if you’d like to join the Liberal party I will make sure you are well looked after, well mentored, we’ll get you there in the end.”
Abdel-Fattah threw a parting shot at Senator Hume before turning away and sipping a glass of water disdainfully.
“Spoken like a white female politician.”
Greg Brown 10.30am: No formal agreement with unions: Labor
Opposition employment spokesman Brendan O’Connor has denied he was in lock-step agreement with CFMEU heavyweight John Setka, declaring Labor would merely consider his suggestions on reforming workplace laws.
“The fact is the unions will put forward their log of demands and we will consider them as we will do with employers,” Mr Setka told ABC radio.
“Our policies will be as a result of consultations. For example, we have to look at the way in which we deal with disputation and limitations on strike action and limitations around arbitration. There are a range of things we would not agree with some union officials on — when they’ve raised with us the need for unlimited strike action.”
Mr O’Connor said the government was attempting to link Labor with Mr Setka as it was embarrassed criminal charges against the Victorian union official were dropped.
“There were criminal charges dropped against him after three years, because evidence that was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions by the trade union royal commission was found wanting,” Mr O’Connor said.
“It was found wanting because it would appear there were contrivances as a result of, there were changes to the evidence that was (given) in that royal commission and that is a question that needs to be asked also. What happened there?
“There are questions for the Boral executive lawyers, the ACCC lawyers and the lawyers that were representing the trade union royal commission in revising the statements of those informants that were in that matter. Because they do go to a perception that there was collusion at the highest levels involving governments — and it’s a pattern of behaviour we’ve seen time and time again.”
Ben Packham 10.15am: Snowy 2.0 to ‘out-compete’ coal
Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad says the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme “will out-compete any new coal plant” on price and reliability.
Abbott blasts Turnbull’s ‘anti-coal’ energy chiefs
He said even a massive 3000MW high-efficiency low-emissions coal-fired power plant would now be unviable, given the “massive” amounts of renewables coming onto the market, which would be “firmed” by Snowy Hydro 2.0.
Mr Broad said coal-fired plants were not flexible enough for a system with a high proportion of renewable energy, because they were unable to cycle on and off as required.
“They can’t get that flex right,” he said.
Mr Broad’s comments follow those at a previous estimates hearing by Showy Hydro executive Roger Whitby, who said a new coal-fired plant coming into the system would make Snowy 2.0 unviable. Mr Broad made a similar comment in December 2017, when he told Sky News that more coal-fired plants coming onto the grid would change the economics of Snowy 2.0, to the point that it would no longer make money.
But he said he no longer stood by his comments of six months ago.
“The market has moved,” Mr Broad said.
“The massive amount of renewables coming into the system — there is 4000MW — they are all looking for firming.”
Mr Broad told the committee that it would cost Snowy 2.0 $40/MWH to pump water up into its storages, but it would make $80/MWH by selling energy into the grid.
He said modelling showed the project would bring wholesale energy prices down by 10 per cent.
Primrose Riordan 9.35am: ‘I said no to Oz envoy role’
Senator Bob Corker, a retiring Republican who once called the White House “an adult day care centre”, has told a US newspaper he turned down an offer to become the next U.S. ambassador to Australia.
“I had a number of conversations with both President (Donald) Trump and (Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo,” Senator Corker told the The Tennessean. “At the end of the day though … it just felt like it wasn’t the right step.”
He said he was approached three weeks ago and turned down the role last week.
“I shared with them there may very well be some other task down the road that they may need me to tackle on behalf of our country,” Senator Corker said.
In the lead up to the North Korea-US summit in Singapore, the Trump administration pulled Admiral Harry Harris’s nomination at an Ambassador to Australia and instead he will be the next US ambassador to South Korea
Senator Corker told the paper however that he had not been to Australia.
Greg Brown 9.25am: ‘We won’t be taken for ride’
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has warned Commonwealth Games runaways that the Australian public “won’t be taken for a ride” as he vowed to find and deport athletes who unlawfully overstayed their visas.
“My message to the 50 is that the Australian public won’t be taken for a ride, we aren’t going to tolerate people who come here on visas that have been issued in good faith and then take advantage of our system,” Mr Dutton said.
“We want to see those 50 people present themselves to the Australian Border Force because if they don’t, Border Force will find out where they are, they will be taken into immigration detention and they will be deported.”
He also accused many of the 200 Games-related visitors who had applied for protection visas to remain in Australia as “just trying it on”.
“And my message to them is, they need to consider their position very carefully as well because we are not going to be taken for a ride and we are going to have a look very closely at those individual applications,” Mr Dutton said.
“We aren’t going to allow people to jump queues or seek some preferential arrangement for themselves, we have proper process in place.”
Greg Brown 9.05am: Hanson tax stance ‘exposes secret deal’
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says Pauline Hanson’s withdrawal from supporting big business tax cuts exposed a “secret” deal between One Nation and the government.
“Not only has Pauline Hanson withdrawn her support for the government’s big business tax cuts saying that the government hasn’t sold the message, well of course the problem is the message is a dud message and it’s a poor product,” Mr Bowen said.
“But also we see revealed for the first time that there was a written agreement between the government and Pauline Hanson‘s One Nation Party that the government made a series of concessions to One Nation in order to get their big business tax cuts through the parliament.
“Now this has been secret until today. This simply isn’t good enough. Scott Morrison should release the full details of this deal today. We shouldn’t be relying on Pauline Hanson to learn what Government policy is, what deal they have done.”
Greg Brown 8.50am: Bishop to visit Beijing
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says her Chinese counterpart has invited her for a formal meeting in Beijing after a one hour conversation on the sidelines of the G20 meeting of foreign ministers in Argentina.
Ms Bishop said she held a personal meeting with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the summit, describing the hour-long conversation as “warm”, “candid” and “lengthy”.
“(He) said he was looking forward to hosting me in Beijing for our annual foreign ministers’ meeting and this year it will be held in Beijing and I certainly accepted his offer to visit and I expect to be there very soon,” Ms Bishop told Sky News.
She denied there was a diplomatic freeze, which she said was confirmed by her meeting with Mr Wang.
She said she “had no doubt” Malcolm Turnbull would visit Beijing “sometime this year”.
“I was very pleased we were discussing a time for my visit which will be soon and Australian officials will also be visiting China very soon, I’m sure we will be seeing some significant meetings between senior Australian officials and Chinese officials very shortly,” she said.
Greg Brown 8.20am: ‘No change’ in Labor position on tax
Opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says there has been “no change” in Labor’s position on the government’s income tax cuts after the party’s finance spokesman Jim Chalmers voiced a willingness to consider supporting stage two of the $140 billion package.
Mr Bowen said Mr Chalmers’ comments on Sky News yesterday were consistent with the party’s policy of asking for more information on the impacts of lifting the 32.5 per cent tax rate from $90,000 to $120,000 in 2022.
“We have grave reservations about the 2024 tax cuts and we want more information about the 2022 tax cuts,” Mr Bowen said this morning.
“The Treasurer wants the parliament to vote on these tax cuts and he won’t release the year on year costings.”
Mr Chalmers’ comments yesterday came after Mr Bowen last week left the door open to supporting stage two of the cuts.
Greg Brown 8.05am: Labor ‘capitulated’ on border protection
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says Labor has “completely and utterly capitulated” on border protection after new Labor MP Ged Kearney used her first speech in the parliament to criticise the indefinite detention of asylum seekers.
Mr Dutton said the speech showed Bill Shorten’s backing of the government’s tough border protection policies was “unravelling”.
“Ged Kearney has no answer for what happens when women and children start drawing at sea again or what happens when people go into detention until their identities can be established, what happens when these people can’t get travel documents from a country like Iran,” Mr Dutton said this morning.
“The Labor Party once again, we’ve watched this movie before, they have complete and utterly capitulated on border protection policy.
“Bill Shorten is making the same mistake that Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard did in relation to border protection and their policy is unravelling to a point, where I can tell you, if Labor wins the upcoming election, the biggest election party will be in some village where people smugglers are toasting Prime Minister Bill Shorten because it will mean the boats restart.”
Greg Brown 7.40am: ‘Hope it’s not the last word on tax’
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann says he is disappointed Pauline Hanson has withdrawn her support for the government’s company tax cuts.
But Senator Cormann said he still holds out hope a deal will be struck with the One Nation leader, despite her giving out a list of near impossible demands in return for support of the government’s package.
“I am obviously disappointed with this and I hope it is not the last words spoken on this,” Senator Cormann said,” Senator Cormann told Sky News.
“We have very thorough and very constructive engagement with Pauline Hanson and her team earlier in the year when we fleshed out all of the issues and we fleshed out why it was so important to working families around Australia that the Senate passed our plan for a globally competitive tax rate for all businesses.
“We had firm private and public commitments of support from Pauline Hanson and her team and I am certainly hopeful that we can work our way back to that same position.”
What’s making news:
Pauline Hanson has dealt what appears to be a fatal blow to the government’s company tax cuts by withdrawing support for the package and producing a list of near impossible demands, declaring that Malcolm Turnbull has failed to sell the reform’s benefits.
Tony Abbott, a leading member of the Coalition’s pro-coal Monash Forum, has lashed out at Malcolm Turnbull’s energy mandarins, accusing top bureaucrats of being “biased against coal” and exposing the government as “pretending” to be technology-neutral in its approach to energy.
Australia has accused Beijing of attempting to shake up the UN Human Rights Council, issuing a strong statement rejecting a Chinese government view of human rights that lacked “accountability and transparency”.
New Labor MP Ged Kearney says indefinite detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru is damaging the “national psyche”, and urges immediate action to resettle those in offshore detention centres.
Malcolm Turnbull yesterday issued a strenuous defence of live sheep exports as he shot down a bill by rebel government MPs to phase out the controversial trade.
Home Affairs officials have confirmed 255 athletes, support staff or media who came to Australia for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games have overstayed their visas, leaving taxpayers with a multimillion-dollar bill.
Former Queensland MP Trevor Ruthenberg is the frontrunner to represent the Coalition in the ultra-marginal seat of Longman when a preselection meeting is held in the electorate, north of Brisbane, this evening.
Penny Wong, leader of the opposition in the Senate, reportedly broke official rules in the federal budget by taking confidential papers to her office before the lockup ended, forcing Treasury security to intervene.
James Jeffrey’s sketch: In the precious minutes before Labor hit repeat, Malcolm Turnbull gave question time something fresh.
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