What we learned: Tuesday 28 March
And that wraps our news for this evening. Here is what hit the headlines today:
David Pocock announced he would be voting for the safeguard mechanism, making up the last vote the government needs for the legislation to pass the Senate.
Electricity giant Origin Energy was taken over by Brookfield and MidOcean in an $18bn-plus bid. The deal means AGL Energy will be Australia’s only publicly listed energy player of any size.
NSW Labor’s leader Chris Minns was sworn in as the 47th premier of New South Wales.
The federal industry minister, Ed Husic, secured necessary cross-bench support for the national reconstruction fund, meaning the bill is set to pass the Senate.
Labor MP Josh Burns said the recent questioning of the Indigenous voice to parliament’s scope is an attempt by the opposition to “muddy the waters”.
And the government’s planned reforms to whistleblower protections have been delayed.
Updated
ACT Independent Senator David Pocock has confirmed support for the government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Bill 2023, following an agreement today with industry and science minister Ed Husic.
Critical to the success of the NRF is ensuring there’s a sustainable pipeline of eligible projects at a stage suitable for funding through the corporation.
This is especially important for Canberra’s burgeoning startup sector and I welcome the government’s commitment to exploring additional policy mechanisms that would provide Australian startups access to finance as they navigate the path to commercialisation.
This commitment will help address one of the biggest challenges local firms raise with me around the need for more of that early capital to get them through the valley of death.
The bill is set to pass senate, after Labor met Greens demand for a ban on reconstruction fund investment in coal, gas and native logging earlier this month.
Chinese broadcaster shows interview with Daniel Andrews from 2017
The Victorian premier’s office has confirmed that an interview with Daniel Andrews published by a Chinese broadcaster to coincide with his trip to Beijing was filmed in 2017.
Phoenix TV - a Hong-Kong based state-owned broadcaster - published an interview with Andrews on Tuesday afternoon where the premier said he could not imagine the state “without the Chinese influence”. The exact date of publication was unclear.
Andrews’ four-day trip to China - that began on Tuesday - has sparked criticism over the exclusion of Australian journalists and the limited itinerary detail.
A spokesperson for Andrews on Tuesday night said the video was filmed on 8 February 2017.
Updated
Flexibility in transport gig work a ‘myth’, says Transport Worker’s Union
Almost half of the gig workers employed in the transport and meal delivery industry earn less than the minimum wage, and 81% depend on gig economy income to survive, according to a report released by the Transport Workers Union, TEACHO, and the McKell Institute.
The report surveyed 1,000 food delivery, rideshare and Amazon Flex drivers. It comes as the government pledges to reform gig worker’s conditions and pay in the second half of this year.
The study found 42% of those surveyed work over 40 hours a week, while 69% said they have to work peak hours to earn enough money. 56% of food delivery riders reported feeling pressure to rush and take risks on the road to earn enough money and avoid deactivation for being deemed too slow.
The Transport Union’s national secretary, Michael Kaine, said:
This alarming study busts the myth that transport gig work currently offers flexibility in anything but a tagline.
Although many food delivery, parcel delivery and rideshare drivers are drawn to this work on the promise of flexible hours, this is unobtainable without the existence of fair, safe and sustainable standards.
ABC news director admits diversity shortcomings
The ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, admits the broadcaster has “a way to go” in achieving diversity after the host of Q+A Stan Grant criticised the “entire white panel” on the ABC’s New South Wales election panel.
In a letter to ABC managing director David Anderson, which was leaked in part to Crikey, Grant said:
In 2023, how is it at all acceptable that an election night coverage features an entire white panel. This is not a criticism of my colleagues who are all well qualified, but it is a criticism of the ABC that for decades has nurtured and promoted white staff at the exclusion of others.
There is no excuse for what I saw on air last night. None. I have worked at organisations around the world and nowhere would what we presented last night be tolerated.
Read the full story by Amanda Meade here:
Updated
Meat industry’s response to shocking footage ‘unbelievable’, activist says
The activist who obtained shocking footage showing pigs screaming, writhing and frothing at the mouth as they were gassed before slaughter has condemned the industry’s response to the footage.
The ABC published footage on Monday night raising questions about the impact of carbon dioxide gassing, a supposedly safer method of stunning animals prior to slaughter.
The footage was obtained by Chris Delforce, from the Farm Transparency Project.
On Tuesday the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) responded forcefully to the footage, telling the ABC it “didn’t see any mistreatment of any animals”.
Delforce said he could not believe the industry’s response:
It’s unbelievable that anyone can watch such obvious horrific cruelty and claim with a straight face that they ‘didn’t see any mistreatment of animals’.
AMIC also claimed to the ABC that Delforce had only used footage that was “actually repeated on a loop”. AMIC suggested that Delforce had found specific pigs that reacted badly to the gas as opposed to “showing us the total process”. In fact, the Farm Transparency Project has published hours of footage captured over an extended period, depicting multiple stages of the process. Delforce said:
The claim that ‘the footage that was utilised was actually repeated on a loop’ is utterly ridiculous and easily disprovable by the hours of footage we’ve made available on our website. The ABC should be ashamed for publishing such nonsense.
Updated
Australian party MP Bob Katter was on ABC Afternoon Briefing earlier saying the safeguard mechanism will condemn mine workers to “grinding poverty”.
Both parties now are committed to the abolition of the coal industry by 2030. Now, there is 200,000 Australians employed in that industry.
200,000 jobs … Where are they going to go? There is no second industry to pick them up. Cattle numbers are down 23%, the cane industry is down 15%, the dairy industry is down 23%, so don’t go to agriculture. Where are they going to go? You are going to take their jobs away and condemn them to a grinding poverty. That is what you are doing.
Updated
National reconstruction fund gets crossbench support
You can add Ed Husic to the list of ministers who have had a win this week – the industry minister has announced he has secured the necessary cross bench support for the national reconstruction fund.
That leaves Julie Collins’ housing future fund as the only hallmark bill yet to get the support – that won’t be dealt with now until after the budget in the first week of May
Updated
Whistleblower protections reforms delayed
The government’s planned reforms to whistleblower protections have been delayed.
The government had planned to debate the changes to the Public Interest Disclosure (PID) Act in the Senate this week. But the packed legislative agenda in the upper house which includes debate of Labor’s signature climate policy, has forced the PID act reforms off the agenda.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has previously committed to implementing the reforms prior to the federal integrity commission commencing operations, which is expected in July.
GetUp’s chief campaigns officer, Roj Amedi, said the longer the government refuses to act, the more whistleblowers and others who speak up will suffer.
The attorney general has claimed that he is a champion for whistleblowers, but he has yet to walk the talk. Not only is Labor failing to treat these piecemeal but important reforms as a priority, they’re refusing to intervene in the ongoing prosecution of two brave whistleblowers – Richard Boyle and David McBride.
Updated
Climate models still pointing to an El Niño later in the year
Every two weeks, the Bureau of Meteorology updates its climate drivers forecast. A fortnight ago, they created a bit of a surprise by switching from a La Niña watch to an El Niño watch in a single leap.
As a “watch”, it means there’s about a 50% chance of an El Niño forming in the Pacific later this year. All the major climate models point in that direction (particularly the bureau’s own one).
@BOM_au continues to predict an El Niño for later this year. Still a predictability barrier to clear… but looking a little ominous… pic.twitter.com/V10ayUb2BK
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) March 28, 2023
Meteorologists will be quick to emphasise that at this time of the year, model accuracy is on the low side. (There’s a predictability barrier to clear, every autumn, when the Pacific seems to do a big reset.)
Still, it’s a shift in conditions that would probably have a big impact globally if it happens, hence the value in tracking each update.
During El Niño years, the usual easterly blowing equatorial winds of the central Pacific stall and even reverse. Rainfall patterns typically shift eastwards away from eastern Australia.
Some of us might want a change from the wet La Niña years (when rainfall shifts westwards to Australia).
The prospect, though, of drier conditions and more intense heatwaves than we’ve seen in the past couple of years won’t be so welcome if they eventuate. The buildup of vegetation in many regions could elevate the bushfire risks, for one thing.
Updated
Teal MP Allegra Spender calls for broad tax reform
The teal crossbench MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, is calling for broad tax reform, hosting a tax round table on Friday. She tells ABC Afternoon Briefing that tax policy has been an area major parties “have been scared to engage” with. Spender’s round table will bring together tax experts, community and business voices, to try “to open the space up”.
I think the tax system is in a perilous state and it is time to really face this from the front.
I’m seeking to … make sure that we have sustainable, fair and efficient tax system but that also drives productivity and wages growth. We have slow productivity that is absolutely partly driven by tax.
I think on the corporate sphere, we have high corporate tax, and that I know is a concern for the business community over time. I supported a carbon price. Sometimes they are unpopular, but at the same time it will be cheaper if we had a carbon price now than if we have a series of different activities trying to reduce emissions. I think we should have these questions on the table.
Updated
Labor MP says Liberals ‘trying to play tricky political games’ on the voice
On the scope of the voice to parliament, the Labor MP Josh Burns confirms to ABC Afternoon Briefing that any decision on policy is sill a “sovereign matter for the parliament”.
The voice will make recommendations on matters that are important and impacts the lives of Indigenous people. That’s how it was designed and what the Uluru statement from the heart asked for. The other point to make is the voice can make representation, and that is what First Nations people asking for … They are also asking for recognition in our constitution but also asking to be consulted.
Ultimately any decision on any policy matter is still a sovereign matter for the parliament and that is part of the very specific words that were released last week by the attorney general, and I think that the opposition know all of this and they’re trying to play tricky political games.
Updated
Opposition trying to ‘muddy the waters’ on Indigenous voice: Josh Burns
The Labor MP for Macnamara, Josh Burns, tells ABC Afternoon Briefing that recent questioning of the scope of the Indigenous voice to parliament is an attempt by the opposition to “muddy the waters”.
They are just grasping in any institution they can to muddy the waters. Why are they doing that? Because the leader of the opposition doesn’t support the voice and he is trying to play a whole range of tactical games and that is his prerogative.
Updated
Adviser to Ukraine’s defence minister seeks Australian help on weapons
Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Ukraine’s defence minister, is visiting Canberra today.
He tells ABC Afternoon Briefing it is important to “maintain this connection between our nations” and to ensure Australia continues to stand with Ukraine as it enters its second year of war with Russia.
We are currently preparing for our counteroffensive because our military objective number one remains incomplete. Liberation of our lands, pushing away the enemy and then eventually bringing them to account and justice through the international war crimes tribunal.
We need weapons that can help us efficiently protect our skies and can help our ground forces conduct counteroffensive operations … Australia could be a leader in showing the world that Ukraine will get even the most modern weapons to defeat the enemy.
Sak says Ukraine welcomes Australia to join the “international tank coalition”, after a delegation last week requested Australian-owned Abrams tanks. He is the second high-profile visitor from Ukraine this week.
Updated
Origin’s new owners ‘haven’t contemplated’ sale of Eraring back to NSW
As mentioned in an earlier post, the $18.7bn takeover of Origin Energy by Brookfield and MidOcean placed a bit of a question mark over the future of the energy company’s (and Australia’s) biggest power plant, Eraring, in New South Wales.
We noted that Brookfield and MidOcean’s media release didn’t repeat the 2025 date for Eraring that Origin had previously stated. So we asked them to clarify.
A spokesperson for Brookfield told Guardian Australia:
The earliest possible closure date for Eraring is August 2025. We have always said we won’t take capacity out of the system until replacement is online.
During the recent NSW election, Labor in particular left open the possibility of buying back Eraring if needed. (Or, at least, didn’t rule it out.) The Coalition vacillated but the now former premier Dom Perrottet indicated a buyback could be considered if needed.
Anyway, Brookfield’s spokesperson doesn’t seem keen to ventilate the idea.
“We haven’t contemplated a sell-back,” she said. “We wouldn’t sell Eraring if it meant keeping it open longer than it needs to be.”
In its statement, Brookfield played up the closure of Eraring as being key to cutting the business’s absolute carbon emissions by more than 70% by 2030 (presumably, compared with now).
One thing to keep in mind is that Origin has stated it costs $200m-$250m a year in operating and capital spending to keep the plant running now. That’s before paying for the coal. There’s a fair chance that sum isn’t going to decline in coming years.
Still, a lot can happen between now and 2025. As we noted in this pre-election piece, NSW’s electricity grid has its share of challenges ahead:
About 1,200 megawatts of generation capacity will drop off the grid by 29 April, with the closure of AGL’s Liddell power plant in NSW’s Hunter Valley.
Those power issues are also topical given the ACTU president, Michele O’Neil, was just talking to the National Press Club about the need for a National Energy Transition Authority to deal with the shift away from fossil fuels.
Updated
On that note, I will hand over to the lovely Rafqa Touma to take you through the evening, while I go and stare at a wall.
Make sure you check in for what Paul Karp, Josh Butler and Daniel Hurst have been working on, as well as the rest of the Guardian brains trust. It is somehow only Tuesday, which means we have two more days of parliament – I will be back with you early tomorrow morning, but until then, please – take care of you.
Updated
Greens want housing fund to include help for renters
On Afternoon Briefing, Sarah Hanson-Young explains why the housing fund isn’t on that extended list – because the Greens aren’t budging unless something is done for renters.
We just agreed in the Senate to how the rest of the week is going to unfold. It means that we will get through the safeguard mechanism legislation by Thursday afternoon. The housing bill that the government had wanted to bring on won’t be dealt with in the Senate this week.
We are still in negotiations with the government on this, so they don’t have the numbers. They don’t have the ability to [push it] through.
We will keep talking to them – we really want them to act on the fact that one-third of Australians live in rentals and rental properties, and they get nothing out of what the government has put on the table.
We want to push the government on making sure that [renters are helped] to deal with soaring rents, [and those in] unfair arrangements actually get a fairer deal.
Updated
As Paul Karp previewed earlier today, the Senate is down for a long night.
The #Senate has extended its hours and rearranged its business for the remainder of the week. The Dynamic Red has been updated to show the agenda for the rest of today https://t.co/Wi8bN9WhfW pic.twitter.com/TnbiWh9b5f
— Australian Senate (@AuSenate) March 28, 2023
But what is not on there? The housing fund.
Updated
Hastie ‘disheartened’ by ACTU’s anti-nuclear stance which extends to nuclear subs
The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, is not pleased with the ACTU for its longstanding stance against nuclear, which extends to the nuclear submarines.
Hastie is “disheartened” by the union stance.
The Coalition has been bipartisan on Aukus because we know that it is a multigenerational, nation-building project that demands support from governments around the nation, industry and the private sector. Most importantly, it needs the support of the Australian people.
For Labor and its industrial wing to be divided on nuclear submarines sends a confusing signal to the Australian people. It’s particularly damaging when the government has clearly articulated our strategic need for submarines and has promised the creation of 20,000 local jobs.
The opposition hopes that the ACTU can reflect on its ‘longstanding position’ and adapt, as our strategic circumstances now demand. Indeed, it’s time to be progressive and not reactionary.
The ACTU should drop its archaic last-century stance on nuclear power, and work on growing Australian industry in the national interest.
We call on the Albanese government to exercise leadership in bringing together its union wing in the national interest. We in opposition are playing our part. We hope the Albanese government can play theirs.
Updated
From Mike Bowers’ lens to your eyeballs.
See if you can guess today’s question time theme:
Updated
Australian National University won’t adopt controversial antisemitism definition
The Australian National University has rejected growing pressure from parliamentary MPs to adopt a controversial definition of antisemitism.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism has been critiqued as an “outright attack on academic freedom” among Palestinian and Arab scholars who argue its definition of antisemitism, which includes “targeting the state of Israel”, could be used to shut down legitimate criticism of Israel.
It follows an open letter from the Parliamentary Friends of IHRA sent to vice-chancellors in November, urging them to formally adopt the IHRA definition and requesting a response by the end of January. The group is headed by MPs Josh Burns, Allegra Spender and Julian Leeser.
The ANU vice-chancellor, Prof Brian Schmidt, confirmed on Tuesday the university does not intend to adopt the working definition after its Academic Freedom Reference Group found ANU’s “current system of policies and procedures, as well as the university’s culture, practice and values adequately addresses the threat of antisemitism”.
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the Australian National University Students’ Association (ANUSA) welcomed the move. In a joint statement this afternoon, the bodies said staff and students had expressed “serious concern” about the proposed adoption.
These concerns include the potential for this working definition to be misused to suppress research and teaching activities critical of the actions of the state of Israel. Concerns have also been raised that the working definition has a chilling effect on academic freedom, including the freedom of staff and students to engage in discourse on political and human rights issues.
The NTEU and ANUSA … have made representations to the ANU over the past three months urging the university not to adopt the IHRA working definition … we believe this provides a strong example for other universities in the sector who may still be considering the IHRA working definition. This is also an opportune time for reconsideration for other universities who have already adopted the working definition.
The University of Melbourne was the first tertiary institution to publicly back the definition as part of its antiracism strategy this year, while Monash University, Macquarie University, Sunshine Coast University and the University of Wollongong have also changed their policies to include the IHRA statement.
Updated
Labor to introduce bill to help protect migrant workers’ entitlements
Tony Burke plans on introducing the “protecting worker entitlements bill”, which will make clear that workplace protections apply to migrant workers on temporary visas.
As a result of this change, visa workers will be left in no doubt they have the same rights and protections as other Australians.
This is an important step in reducing the opportunity for these workers to be exploited.
Temporary visa workers may have poor knowledge of their workplace rights or may be fearful about seeking help about pay and conditions and enterprise agreements, superannuation and workplace safety.
Too often, these vulnerabilities are exploited by unscrupulous employers.
The changes will mean visa holders who may have been exploited or underpaid will know they have the same access to remedies as other workers.
Updated
Question time ends
There are two more to go before this sitting rises and the parliament won’t return until May, when the budget is handed down.
Which also means there are two more question times before the Aston byelection. Will that change anything? Possibly not – Peter Dutton might pop his head up a little more and the Coalition may stop asking the same two questions in different ways, but other than that, we are probably stuck here for quite some time.
Updated
PM reiterates again the primacy of the parliament in voice plans
Paul Fletcher tries again:
Prime minister, will the voice need to be consulted on defence and foreign affairs matters?
Anthony Albanese seems quite fed up. Someone remind him he has the power to stop question time at any moment he chooses.
Albanese:
The question that will be asked is a proposed law to alter the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you approve this proposed alteration? That’s the question.
The proposed change in the constitution is the first bit, is the recognition – in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.
One, there shall be a body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice.
Two, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice may make representations to the parliament and the executive government – the same words used by the shadow attorney general in his submission way back in 2014 – of the commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. That’s there.
The third clause gives primacy to this parliament for what will be considered. For what will be considered.
This goes to what will be considered by the voice. The parliament shall, subject to this constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
This is an assertion ... of the primacy of the parliament for what the voice will consider. That is why it is consistent with the views put forward by constitutional conservatives. This is a conservative, modest proposal that has been made even tighter as a result of the additional words that were added between the Garma speech and last Thursday and in the legislation that will be introduced. The two key words there are “matters” and then “including” – including, including. So the primacy of the parliament is made very clear by those words.
Which is what the former chief justice [French] has agreed, what Anne Twomey has agreed and what the shadow attorney general knows full well as well, because it’s consistent with what he has been saying for years. For years.
Updated
David Pocock on the ‘we’re about to run out of gas’ arguments:
Many of us are concerned about rising gas prices and we’re now hearing people say we don’t have enough gas. Even though we export most of our gas 🤔 .
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) March 28, 2023
Let's have a look at what's going on. pic.twitter.com/bEaE92TEgG
PM calls opposition attempts to undermine the voice ‘so sad’
My question is to the prime minister on concerns on the voice. Can he confirm the voice is not about defence policy or foreign affairs policy?
(There are heckles of “monorail, monorail, monoraillllllll” as Fletcher sits down, which is part of an ongoing joke some Labor MPs have about Fletcher looking like Lyle Lanley from the Simpsons. No, this is not a place for grownups.)
Anthony Albanese:
They should know what the voice is about because for 10 years they were actually the government that established the committees and established the processes and produced the reports that dealt with the voice department. That dealt with it.
Indeed the shadow minister for Aboriginal affairs proudly said in his first speech to parliament, an important public debate in time of increasing polarisation of years, we need people who can build consensus and find middle ground. In more recent times I have worked with Indigenous leaders and constitutional conservatives to find a constitutional way to make better policy about and give due recognition of Indigenous Australians while avoiding the downsides of inserting symbolic language into attending document.
Fletcher has a point of order which is not a point of order.
Albanese:
I’m surprised that quoting the member for Berowra’s first speech is something controversial in this place. But it was about the voice, his first speech, and he deserves credit for the work that he has done on the voice. Which is why it is so sad that what we see now is an attempt ongoing to raise issues in a way that are designed to undermine the opportunity that Australians have ... to unite the country in a positive way just like I offered to the former prime minister when we met in his office on the first sitting day of parliament in 2019. Because, bear this in mind, those opposite prior to the election made a commitment to advance the voice to parliament. And Ken Wyatt to his credit was appointed as the first ever Aboriginal to hold the position of minister for Indigenous Australians. And I appointed the shadow minister, and that was to advance …
Peter Dutton has a point of order, but Milton Dick asks Albanese if he has concluded his answer.
“No,” Albanese says.
“Have you started,” Dutton quips and the Coalition falls into laughter and cheers because the bar is subterranean in this place. We’re about to hit the Earth’s core it’s so low.
Updated
‘You cannot fund half a road’: PM on the high cost of regional road link
The independent MP for Calare, Andrew Gee (who left the Nationals after the party room resolved not to support the Indigenous voice to parliament), asks about a road link between Orange and Mudgee which communities have waited generations for.
Anthony Albanese:
I know that he is very passionate about this project to provide a road link between Orange and Mudgee, it is a complex proposal because it does of course involve a river crossing and therefore the cost has been assessed and unfortunately it has been much higher than $27.8m.
Like many of the commitments that were made opposite, essentially you cannot fund half a road, you cannot just have one side, you can’t have it go half the way.
You need to have the entire funding there, which is why I have looked forward to and I have raised the issue with my minister for infrastructure and transport as to whether there would be an interest as well in the New South Wales government, the incoming NSW government, also being engaged with this project, or indeed with the shire councils in that area. I will certainly come back to the member for talks about this. We have allocated some $23bn to NSW …
And, as the member knows, because I travelled with him to call there during the natural disasters which tragically a lot of his electorate was impacted by, we continue to invest where it is needed to deal with the natural disasters that had such a devastating impact, in particular the floods, in his community. I look forward to working with the member and thank him for the question.
Updated
Leeser asks PM what policy areas will be excluded from the voice’s remit
The shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, has another question on the voice:
In the prime minister’s press conference yesterday, in response to a question about the scope and the voice’s powers, the prime minister said, and I quote, the voice is not about defence policy, it’s not about foreign affairs. What other matters are excluded from the remit of the voice?
Leeser asked a very similar question in QT to the one a journalist for the Australian asked in a press conference yesterday. The PM shot both questions down pretty quickly.
Anthony Albanese:
Well, a colleague once wrote about what the voice was about and he said this, they proposed a consolidated body that merely provides advice. It cannot [influence] federal parliament, it rather provides greater input into the policy-making process, which should lead to policy improvements and greater [involvement] by and from Indigenous people across Australia. It is important that if the parliament is going to make laws about Indigenous people, Indigenous people should be consulted about those laws.
There is nothing … about articulation of that rule in the constitution, the constitution rules for parliament are set out. In my view, the proposal for an advisory body has real merit and [fits] comfortably with the nature of the constitution … It was indeed very wise words from member from Berowra in 2016.
The member for Berowra knows ...
There are a bunch of interjections. Paul Karp hears Peter Dutton ask “are you capable of answering a question” to Albanese while holding a finger up, “just one … cannot answer a question”.
Milton Dick tries to quiet everyone down.
Albanese continues with what he said earlier – the voice provides advice on issues and policies which have direct impact on Indigenous Australians.
Updated
Tanya Plibersek is answering a question on water and dams from Bob Katter when Sussan Ley gets to her feet with a point of order.
The prime minster apparently left the chamber for a moment or wasn’t in his seat.
It has massive “didn’t get voted prefect and am making it everyone’s problem” vibes, but that covers most of the parliament.
(Speaker Milton Dick rules it is not a point of order and then has to put his headmaster voice on to chastise using points of order that way.)
Updated
Bill Shorten talks about another of the zombie measures (unfunded projects/policies in the budget, or projects/policies which are meant to go on but the funding ends at the financial year) and the Liberal MP Tony Pasin yells loud enough for my colleague Paul Karp to hear:
Stop picking on Jimmy. Oh Jimmy’s cooking the books.
“Jimmy” being a reference to the treasurer, Jim Chalmers.
He is implying the funding cliffs are Labor’s fault because they didn’t address it in the October budget.
Good times.
Updated
PM hits back at Coalition for not engaging on emissions policy
The opposition still seems very annoyed at the outcome of a piece of legislation it refused to engage on.
Zoe McKenzie, the Liberal MP for Flinders, asks:
The government’s deal with the Greens on emissions will force up our prices and further risk domestic gas supply. This comes after the Australian Energy Market Operator is warning of gas shortages in Victoria. Can the prime minister guarantee there will be no disruption to gas supply to Victorians this winter?
Anthony Albanese:
Only a party addicted to secrecy and cover-ups and denial would say that there is a bad thing that this parliament is prepared to work with colleagues across the parliament to achieve reform and change.
We make no apologies for engaging across this parliament.
It is just a pity that those opposite are now the observers rather than the participants in this parliament.
They chose to be nowhere near any of this. And it is no wonder that the member for Bass had this to say: ‘I am utterly exacerbated by the lack of engagement from my own side to come to the table and engage in a constructive conversation.’
I’m asked about arrangements in this parliament in order to achieve the legislation that is through. And what we had from those opposite is ongoing scare campaigns.
They said, remember when we met in December, they said this: ‘Labor’s diabolical plan,’ the member for Hume said, ‘will undermine investment in Australia.’
The leader of the opposition said it would tear away at investment confidence. The leader of the opposition said it would disrupt investment into our country. Have a look at what has happened today. On investment …
Paul Fletcher has a point of order that the prime minister isn’t addressing the question on gas supply.
My colleague Paul Karp hears Albanese say: ‘It wasn’t a straight question. Read the whole thing.’ Which is what the speaker, Milton Dick, ends up ruling, telling Fletcher he can’t use a point of order on relevance to pick out a part of the question he wants answered.
Albanese continues to talk about investment and companies which have reacted positively, and finishes with:
No wonder they are against solar power because they keep predicting the sky will fall in. That is why they are against solar power. Because they keep predicting that the sky will fall.
Meanwhile, Labor heckles David Littleproud to “ask Senex”, which is in reference to this.
Updated
Everyone loves the Olympics.
(Except the people who may lose their school and park to the expansion of the Gabba, but that is not part of this dixer answer from Catherine King.)
Instead, King talks about the former government not having committed anything to the Olympics in the last budget.
Updated
Coalition asks minister about ‘delays’ in local government funding
Jim Chalmers takes up the time it takes for my instant noodles to heat up to talk about budget “booby traps”.
We move on to the LNP MP Llew O’Brien (it’s been a little bit since the member for Wide Bay got a question), who asks local government minister, Kristy McBain:
I refer the minister to her failure last week in parliament to address regional program delays for local councils. Given it has been 10 months since the federal election and five months since the budget, when will councils receive guidelines for the local roads and community infrastructure program so they can plan for critical road upgrades?
This is the third time a version of this question has been asked.
McBain:
It’s so great to see members of the LNP on the road to Damascus about guidelines. It wasn’t a big priority for them previously. But it is great to see that they are interested in guidelines now. Five months ago we announced our budget, local roads and community infrastructure is a huge part of that budget. We know how important it is to local councils. It’s an untied grant fund that allows them to deal with community priorities. What we’re doing on this side of the house is engaging directly with local councils, directly with local government organisations and associations for the first time ever, we are talking directly with them about the things that matter most to them. Consulting with our trusted delivery partners in local councils.
David Littleproud has thoughts on relevance, but the speaker, Milton Dick, says it is all very relevant, as McBain is talking about the program they asked about.
McBain finishes with pretty much the same thing the last two times this question was raised covered – consultation is under way.
Updated
Ley asks PM if legal advice on the voice will be released
Sussan Ley gets the constitutional Indigenous voice to parliament question today:
Every single person into this country wants to see better outcomes for Indigenous Australians. There is no moral high ground and no monopoly on good intentions. Australians have made it clear over many decades that there are no blank takes on constitutional reform. Will the prime minister release all advice from the solicitor general and any other legal advisers on the voice so that Australians can fully understand all of the implications of the proposed change?
Anthony Albanese:
I certainly agree with the statement that Australians want to close the gap and Australians want reconciliation to be advanced. I am asked about legal opinion. The government’s position is the same as the former government, but there is a range of legal opinion, legal opinion has put forward and words have been put forward and I want to make this point.
… I want to go to where these words have come from that will be put to the Australian people because [there was a proposal developed in 2013], see if it sounds familiar, proposing a new chapter of the constitution.
It said these: “There shall be an Aboriginal and Torres Strait underbody to be called [insert the appropriate name] which shall have the function of providing advice to the parliament and the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” It went on to state the parliament will have power to make laws with respect to the composition, roles, powers and position of the body.
They were the two key clauses put forward in 2014. One of the authors is the shadow attorney general, who is a part of that body put forward in 2014. He is a lawyer, he is a lawyer, and the fact is that lawyers, including the member, the member for Berowra and the shadow attorney general, in this country have put forward …
Ley tries to bring it back to a point of order on relevance, but because the question said legal advice, Albanese can talk about the constitutional lawyers who have defended the question and the house moves on.
Updated
Independent MP asks minster about parenting payment boost
The North Sydney independent Kylea Tink has a question for Amanda Rishworth:
A single parent with two children loses over $100 a week in payments when they’re eight and is forced off the single parent payment on to another which is of lesser value. The government is forcing people to live in poverty or violence. Will the government commit to restoring access to the parenting payment until the child is 16?
Rishworth uses a lot of words to say ‘no’.
I would like to thank the member for her question and say that the Albanese government is very much committed to supporting single parents to help them manage work and family responsibilities and of course this includes through a range of social security payments, paid parental leave and cheaper childcare.
Of course, we know that Australians are doing it tough and we’re always looking at ways we can better support them and that is why we have made a number of commitments to help with the cost of living, cheaper childcare, we have cut the cost of the PBS co-payment and announced the energy bill relief fund, which will deliver targeted and temporary relief from power bills for eligible households including those on income support payments.
Of course, for the social security system, single parents can be eligible for parenting payments and as the member rightly indicated, as their child gets older, most parents are able to increase the level of employment and reduce the need for income support.
Of course, there are still those that continue to rely on income support as their child gets older and do move to the jobseeker payment and receive a higher rate as the principal carer to ensure they do get additional support.
Single parents also can get a range of extra supplements and supports.
I would say to the member, of course, this government is always looking at how we can better support Australians, particularly those on lower incomes, and of course the government recently established the economic inclusion advisory committee to provide advice ahead of every federal budget on the economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage, and of course some of the payments that will be looked at include those being received by single parents, such as parenting payments and jobseeker payment as well as commonwealth rent assistance.
I do not understand why those opposite are interjecting, but I can tell you that this government will take those most vulnerable seriously. We will consider it through the budget context and look forward to continuing to work with the member to deliver to those most disadvantaged in Australia.
Updated
Collins uses dixer to call on MPs to pass the housing fund
Julie Collins takes a dixer on the housing fund so she can read out what should be a press release titled: PLEASE PASS THE HOUSING FUND.
But I don’t think it will move any of the votes the government needs – because the main sticking point isn’t that it is needed, it’s that it is needed SO BADLY and the government policy won’t do enough to change things.
Updated
PM urges Coalition to back housing future fund
Angus Taylor asks about mortgages and Australians struggling to make ends meet and Anthony Albanese talks about the housing future fund, instead of the audacity, so we are all reaching new heights.
Albanese:
I’m asked about housing. And the cost of housing. And I say to the member who asked the question that he does have an opportunity to do something on housing. Which is to support the Housing Australia Future Fund. That is before this parliament now. Because what the Housing Australia Future Fund along with the housing accord and along with other measures is aimed at doing, of course, is increasing supply of housing that has an impact on price. Economics 101. It has an impact.
Updated
Victorian premier to meet China’s education minister on first day of trip
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is due to meet with China’s minister of education on the first day of his trip to the state’s biggest trading partner.
Andrews’ trip has sparked backlash for the exclusion of Australian media and the lack of specific detail about who he would meet. The premier said his trip would focus on boosting the number of Chinese students studying in the state.
The premier’s private office provided a brief update on Tuesday afternoon detailing a list of people Andrews will meet on his first day:
Mr Brett Stevens, commissioner for Victoria to Greater China
Mr Graham Fletcher, Australian ambassador to China
Mr Li Xukui, vice-president, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries
His Excellency Mr Huai Jinpeng, minister of education
Dr Yin Yong, mayor of Beijing
Updated
Question time begins
Peter Dutton has decided to ask some questions today (I told you – we are just SO lucky), so he opens up proceedings with:
Why did the prime minister repeatedly promise to cut power bills before the election but has never mentioned that promise since the election? Since the prime minister is the one who stated: “If you make a promise and a commitment, you do have to stick to it.” Did you say one thing before the election and another after it? How can Australians be expected to believe anything [this prime minister says] (it ends with a line about Australians paying the consequences of the cost living crisis).
Anthony Albanese gives the same answer he has given since becoming prime minister, with a little dig at Dutton for getting off the bench.
(Ukraine, supply chain, global inflation for those playing at home.)
Dutton tries to act very serious with a point of order, but it is not a point of order and Albanese continues to act out his one-man play, ‘one man, 5,678 answers’.
Updated
Coalition will engage with voice process, but still has no position
On the voice to parliament, Peter Dutton said the Liberals would engage with the coming committee process, once the constitution alteration bill is introduced this Thursday. The Liberals still don’t have a position on the voice and it’s expected that will remain in limbo until later in the committee process.
Anthony Albanese yesterday rebuffed several questions at a press conference about the voice’s powers and whether he should heed Dutton’s request to release legal advice from the solicitor general, calling one question “very strange”.
Dutton claimed Albanese was showing “indignance” in answering questions on the voice, noting that many voters still had questions about the referendum and calling the PM’s stance “confounding”.
He also noted the furore over allegations that the Labor MP Sam Rae had said an offensive phrase to the Coalition MP Angie Bell yesterday. (Bell says she didn’t hear it, Rae says he didn’t say what was attributed to him, and the only verified allegation comes from Liberal MP Tony Pasin who says he heard something that can’t be picked up on footage from the chamber.) Dutton called the alleged words “disgraceful” and claimed Rae “didn’t have the guts to apologise” properly to Bell (Rae did apologise for the interjection but claims he didn’t say the alleged words).
Other Coalition MPs later criticised Rae, and claimed it was the latest in a string of bad behaviour from Labor MPs to conservative female pollies. One MP suggested that anyone hearing an alleged bad taste remark should stand up and flag it immediately.
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Dutton’s warning for federal party room over Deeming fallout
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has warned his party room about the fallout from the Victorian Liberals’ issues with Moira Deeming, saying “damage” can be caused if politicians focus on themselves.
Dutton also criticised what he called “indignance” from the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in response to recent questions about the Indigenous voice.
At the Coalition party room meeting in Canberra today, Dutton admitted the NSW election result (where Labor won power after 12 years) was “disappointing” for his party. The opposition leader noted that there would be more soul-searching from the Coalition, after another election loss, but that a lot of the commentary about the future path of the party would be “self-serving”. Dutton noted that some people would say the party needs to go further right, while others would call for a more centrist approach.
With Dutton seeking to win office at the next federal election (due by 2025) against the backdrop of a mainland wall of Labor red, the opposition leader told his troops not to conflate state and federal issues. But then he went to the turmoil in the Victorian Liberals, where controversial MP Deeming was yesterday suspended by the party for nine months following her appearance at an anti-trans rally that was also attended by neo-Nazis.
“We can see in Victoria at the moment the damage that can be caused and the opportunities lost when we don’t act as a team, and when we talk about ourselves,” Dutton said, according to a briefing from a party room spokesperson. It was clarified that Dutton was referring to Deeming.
Dutton said the Liberal candidate in the Aston byelection, Roshena Campbell, was doing a fantastic job, and that he expected Saturday’s result to be “tight”. Earlier, we reported that Albanese had said that anything less than a 5% swing to the Liberals would be a bad result for Dutton – so both men were in the business of expectation management today.
Updated
The metaphorical Question Time warning bell has sounded
The downhill slide to QT is about to begin, so make sure you have whatever you need to get through it. Alas, workplace health and safety rules limits what I can do, so another cup of coffee it is.
It is going to be more legacy budget hang ups versus the cost of living, with a dash of housing.
Updated
Liberals predicted to take Pittwater, defeating teal independent Jacqui Scruby
The Liberals look set to claim Pittwater after the teal independent Jacqui Scruby slipped behind in the count in Pittwater this morning.
Votes cast at early voting centres in Narrabeen and Pittwater have favoured the Liberal candidate, Rory Amon, putting him ahead by 649 votes. The initial count is now complete in almost all booths and early voting centres. Postal votes are expected to run in Amon’s favour as well.
At lunchtime Amon had 50.8%of the two-party preferred vote to 49.2% for Scruby.
The result means that teal candidates did not win any of the north side seats that they contested, though two community independents running on similar environmental and pro-climate action platforms did succeed: Michael Regan in Wakehurst and Judy Hannan in Wollondilly.
Updated
Origin Energy’s prospective new owners have not contemplated selling off Eraring coal power plant
As mentioned in an earlier post, the $18.7bn takeover of Origin Energy by Brookfield and MidOcean placed a bit of question mark over the future of the energy company (and Australia’s) biggest power plant, Eraring, in New South Wales.
We noted that Brookfield and MidOcean’s media release didn’t repeat the 2025 date for Eraring that Origin had previously stated. So we asked them to clarify.
A spokesperson for Brookfield told Guardian Australia:
The earliest possible closure date for Eraring is August 2025. We have always said we won’t take capacity out of the system until replacement is online.
During the recent NSW election, Labor in particular left open the possibility of buying back Eraring if needed. (Or, at least, didn’t rule it out.) The Coalition vacillated but the now former premier Dom Perrotet indicated a buyback could be considered if needed.
Anyway, Brookfield’s spokesperson doesn’t seem keen to ventilate the idea.
We haven’t contemplated a sell back … We wouldn’t sell Eraring if it meant keeping it open longer than it needs to be.
In its statement, Brookfield played up the closure of Eraring as being key to cutting the business’s absolute carbon emissions by more than 70% by 2030 (presumably, compared with now).
One thing to keep in mind is that Origin has stated it costs $200m to $250m a year in operating and capital spending to keep the plant running now. That’s before paying for the coal. There’s a fair chance that sum isn’t going to decline in coming years.
Still, a lot can happen between now and 2025. As we noted in this pre-election piece, NSW’s electricity grid has its share of challenges ahead:
About 1200 megawatts of generation capacity will drop off the grid by 29 April, with the closure of AGL‘s Liddell power plant in NSW’s Hunter Valley.
Those power issues are also topical given the ACTU’s president, Michele O’Neil, is just now talking to the National Press Club about the need for a national energy transition authority to deal with the shift away from fossil fuels.
Updated
ACTU still negative on nuclear defence policy
The ACTU is not a fan of the nuclear sub deal (no surprise there, it has a longstanding “no nuclear” policy):
Michelle O’Neil:
The ACTU has a long-standing policy opposition to nuclear power, nuclear waste and proliferation. We also have a long-standing policy position that supports a nuclear-free defence policy. There are not new positions that have been developed in the last weeks and months. They are decades long and our position hasn’t changed.
Updated
ACTU: wages must increase now
Michele O’Neil on the need for wages to increase:
Look, real wages have gone backwards by the greatest-ever amount, 4.5%, in the last 12 months. We’ve never seen such a decline in workers wages in our country.
The idea that somehow we should step back from workers seeing their wage increases … the opposite is needed. People are struggling, there is a cost of living crisis, people need to see their wage increase and they need them now and we know every economist, everyone agrees that is no wage price spiral happening here.
It’s not wages that are driving inflation, the sort of things that drive inflation is record profits. Price gouging by many larger companies. These other things making the difference in terms of inflation, you cannot blame workers for that.
Workers need their share in terms of their wages and they will then spend those in those local communities and small businesses that are actually doing it tough as well.
I welcome the fact that governments are listening to what is important and you’ve seen that in the election result in New South Wales on the weekend …
You see … essential workers one day step up, save our lives, [with] your own life and family at risk, to [do] this day in, month out … while we’re in a crisis and, then not give them any wage increase? See the wages go backwards? See people abandon those industries and jobs that they love because they cannot live on them anymore and cannot handle the pressure of them?
I really welcome the fact that the New South Wales people [have approved of a] commitment by the new New South Wales government to do something about that.
Updated
ACTU president: leaving behind energy workers wouldn’t just be moral failure, it would be a massive missed opportunity
Back at the national press club and the ACTU’s Michele O’Neil says politicians have stood in the way of attempts to transition, much like Donald Trump hampered American communities attempts to move forward:
Here in Australia, we have our own Trumps. Politicians like Matt Canavan are more than happy to dress up and [have] coal workers as political props before hanging them out to dry. He thinks he can condescend to them because in his mind, they are just marks.
But what I know is Australian energy workers are some of the most sophisticated and knowledgeable brokers in our economy. They know our great [network] better than anyone else because they are the ones that keep it running day in and day out.
They are the express, and they know more about what is happening in our energy quickly than any politician I have met … leaving them behind in the transition wouldn’t just be a moral failure, [it] would be a massive missed opportunity.
We need their expertise and more, because we have so much more work to do. Not only to transition to net zero but realise Australia’s potential as a renewable energy superpower.
Updated
Affordable housing rally – in pictures
Guardian Australia’s photographer-at-large, Mike Bowers, was at the affordable housing rally.
None of these senators are on board with Labor’s fund, which means Labor does not have the numbers to get this through before the budget.
Updated
Naplan marking underway
Marking for Naplan is now underway after a range of reforms for the annual student assessment were rolled out by the education minister, Jason Clare.
Some 4.4m online tests were completed this year amongst around 1.3 million students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.
It followed a sharp decline in participation in 2022, with around 20,000 extra students not sitting the tests - aligning in a fall in school attendance amid Covid, floods and flu outbreaks. Around 4.3m online tests were submitted last year, the first year Naplan moved to the digital format.
Participation was lowest for disadvantaged young people, including those in regional and remote areas and for low-performing students.
The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s CEO, David de Carvalho, said it was a “successful test event” due to close collaboration across the sector.
For the first time this year, Naplan took place in March instead of May, while a new Naplan measurement scale was also introduced to streamline results. Assessment has moved from 10 bands to four levels of achievement: “exceeding, strong, developing and needs additional support”.
de Carvalho:
Having the tests earlier in the year means we will be able to return results to schools, parents and carers sooner, and that will help inform teaching and learning programs.
Student achievement will this year be reported using proficiency standards, which provide simple and clear information on whether students are where they should be for their year level based primarily on what they have learnt in the previous year of school. A new Naplan measurement scale and time series are also being introduced.
Recent ACARA research found the top three ways results were used amongst educators was to monitor progress over time, set goals and target teaching areas where students needed more support.
Results will be sent to schools in term two and parents in term three.
Updated
ACTU calls for ‘just energy transition’ to guide move to renewables
The main point of Michele O’Neil’s speech is the ACTU wants the government to include a national energy transition authority in this year’s budget to guide the transition to renewables.
We still have no federal justtransition policy. We still have a patchwork of uncoordinated programs and funding streams whose remit only incidentally overlap with the goals [of a] just transition declaration. This means confusion for workers and a lack of real planning for change.
Their workplaces close down and they are left stranded without [the] support they need to find a new secure job. Or they see a looming date for closure and have no certainty about … whether they will be [a] job or a future for them in their communities.
Without a well-funded, long-term plan for economic diversification, the regions [will] struggle to bring these new industries in.
This means potential investors and companies have no certainty regarding how they should or even could play their part in a genuinely just transition. Coordination is urgently needed across multiple government departments and agencies working on the energy transition.
Updated
Back on the housing fund for a moment:
Max Chandler Mather says the demand for $5bn for housing is an "initial offer" but Greens want to negotiate.
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 28, 2023
No offer of direct investment yet but he notes govt hasn't ruled it out.#auspol
Daniel Andrews gives interview with Chinese broadcaster ahead of trade trip
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says he cannot imagine the state “without the Chinese influence”, in an interview with a Chinese broadcaster conducted before his four-day trade mission.
Andrews’ trip has sparked backlash for the exclusion of Australian media and the lack of specific detail about who he would meet. The premier said his trip would focus on boosting the number of Chinese students studying in the state.
Andrews told Phoenix TV – a Hong Kong-based state-owned broadcaster – that he was “proud” to have about 100,000 Chinese students in the state:
It makes us a more dynamic city. It’s the biggest export industry that we have. The Chinese story is absolutely central to the Victorian story for more than 150 years.
You can’t imagine a modern Victoria without the Chinese influence.
Andrews added that “good friends can disagree”:
That is always the approach I have taken.
The interview was conducted in Melbourne prior to his departure for Beijing.
【中澳關係緩和後首位澳州長訪華 維州州長：中國故事絕對是維多利亞州故事的核心】澳大利亞維多利亞州州長安德魯斯27日開啟4天訪華之行，他表示，他此行目的就是同中國發展友好關係，並大力推廣維多利亞州的高校教育，希望能吸引更多中國留學生來墨爾本的大學學習。#China #DanielAndrews pic.twitter.com/NMFau0yCiQ
— 鳳凰衛視PhoenixTV (@PhoenixTVHK) March 27, 2023
Updated
ACTU boss says decarbonising the economy could generate hundreds of thousands of jobs
The ACTU boss, Michele O’Neil, is at the National Press Club today. She is speaking on the need to transition Australia’s economy.
I am speaking to you today because the Australian union movement knows it is not a choice between jobs and our climate, it is a responsibility to act on both.
We are here because our previous federal government weaponised this false choice in order to [shrug] their responsibility to act on climate change.
… Their refusal to act has made the job before us both more challenging and more urgent. We will need serious ambition to get it right. Climate change poses a profound material threat to the Australian way of life. To our ability to work, play and live in the places we call home.
If we don’t find it within ourselves to take the necessary action in time, the lives of ordinary Australians will grow more gruelling and less safe with every passing year.
But within that threat lies opportunity to rival any in our nation ‘s history.
Decarbonising our economy could generate hundreds of thousands of good jobs, healthier and more equitable communities and a renewed national prosperity all while safeguarding Australians against spiralling climate disasters.
To seize this enormous opportunity, we need to build an economy that restores the planet on which it relies. That means turning an extractive economy reliant on fossil carbon to a circular economy powered by clean energy, fundamental transformation that, according to the best science, we have at most three decades to execute.
Updated
Seems Tony Burke has been sitting on that Barrie Cassidy appointment for quite some time – and has had the last laugh in this saga.
Tony Burke and my oma – people who never forget a slight.
Labor urges Victorian Liberal leader to expel Moira Deeming from party room
Victoria’s acting premier, Jacinta Allan, has urged the opposition leader, John Pesutto, to expel the controversial MP Moira Deeming from the Liberal party room after she appeared to contradict his claims she made “important concessions” to avoid party room expulsion.
A vote to expel Deeming from the Liberal party room was abandoned after MPs unanimously agreed to impose a nine-month suspension as a compromise. Pesutto argued this was due to concessions Deeming made after she attended an anti-transgender rights rally which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. But on Monday night Deeming took to Twitter to deny she condemned the organisers of the rally.
Allan said Pesutto had “failed in his first test of leadership” by not expelling Deeming:
He’s failed to stand up to hate and bigotry.
Imagine being divided on whether you stand up for hate or bigotry.
Updated
Back to you Barrie … at Old Parliament House
Barrie Cassidy, the former Insiders host and Bob Hawke adviser (and journalist and Collingwood fan and all round Australian Great) has been named the new chair of the board of Old Parliament House.
Tony Burke says there are “very few people who worked in both Old Parliament House and New Parliament House, who served in the press galleries of both buildings and the ministerial wings of both buildings”.
The former Labor MP Gai Brodtmann has been reappointed to the board.
Both get a three-year term.
Updated
Retail sales rose in February even as borrowing costs continued to climb
There’s more proof this morning that demand in the economy is holding up even as households adjust the proverbial pursestrings as official interest rates keep rising.
For the month, retail sales were up 0.2%, seasonally adjusted, compared with January’s revised 1.8% increase, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Sales were up 6.4% versus February 2022.
Australia's retail sales rose 0.2% in February vs January, and were up 6.4% vs Feb 2022. Forecasts varied from a slight fall to a modest increase. Still, RBA will likely view this result as another indication of demand holding up despite 10 consecutive official rate hikes. pic.twitter.com/SCJj8rogzL
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) March 28, 2023
Economists had offered a range of forecasts, as you might expect, with CBA for instance tipping a 0.3% drop and ANZ predicting they would rise 0.4%.
The numbers will be looked at closely because the RBA doesn’t have a look to work with before its 4 April board rates meeting. We get February consumer price index numbers tomorrow, and that’s about it as far as key releases go.
(And within the RBA, they apparently don’t put huge weight on the monthly CPI, saying they approach them with a pair of tongs, or similar. Quarterly numbers are more precise, they reckon.)
Anyway, today’s retail sales seems to have prompted a bit of spurt for the Aussie dollar. That’s usually a good guide that another rate rise next month is just a tad more likely now we’ve had the retail numbers.
Before today’s release, investors had been betting there was a 91% chance the RBA would pause at its April meeting. That ratio will likely drop.
Updated
The parliament sitting has begun.
And question time is in just under two hours.
HOW LUCKY ARE WE?
Updated
Labor party room report, part two
(continued from last post)
A partyroom spokesperson said Albanese told the caucus that “it’s very clear in the amendment that parliament is primary”, referring to the parliament’s ability to make laws about the voice. Albanese noted that a referendum would be difficult, but not impossible, without bipartisan support, noting the opposition of the Nationals and the criticism of the Liberals.
However, after a question from a caucus member about Liberals who do support the voice (there are a few, don’t forget) Albanese said the government was still engaging with such supporters, and that there would be many Liberal and National voters who back the referendum too. However the PM also noted there weren’t too many Liberal moderates left in the parliament.
The Aston byelection is this weekend. Albanese appeared to flatten prospects of Labor bucking a century of history and winning the byelection as the government: the PM noted that the average swing against a government is 5 to 6% in a byelection, and claimed that if the Liberals didn’t achieve such a swing, it would be a bad result for the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
Albanese repeated claims that Dutton was “in hiding”, referring to his non-appearance in the NSW election.
Updated
The Labor party room report
The PM, Anthony Albanese, has told his Labor partyroom that “parliament is primary” as a result of the proposed amendment to the constitution to set up the Indigenous voice and that the government is continuing its outreach to Liberal moderates to win their support.
Albanese also appeared to tamp down talk of Labor winning the Aston byelection, saying that anything less than a 5% swing against Labor would be a bad result for the opposition leader, Peter Dutton.
The Labor caucus meeting this morning included applause for the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, with the constitutional alteration bill due to be introduced to parliament this week. The energy minister, Chris Bowen, also got applause after securing a deal with the crossbench to pass the safeguard mechanism climate bill.
To substantive matters, Albanese noted that “some” people (i.e. the Greens) were planning to oppose the government’s housing Australia future fund. The PM noted that the government was doing a lot of negotiating with the crossbench on major legislation because “of the pathological obsession with opposing everything by the No-alition” (Labor’s snappy new term for the Coalition).
On the referendum, Albanese said it was “a precondition of success” that the government was on the same page as its referendum working group of Indigenous leaders – a reference to the group’s insistence that the consultation body be able to talk to executive government, which was a phrase that some conservative critics had been concerned about and called for the government to scrap.
Albanese decided to go with the advice of the Indigenous leaders instead.
Updated
New Zealand and China in diplomatic talks
At the same time Australia is seeking to “stabilise” its relationship with China, New Zealand is also continuing its diplomatic efforts with Beijing.
The latest sign of that is the visit to China last week by the NZ foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, for meetings with her counterpart, Qin Gang, and also the director of the central foreign affairs commission, Wang Yi.
Interestingly, Mahuta has said Aukus came up during the discussions. AAP reports that Mahuta said the Chinese government “acknowledged” New Zealand’s position on Aukus:
We’re not a part of those arrangements …
Our concern is not to see the militarisation of the Pacific – that the treaty of Rarotonga be upheld – and that’s the basis upon which our assurances from Australia have been gained in relation to those arrangements.
New Zealand has a longstanding anti-nuclear policy, while the Australian government has repeatedly said its acquisition of nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines is consistent with the treaty of Rarotonga.
The treaty, also known as the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, commits its parties not to station nuclear weapons in the region.
For more on the Australian government’s talks with China, see this story from this morning:
Updated
Not a huge crowd for the housing rally – it seems to be mostly the Greens and the CFMEU.
Much nicer weather for the housing rally than the anti trans rally.
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 28, 2023
David Pocock: "the country is feeling the cost of living and housing crisis and we need a better policy response."#auspol pic.twitter.com/NoekM0avVx
Big Greens contingent. Senator Lidia Thorpe also here. pic.twitter.com/e3FNeMsdNK
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 28, 2023
Updated
Family law reforms to restore ‘best interests of the child’ as guiding principle
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, is introducing amendments to the Family Law Act which will remove the Howard-era “equal responsibility” which has led to some thinking custody in family law courts should be resolved as equally.
Dreyfus says the government is putting what is best for the children back as the foundational principle of custody disputes.
He told ABC Radio Melbourne:
This bill will restore the best interests of children as the key guiding principle of the family law system. And an important part of this … is repealing the confusing and often misunderstood presumption about parental responsibility, which has taken the focus away from the needs of children.
Equal responsibility did not mean equal custody, but there was confusion, Dreyfus said.
It led to an unacceptable situation where abusive partners have a false belief that they have a right to equal time against the wishes of the other parent and their children. It happens inside and outside the court as parents negotiate parenting arrangements and it’s caused untold harm to children.
This bill will make it clear again that the best interests of children are paramount.
Updated
We have a new New South Wales leadership team.
The interim cabinet:
The premier, Chris Minns.
The deputy premier and education and early learning minister, Prue Car.
The treasurer and gig economy minister, Daniel Mookhey.
The environment and heritage minister, Penny Shape.
The roads, arts, night-time economy and music minister, John Graham.
The health, regional health, mental health and Illawarra and South Coast minister, Ryan Park.
The transport minister, Jo Haylen.
The NSW attorney general, Michael Daley.
The 47th premier and his squad. pic.twitter.com/XEVq2HMAsb
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 28, 2023
Updated
Andrews attracts criticism over China trip
Victoria’s acting premier, Jacinta Allan, has defended Daniel Andrews’ trade trip to China, amid criticism of the exclusion of Australian media.
Andrews’ four-day trip – focused on enticing Chinese students to Victoria – has attracted backlash for a lack of transparency and specific detail about who the Victorian premier will meet during the visit. The federal Coalition on Monday argued the exclusion of journalists meant the public would be forced to rely on coverage by China’s state-run media.
Speaking to reporters, Allan said Andrews would be available to answer questions about his trip upon his return:
The premier has been particularly transparent in addressing his trip before he left. I’m sure he’ll be transparent in addressing his trip when he is back.
Allan confirmed Andrews had touched down in China. The premier’s private office will be providing daily updates of Andrews’ trip.
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Treasurer speaks with US and European counterparts
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, had a phone call with the US Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, and the president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, earlier this morning, talking all things world economy (not great), the banking system in Europe and America (also not great) and the impact of higher interest rates around the globe (you guessed it – not great).
Chalmers will convene a meeting of the council of financial regulators on Thursday to keep an eye on whether there is is any fallout for Australia’s financial system.
Chalmers said:
It’s clear from my conversations that international authorities are prepared to do what’s necessary to reassure markets at a time of uncertainty and volatility.
Coordinated action by central banks and international financial authorities has helped ease some of the concerns in global funding markets, but they remain vigilant.
There’s no doubt the volatility in the financial system is contributing to uncertainty more generally in the global economic outlook.
We’re not immune to what’s coming at us from overseas, but our own economy and financial system are well-regulated, well-capitalised and well placed to respond to these challenges.
I’ve been closely engaging with our regulators who advise our own institutions are in a good position to withstand the pressures coming at us from around the world.
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Pocock on housing fund: ‘better than nothing is not a good policy response’
The independent senator David Pocock has been all over the airwaves today. He popped up on Sky News a few minutes ago to say he has had “some good discussions” with the government about the housing future fund, but he would keep pushing for a more ambitious policy response to the housing crisis.
I’m saying let’s have more ambition - this is a huge issue across the country ... I’m going to keep pushing them as hard as I can.
Pocock said he was not sure the government would actually bring on the housing future fund bill for debate in the Senate this week, meaning it would allow for another month for talks:
We can do better and just saying this is better than nothing is not a good policy response.
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Ley: alleged offensive remark by Sam Rae ‘a test for Anthony Albanese’
The deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, is speaking to Sydney radio 2GB host Ray Hadley about the remark the Liberal party allege Labor MP Sam Rae made during a debate yesterday.
Members of the opposition allege Rae yelled “at least I have my own children” during a speech being given by LNP MP Angie Bell on a childcare bill. Rae admits to having made an interjection during the debate but has categorically denied having said the remarks.
Ley tells Hadley she is convinced he said it.
Don’t forget if Anthony Albanese hadn’t intervened in Victoria’s preselection, there would in all likelihood be a woman representing the seat of Hawke instead of this Labor hack. That’s just an aside that people might like to note but yes, the prime minister promised a kinder, more respectful parliament. And is this what he meant?
So I actually think this is a test for Anthony Albanese, what will be the consequences for this unacceptable attack on a woman in our workplace and as you say, it is a workplace and we should behave in a professional fashion and no one should think this low and it’s a disgusting reflection on any woman.
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ACU staff and students protest in solidarity with LGBTQ+ community
Staff and students across the Australian Catholic University’s seven national campuses are dressing up in rainbow today in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, following weeks of controversy over the university’s removal of pride flags.
In an email sent during WorldPride celebrations, librarians at the university were ordered to remove the public display of rainbow flags and stickers across campuses, which weren’t considered “appropriate” at the institution.
ACU Ally Network’s co-convener, Noah Riseman, who is also a professor of history at the university’s Melbourne campus, said students had reached out “horrified” by the move, citing they no longer felt safe in university spaces.
Rainbow Up ACU day coincides with the formal opening of the Blacktown library campus at 11am, attended by the Bishop of Parramatta.
Today we’ve encouraged @ACUmedia students and staff on all 7 campuses to #RainbowUpACU.
— Noah Riseman (@NoahRiseman) March 27, 2023
It’s a day to show our affirmation for #LGBTIQA members of our community by wearing and displaying rainbows 🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈. pic.twitter.com/wofpatb6hN
Since the news broke about ACU banning rainbow flags in public spaces, there’s been an outcry of people upset and we wanted a way to show support and affirmation for LGBTIQA+ students and staff. Rainbow Up ACU is an opportunity to do just that – for people to come out and show LGBTIQA+ students and staff are welcome here.
The CEO has advised they’re not interfering but have briefed Blacktown police because of recent action in Western Sydney.
The student president of the LGBTIQ+ network at the Canberra campus, Amelia Chapman, said the university’s decision felt “like a betrayal” for a lot of students. She said today was about “turning that frustration into unity” and a show of respect and support.
We sent an open letter, showing we were unhappy with the situation and have felt dismissed. All we’re doing today is showing up – being visible, being loud, being proud. As small as it may seem to some people it feels big and stakes are much higher for queer people right now.
The deputy vice-chancellor and CEO of the ACU, Dr Stephen Weller, said the university welcomed events like Rainbow Up day “proceeding in a respectful and inclusive manner”.
Our university encourages a healthy exchange of ideas that represent the wide spectrum of our diverse community. ACU is committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for all staff, students and visitors.
Education, faith, respect and acceptance are at the heart of our mission as a Catholic university. Staff and students who identify as LGBTIQ+ are welcomed and valued at our university.
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The ceremony is over and Labor’s NSW cabinet is officially sworn in.
And they’re off! pic.twitter.com/ipPq4OSYq3
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 28, 2023
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I have never wanted a piece of cake more in my life.
I was winning bidder on this Easter cake at the Browns Plains Community Dinner on Saturday Night – and of course I had to bring it to Parliament House and share with my colleagues, including @spenderallegra. There’s plenty more to share too! pic.twitter.com/eqCiRbFlpo
— Helen Haines MP (@helenhainesindi) March 27, 2023
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Aston byelection early votes ‘below expectations’
It seems the voters of Aston are not particularly enthused by the byelection – the electoral commission is concerned with low turnout, with the number of votes cast so far “below expectations”.
The byelection is this Saturday. It has been a very low key campaign so far, and one Peter Dutton has given a wide berth.
The AEC’s commissioner, Tom Rogers, said voting numbers are down by more than 5% over the same period in the 2022 election.
Typically, if someone casts their vote early in one election they’ll do so in the next one as well - and we’re not quite seeing that here which makes us worry about low participation.
There are a lot of Aston residents who will need to get to their local polling place this Saturday.
We’ve sent every Aston household an official guide to the byelection, we’re communicating where we can through advertising, social media and in discussion with media representatives.
We’re even sending text messages and emails this week to Aston residents we have those contact details for - it’s a reminder of their right and responsibility to vote.
That’s more communication than the AEC have ever done before for a single byelection, which shows you how worried they are about turnout. Aston’s three pre-poll voting centres will be open until 6pm on Friday night, and 32 polling places will be open on polling day – Saturday 1 April – from 8am to 6pm.
For locations and opening hours, visit aec.gov.au/aston or call them on 13 23 26.
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ACCC launching inquiry on banks and savings
The ACCC is looking at Australia’s $1.3tn in deposits to see if banks are holding up their end of the savings deposit bargain (things like how slow it takes them to pass on interest rate rises, which are also meant to apply to term deposits, as well as bank loans and fees, that sort of things).
Gina Cass-Gottlieb, the ACCC’s chair, told the AFR banking summit:
To inform the ACCC’s inquiry, we will be requesting information from suppliers of retail deposit products, and working closely with other financial regulators to draw on their expertise and data.
We will also soon release a public issues paper, seeking stakeholder input on a range of issues. These will include:
How banks and other authorised deposit-taking institutions set their rates on retail deposit products.
How their approaches differ from rate setting for credit products.
The role of deposits in their overall funding mix.
Consumer information and switching.
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Chris Minns sworn in as NSW's new premier
NSW Labor’s leader, Chris Minns, has been sworn in as the 47th premier of New South Wales.
He took the oath in front of Governor Margaret Beazley on Tuesday morning at Government House, becoming the first Labor premier in 12 years.
The interim NSW cabinet was also sworn into office, including the deputy premier and education minister, Prue Car.
Labor needs 47 seats to form a majority government but was stuck on 45 on Monday afternoon as the Coalition pushed ahead in a number of seats still in doubt.
Officially the 47th Premier of NSW.
— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) March 28, 2023
An incredible honour, and now it's straight to work. pic.twitter.com/6QPKs4gX53
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The NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has sworn an oath on a bible and has signed the little piece of paper that will officially make him premier.
There are still seats to be decided: at this stage, it looks like Labor will be short a majority, but will be in a minority government with crossbenchers – including the Greens.
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The Guardian’s Paul Karp: negotiations on housing future fund haven’t progressed
And there you have it.
Housing fund all but dead in the water this week, meaning it won’t make it ahead of the budget.
Hard to host a rally outside parliament calling for more action and then sign up for a fund with not a lot of action.
Negotiations on the housing Australia future fund have got next to nowhere. Greens are not going to pass it this week, would take a serious offer to shift them. #auspol
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 27, 2023
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It seems Margaret Beazley likes a sense of occasion. Her excellency is addressing the room, telling the incoming government:
I pay my respects to their eldest past, present and emerging and to all the nations across our state. There is a phrase in the Gadigal language and indeed it goes right across the Eora Nation, which I particularly like, because it is a way of greeting every person in a room.
It means, quite simply, “to all people”. So to all of you this morning, here in this room, this morning, is a unique moment in your lives and I’m going to suggest that you savour it, because, premier-elect, ministers-designate, it’s not going to last very long, because in a moment, when you take the various oaths and pledges that you take – as premier, as ministers – you will drop the “elect” and you’ll drop the “designate”, but it is a moment of anticipation.
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Governor swears in NSW Labor government’s leadership team
Her Excellency The Honourable Margaret Beazley, Companion of the Order of Australia, King’s Counsel, governor of the State of New South Wales in the commonwealth of Australia (full title) is swearing in the NSW leadership team into their new roles, meaning NSW has a new government (officially).
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You usually know how close a government is to getting the support it needs for passing legislation when it lists it for debate. So what is not there is usually as important as what is.
In Senate, Labor and Greens will pass an hours motion: national reconstruction fund will go thru today, safeguard mechanism by noon Thursday. Housing bill NOT in there.#auspol @AmyRemeikis
— Paul Karp (@Paul_Karp) March 27, 2023
Amy explains: party room meetings
The parliament sitting will begin at midday. It always starts later on a Tuesday because of the party room meetings.
For those who are new here, or have missed the explanation in the past, the party room meetings happen each parliamentary sitting and it is where the parties nut out their position on legislation, issues, or questions (the government caucus discuss bills going forward, cabinet decisions and take questions/concerns/queries on legislation or issues).
Those meetings are closed and confidential.
BUT.
In a weird Canberra quirk, a briefing for media is then held after the meetings, where a designated person from each party room reads out the minutes, answers questions and gives very scant detail on what went on. All of this is for some reason “on background” and can not be attributed. Names aren’t given when it comes to who spoke up. “a member raised concerns on” or “two MPs asked questions on” is the usual formulation, so it is up to journalists to work contacts to find out the who and how serious.
But when you read “party room sources” on a Tuesday or Wednesday, that is where most of it comes from. It has always struck me as strange that it is not on the record given it is an all in, but this place is weird.
Updated
The party room meetings are beginning to break up
The Greens are out first – we’ll let you know what went on in that meeting very soon.
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Trauma support line Full Stop Australia may have to close unless $500,000 in funding can be found
Full Stop Australia, which provides counselling and support to sexual and domestic violence survivors, may have to close its doors unless $500,000 in government funding is secured.
The service runs a 24-hour national trauma support crisis line, but with demand having increased by 50% to 5,000 calls in the last year, funding has run out. Community, philanthropic and corporate donations have plugged the gap, but without government funding, CEO Hayley Foster says the service will not be able to keep going:
As is widely acknowledged, there are substantial gaps and shortfalls in sexual, domestic and family violence trauma counselling services nation-wide, particularly for First Nations communities, refugees and asylum seekers, people in regional and remote areas, children and LGBTIQA+ communities.
The 1800FULLSTOP trauma counselling service helps to fill many of these gaps, especially for those who don’t have access to trauma specialist counselling locally, or who cannot afford the Medicare gap, or who cannot seek medical assistance for privacy/safety reasons.
Foster has meetings with the prime minister’s office, the minister for women and the attorney general in a bid to secure funding.
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Greens celebrate a new first in NSW election
And in NSW – a little bit of Greens history has been made:
Meet Kobi Shetty, the incoming Greens Balmain MP. “This is the first time that the Greens have successfully had a greens MP elected to NSW Parliament after the retirement of a sitting Greens member.” #nswpol pic.twitter.com/HfPy6kDvDh
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) March 27, 2023
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Queensland proposal on restricting times rent can be increased not linked to CPI
The proposal put forward by the Queensland Labor government won’t stop rents from going up from $200 or even $400 a week – because it has walked away from looking at linking increases to CPI.
Instead, a Queensland landlord would only be able to raise rents once a year – but by how much is still up to the landlord.
Today we’re taking action to give people who are renting a fairer go.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 27, 2023
Weekly rents are rapidly increasing - sometimes going up $200 or even $400.
It’s not right.
That’s why we’re proposing to limit rent increases to once a year, rather than every six months.
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Collins tells crossbenchers vulnerable people cannot afford delay on housing future fund
Julie Collins’ housing future fund bill is still struggling to find the support it needs to pass the senate.
There is a rally today outside parliament, calling for the government to go further in its ambition. David Pocock and the Greens will be taking part.
But Collins is now moving to the argument Chris Bowen used with the safeguard legislation – it is this or nothing, and does the crossbench want nothing? (Not exactly ambitious but this is where we are at.)
Collins told Radio National:
This bill is urgent in terms of vulnerable people in Australia today who need this bill to pass the parliament.
What we’re talking about here is a $10bn housing fund. It is the single biggest investment from a federal government, single biggest investment in social and affordable homes in more than a decade. It is obviously very substantial.
It’s obviously not the only thing we’re doing in housing, but as you rightly point out, people that are on the frontline dealing with vulnerable people every day – such as Homelessness Australia, National Shelter, community housing providers – all say that this bill needs to get done and we need to get it done quickly. And we know that the longer we delay, the less homes are on the ground quickly.
We are absolutely as a federal government doing our share, and we are lifting from where the former government was substantially. The $10bn is the most significant investment by a federal government in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.
It is very significant, and what I would say to the Greens and to other crossbenchers in the Senate is that vulnerable people cannot afford for this to delay. If their response is “it’s our way or zero”, I mean, that is just unacceptable when you’ve got vulnerable people on the ground who need housing today.
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Fossil fuel industry thinks safeguard mechanism deal will hurt gas supply
The fossil fuel industry is not happy with the safeguard mechanism deal, so surely that is a win for the Greens and a vote of confidence the legislation will do something. The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association’s chief executive, Samantha McCulloch, said in a statement it would stop gas supply:
New gas supply investment needs policy and regulatory certainty but instead, the Labor-Greens deal creates additional barriers to investment, further diminishing the investment environment and adding to the growing list of regulatory challenges facing the sector.
But Chris Bowen says gas will be just fine:
That’s just not right, of course. What we’re requiring is international-best practice for all facilities, including gas. Gas does not get a free pass from the requirement for new facilities to be international best practice when it comes to emissions.
In relation to the proposals that are currently on the books … they’re for export. Of course, one of them is covered by the Western Australian reservation policy but they are being developed for export. None of them feed into the east coast gas market, none of them.
Simply they’ll be required to comply with international best practice and indeed Australian best practice and several gasfields have been operating on those rules since 2007. That’s not an onerous [burden] with the gas industry … there are sensible ways of meeting [that].
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Government puts Twitter on notice over ‘spotty’ engagement regarding safety
The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, has held a press conference with eSafety commissioner Julie Inman-Grant about keeping Indigenous Australians safe online.
Perhaps the most interesting point was Inman-Grant’s observation that Twitter’s engagement has been “inconsistent” due to the “lack of trust and safety staffing”. She said:
I met with the Asia-Pacific public policy representative last week. Her team has been decimated, she’s trying to cover all of the Asia-Pacific. We have some legal notices around child sexual abuse material, sexual extortion and their algorithms and whether they might be promoting harmful content. They have committed to me that they’re working on this and will get it to us in time.
They have a severely diminished trust and safety team, we escalate directly to headquarters when we see harm. We ... have seen some recent positive activity in terms of taking down content. But I would say it’s spotty, it’s less consistent.
Rowland added that she’d written to Twitter noting the “decimation” of Australian staff, and setting out expectations they meet requirements of Australian law. Twitter hasn’t responded, which has been noted. She said:
They have been put on notice, the first priority of the Albanese government is to keep Australians safe. I’ll continue to consult the regulator, the eSafety commissioner to ensure whatever action is graduated and proportionate.
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Pollies vs press touch footy – in pictures
It is also politicians vs press sport season, which is another tradition where a team of press gallery members play a team of politicians outside of business hours. You can tell Michael McCormack has been in many of these team photos – he’s the only one who knows how to sit properly.
Mike Bowers tells me the politicians won, four to three.
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Brookfield makes $20bn renewables pledge in taking over Origin Energy
Back on Origin Energy’s takeover by Brookfield and MidOcean – it’s subject to shareholder approval, but with the price about 53% above what it was trading at before the bid, there shouldn’t be much fuss.
Anyway, Brookfield says it will accelerate renewables investment and “make a material difference to achieving Australia’s net zero targets at this crucial time in its energy transition” (ping, Chris Bowen):
The business plan for Origin Energy Markets contemplates at least $20bn of additional investment during the next decade to construct up to 14 gigawatts of new renewable generation and storage facilities in Australia.
This is expected to enable the retirement of one of Australia’s largest coal-fired power generation plants, Eraring, and will be undertaken with the highest regard for network reliability and security.
(Note: No timetable given.)
Origin accounts for about a quarter of electricity in the grid now, and Brookfield’s plans represent about “one-fifth of the new utility-scale renewable capacity identified by the Australian Energy Market Operator that is required to be developed across the National Electricity Market through to 2030”, it said.
Brookfield’s credentials include developing about 25GW of generating capacity now, with a 110GW development pipeline globally.
MidOcean, meanwhile, says it “recognises that LNG and natural gas are integral to the economies of Asia and Australia and is committed to continue delivering meaningful gas volumes into Australia’s east coast domestic market”.
Guess we’ll see if “meaningful” satisfies governments eyeing a lack of local gas, after some bright sparks thought it was a great idea to lock east coast gas to global markets while forgetting to reserve some for domestic use.
WA’s 15% reservation was panned by the industry at the time (circa 2006) but it didn’t stop $100bn in investment in that state’s gas sector.
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It’s quiet – too quiet …
Things are a little quiet this morning, as the party room meetings are on, which tends to corral the MPs into their respective rooms.
The press gallery is also having a photo – it’s a tradition which happens once a parliament (or so, there is no prescribed method) when the gallery journalists gather in one spot, a timer is set (or a poor parliament house worker is corralled into hitting the shutter) and a photo is taken and put on the press gallery hall walls.
Alas, I shall miss it, as the blog stops for no one (and also I have not brushed my hair in more than three days).
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‘Critical’ for Liberal party to prove it has listened to Australians by next election: Birmingham
The Liberal’s Simon Birmingham was asked on Sky News this morning whether there was any truth to Anthony Albanese’s criticism the opposition had a “tin ear” when it came to learning lessons:
I think there’s always a case for political parties to make sure they’re listening. And it’s going to be critical for us as we work over the next two years towards the next federal election, in 18 months or two years’ time to ensure that we have a compelling set of policies that have listened to the election, including effective policies to achieve Australia’s emission reduction targets.
That will be a key point of credibility that we have to outline and demonstrate to the electorate, along with, of course demonstrating that we also have the types of policies to actually deal with the cost-of-living pressures that Australians are facing at present, which clearly the Labor party have no plans or policies to effectively do.
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Allegra Spender announces lineup for Friday tax roundtable
Wentworth’s independent MP, Allegra Spender, has organised a tax roundtable for Friday.
Spender has spoken about the need for tax reform – and she is serious. There are some very big thinkers among the group she has pulled together:
Prof Robert Breunig – director, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (Australian National University)
Robert Carling – senior fellow, Centre for Independent Studies
Dr John Daley – partner, EY Port Jackson Partners, and professorial fellow, University of Melbourne. Formerly executive director, Grattan Institute.
Dr Ken Henry – chair, Australian Climate Biodiversity Foundation. Formerly secretary of the Treasury and chair of National Australia Bank.
Prof Greg Kaplan – cofounder, e61 Institute, and professor of economics, University of Chicago
Michelle de Niese – executive director, The Corporate Tax Association
Danielle Wood – CEO, Grattan Institute
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Social housing sector backs Labor’s housing future fund as a ‘good start’
The Greens and the crossbench – including David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe – aren’t over the line on the housing fund as yet.There is a rally being held in Canberra today on housing, with calls for rental freezes and more affordable housing.
The government has received a boost for its legislation from the social housing sector, though. Community Housing Industry Association’s CEO, Wendy Hayhurst, has spoken today about how the housing fund (a $10bn term deposit, where the interest will be used to fund and maintain 30,000 homes over the next five years) was a start.
Hayhurst told ABC News Breakfast:
We have been arguing for the … federal government to invest in social affordable rental housing for a very, very long time. So in principle, we’re very pleased that the federal government has come forward with these three bills to establish the housing Australia future fund, to establish a national housing agency … and also to set up an independent housing supply and affordability council to advise them.
So the package of measures we think is a good start and the start that needs to be made now. We know it isn’t sufficient. We have done our own research.
We know the census, last week, was at least 123,000 Australians on census night were homeless. We have done further analysis, we know that around about 650,000 households were either homeless or in rental stress. Low-income households pay more than 30% of their income on housing.
So it’s a massive problem. What we’re saying is: the legislation is a start to make a difference.
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Origin Energy takeover confirmed, split to come
As has been anticipated for some time, the electricity giant Origin Energy has been taken over after its board accepted a $18bn-plus bid by Brookfield and MidOcean Energy.
The so-called binding scheme implementation deed follows most of the deal announced back in November. The bid was worth $9 a share then and after negotiations that price has been trimmed to about $8.91 each.
Here’s how we reported it at the time:
There will still be a bunch of regulatory hurdles to clear, with Canadian asset manager Brookfield and US based MidOcean needing foreign investment review board approval, for starters.
The competition implications will also feature. Assuming the takeover gets all the appropriate approvals, the deal means Australia will only have one publicly listed energy player of any size: AGL Energy.
Origin says it will accelerate investments into renewable energy in the section to be run by Brookfield. A lot of interest will focus on the future of Eraring, the 2,880MW coal plant (Australia’s largest), which Origin has said it wants to close in 2025. Let’s see.
The gas assets, mostly in Queensland, will be MidOcean’s concern, and subject to a gas price cap for domestic users for about another year. Also an area of flux.
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Bowen: emissions reduction ambitions are now reflected in the legislation
Chris Bowen responded to the “half of the projects” line on that same program:
No, that’s Adam’s talking point … he’s entitled to his talking points, but that’s not what we negotiated. What we negotiated is a very clear cap on emissions which is perfectly reasonable and sensible for the country.
I thank Adam for his engagement on behalf of the Green[s]. He had a list of demands and clearly in negotiation, many of those were ruled out, but we continue to work on the things we could agree on.
What we agreed on is that the emissions reduction – that we outlined is our ambition in January as part of these reforms – should be reflected in the legislation.
And there should be various mechanisms, CCA advice, transparency, public transparency about whether that budget is likely to be met, whether it’s been threatened, including if there are any new proposals, we have already committed to outlining their emissions through Tanya Plibersek’s process, reviewing the Samuel Review, that will feed into the safeguard system now …
And the minister of the day, me – for the foreseeable future and for a long time I hope – and my successors will be obliged to consider policy options if that carbon budget is not being met. That’s perfectly appropriate, and new facilities will need to comply with international best practice when it comes to emissions reduction.
We made that clear as our proposal in January and we provided further clarity about how that will work yesterday.
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Bandt: first time Australia has had a hard limit on coal and gas pollution
Adam Bandt on ABC News Breakfast summed up the safeguard negotiations:
Coal and gas take a bit hit as a result of the changes secured by the Greens. For the first time now in this country, there’ll be a limit on how much coal and gas and other corporations can actually pollute. They won’t be able to offset their way out of that by buying tree-planting permits on the other side of the country.
And what that does is it puts a limit on coal and gas expanding. Now, that’s really significant because under Labor’s plan originally, pollution from coal and gas were set to go up; that’s because coalmines and gas mines … could just buy some tree-planting permits to offset their pollution.
Pollution from coal and gas were set to soar under the original safeguard. We put a hard limit on that. That means, on our estimate, about half of those 116 new coal and gas projects that are in the pipeline won’t be able to go ahead.
Secondly, for the other ones that Labor still wants to open, they’re now going to have to go through a test under the legislation, or pass what’s call[ed an] add[ed] safeguard trigger.
… if those new projects are going to lift real pollution above the levels that they’re at, the minister can take steps to restrict them or indeed stop them from going ahead and so that means now every new coal and gas project has to pass through a new test – and if it goes ahead, it will be squarely on the Labor government’s hands, given they [have] got the power to stop it.
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Views on the safeguard mechanism: Greens and Labor reasonably happy, Coalition less so
Both Adam Bandt and Chris Bowen have been on the media victory lap this morning over the safeguard mechanism.
The Greens say they didn’t get no new coal or gas, but that the hard cap on emissions they won will mean that projects will hit a pollution trigger which they won’t be able to emissions trade their way out of.
Labor says it took amendments that were in the spirit of the legislation and will be able to put the scheme in place for the 1 July open trading deadline.
The Coalition doesn’t like any of it and is very upset at the outcome of the negotiations it was not part of at any stage because it made a decision to bow out at the starting blocks, even though the legislation was based on Abbott-era legislation and business and industry were pleading with it to come on board because they wanted investment certainty.
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Queensland to introduce rent increase limits
The Queensland government has announced it will limit rent increases to once a year, as the government prepares to meet stakeholders at Tuesday’s housing roundtable.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, made the announcement on Twitter, saying the government was “taking action to give people who are renting a fairer go.”
Weekly rents are rapidly increasing - sometimes going up $200 or even $400. It’s not right. That’s why we’re proposing to limit rent increases to once a year, rather than every six months.
In Queensland, landlords can currently increase rents every six months. The measure would bring Queensland in line with Australian jurisdictions like Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales.
Queensland’s Make Renting Fair Campaign has been calling on the government to limit rent increases to 10% above CPI like the ACT government does.
The premier had said last week the government was “very seriously” considering a rent cap, drawing immediate backlash from the real estate sector. The deputy premier Steven Miles said such a cap could be tied to CPI, but the government appears to have since walked away from the idea.
It comes as the government is set to hold a housing roundtable with stakeholders on Tuesday, which is expected to have 30 to 40 participants.
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Amy’s analysis on Moira Deeming
So the short version of that interview is: Moira Deeming is suspended and not a member of the Liberal party, so what she does for the next nine months is for her to answer for.
And in nine months’ time, the Liberal party room will review her conduct and decide whether she has met the spirit of the suspension terms.
But Pesutto ain’t spending any more time on that (to paraphrase Bob Katter).
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Victorian Liberals: ‘we’ve dealt with’ the Deeming issue and are ‘moving on’
So what happens in nine months, when the suspension period ends?
Well, there’ll obviously be consideration by [the] party room about whether Moira has acted consistently with the outcome of the party room decision.
John Pesutto says it is up to Moira Deeming to prove to the party room that she has taken on board their concerns to see whether or not she will be coming back.
I don’t want to be spending time having to come back to these issues. We’ve dealt with it. We’ve dealt with it yesterday, and we’re moving on.
Is this what Pesutto wants to be spending his time on?
Do you think, Patricia, for one moment [that] I want to be speaking to you about this this morning and not about corruption or project blowouts?
… If I can make this point for all of your listeners, to offer them this assurance – I know these things are not what I want to be talking about, what your listeners want to be listening to. But this was important. I had to mark this turning point for the party. And to make it clear that going forward, we will always, as I said before, [be] being inclusive, welcoming and represent the diversity of our community and all its facets.
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Pesutto gives no answer on if Deeming can continue to promote anti-trans views as part of Liberals
But John Pesutto also can’t answer whether Moira Deeming can continue to campaign against trans rights – a stance Deeming had before she was in the parliament and a key feature of her first speech to the Victorian parliament.
Look, what what I have always said from the very start, is that as leader of the Victorian Liberal party, I want public debate not just in the state but nationally, to be respectful and civil and courteous, and to be inclusive so that people can participate in discussions.
I am a supporter of free speech, but any connection of the Liberal party with people who share platforms with people who are extremely … people in hate speech is a concern to me and will never be acceptable in the party.
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Victorian Liberals on Moira Deeming’s behaviour: ‘a real problem’ if it continues
Back on ABC Radio RN Breakfast, the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, is saying he is “very concerned” over Moira Deeming’s tweets, where she said she did not condemn people involved in the anti-trans rights rallies where neo-Nazi’s attended and performed the Nazi salute on the steps of the Victorian parliament.
Pesutto told the media yesterday that Deeming had condemned people during the party room meeting. Deeming tweeted yesterday that she had not, reassuring some of the people involved “don’t worry” as she had “never” condemned them.
Pesutto told Patricia Karvelas that Deeming’s suspension is “not off to a good start” but that Deeming has nine months to prove herself to the party. But he can’t say whether or not she has already blown it.
Well, I’m not happy with those tweets, and they’re very great concern and will represent if that continues, it will obviously represent a real problem going forward for Moira to return the [party].
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Pocock confirms he will support safeguard mechanism bill, meaning it will pass the Senate
David Pocock spoke to ABC Radio AM this morning and announced he would be voting for the safeguard mechanism:
As a result of the amendments we’ve seen, announced today by minister Bowen and Adam Bandt and then in subsequent conversations and and some further commitments from the government, I’ll be supporting the safeguard mechanism.
And that’s the last number the government needs – the legislation will pass the Senate.
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Greens: housing future fund ‘doesn’t even touch the sides of the problem’
In some ways, it seems that coming to an agreement on the housing fund is harder than what we just saw on the safeguard mechanism.
Adam Bandt says the parties are not where they need to be to come to an agreement – he says, because Labor’s policy isn’t doing enough.
Labor’s put forward a policy that just does not address the scale of the crisis that we’re in. We’ve seen rents grow seven times faster than wages, people are unable to find an affordable place to live.
And there’s nothing in this proposal that’s going to help them, and … as almost every group has said … the size of Labor’s proposal doesn’t even touch the sides of the problem and in fact, at the end of Labor’s plan, the waiting list for social affordable housing is going to be longer than it is at the start.
So we are pushing them to address the scale of the rental crisis that we’re facing in this country and to step up and increase their offer.
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Greens: ‘We’re a chunk of the way there’ on stopping new coal and gas
The Greens leader Adam Bandt says that any new coal or gas projects which open in Australia “is on Labor”.
He was asked about the share price for companies such as Woodside dropping at the news and tells ABC Radio RN Breakfast
Investors see the writing on the wall. They know that coal and gas is on its way out and understand that the hard cap negotiated by the Greens means there’s a limit on coal and gas expansion in this country from now on.
We just can’t keep expanding coal and gas and stay below the hard cap. That’s what we’ve what we’ve legislated.
I suspect that will mean … I know that you see lots of movements in the share market and who knows what will happen in the future, but I think they have clearly understood that the implication of this is that coal and gas can’t keep expanding because that is what the science demands … from now on.
Every new coal and gas project has to go through this pollution test, and the government’s got the power to stop it … I heard someone from the Australian Industry Group saying that it’s likely to mean that projects are less likely to go ahead.
And I think that’s right, because that is what we need to do to tackle the climate crisis. So we’re a chunk of the way there, and now we’ve got to get the rest of the way there. And … the only obstacle to stopping all new coal and gas mines from being opened is now Labor.
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Bowen: Liberal concern over voice’s impact on fossil fuels and interest rates ‘cheap and pathetic attempt’ to derail referendum
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, is on ABC Radio RN Breakfast talking about the safeguard mechanism (the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, is up next).
It’s pretty much what we heard yesterday, but Bowen also addressed Julian Leeser’s attempt during question time to muddy the Indigenous voice to parliament. He was asked whether or not the voice would have impact on things like fossil fuel projects, as they often involve traditional lands.
The principle is … that we want the voice, when it’s established, to be able to advise government on matters that are important to Indigenous people.
Now, I saw the opposition yesterday trying to cause trouble, say [the voice would be able to] advise the Reserve Bank on interest rates, and you’re going to see more of this and the prime minister is rightly keeping the focus on where it should be, not on these attempts at distraction by the Liberals or anyone else to say, ‘Oh, look, this voice is more complicated’. I mean … what a cheap and pathetic attempt by the Liberals to try and derail the voice by saying it’s going to give advice on all these things.
It’s a very simple principle here – if it’s a policy decision which is directly relevant to our First Nations people … the voice will be able to interact with government on matters that they regard as important to Indigenous people.
And of course, as we’ve said many many times, the government then will … take into account that and any other representations we receive from others.
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Indigenous children three times as likely to experience internet hate speech than national average
The federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, says “more work is needed” to address online harm in the leadup to the Voice referendum.
The eSafety Commissioner today released a report on the online experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It says that Indigenous children are much more likely to use the internet to make friends, connect with people from different backgrounds, play games and post their own music or video content than national averages. Indigenous children are also far more likely to engage in online civic engagement – such as discussing social and political problems – and reading news than other children their age.
But the report also warned of negative experiences above the national average. Some 68% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children said they had been treated in a hurtful or nasty way, with 29% having had offensive things said to them, while 76% had been exposed to potentially harmful online material like violent images or sexual content.
The results came from a large online survey of parents and kids.
Burney said technology was a great tool being used to build connections and boost civic engagement among Aboriginal children, but that the government was looking to better help kids.
“Today’s research from the eSafety Commissioner is a reminder it also carries risks, with young Indigenous Australians more likely to be exposed to harmful content or hate speech attacks,” she said.
“As with so many other areas where disadvantage undermines health and wellbeing, more work is needed to ensure equal protections and access to the good things the internet can provide. This is especially so as we begin the referendum process to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the Australian Constitution.”
eSafety has also launched new resources in First Nations languages to better support kids online at its website.
The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, said “there is no place in Australia for hate.”
“eSafety can help when things go wrong online, and support victims of online abuse. I look forward to seeing how eSafety’s latest resources support First Nations people to stay safe online,” she said.
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Moira Deeming suspension ‘not off to a good start’: Pesutto
Back in Victoria and last night the Liberal leader, John Pesutto, spoke to ABC 7.30 about the Moira Deeming suspension, while at the same time Deeming tweeted that she “never condemned” people Pesutto had told the media she had condemned.
Don’t worry, I never condemned you, or KD or KJ.
— Moira Deeming MP (@MoiraDeemingMP) March 27, 2023
It seems a little bit of a mess. Pesutto has responded that the suspension is “not off to a good start” so expect to see more fallout from that today.
John Pesutto tells ABC 7:30 ‘there will be consequences’ for Moira Deeming - if what she told the party room today is different to her true intentions.
— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) March 27, 2023
Comments come following these tweets from Deeming this evening. Mr Pesutto says the party will now have to review the tweets. pic.twitter.com/7IctStFxjM
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ACT bill to force government bidders to check slavery risks
Anyone bidding for government contracts worth more than $25,000 must show they are tackling modern slavery risks under new legislation to be introduced to the Australian Capital Territory’s parliament.
The would also require the ACT’s own government entities to consider and reduce the risk of modern slavery in their own supply chains.
Following legislation already in force in New South Wales, the ACT legislation would also create a new anti-slavery commissioner to provide advice and education about how to combat modern slavery.
Labor and the Greens - which together hold a majority in the ACT legislative assembly – agreed as part of their governing agreement to ensure territory legislation “can identify and effectively respond to modern day slavery”.
Jo Clay, the Greens member who proposed the bill, said the modern slavery category could include forced labour, forced marriage, sexual exploitation or human trafficking.
Clay said states and territories had “an essential role to play in addressing this issue both in their own borders and outside of them” because they had significant responsibility for service delivery. Clay said:
The ACT government need to lead by example in scrutinising their supply chains for modern slavery risk. We also need to ensure that our response is holistic and that we are looking at the local context.
I believe it is important that we take responsibility for what we buy and procure. Currently the commonwealth system only requires large companies with turnover of over $100m to consider these risks. Our changes will ensure that ACT government procurements above $25,000 consider the risk of modern slavery.
The move comes at a time when the federal government is reviewing national anti-slavery laws, with the option of tightening the reporting threshold and introducing penalties for breaches.
Good morning
Welcome to day six of the last parliament sitting before the budget is handed down.
Having secured much-needed support on the safeguard mechanism, Labor is turning its attention to its housing future fund. It needs the Greens and two crossbench MPs on that one – Lidia Thorpe has committed to voting with the Greens on climate issues, but makes her own decision on others – and so far, a compromise has not been reached.
The main issue is that no one seems to think 30,000 homes over five years is particularly impressive, or believes that the fund will work. Labor hasn’t been prepared to budge or go further, so the bill is languishing. Still, there’s three days of hardcore negotiating to go, so who knows what will happen.
The count continues in NSW, with Labor waiting to see if it will form majority government. Pre-poll and postal votes matter in quite a few seats, so it’s not a done deal just yet. Our NSW team will keep you updated on the count as it comes through, as well as any decisions on who will lead the NSW opposition.
Our Victoria and Queensland teams will also drop in anything you need to know about what’s going on there as well – other than Queensland being the greatest nation on earth, of course.
Back federally and we’ll see if Peter Dutton pops his head up today. He was unusually quiet yesterday, not holding a press conference even when the Greens struck a deal on the safeguard mechanism – he left that to Ted O’Brien, which is not a sentence you read often (for good reason, usually). And he didn’t ask any questions during QT.
Labor thinks it’s because of this Saturday’s Aston byelection – Dutton isn’t exactly popular in Victoria, so the government think he’s keeping a low profile. Dutton barely campaigned in NSW, but a loss in Aston would be both historic (governments don’t win byelections from opposition, as a general rule) and also throw his leadership into turmoil.
So far, any grumbles from the Liberal party room have been fairly muted. But at the same time, the “there’s no one else” reasoning is getting a little harsher. It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a great vibe in the joint party room meeting today, put it that way.
We’ll keep you across all the vibes and all the information as it comes to hand. It’s at least a three coffee morning.
Ready?
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