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The Guardian - AU

National

Amy Remeikis and Josh Taylor (earlier)

Dutton delivers federal budget reply speech – as it happened

Peter Dutton Australia New South Wales ASIS

Peter Dutton delivers his budget reply speech at Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

11.51am BST

That's all for tonight

You’re going to hear a lot more about the Peter Dutton express “back on track!” in the coming days, but for now, the parliament is about to go silent.

At least for the next week.

It will be back with estimates from 28 May (27 May is an ACT public holiday) when the House of Reps will be back as well.

You’ll have Politics Live and the Guardian Canberra team to cover all of that off, but from tomorrow, the general news blog, Australia News Live will keep you up to date with all the happenings across the nation.

In the meantime, you can read Paul Karp’s full report on Dutton’s speech, here:

Until 28 May – take care of you.

Updated at 12.01pm BST

11.39am BST

And that is it – the third Peter Dutton budget-in-reply speech is done.

11.37am BST

Peter Dutton finishes his interview with:

I want to make sure that we can get our country back on track. And you’ve got a government at the moment that is prioritising public servants in Canberra above our defence force, above support for pensioners, above people who are living homelessly, above people who can’t get into see a GP.

I want to listen to and act on the advice of the Australian people. That’s what I’ve detailed tonight. We’ll do it in a responsible, not reckless, way.

We can provide a much greater vision and future for our country if we do that.

Updated at 11.42am BST

11.36am BST

Asked where the Coalition would cut government spending, Peter Dutton says the $13bn in tax credits for the green hydrogen and critical minerals is “a start”.

There is then a back and forth over why Dutton won’t support the policy, given that business wants it, and Dutton speaks about solar panels.

That continues for a while.

The other part of the spending Dutton would cut?

The additional 36,000 public servants, which he says would save $24bn over four years.

He then says he has presented nearly $40bn in savings and “which opposition leader has come in here and detailed $40 billion of spending cuts? None, ever.”

He does not address Ferguson’s point that the Coalition also wants to reinstate the higher tax breaks for high earning Australians which were changed in the stage-three revamp.

Updated at 11.40am BST

11.27am BST

There is then this exchange over international students:

Ferguson: It’s worth pointing out that the NAB said last year international students also accounted for more than half of all of Australia’s economic growth. They’re a very important cohort for Australian growth and productivity, aren’t they?

Dutton: They’re a part of it, but we need to house them. And you can’t bring in …

Ferguson: I think only 4% of international students actually are in the rental market.

Dutton: Really? Well, where are they living, Sarah?

Ferguson: I’m not an expert in …

Dutton: No, obviously.

Ferguson: …in housing, but I’m quoting figures from the bodies that run [rental properties].

Dutton: Evidenced by the fact that people are 40-50 deep when lining up for a rental property.

Ferguson: Are those figures wrong, that only 4% of international students are in the private rental market?

Dutton: Well, I’d just say to you, why do we have a housing crisis in this country?

Ferguson: For many complex reasons, mostly to do with supply. Let’s stay with this issue for a moment, back to the question I asked you.

Dutton: I want to pick you up on that point, because you’re in error. The government has brought in 928,000 people in two years. There are 265,000 homes that have been built in that period. Do you think there’s a mismatch? Of course there is. So we can’t pretend that there’s not.

Updated at 11.40am BST

11.24am BST

Workforce shortfall from cutting migration would be filled with retirees and veterans, Dutton says

Peter Dutton is then asked about the skills program and what skills he would prioritise and who would fill the other gaps:

We’ve said we want to prioritise skills, particularly those who can help build houses and help the construction sector. We have an 11-year low in building homes at the moment.

The homes the prime minister’s promising just aren’t going to be built. Everybody knows it. It’s near impossible to get a builder or carpenter or electrician to build a new house or do a renovation at your own house. We need to be realistic about that.

But what about the gap?

We prioritise the skills list. That’s an important observation. But I guess the point that I was building to otherwise is that we want to make sure that those people who have may have recently retired, who won’t come into the workforce with a part-time basis because it affects their pension with the taper rate, that we have allowed in our announcement tonight for more of those people to come back in.

We have 15 million people in Australia of working age with many and varied skills, and many who want to come back into the workforce part-time.

If it’s beyond the wit of big business in this country to train them up or provide opportunity for them to fill some of those skills you’re talking about, I think we’ve got bigger problems than we realise. The onus will be on those employees to make sure that they bring those people into the workforce.

So part of the plan is relying on retired people and veterans to want to come back into the workforce – “we liberate that workforce” Dutton said.

Updated at 11.29am BST

11.21am BST

Opposition leader being interviewed on ABC TV

Peter Dutton has done the run from the House of Representatives to the ABC studios in the press gallery where he is being interviewed by Sarah Ferguson.

Ferguson is hammering Dutton about where the cuts to migration would come from. And where the workforce would come from.

Where would the cuts come from?

Dutton:

Well, there are a number of parts, obviously, that make up the problem that the government’s created at the moment.

It’s obviously been a huge influx of international students. The numbers have gone up in the programs otherwise, including the refugee and humanitarian program.

As well as the permanent migration program. So our proposal is to reduce each of those and to make sure that we can release housing stock, existing houses that are there already, for which there is huge demand from Australians either to rent or to purchase. And to put Australians first in terms of home ownership. That’s a very key part of the speech.

(There are not a lot of foreigners who are buying homes in Australia.)

Updated at 11.31am BST

11.17am BST

What we learned

The Coalition side of the chamber jumps to its feet in rapt applause and Dutton soaks it in. The third speech has been delivered, but the policy shelf remains pretty bare.

The main ones? A migration change (a 25% cut) and a new online law, which would make using the internet or phone to make someone feel unsafe, a crime.

There was a little about $400m to attract more doctors, and winding back of some of Labor’s IR reforms and environmental protections to make mining approvals faster.

Oh and nuclear. Information on that is coming. At some point.

And five mentions of “back on track” – so you can see that being rolled out as the new election pitch. Or at least tried on for size (these things tend to disappear if they don’t catch on quickly enough).

Updated at 11.47am BST

11.13am BST

Dutton’s final pitch?

I came to this parliament having served my community as a police officer and as a successful small business owner employing 40 people.

I’ve had the honour of serving Australians on the front bench since 2004, in many portfolios, and under four prime ministers.

My team and I have the experience to get our country back on track and to support everyday Australians.

We live in the greatest country in the world.

But at the moment, Australia is being held back. Australians are being left behind by this weak Labor government with the wrong priorities.

Our country deserves so much more.

Ask yourself: Are you better off today than you were two years ago?

Do you feel safer or more secure than you did two years ago?

“When governments change, the country changes.”

Australians can’t afford another three years of the Albanese Labor government.

At the next election, it will be time for a change.

A better change for you, your family and our country.

Updated at 11.41am BST

11.12am BST

Peter Dutton then finishes up his speech with:

I say to every Australian tonight, my vision is to get our country back on track.

To make your life easier.

To make us safe and secure again.

The job of the prime minister is to be strong, not weak.

To be fair and firm.

To be compassionate and definite.

To unite, not divide – especially through referendums. As each day passes, this government increasingly shows how disconnected it is from the views, values and vision of everyday Australians.

Labor has forgotten the main principle of governing: It isn’t the people who serve the will of the government – it’s the government who serves the will of the people.

Updated at 11.15am BST

11.05am BST

Coalition would create offence for posting criminal acts online, Dutton says

There is then a new commitment relating to online crimes.

A Coalition government will make it an offence to post criminal acts online.

Those convicted will be banned from using digital platforms and liable for up to two years’ imprisonment. As a father of three children who all grew up in the digital age, I’m troubled by the material our children are exposed to.

That’s why I announced in my budget reply last year that a Coalition government will ban gambling advertising during the broadcast of sporting games.

However, I’m more worried by the criminal dark underbelly of the internet.

At the fingertips of our children is a concerning volume of sexually explicit and violent material, as well as content designed to indoctrinate.

We welcome the government’s belated decision to back our policy for an age verification trial.

But unlike Labor, a Coalition government will include social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok in such a trial.

Updated at 11.09am BST

11.03am BST

He then dedicates a section to antisemitism. There are no mentions of Islamophobia.

It will also take a Coalition government to turn the tide of antisemitism afflicting our country. Antisemitism is not just a threat to one segment of our community.

It’s a threat to our social cohesion and democratic values.

Some of the most strident antisemitic standard-bearers have come from our university campuses.

We will also provide the moral and political leadership which makes it abundantly clear that we expect the law to be enforced readily – not reluctantly – against those inciting hatred and violence.

Updated at 11.43am BST

11.01am BST

Peter Dutton then reinvigorates his record as home affairs and immigration minister:

I’ve been a minister for immigration and home affairs. They’re demanding but rewarding jobs.

I granted thousands of visas to sick children, parents with medical conditions, victims of sexual assault, and refugees who have become wonderful Australians. The public rarely hears about that side of the job.

But in these roles, you must also make tough decisions.

I cancelled more than 6,300 visas of dangerous non-citizen criminals – with a priority on those committing sexual offences against women and children – driven by my desire to stop these people harming Australians.

If a minister doesn’t have the backbone to do that, they’re letting our country and citizens down.

I made our country and citizens safer.

As prime minister, I will do it again.

It will take a Coalition government – once again – to stop the people smugglers and to deport criminals.

Updated at 11.14am BST

11.00am BST

Coalition would tighten commonwealth bail laws for domestic violence

There is also a commitment to tighten commonwealth bail laws:

Recently Molly Ticehurst, a 28-year-old mother from New South Wales, was murdered because her violent ex-partner was on bail.

Our bail laws need to be tightened. And under a Coalition government I lead, they will be tightened. Offences relating to partner and family violence generally fall under state and territory legislation.

But there is also a role for the commonwealth.

A Coalition government will make it an offence to use mobile phone and computer networks to cause an intimate partner or family member to fear for their personal safety, to track them using spyware, or engage in coercive behaviours.

We will toughen the bail laws that apply to these new commonwealth offences.

Updated at 11.06am BST

10.59am BST

Dutton flags push for uniform national knife crime laws

Peter Dutton then moves to what is one of the centrepieces of this speech – a focus on law and order.

Australians are unsettled by crime on our streets, ruptures to our social cohesion, and threats to our national security.

A Coalition government will provide much needed leadership in tackling knife crime.

We will work with states and territories to develop uniform knife laws across all jurisdictions.

Laws which give police the powers to stop and search using detector wands – like Queensland’s ‘Jack’s Law’.

And laws which limit and restrict the sale and possession of knives to minors and dangerous individuals.

As a former police officer, the horrific scenes of beaten women and distraught children I encountered stay with me to this day.

As do the memories of taking women who were shaking with fear to shelters and safe homes – and helping them relocate with their children to safety.

It’s why I’ve dedicated much of my career to protecting women and children.

Updated at 11.07am BST

10.57am BST

On health, Peter Dutton says he will work on increasing bulk billing and improving womens’ health outcomes.

He announces a new policy to attract more GPs.

Concerningly, Australia is facing a looming shortage of GPs – some 11,000 by 2031.

We need more GPs – especially in our suburbs and regional areas.

Junior doctors who enter general practice earn about three-quarters of the salary of their counterparts in hospitals.

Working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Australian Medical Association, a Coalition government will invest $400m to provide junior doctors who train in general practice with incentive payments, assistance with leave entitlements, and support for pre-vocational training.

We also want better outcomes for Indigenous Australians.

Led by senators Liddle and Nampijinpa Price, we will provide practical solutions to improve education, health and safety outcomes for Indigenous women and children – especially in our most disadvantaged remote communities.

That is the only two mentions of “Indigenous” in the speech.

Updated at 11.04am BST

10.54am BST

Peter Dutton also recommits the Coalition to its plan to allow pensioners and veterans to work more hours without it impacting their benefits.

We will look to further expand the work bonus arrangements beyond this commitment in consultation with older Australians and veterans and in consideration of labour market conditions.

Pensioners will continue to accrue unused pension work bonus amounts up to a maximum of $11,800 which can exempt future earnings from the pension income test.

We will also lift the number of hours those on student visas can work by 12 hours a fortnight.

Updated at 10.59am BST

10.53am BST

It is not just the opposition – the government is also changing up migration and international student caps. Peter Dutton lays out his plan:

We will reduce excessive numbers of foreign students studying at metropolitan universities to relieve stress on rental markets in our major cities.

We will work with universities to set a cap on foreign students.

And we will enhance the integrity of the student visa program by introducing a tiered approach to increasing the student visa application fee and applying it to foreign students who change providers.

The usual CEOs and big businesses may not like this approach.

But my priority is restoring the dream of home ownership.

Updated at 10.53am BST

10.52am BST

Dutton proposes two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents buying homes

Peter Dutton has re-committed to the Coalition’s policy to allow people to access their superannuation to use as a housing deposit.

Dutton announces some further policies for housing – which includes cutting migration.

Tonight, I announce several measures a Coalition government will implement to meet our housing crisis head-on by alleviating pressure on the housing market.

We believe that by rebalancing the migration program and taking decisive action on the housing crisis, the Coalition would free up almost 40,000 additional homes in the first year.

And well over 100,000 homes in the next five years.

First, we will implement a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes in Australia.

Second, we will reduce the permanent migration program by 25% – from 185,000 to 140,000 for the first two years in recognition of the urgency of this crisis.

The program will then increase to 150,000 in year three and 160,000 in year four.

We will ensure there are enough skilled and temporary skilled visas for those with building and construction skills to support our local tradies to build the homes we need.

Similarly, we will return the refugee and humanitarian program planning level to 13,750 – closer to the long-term average.

The humanitarian program will remain one of the most generous in the world on a per capita basis.

Updated at 10.55am BST

10.49am BST

Dutton speaks on nuclear energy policy

There is a mention of nuclear, but as said earlier, there is no detail – that will be coming later – June or July at the moment, but that could change.

Because of nuclear power, residents in Ontario, Canada pay up to a quarter of the cost of what some Australians pay for electricity.

With nuclear power, we can maximise the highest yield of energy per square metre and minimise environmental damage.

We do that by putting new nuclear technologies on- or near- the brownfield sites of decommissioned or retiring coal-fired power plants using the existing grid.

There’s no need for all of the proposed 58 million solar panels, almost 3,500 wind farms, and 28,000 kilometres of new transmission poles and wires.

Bob Hawke was a strong leader who strongly supported nuclear power.

As does John Howard, along with the Australian Workers Union, and many others who have a vision for our country – including some 65% of Australians aged 18 to 34 years old. Making Australia a nuclear-powered nation is right for our country and will secure a future of cheaper, consistent and cleaner electricity.

We need the right policy – for you and for our nation.

The biggest issue with nuclear is that it is too expensive to be considered viable. By the time a project was up and running, renewables would make the power generated by a nuclear plant too expensive to be viable. Dutton is speaking about the cost of nuclear now – but that’s not possible in Australia.

Updated at 11.17am BST

10.45am BST

Coalition would extend instant asset write-off to $30,000, Dutton says

And there is a focus on small business:

Fifth, we will deliver competition policy which gives consumers and smaller businesses a fair go – not lobbyists and big corporations.

And sixth, we will ensure Australians have more affordable and reliable energy.

Our economic plan – with its tried and tested principles – will restore competitiveness and rebuild economic confidence. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. I’ve run a small business, as have many of my colleagues – unlike most Labor parliamentarians.

The Coalition understands small business. Tonight, I announce that we will extend the value of assets eligible for the instant asset write-off to $30,000 and make this ongoing for small businesses.

This will simplify depreciation for millions of small businesses by cutting red tape, boosting investment in productive assets, lowering business costs and prices.

Updated at 10.52am BST

10.44am BST

There are tax changes afoot – but you won’t find out about those until closer to the election:

Fourth, we will provide lower, simpler and fairer taxes for all – because Australians should keep more of what they earn.

You will hear our tax plan in detail ahead of the election.

Updated at 10.49am BST

10.43am BST

Coalition would wind back government’s IR reforms, Dutton says

The Coalition will also wind back Labor’s industrial relations reforms:

Third, we will remove the complexity and hostility of Labor’s industrial relations agenda which is putting unreasonable burdens on businesses.

For example, we will revert to the former Coalition government’s simple definition of a casual worker and create certainty for our 2.5m small businesses.

Updated at 10.48am BST

10.43am BST

The Coalition will also change how mining projects are approved – cutting back on “roadblocks” (environmental approvals) which are holding projects back:

Second, we will wind back Labor’s intervention and remove regulatory roadblocks which are suffocating the economy and stopping businesses from getting ahead.

For example, we will not force large firms to spend more than $1bn a year policing the emissions of every small business they deal with – as Labor is trying to do. We will condense approval processes and cut back on Labor’s red tape which is killing mining, jobs, and entrepreneurialism.

Only yesterday, Santos indicated it will have to let go 200 employees because of slow project approvals.

I want mining to boom in Western Australia and around the nation.

Updated at 10.47am BST

10.41am BST

Coalition will not support tax credits for future made in Australia scheme, Dutton says

OK, so what would the Coalition do differently?

First of all, the Coalition will not support the tax credits for the future made in Australia plan – this means the government will now have to negotiate with the Greens.

There is another mention of ‘back on track’ – the theme of the Coalition’s new election strategy as Peter Dutton lays out what the Coalition would or not do:

First, we will rein-in inflationary spending to take the pressure off inflation. As a start, we will not spend $13.7bn on corporate welfare for green hydrogen and critical minerals. These projects should stand up on their own without the need for taxpayers’ money.

Updated at 10.47am BST

10.40am BST

10.39am BST

Peter Dutton speaks more on how he sees the economy:

Magic pudding spending and $13.7 billion on corporate welfare for billionaires doesn’t help the economy, or make your life easier.

Let’s also be clear about Labor’s $300 energy rebate which will cost the economy $3.5 billion.

We will support this relief because we know Australians are hurting.

But the Government is treating the symptom, not the disease.

Labor’s ‘renewables only’ energy policy is the reason your power bills continue to skyrocket.

Here’s some facts which show the troubling state of our economy:

More than 16,000 businesses around the country have gone insolvent since the 1^st of July 2022.

Productivity has plunged by 5.4 per cent on this Government’s watch.

Household buying power has gone down by 7.5 per cent.

Last year, Australians suffered the biggest increase in average tax rates of any citizens in the developed world.

There’s been double-digit increases for your essentials like electricity, gas, milk, bread and rent.

Tragically, so many more Australians are living in cars and tents.

And because of spending in this Budget, the economic outlook is one of deficits as far as the eye can see.

10.38am BST

Tuesday's budget 'one of the most irresponsible I've seen', Dutton says

He then moves on to inflation:

In my 22 years in parliament, I’ve seen good and bad budgets.

But the budget handed down on Tuesday is one of the most irresponsible I’ve seen. Inflation is a huge problem for Australia.

On comparative inflation, Australia is worse than the US, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Japan, the Netherlands, Italy, South Korea, Canada, France, and the entire Euro area.

The reason interest rates have gone up 12 times is because the government can’t control its spending – and because of its reckless energy policy.

In three Labor budgets, the government has lifted spending by a staggering $315bn – or $30,000 per Australian household.

The Reserve Bank governor has sounded the alarm on inflation being home-grown.

In the last 48 hours, every credible economist has issued scathing assessments of this budget because Labor has us in an inflationary hole and is still digging.

Make no mistake, any further increase to interest rates and inflation also now rests squarely on the shoulders of this prime minister and treasurer.

Updated at 10.44am BST

10.37am BST

Peter Dutton:

As I’ve said previously, we’re an opposition which supports good policy and stands against bad policy.

Since Labor formed government, we’ve backed more than 180 Bills which have passed parliament.

But we’ve opposed some bills where Labor and the Greens have collaborated to pass legislation which is not in our country’s best interest.

Just as we endorsed some sensible measures in Labor’s first two budgets, we do the same for its third budget.

Updated at 10.42am BST

10.36am BST

Peter Dutton is coming to the end of his introduction here.

The budget-in-reply speech is usually used to outline a couple of new policies that the opposition would do if in power, but also point out the complaints with the government’s budget.

Dutton:

Tonight, I will remind Australians of the Coalition’s economic plan to lower your cost-of-living and restore confidence to our economy. I will also outline several policies which Australians can expect from a Coalition government under my leadership.

Policies to get power bills down and to shore-up our nation’s future energy security. Policies to help alleviate our housing crisis and revive the dream of home ownership.

Policies to improve workforce participation and health services. And policies to make our communities, our society, and our country better and safer.

But first, I will respond to the treasurer’s budget.

Updated at 10.38am BST

10.34am BST

I think we can take from this speech that ‘back on track’ is the new election slogan.

Peter Dutton:

Electricity bills haven’t gone down by $275 as was pledged on 97 occasions – they’ve skyrocketed. The treasurer will give you a $300 rebate, but he knows full well that your annual electricity bills have increased by up to $1,000 since Labor formed government.

Interest rates have gone up 12 times under Labor.

A typical Australian household with a mortgage is $35,000 worse off.

And that’s if you’re lucky enough to own a home.

Under this prime minister, the great Australian dream of home ownership has turned into a nightmare.

Even finding somewhere to rent is near impossible. The government has brought in additional 923,000 migrants in just two years.

But on the available data, it has only built 265,000 homes.

Then there’s Labor’s tax on the family car and ute.

You’re having to fork out thousands-of-dollars more simply for choosing some of Australia’s most popular vehicles – like a Toyota Rav4 or Ford Ranger – all because the government is trying to force you to buy an electric vehicle.

All of this has happened in just two years.

Paul Keating famously said, “When governments change, the country changes.”

Prime Minister Albanese and his government have changed our country.

But as so many Australians can attest to, not for the better.

You, your family, your children, and our country can’t afford another three years of this government.

I know how to make the decisions to get our country back on track.

Updated at 10.37am BST

10.32am BST

Budget-in-reply speech begins

Peter Dutton:

Tonight, I want to outline part of my vision for Australia.

To get our country Back on Track.

To keep our nation safe and secure.

To make life easier and better for all Australians.

Because this Labor government has made life so much tougher for Australians.

Because this Labor government has set our country on a dangerous course.

Almost two years ago, prime minister Albanese was elected promising a reduction of $275 each year in your power prices, cheaper mortgages, and that you would be better off under a Labor government.

All those promises have been broken.

And this government has been focused on the wrong priorities.

It started with the prime minister’s voice referendum.

Not only did it waste $450m which could have helped with the cost-of-living pressures you’re now facing – the referendum also divided the nation.

And let’s not forget that the prime minister called no voters ‘Chicken Littles’ and ‘doomsayers’.

Today, millions of Australians are struggling to pay their bills.

Even going to the supermarket and petrol station has become stressful for so many.

Prime Minister – Australians are genuinely hurting under your government – they’re not ‘Chicken Littles’.

Updated at 10.35am BST

10.31am BST

The MPs are spilling back into the house of representatives – as soon as they are all seated, the speech will begin.

This is Peter Dutton’s third budget-in-reply speech.

10.30am BST

The same rules apply for Peter Dutton’s speech as were in place for Jim Chalmers’ budget speech – he can speak for as long as he likes, members are not allowed to interject, if the Speaker wants to kick someone out of the parliament he will send a written note and MPs are responsible for their guests in the galleries.

10.27am BST

Good evening

Hello – thank you very much to Josh for taking us through the last four hours – it was a heady ride!

You have Amy Remeikis back with you to take you through Peter Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech and his interview with 7.30 immediately after.

Updated at 10.30am BST

10.25am BST

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is about to step up in the House of Representatives and deliver his budget-in-reply speech. I will now hand the blog back to Amy Remeikis for the rest of this evening.

10.03am BST

Just 2% of male-only Melbourne Savage Club members express support for admitting women

Just four members of the exclusive male-only Melbourne Savage Club say they support women being admitted as members, according to a “members’ satisfaction survey”.

But more “lady guests” could visit for “mixed dining”, breaking a 130-year tradition, if suggestions included in the survey were taken up.

Updated at 10.05am BST

9.49am BST

Coalition and crossbench politicians call for judicial inquiry into antisemitism at universities

The Coalition and a few crossbench politicians including Jacqui Lambie, Ralph Babet, One Nation, Rebekah Sharkie, Bob Katter, Zali Steggall, Allegra Spender and Andrew Gee have written to the prime minister calling for a judicial inquiry into antisemitism at universities.

#BREAKING The Coalition, backed by some members of the cross bench, has written to the Prime Minister calling for an urgent judicial inquiry into antisemitism at universities.

➡️ https://t.co/FhwHYyJGbS pic.twitter.com/WXYzcOrsGs
— Senator Sarah Henderson (@SenSHenderson) May 16, 2024

Updated at 10.03am BST

9.31am BST

Lidia Thorpe commends Fatima Payman for ‘speaking honestly from the heart’ in Palestine comments

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has weighed into the furore over Labor senator Fatima Payman, who yesterday accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, using the politically charged phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Earlier on Thursday, the Coalition and Labor voted together on a motion condemning the phrase, which passed 56 votes in favour and 12 against. Payman was not present for the vote.

In a statement to Guardian Australia, Thorpe criticised Labor for its “appalling” treatment against its own backbench senator, accusing the party of silencing its members.

They should be ashamed. [Payman] was speaking honestly from the heart about something important she cares about. I commend her for that ... more Labor MPs should be speaking out on this issue, and so many others. And they should be allowed to cross the floor. People voting next year should remember this. A vote for Labor is a vote for a candidate that will be silenced and forced to give up their values.

Thorpe also disagreed with suggestions the phrase is inappropriate, as the prime minister Anthony Albanese earlier said, or synonymous with terrorism, instead saying it was a message of unity and peace.

But politicians and some in the media have twisted these words and made them out to be something they’re not, for political points. It’s disgusting and shallow politics ... we should be worried that politicians are trying to police political speech and what people choose to wear. Soon enough they’ll be banning watermelon from the parliament cafe. And we should be alarmed that politicians are choosing to condemn an anti-apartheid message.

University of Melbourne deputy vice-chancellor warns of ‘more forceful route’ if camps don’t end

The University of Melbourne says both an occupation of its Arts West building and ongoing encampments on South Lawn “must end” as tensions rise between protestors and management.

Speaking on ABC Melbourne, the deputy vice-chancellor of the university, Michael Wesley, said both encampments were “compromising with the ability of the university to use those facilities” and must be disbanded. The Students for Palestine camp has been established on the campus peacefully since late April.

Wesley said more than 24 hours after the Arts West building was occupied by activists, the university was talking “constantly” with Victoria police about how to bring the situation to an end.

We’re giving people time to reflect on the consequences that continuing to disregard university instructions might have on their candidacies if they’re students, on their work if they’re staff ... there could be criminal charges if they continue to defy the orders of the university and the orders of Victoria Police.

He added he hoped it wouldn’t lead to a violent removal but if protestors refused their demands “we will have to go down the more forceful route”.

Asked whether the university would uphold the protestor’s demands, including divesting from Lockheed Martin which has ties to Israel, he replied:

We will not be doing that ... supporting Australia’s national security aligns with the public good.

Updated at 9.09am BST

8.27am BST

Here’s the full story on NSW premier Chris Minns sacking parliamentary secretary Anthony D’Adam over criticism of the police’s handling of a pro-Palestinian protest.

Updated at 8.29am BST

8.16am BST

Palestine advocacy group ‘alarmed’ by Senate motion over ‘river to the sea’ slogan

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) says it is appalled at the motion that claimed the “river to the sea” slogan was “frequently used by those who seek to intimidate Jewish Australians via acts of antisemitism” passing the Senate today.

APAN said it was a contortion of the words of a liberation movement that is advocating for “an end to Israeli apartheid in Palestine and for the global values of freedom and equality for all, represents dangerous anti-democratic overreach on the part of both the major parties”.

APAN President Nasser Mashni said:

Our liberation cry, “from the river to the sea” is a call for equal rights and justice for all.

We are alarmed that the Australian Senate has today taken this step to try and silence the Palestinian justice movement, and to shore up Zionist Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

It’s in this context that we applaud Senator Fatima Payman for her humanity, courage and commitment to the principles of international law, particularly at a time when we’re seeing the space for public debate and public political action chipped away at by our two major parties.

Updated at 8.22am BST

7.58am BST

University of Melbourne in ‘ongoing discussions’ with police on how to break up protest camp

The University of Melbourne is in “ongoing discussions” with police on how to break up a pro-Palestine encampment at Parkville’s Arts West building.

In a video distributed to Guardian Australia, deputy vice chancellor of the university, Michael Wesley said the university’s patience was “now at an end” more than 24 hours after students defied requests to cease occupation of the building.

“Students have a right to protest, but that is not a blank check. They have crossed a line when they have occupied the Arts West Building ... the occupation is now seriously disruptive and seriously intimidating.”

Wesley said students and stuff had breached the university’s codes of conduct and would face police action “if necessary”.

If those codes of conduct are contravened, as they have been now, the people who are carrying them out, will face disciplinary action and police action, if necessary. We are in ongoing discussions with the police. They are advising us about how we keep this situation under control and they are giving us advice about how we might move forward to end the protests in the occupation.

Updated at 8.01am BST

7.50am BST

Liberal senator denies referring to Fatima Payman as a ‘terrorist’

Liberal senator Hollie Hughes says she did not refer to Labor senator Fatima Payman as a “terrorist” during Senate question time this afternoon.

Hughes told Guardian Australia she said “you are supporting terrorists”, which she withdrew shortly after.

The NSW Liberal senator denied she had directly referred to Payman as a “terrorist” as some senators, who do not wish to be named, sitting in the chamber at the time alleged.

Hughes was overheard interjecting numerous times while the opposition pressed the Labor government over whether it had asked Payman to withdraw her comments.

Payman, a first-term senator, on Wednesday accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, using the politically charged phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Guardian Australia has contacted Payman for a response.

Updated at 8.02am BST

7.43am BST

University of Sydney does not call on protestors to dismantle camps

The University of Sydney will not call on protestors to dismantle their pro-Palestine camps amid growing tensions between students and management at universities in Melbourne and Canberra.

The vice chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, wrote to students and staff on Thursday reiterating the university upheld the right of its community to express their views on Israel and Palestine so long as they did not “unreasonably infringe on the rights of others to come to campus”.

Scott said the university would continue to take a “reasonable and proportionate approach” to any alleged misconduct on a case-by-case basis, “consistent with our approach of de-escalation”.

He said disciplinary action had been taken against some individuals who had deliberately covered their faces in a manner intended to conceal their identity, not identified themselves upon request and interrupted classes. Another instance of counter-protests engaging in allegedly intimidatory behaviour towards the encampment was also being investigated by police.

Around the world, we have seen universities and encampments come to mutually-acceptable agreements following good-faith dialogue. The concerns of the encampment ... are worthy of consideration, but we can only progress towards any resolution through genuine two-way discussions and I hope that both the students and the NTEU will accept our offer to meet next week.

Updated at 7.49am BST

7.35am BST

NSW health is warning that MDMA tablets (ecstasy) containing around twice the average dose are going around the state.

The department says the tablets are purple-grey with a ‘Punisher’ skull design on the front, and provided images which can be viewed on this link.

The medical director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, Dr Darren Roberts, warned the health risks from MDMA are greatly increased if high amounts are consumed, especially over a short period.

MDMA can cause severe agitation, raised body temperature, seizures or fits, irregular heart rhythm and death.

It is very important to remember, if you or a friend has taken drugs and feel unwell, you won’t get into trouble for seeking medical care. If you or a friend feels unwell, please seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero.

7.30am BST

Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, who is the victim in the stabbing attack that is the subject of the fight between the eSafety commissioner and X Corp over the video of the attack at his Wakeley church provided an affidavit to the federal court last month on why he wanted the video to stay online.

We now have his comments to the court in full which state:

I acknowledge the Australian Government’s desire to have the videos removed because of their graphic nature. I do not condone any acts of terrorism or violence, however, noting our God given right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, I am not opposed to the videos remaining on social media.

I would be concerned if people used the attack on me to serve their own political interests to control free speech.

He said his attitude towards his alleged attacker and others is:

I love all people, and I pray for all people as human beings regardless of race, background and religion.

I am a proud Australian and I love my country.

I have absolutely no animosity or ill will towards the perpetrator of the attack. I wish him well and give him my blessing.

7.23am BST

Australia’s nature laws unable to properly assess impact of climate change, judgment suggests

A judgment in a legal challenge launched on climate grounds has suggested Australia’s national environmental laws are not able to properly assess the impact of climate change on Australia’s threatened species and ecosystems.

Earlier today we reported the federal court had dismissed an appeal in the “living wonders” case by the Environment Council of Central Queensland against the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek’s, decisions on two proposed coal mine expansions.

In the published judgment, the full court said the council had not demonstrated there was any error in the court’s decision last year. That earlier decision found Plibersek had not acted outside of her obligations when she sent the proposals to the next stage of the assessment process.

But in its conclusion, the judgment handed down Thursday notes the “ill-suitedness” of Australia’s current nature laws - the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act - when it comes to climate change:

Notwithstanding our conclusions on the grounds of appeal, the arguments on this appeal do underscore the ill-suitedness of the present legislative scheme of the EPBC Act to the assessment of environmental threats such as climate change and global warming and their impacts on [matters of national environmental significance] in Australia.

Conservationists, the Greens and independent MPs have long called for Australia’s nature laws to be amended to include a climate trigger. The government does not plan to introduce one and a broad package of reforms to fix Australia’s broken laws has been delayed until an unspecified date.

The environment council said on Thursday it was devastated by the outcome of the case and was considering its options.

Carmel Flint from The Lock the Gate Alliance said the case must “prompt immediate changes to failing federal environmental laws to include a climate change trigger”:

The Federal Court itself has effectively indicated that its hands are tied legally, because our national environment laws are ‘ill-suited’ to an assessment of the severe threats posed by global warming.

Updated at 7.35am BST

7.15am BST

Milton Dick urges no political fundraising in parliament after Liberals sell tickets to events

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Milton Dick, has issued a general request that federal MPs not conduct political fundraising in Parliament House, after several Coalition politicians were found to be selling tickets for events ahead of Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech tonight.

Independent MP Monique Ryan got up after question time, asking Dick about the 2022 request of Anthony Albanese for political fundraisers not to be permitted in bookable areas of parliament.

Guardian Australia reported this week that Liberal MPs including Sussan Ley, Angus Taylor, Paul Fletcher and Julian Leeser are hosting drinks in the parliament, followed by a dinner at Old Parliament House after Dutton’s budget reply speech. Tickets for the event are being sold for between $1,000 and $2,000.

Ley’s spokesperson said “all events that the deputy leader of the opposition hosts comply with fundraising rules, regulations and guidelines and this event is no different”. Liberal sources noted the ban on fundraising applied to bookable areas, not to MPs’ private offices.

Ryan claimed the MPs’ actions “wilfully disregards your 2022 ruling” and “compromise the dignity of this house”. In response, Dick noted political fundraising cannot take place in “bookable areas” of Parliament House, but said he didn’t support fundraising in any part of the building.

“I made these policy changes for practical implementation so political fundraising could not occur,” Dick said, asking all members respect the policy.

“It’s my personal view that political fundraising does not occur in this place. The dignity of the parliament must always be maintained in line with the Australian public’s expectations.”

Updated at 7.29am BST

7.06am BST

NSW premier revokes MP's parliamentary role over police criticism

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has sacked upper house MP Anthony D’Adam from his parliamentary secretary role after comments made in parliament on Wednesday night criticising police handling of pro-Palestinian protesters.

D’Adam told the parliament that police had used “fear and intimidation” on three protesters who were arrested at a “die-in” protest event in March in the Sydney CBD.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Minns said he had revoked D’Adam’s role as the parliamentary secretary for customer service and digital government, parliamentary secretary for emergency services, and parliamentary secretary for youth justice. He said it was done because D’Adam refused to withdraw his comments:

Mr D’Adam did not raise his criticisms about NSW Police with me, the Police Minister or with NSW Police. The first we heard about it was his speech in Parliament.

Mr D’Adam’s comments do not represent the views of the NSW Government.

I have formed the view that his actions and criticisms of the NSW Police, without at any time speaking with colleagues to convey his concerns in relation to this matter, are incompatible with his position as Parliamentary Secretary.

The NSW Police Force does an incredible and extremely difficult job and they have the full support of the NSW Government.

Updated at 7.52am BST

6.55am BST

The chant ‘from the river to the sea’ is effectively ‘supporting terrorists’, McKenzie says

The leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Bridget McKenzie, has said she didn’t hear an alleged remark in the Senate referencing terrorism, but has doubled down that the slogan “from the river to the sea” effectively “supports terrorists”.

McKenzie, senators Jacinta Price and Ross Cadell also said they didn’t hear the remark directed at Labor’s Fatima Payman.

McKenzie told reporters in Canberra:

I think as the president herself said in dealing with what happened in the Senate today there are fervently, strongly held views on either side of this debate. Senator Hughes holds one such view. Senator Thorpe and others hold another. We do need to treat each other with respect and that’s what the president was calling for ... I said I have never heard another senator call another senator supporting terrorism. But if you do support Hamas, if you are chanting ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine be free’, then you are effectively supporting Hamas, and you are effectively supporting terrorists. That is what we are so concerned about when it comes to this government’s tacit approval of the recognition of Palestine and tacit approval ... a wink and a nod saying ‘it’s OK to chant that, it’s OK to set up camp in universities, it’s OK to take to the streets in support of Palestine, which is governed by Hamas.

As was noted by another reporter, Anthony Albanese has rejected the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea”. So the approval is so tacit it is in fact non-existent.

Updated at 7.16am BST

6.51am BST

Doctors have duty of care to protect patient data and safety as AI use grows, conference hears

As artificial intelligence has become an established part of healthcare in Australia, doctors have a duty of care to protect their patients’ data and physical safety, a conference of doctors has heard.

The peak body for Australian physicians, the Royal College of Physicians’ annual congress taking place in Sydney today has held a session on artificial intelligence in healthcare.

Prof Enrico Coiera, the director of the Australian Institute of Health Innovation, emphasised that the huge uptick in regulatory approvals for AI clinical devices around the world, including Australia, has brought enormous benefits, but also side effects which need to be managed.

Patient privacy could be at risk if a doctor dictates his patient notes containing identifiable information into ChatGPT, as data is often sent to the US for processing where companies can sell it, Coiera said. Doctors need patient consent when using these products and urged doctors to only use those which stored data in Australia, where it is subject to Australian laws, he urged.

There can also be more direct consequences for patient safety. Coiera used the example of doctors using AI to generate a referral letter, saying there is the risk AI can be prone to “hallucinate” and contort patient information such as introducing an extra diagnosis or medication. The Victorian health department has issued guidance to doctors not use generative AI unless it’s not been TGA approved, he highlighted.

Coiera said there were also issues of overdiagnosis, with ultrasensitive AIs detecting diseases that would not normally lead to a problem, as well as AI potentially leading to lack of care if devices meant to help triage patients is instead used as a diagnostic tool.

Dr Sandra Johnson, a paediatrician and clinical Academic at the University of Sydney, said doctors can’t know everything about the AI they use, but they need to be able to explain to patients how it’s involved in their care and relevant information such as whether it’s received approval from the medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Updated at 7.19am BST

6.39am BST

eSafety commissioner seeks police assistance after threats and abuse

The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has sought assistance from the Australian federal police and the New South Wales police after receiving threats and targeted abuse since the regulator issued a removal notice to Elon Musk’s X Corp last month over the Wakeley stabbing attack video.

This was revealed in the affidavit of eSafety’s Toby Dagg arguing for the court to suppress the names of other eSafety staff besides himself and Inman Grant.

On April 15, 2024, the eSafety commissioner received 239 social mentions, according to the media monitoring firm Meltwater, but this skyrocketed to 31,870 by Wednesday 24 April, after the legal fight with X began, Dagg reported.

Dagg said:

As a result of this matter, the commissioner has received threats and has been targeted with abuse online. The details of the threats and abuse are provided in a separate confidential affidavit.

As a result of these threats, eSafety is concerned for the eSafety commissioner’s safety and wellbeing, and the safety and wellbeing of her family, and has requested the assistance of the Australian Federal Police and New South Wales Police Force.

Details of the assistance provided by law enforcement is detailed in a separate confidential affidavit.

The other names have been suppressed. The case is due to be heard at the end of July.

Updated at 7.04am BST

6.35am BST

On that note, I will hand over the blog to Josh Taylor while I take a short break before returning to bring you the budget in reply speech from Peter Dutton.

Until then – take care of you .

6.33am BST

Question time ends, at last

Anthony Albanese asks Angus Taylor if he wants to ask Jim Chalmers a question.

The answer is no, so question time, finally, finally, ends.

Updated at 6.42am BST

6.27am BST

For some reason, question time is continuing in the House.

Anthony Albanese makes a ‘joke’ that he might keep it going until Angus Taylor asks Jim Chalmers a question (it’s a running gag in Labor that Taylor won’t ask Chalmers a question directly) but surely living in this timeline is punishment enough.

Updated at 6.31am BST

6.23am BST

Back in the House there has been more back and forth over the energy rebate, in an attempt to get the PM to admit that as someone who is paid more than $500,000 a year he will receive the rebate (which he will) and whether or not the budget is inflationary.

You can almost guess the answers, because you have heard them non-stop since Tuesday.

Updated at 6.33am BST

6.13am BST

Hanson-Young accuses Coalition of ‘bullying’ Payman over Israel comments

The opposition’s attempts to force Penny Wong to answer whether Labor senator Fatima Payman has been reprimanded for comments about Palestine has descended into chaos.

There are a number of interjections from all sides and the Senate president Sue Lines repeatedly calls for points of order. Liberal senator Hollie Hughes is asked to withdraw after making a number of interjections.

The word “terrorist” is overheard from the opposition benches and some suggest it was directed at Payman.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young makes a point of order, accusing the opposition of “intimidation, bullying and harassment to a high order”.

There are rules in this place about treating people with respect about having a safe workplace and what I have just seen is intimidation, bullying and harassment to a high order. If you are going to come into this place and do it, you should be called out and thrown out.”

Lines seems to think the comments were directed at her.

Senator Hanson Young, thank you very much. You are not on a point of order. I can assure you, I was neither bullied or intimidated. The comments were withdrawn.”

Hughes is then asked to withdraw but Lines says she did not hear the comment.

Updated at 9.30am BST

6.08am BST

Electronic prescription company Medisecure acknowledges cyber attack

Earlier we reported that there was a largescale data breach and ransomware attack being reported by the national cyber coordinator.

Medisecure, which is an electronic prescription company, has stepped forward as the company involved.

In a statement on its website, Medisecure said:

MediSecure has identified a cyber security incident impacting the personal and health information of individuals. We have taken immediate steps to mitigate any potential impact on our systems.

While we continue to gather more information, early indicators suggest the incident originated from one of our third-party vendors.

MediSecure takes its legal and ethical obligations seriously and appreciate this information will be of concern. MediSecure is actively assisting the Australian Digital Health Agency and the National Cyber Security Coordinator to manage the impacts of the incident. MediSecure has also notified the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and other key regulators.

MediSecure understands the importance of transparency and will provide further updates via our website as soon as more information becomes available. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

Updated at 6.41am BST

6.02am BST

Coalition targets Labor senator Fatima Payman

The Coalition’s questions continue about whether Anthony Albanese has asked Labor senator Fatima Payman to retract a statement she made about Palestine on Wednesday.

Liberal senator Michaelia Cash continues to press whether the first-time backbencher has been reprimanded.

Penny Wong doesn’t answer directly, instead pointing to previous comments made by Albanese that the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” was inappropriate.

Cash asks again: “Has the prime minister of Australia now spoken to Senator Payman and about the use of the phrase yesterday ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free?’”

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe starts cheering as Cash repeats the phrase and there are further interjections from all sides.

The situation then starts to deteriorate.

Updated at 6.41am BST

6.00am BST

University of Melbourne pleads with protesters to leave

The University of Melbourne has issued a renewed plea for pro-Palestine protesters camped inside one of its main buildings to depart, amid tensions over sit-ins across multiple university campuses.

A group of protesters at the University of Melbourne are camped within the Arts West Building, despite the university’s request for them to leave by Wednesday afternoon. The university on Thursday cancelled 150 classes in the building.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the university says it has “again insisted that, in peace, occupiers leave the Arts West building and University campus so that our 80,000 students and staff can continue their studies and work”.

We are deeply concerned by the escalation in action, damage to University property and disruptive intent of some, including external actors, to our Parkville campus.

The continued occupation of University sites presents an unacceptable risk to the safety, security, and important work of our entire community.

The university says it is talking with student leaders and wants to “bring about a peaceful solution”.

Updated at 6.20am BST

5.57am BST

(continued from previous post)

King:

The future gas strategy seeks to do this through a solid evidence base after a year of work and extensive consultation.

Energy security and affordability is important for households, jobs, manufacturing capacity and for our national prosperity. Energy security is of vital importance for our geopolitical stability of our region.

The findings are very clear, the role of gas will change, and gas emission simply must reduce and the use of gas is different across the nation.

I would observe that for whatever point of view you want to take on this really complex issue of decarbonising the global economy while also ensuring energy security, that slogans alone will not in any way advance global net zero emissions ambitions.

We have included the entire answer because this is not going to be the last we hear about this strategy, or how the government defends it.

5.56am BST

Does Labor’s gas strategy blow all other climate measures ‘out of the water’?

Independent MP Sophie Scamps asks resources minister Madeleine King:

Minister, last week you announced your government’s future gas strategy which will put the pedal to the metal on gas production in this country.

I acknowledge existing gas production is necessary while we transition to a renewable economy. However, even Labor’s own environment action network said this undermines their members’ confidence in your government’s commitment to climate action. Doesn’t becoming the world’s largest gas exporter completely blow all our other abatement measures out of the water?

King:

I want to be really clear. I refer to your question and refer to the future gas strategy. The Albanese government is committed to climate action and to net zero by 2050.

We have legislated targets, we have performed the safe mechanism and we have committed to 82% renewables by 2030. Principle 1 of the future gas strategy is this.

Australia is committed to supporting global emissions reductions to reduce the impacts of climate change and will reach net zero emissions by 2050.

It is consistent because of the work this government is doing and will continue to do.

Our reforms with the safeguard mechanism will drive down emissions across a range of intensive oil and gas operations covering the emissions of 130 resource sector facilities.

Any new gas fields supplying LNG facilities will be given a zero base line allocation for the reservoir CO2 in their fields. This is law.

This means that gas from any new offshore fields will be carbon neutral from the very start.

Since we came to office there’s been a 25% increase in renewables in the national energy market.

This has driven both its total emissions and the emission intensity of this country to all-time record lows. We will keep driving policy and actions to make sure we hit that 82% target. Because we have done those things, we do need to carefully consider how gas fits into those net zero commitments.

Updated at 6.06am BST

5.52am BST

Albanese says opposition ‘have no plans for the future’

Anthony Albanese continues:

Perhaps they could move that as amendments because when they had the chance to support Australian families and to vote for power bill relief they voted against it for families, they voted against it for small businesslike they vote against everything.

The problem with this opposition is that they take that word literally, opposition.

They just say no to everything.

They have no plans for the future, nothing positive to say about what is needed. They’ve had two budget replies without having any substantive policy whatsoever.

The leader of the opposition can’t find the National Press Club to give a serious speech about the alternative policy of the alternative government.

We await tonight the view that we will see a fully costed policy plan because this is the third budget reply.

We have had strike one, strike two.

Tonight we’ll see whether it’s strike three, and I know there are many other there who would like to see strike three and you’re out.

Updated at 5.58am BST

5.52am BST

Ley: ‘The only thing made in Australia is this inflation crisis’

It is Sussan Ley time. Seems the deputy leader has lost the second opposition question slot, so you’ll never know when she will pop up!

Some families are paying up to $1,000 more for their electricity since Labor was elected two years ago. After three failed budgets the energy rebate announced on Tuesday is finally an addition that the government broke its promise to cut energy bills.

The only thing made in Australia is this inflation crisis. Why are Australian families the paying the price for the prime minister’s weak economic leadership?

Anthony Albanese:

It must be interesting when they have shadow ministry meetings because that question goes to the exact opposite of what the shadow finance minister [Jane Hume] said, where she said “everybody needs $300 off their power bill. In fact, we’d like to see more.”

Perhaps that will be in their announcement tonight. Apparently they’re going to do multiples is what we have had, a pre-emptive strike from the deputy leader of the opposition saying they’ll do multiples of our power bill announcement in tonight’s budget reply. Well, we await that, Mr Speaker.

Updated at 6.03am BST

5.49am BST

Furore over Payman’s Israel comments spills into Senate QT

The opposition’s furore over comments made by Labor senator Fatima Payman on Wednesday has spilled over into the Senate’s question time.

Liberal senator Michaelia Cash asks whether Anthony Albanese has asked or demanded Payman retract the statements.

To recap, at a press conference with SBS News and Capital Brief yesterday, Payman accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has questioned how many deaths would prompt Albanese to declare “enough”.

Payman also used the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – a politically charged phrase that Albanese has criticised.

Wong responds:

This is a government that does represent the community more completely than any government in Australia’s history. It is a government that does represent, that does have members and senators from a wide range of faiths and perspectives and cultural heritage.”

Liberal senator Anne Ruston interjects but it’s not picked up by the microphones, however, independent senator Lidia Thorpe begins shouting “shame”.

Wong says senators should all be “peacemakers”.

Read the full story by my colleague, Daniel Hurst, here:

Updated at 5.59am BST

5.41am BST

Ted O’Brien shouts ‘$275!’ and Chris Bowen pretends to reel him in like a fish

Chris Bowen took a dixer on energy policies, just so he could troll the opposition (mostly Ted O’Brien, which is a bit like fishing in a barrel – it is just too easy).

Paul Karp is in the chamber and when Bowen notes O’Brien has been a bit quiet for a change. He says O’Brien pops up much like an automaton and starts shouting “$275!!! $275!!!!” (which is what Labor committed to reducing energy bills by, by 2025).

Bowen starts miming reeling O’Brien in on a fishing rod saying “we’ve got a live one!”

The member for Fairfax has perked up.

Perhaps he’ll perk up tonight and actually announce a policy.

(These people make over $200,000 a year FYI)

Updated at 6.13am BST

5.37am BST

We are now back on the migration ‘is this bad’ train (insert butterfly meme here)

Dan Tehan is cranky about forecasts not being correct.

The Albanese government’s first budget forecast net overseas migration of 235,000 people in 22/23.

In this week’s budget it was revealed 22-23 net overseas migration was 528,000. Labor’s forecast missed the mark by 293,000. How can the Australian people believe any forecast this government makes on net overseas migration?

It’s almost as if all the forecasts in the budget could be wrong!

Anthony Albanese:

Because the system that we inherited was broken. We don’t just say that. That’s the case. That’s why we’re setting about fixing it. Fixing it.

We’re on track to halve it next year. We have announced we’ll limit our international student numbers at the same time we do know that we have skills shortages in our economy.

And we’re dealing with it.

But we inherited a system that was simply broken. Indeed, the member himself, of course, as we know, said at one stage, when he was responsible, as the education minister, “Help us spread the word about studying here to help us overtake the United Kingdom as the world’s most most populous study destination.”

The leader of the opposition’s been out through talking about reducing the number of students coming here. But he was busy talking it up when he was in government, as was the then minister for education.

The hypocrisy is writ large. It’s their system that we inherited. We’re fixing it.

Updated at 6.00am BST

5.31am BST

Angus Taylor is suddenly very concerned with the opinions of economists and lists off some quotes from some, finishing with:

Why are Australians paying the price for this prime minister’s wrong priorities and bad decisions?

Economists, much like politicians, usually follow the ideology of whatever economic theory they believe in. It’s a social science, and whether economists like it or not, they are just as subject to ideological beliefs through the economic theory they subscribe to (and there are many) as politicians.

Anthony Albanese starts reading out quotes from shadow finance minister Jane Hume.

Taylor says that’s not relevant.

There is a debate over quotes.

Albanese is allowed to continue and says:

I was asked about the commentating on our budget and I went to quote from the shadow finance minister and the shadow treasurer got up and complained. And said that wasn’t relevant. What a team they have. What a team, hey. They can’t decide where the nuclear reactors will be. This bloke was out there on Sunday opposing his own leader on it.

He goes on with another bunch of quotes of his own but alas, he runs out of time to finish the battle of the quotes.

Updated at 6.11am BST

5.24am BST

Hume suggests budget is ‘political sugar hit’ and Gallagher disagrees

Moving on to question time in the Senate, where shadow finance minister Jane Hume asks whether Labor’s federal budget on Tuesday was a “political sugar hit” that fails to address inflation at the source. Hume specifically points out Labor’s announcement to give all households a $300 energy rebate.

We’ve heard these lines a few times from the opposition and the intentionally antagonistic question riles up finance minister, Katy Gallagher. Gallagher calls the claim “rubbish”, saying it will help with cost of living without adding to inflation.

I would like to remind those opposite that inflation was at over 6% when we came to government and interest rates had begun increasing and inflation is now with a three in front of it and projected to have a two in front of it. So all this rubbish that they go over with about how we are exacerbating inflation, we have halved it.

Updated at 5.53am BST

5.23am BST

Chalmers: ‘We want to build more homes and they want to wreck super’

Jim Chalmers continues to focus on the opposition:

We’re very proud of the investments we’re making in housing and the difference between this side of the House and that side of the House is we want to build homes and they want to wreck super. That’s the difference.

… We’ll hear more of that rubbish tonight about raiding people’s superannuation. As a substitute for the decent, methodical housing policy that this minister and this government has put in place something we’re very proud of.

On the tax question, he says:

There is a change in the budget to capital gains tax. The change in the budget for capital gains tax, which will raise more than half a billion-dollars, is to align the capital gains treatment for foreigners with the capital gains treatment for Australians.

This is one of the ways that we are methodically, in a considered way, repairing the tax base so we can fund important things like cost of living help, strengthening Medicare, reforming our universities, investing in more skills to build the future, to build a future made in Australia.

So there’s tax reform in the budget, capital gains tax reform in the budget. There’s a massive investment in housing because this government rather than just playing a dodgy dog whistle like this opposition leader does, rather than the clumsy cliches that we’ll hear from the opposition leader tonight, rather than their efforts to wreck super versus our efforts to build more homes, we have a housing policy that we are proud of.

They will play their usual nasty negative politics about it.

The question remains unanswered.

Updated at 6.09am BST

5.21am BST

Chalmers says housing is receiving Labor’s ‘urgent attention’

Jim Chalmers:

Thank you to the member for Griffith for his question about tax policy and housing policy.

One of the things that we are proudest of about the budget that we handed down from this despatch box on Tuesday night were the billions of dollars in new investments in housing.

That’s because we recognise, Mr Speaker, that the housing pipeline that we inherited after 10 years of neglect needs our urgent attention. It’s receiving our urgent attention.

But more than that, it is receiving $32bn in investment including $6bn new dollars of investment in the budget on Tuesday night.

For this I pay tribute to the minister for housing and to the government for the way that we have made building more homes for Australians a central economic priority of this government and this budget. We don’t ask for much. We ask for the parliament to support our efforts.

MCM raises a point of order on relevance. Chalmers is told to stick to the question.

Updated at 5.51am BST

5.20am BST

Max Chandler-Mather names hypothetical landlord ‘Anthony’ in question to PM

Max Chandler-Mather has the first question for the crossbench and he uses it to talk about the hypothetical landlord “Anthony” who owns an investment property he is about to sell for a pretty nice capital gain.

MCM:

My question is to the prime minister and concerns the government’s capital gains discount for landlords. If we take a landlord, let’s call him Anthony. He increase the rent by however much he wants and evict the tenant and sell for a property. When selling he can keep 50% of the $500,000 profit he makes tax free thanks to Labor’s handout to them. Does the prime minister think that’s more than fair?

(He had to ask it twice because of the faux outrage from the Labor benches)

Albanese passes the question on to Jim Chalmers to answer.

Updated at 6.02am BST

5.18am BST

Birmingham encourages ‘calm and peace’ in New Caledonia

Following Penny Wong’s calls for calm in New Caledonia, the opposition’s Senate leader, Simon Birmingham, rises to speak as well.

The Liberal senator echoes Wong’s statement, encouraging “calm and peace” in New Caledonia as soon as possible.

New Caledonia is an important part of our Pacific family and the most beautiful part of the world with beautiful people with whom Australia shares a special relationship. We remain concerned by the present situation, by the distress faced by many in New Caledonia and urge those responsible for violence and disruption to cease, for cooperation with law enforcement and for negotiation to ensure a resolution of the issues before them.

Updated at 5.47am BST

5.17am BST

While most eyes are on question time in the House of Representatives, I’m keeping an eye on what’s happening in the Senate.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, starts with making a short update for Australians on the developing situation in New Caledonia.

Wong says Australians are now advised to reconsider their need to travel to the French overseas territory located in the South Pacific, particularly the metropolitan area of its capital, Noumea, due to “civil unrest, travel disruption and limited essential services”.

The foreign affairs department’s Smartraveller advice now increases the level of advice to “travellers to exercise a high degree of caution”.

Wong said:

Again I repeat and take this opportunity to repeat Australia’s call for calm. We respect and support the referendum process over in the country and the discussions underway between all parties and encourage all parties to work together cooperatively to shape the future of New Caledonia.”

Question time begins

We are straight in to question time today and Peter Dutton opens up with what is going to be the centrepiece of his budget reply speech this evening: migration (under the guise of housing). Dutton says:

Will the prime minister admit that his weak leadership and bad decisions over three budgets have made it harder for Australians to buy or rent a home.

Around 1.7 million people are coming into our country when building activity is at an 11-year low. Will the prime minister admit that his weak leadership and bad decisions over three budgets have made it harder for Australians to buy or to rent a home?

Anthony Albanese goes through what he has said previously (most recently yesterday):

We inherited a broken migration system from those opposite. (A Labor frontbencher yells out “and we know who broke it”)

And the migration system that the leader of the opposition talks about is … the system that he presided over. What we are doing is fixing the system.

In the words of Dr Parkinson, who did the review, this is a 10-year rebuild. This is not something you [do overnight].

Because it is so badly broken. It was a deliberate decision to neglect the system.

This is by far the largest number of asylum applications under any immigration minister in our history.

Dennis Richardson also did a review, the former Asio director general, someone who’s widely respected.

Albanese is halted by Dutton with a point of order which is not a point of order. There is a debate over that, and at the end of it, we land at the same place – the prime minister can continue speaking.

Updated at 5.29am BST

5.01am BST

Vehicle efficiency standards ‘a win for all Australians’: Climate Council

There is not a lot of good climate news around lately so climate groups are taking wins where they can get them.

One of those wins, the climate council says, is the new vehicle efficiency standards legislation about to be passed.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said:

Australia has locked up the garage for good when it comes to expensive, polluting cars. This is a win for the climate, a win for our health, and a win for all Australians – whether they drive a car or not.

This law will see Australia slash climate pollution from one of our biggest sources, steering the transport sector towards a cleaner future. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts this important change will have on our hip-pockets, our health, and our environment.

Updated at 5.11am BST

4.35am BST

Deakin students say they will maintain encampment despite second directive to dismantle

Deakin University’s pro-Palestine encampment has received a second directive to dismantle their camp after being instructed by the deputy vice-chancellor, Kerrie Parker, to remove their setup on Tuesday.

Organiser Jasmine Duff said the students would not comply with the order and intended to call an emergency rally if police or security intervened.

We refuse to obey the directives of a university which is profiting from weapons research during a genocide.

A snap rally to defend the encampment on Wednesday evening was attended by about 200 people and went ahead peacefully with the monitoring of campus security and police. Duff said there wasn’t a large police presence on campus on Thursday, adding students were trying to ascertain the timeline of the request.

In an email sent to staff and students on Thursday, the vice chancellor of Deakin, Iain Martin, said the instruction given was not for students to stop protesting, but to remove the encampment, adding the action was based on the university’s “unwavering commitment” to safety and security.

There is no place at our university for the unacceptable language and behaviour that we have seen from the protestors, including those we believe are not Deakin students. This behaviour is in breach of Deakin’s code of conduct.

We cannot allow vitriol, personal attack and intimidation to undermine our ability to engage in the considered debate, discussion and deliberation that is required to meaningfully address complex and challenging issues. That is what true freedom of speech in our universities must be about.

Updated at 4.45am BST

4.34am BST

Zionist Federation of Australia says police should intervene in students’ pro-Palestine protests

The Zionist Federation of Australia has urged police to intervene in ongoing university encampments amid an occupation of a major building at the University of Melbourne and requests for protesters at Deakin and ANU to dismantle.

Its president, Jeremy Leibler, said there needed to be a “united effort” by university leaders, political leaders and the police to restore university campuses “to what they should be – places of learning and free expression”.

Leibler said the federation was concerned by the minimal intervention universities had taken in response to the ongoing pro-Palestine protests.

For weeks, anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment and statements have been allowed to fester on these encampments. Protesters … are defying university instructions to leave, and are illegally occupying university buildings.

It is vital that university administrators take action. This is no longer just about the safety and emotional wellbeing of the thousands of Jews on Australian campuses, but about the rule of law.

At a snap rally at ANU on Thursday, protesters vowed they would stay on until the university fulfilled their demands of disclosing investments and divesting from weapons manufacturers with links to the state of Israel, and denied their encampments had been anything other than peaceful.

Updated at 4.38am BST

4.20am BST

Wentworth MP Allegra Spender has released her views on some of the proposed tax changes:

The government's decision to tax unrealised gains is going to hit start-ups and high-growth companies hard. Over the past few months, I've spoken to investors and innovators who are saying this change could really reduce investment in our most innovative companies. My statement👇 pic.twitter.com/XtNjQMd7HY
— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) May 16, 2024

Updated at 4.23am BST

4.19am BST

Well, that was quite the morning (and early afternoon).

The last question time for this session will be held in just over 30 minutes – so take some time now to catch a breather and prepare for what the afternoon will bring.

Updated at 4.22am BST

3.56am BST

The Senate deal is done, but the crossbench are not happy about the way it was achieved:

I’m a strong supporter of New Vehicle Efficiency Standards. They’re good for the climate, good for the hip pocket, and good for our health.

But gagging debate to ram them through parliament is no way to run a government.
— Allegra Spender (@spenderallegra) May 16, 2024

Updated at 4.22am BST

3.52am BST

‘Absolutely reprehensible’: NSW premier condemns Labor member’s comments on police handling of protest

Comments made by a New South Wales Labor politician about the way police handled pro-Palestinian protesters have been condemned by the premier, Chris Minns.

Late on Wednesday night, upper house member Anthony D’Adam told the parliament that police had used“ fear and intimidation” on three protesters who were arrested at a “die-in” protest event in March in the Sydney CBD.

D’Adam said:

In this case, the police failed to distinguish between real violence and pretend violence, between real harm and actions that are harmless … We will not be intimidated, especially when we are trying to stop a genocide. Any time police officers resort to the use of force against non-violent protesters, they violate these principles and undermine the consent and respect necessary for the police to do their job.

Asked about the comments during question time, Minns said being a police officer was “far harder than issuing a speech in the middle of the night in a legislative council”.

Minns said:

Those comments were absolutely reprehensible. I completely disassociate myself from them and I want to make this point that we don’t want to make a martyr of anyone in this set of circumstances. I thought that the comments from the member were completely outrageous.

Updated at 4.15am BST

3.50am BST

Bandt says Greens ‘have killed Labor’s gas fast-track bill’ in statement on Senate deal

Adam Bandt has released a statement on some of the 4D chess currently being played by the government and crossbenchers in the Senate in order for the government to get bills like its fuel efficiency standards legislation voted on before the Senate rises tonight: Bandt said:

The Greens have killed Labor’s gas fast-track bill.

This is a big blow to the coal and gas corporations, a big win for the climate and First Nations voices, and it happened because the Greens have power in parliament.

We will continue to fight Labor’s push for more coal and gas all the way to the election and beyond. The Greens have stopped Labor’s dodgy attempt to fast-track new gas mines, but their bid to bypass environmental protections shows Labor will stop at nothing to have more coal and gas past 2050.

Climate scientists have said there can be no new coal and gas mines, but Labor wants more. You can’t put the fire out by pouring petrol on it. You don’t fix a problem by making the problem worse. With Labor and Liberal now backing more coal and gas past 2050, only the Greens will fight for real climate action.

Updated at 4.11am BST

3.47am BST

(continued from previous post)

The crossbenchers who signed a letter calling for the Albanese government to grant a full pardon to army lawyer David McBride held a press conference earlier at parliament.

Among the crossbenchers in attendance were Greens senator David Shoebridge, independent ACT senator David Pocock, and Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell.

Shoebridge described Tuesday’s outcome against McBride in the ACT supreme court as an “indelible stain” on the federal government.

This week, a chill was sent around the country, a chill, which was aimed at whistleblowers and potential whistleblowers … David McBride told the truth some people don’t like that. Some people are angry that he broke secrecy provisions. But he told the truth about war crimes and we wouldn’t know about those war crimes, if it wasn’t for David McBride.

Pocock asked why it is only ever crossbenchers who push the federal government on strengthening whistleblower protection laws. He said:

It is an indictment on this Labor government, that they talk such a big game when it comes to transparency, whistleblower protections, and yet are jailing the whistleblower and continuing the prosecution against Richard Boyle. This needs to end or the Australian people will end it with the minority government.

Senior lawyer for Human Rights Law Centre Regina Featherstone said the limited protections for whistleblowers in Australia is a “really sad state of affairs” and called for the urgent creation of a whistleblower protection authority.

It would send a message to would-be whistleblowers across Australia, that if you speak up, you will be protected and not punished.

Updated at 4.04am BST

3.47am BST

Crossbenchers and Bridget Archer call for David McBride to be pardoned

A group of 29 federal crossbenchers and Tasmanian Liberal MP Bridget Archer have written a letter to the Albanese government calling for it to request a full pardon for jailed military lawyer David McBride.

On Tuesday, McBride was sentenced to prison for five years and eight months for taking classified defence documents about the war in Afghanistan from his former employer, the Australian defence force, and leaking them to ABC journalists.

The documents formed the basis for the ABC investigative series, The Afghan Files, which revealed war crimes committed by Australian soldiers. McBride will serve at least two years and three months in a Canberra jail as part of his non-parole period.

The letter, sent on Thursday, urges the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, to advise the governor-general to grant McBride a full pardon to “end this injustice”.

In 2020, prime minister, you told media outlet Crikey, in relation to the Collaery prosecution, ‘the idea that there should be a prosecution of a whistleblower, for what’s a shameful part of Australia’s history, is simply wrong’. It is equally shameful that the first person imprisoned in relation to Australia’s war crimes in Afghanistan is not a war criminal but the source of the Afghan Files reporting, journalism that was undeniably in the public interest.”

The letter also calls for the prosecution of former tax employee, Richard Boyle, to end. Boyle spoke out internally, then to an independent watchdog and then to the media in 2018 about the Australian Taxation Office’s aggressive pursuit of tax debts from small businesses, which he said was destroying lives and causing unnecessary trauma to help the agency meet revenue goals.

Boyle is awaiting an appeal decision about whether he can use federal whistleblower protection laws to gain immunity from his charges.

The group is also calling for Labor to commit to overhauling whistleblowing laws this term, including work to establish a whistleblower protection commission by next year.

Guardian Australia has asked the attorney general’s office for a response.

Updated at 4.15am BST

3.46am BST

(continued from previous post)

Albanese defended the decision as being spurred by a change in his personal circumstances. Chandler-Mather, who has engaged in long-running battles with the PM on housing issues, said Albanese should have allowed the tenant to have a longer rental agreement period.

[Renters] see the prime minister evicting a tenant in the middle of a rental crisis. A lot of renters will remember their own circumstances and their own situations, their own times where they were evicted for no reason other than the fact that the investor wanted to sell.

What this demonstrates is property investors have far too much power in this country, and we have a housing system that allows property investors to treat what should be homes as lucrative financial investments and screw over millions of renters.

Here’s what the prime minister could have done: signed a longer lease with that tenant and then sold the property with the tenant in it. Maybe he makes a little less money on the sale. I think that’s a pretty fair deal if the tenant gets to keep their home.

I’ve had that experience of being evicted for no reason and having no recourse. And there’s a lot of renters out there who’ve had that experience.

Chandler-Mather conceded the PM was acting within the law:

… But that’s the problem, because people like the prime minister decide the law. That’s the problem. We’ve got property investors in charge of the country at a federal and state government level.

Updated at 4.00am BST

3.46am BST

PM has ‘landlord brain’, Max Chandler-Mather says

Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather claims Anthony Albanese has “landlord brain”, scathing of the prime minister’s eviction of a tenant from his Sydney rental property.

Chandler-Mather, the Greens housing spokesperson, called for laws which would protect tenants from being evicted from their property when the owner seeks to sell it. He said such laws existed in European countries, and should exist in Australia.

It came after news that tenant Jim Flanagan had been given three months’ notice to vacate the premises when the prime minister decided to sell the property – he has resisted and is pleading with Albanese to reconsider.

Updated at 3.59am BST

3.45am BST

Harry Connick Jr and Archbishop of Melbourne among those who had meetings with Victorian politicians

Back to the Victorian ministerial diary release – the diaries also reveal the education minister, Ben Carroll, met with the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, to discuss “various portfolio matters”.

He also caught up with former Labor ministers Robin Scott (now at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation), Martin Foley (Alfred Health) and Jill Hennessy (Monash).

Caroll also met with Andrew Fox, the son of prominent Melbourne business man Lindsay Fox, and Andre Carvalho from Cystic Fibrosis Community Care to discuss “matters relating to medical research”.

Treasurer Tim Pallas was also busy. He met with senator David Pocock and staff of senator Jacqui Lambie for a “discussion of Commonwealth legislation”.

He also met with the former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet for a “general discussion about the economy and policy”.

Prior to handing down his budget earlier this month, he met with representatives from Moody’s Investor Service to no doubt to ease concerns over the state’s debt, which is forecast to grow from $156bn next year to $188bn by 2028.

The minister for creative industries, Colin Brooks, meanwhile, met with Harry Connick Jr. “to discuss film and scoring opportunities in Victoria” and the family of the late John Clarke, best known for his political satire series with on Australian politics with Bryan Dawe.

Updated at 3.57am BST

3.44am BST

Israel’s policies ‘increasingly rendering a two-state solution unachievable’, says Greens senator

Back in the Senate and the Greens senator Jordon Steele-John is making a statement in regard to the previous vote (the one on the motion that Simon Birmingham put forward). The motion passed 56-12.

The Greens were not given the opportunity to speak, so Steele-John is using the standing order to comment on votes, to put the Greens position forward.

We do so grounded in an understanding of the State of Israel continues to deny the right of self determination to Palestinians and the dispossessed of their land.

We aim to rectify this injustice in ways that allow both Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace, security and equality, exercising self determination as described by the UN Charter.

We recognise the state of Israel’s ongoing occupation, illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, and the expropriation of Palestinian land and water is illegal and must be opposed.

We call on and have always called on all parties to abide by international law.

And we have recognised the reality that the policies of the State of Israel are increasingly rendering a two-state solution unachievable.

In this work we have opposed all forms of racism, religious intolerance and discrimination in Australia and internationally. We have recognised that Palestinians in the State of Israel are subject to apartheid, while also recognising that there is within Australia and across the world, a rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia that must be called out and that must be opposed and that the attempt to frame criticism of the state of Israel’s policies as antisemitic is utterly in appropriate.

We do all of this for advocating for peaceful and nonviolent solution.

Updated at 3.55am BST

3.39am BST

Victorian ministerial diaries released for first three months of 2024

The Victorian government has released its ministerial diaries for the months of January to March, revealing meetings with media bosses, former MPs and some of Melbourne’s most wealthy and influential figures.

After changes introduced last year under the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, ministers now have to disclose diary summaries outlining scheduled meetings with lobbyists, stakeholders and other external organisations.

The diaries show Allan met with Penny Fowler, niece of media baron Rupert Murdoch and chair of the Herald & Weekly Times and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal on 15 January. The summary states they had an “introductory meeting” and discussed the Good Friday Appeal.

Allan also had a “business luncheon” with Michael Miller, the executive chairman of News Corp Australia and the editors of The Australian, the Herald Sun, news.com.au, Sky News and the Weekly Times on 27 February.

The diaries reveal she also met with:

Craig Hutchison, the chief executive officer of Sports Entertainment Group, to discuss “Bendigo Spirit and Victorian sport”.
Matt Gudinski from Mushroom Group
Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott
Anthony Pratt
Former government minister Martin Pakula, now the chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation
Prof Pat McGorry and Alastair Campbell, a former strategist for UK prime minister Tony Blair turned mental health advocate
The consul general of Turkiye

She also met with the prime minister, Anthony Alabnese, and his NZ counterpart, Christopher Luxon.

Updated at 3.52am BST

3.38am BST

The national cybersecurity coordinator has put out this statement:

Yesterday afternoon I was advised by a commercial health information organisation that it was the victim of a large-scale ransomware data breach incident. I am working with agencies across the Australian Government, states and territories to coordinate a whole-of-government response to this incident. The Australian Cyber Security Centre is aware of the incident and the Australian Federal Police is investigating. We are in the very preliminary stages of our response and there is limited detail to share at this stage, but I will continue to provide updates as we progress while working closely with the affected commercial organisation to address the impacts caused by the incident.

Yesterday afternoon I was advised by a commercial health information organisation that it was the victim of a large-scale ransomware data breach incident.

I am working with agencies across the Australian Government, states and territories to coordinate a whole-of-government… pic.twitter.com/mool7LNLRZ
— National Cyber Security Coordinator (@AUCyberSecCoord) May 16, 2024

Updated at 3.46am BST

3.36am BST

Daniel Hurst is in the chamber and says:

The Coalition and Labor are voting together on the motion. Labor senator Fatima Payman is not in the chamber. Yes votes also include Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, Jacqui Lambie and Ralph Babet.

The Greens and Lidia Thorpe are opposing.

Updated at 3.45am BST

3.35am BST

Wong finishes with:

Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice and we use our voice to advocate for humanitarian ceasefire for the release of hostages for a two state solution, including by using our vote at the United Nations to add international momentum for a two state solution.

The chamber goes to a vote on the motion.

Updated at 3.45am BST

3.35am BST

Penny Wong:

Irrespective of the issues that have been raised, our position is clear. We call for humanitarian ceasefire, enabling the immediate release of hostages and humanitarian aid to fly. We call for the release of hostages.

We have been clear about our objections to the Israeli ground offensive into refer. We have called for Israel to comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.

We have been clear about our position on BDS. We do not support BDS. We have been clear about our position on weapons. Australia has not supplied weapons to Israel since this conflict began nor in the last five years. But most of all, we want to do what we can to break the cycle of violence.

We want a two-state solution.

The phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is not consistent with a two-state solution.

And it is that solution which is needed for peace and security of Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Updated at 3.44am BST

3.34am BST

Penny Wong:

We gain nothing by reproducing the conflict here by talking past each other, by shouting each other down and by insisting on respective absolutes.

It is not acceptable for anyone in this country to blame others in this country for the actions of others overseas.

We stand against discrimination in all its forms we stand against hate speech and prejudice.

I stand against prejudice, discrimination, and hate speech, and I always have. People might recall a bipartisan motion moved by Senator [Mathias] Cormann and I which we drafted calling out Fraser Anning, for his appalling first speech, where he referenced the ‘final solution’.

Now Senator [Simon] Birmingham talks about and he is right to raise how people are feeling.

And what I would say is I would refer back to what I said, when we announced our position in support of two states our vote in support of a two state solution at the UN. I tried I sought to address the Jewish communities community directly.

I said now I want to make some remarks directly to the Australian Jewish community. I understand you are feeling distressed and isolated. I want to say you are valued.

You are valued members of our community, you have a right to be safe. You have a right to feel safe and antisemitism has no place anywhere I stand against it. We must all stand against it.

Similar like we have seen in this chamber, and beyond the distress that so many Australians feel is what we are seeing in Gaza.

Updated at 3.44am BST

3.33am BST

Penny Wong spoke in response to the motion put forward by Simon Birmingham:

This government represents the Australian community more completely than any government in this country’s history.

We’re a government with more than half women and more First Nations members than any government that has preceded us. We have members of parliament from many different countries whose ancestries are from many different cultures. We’ve members of many different sites, Christians, the Jewish faith, Muslims.

We are proud of how much we represent the richness and the diversity of the Australian community.

We are also deeply conscious of the responsibility this brings.

We do not speak only to one part of the community and nor do we speak only for one part of the community. Ours is a pluralist nation, a nation that welcomes different races, different religions, different views, and we are united by our respect for each other’s humanity and for each other’s right to live in peace. We are united by [respect] and our right to allow us to live as citizens in this free society.

We all need to acknowledge the trauma on all sides. We all need to respect each other’s humanity. And to come together as peacemakers throughout history have done we all need to be peacemakers.

Updated at 3.42am BST

3.27am BST

Birmingham attempts to move motion on antisemitism in Senate

Simon Birmingham is trying to move a motion in the Senate relating to antisemitism. It appears to be part of an attempt to add to pressure on the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, in the wake of the speech yesterday by the WA Labor senator Fatima Payman. We are tracking down the exact wording of the motion.

Birmingham said:

What we have seen is not just a rise in protests calling for peace or ceasefire … but we have seen a continuous rise in antisemitism in the targeting of Jewish Australians.

The impact of that is that there are too many of Australians of Jewish backgrounds who now go about their lives in Australia in a state of fear.

Birmingham said the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” had been used not just in protests and rallies but also “said by members of the government”. He said:

We call on the prime minister to take appropriate action and to ensure members of his government, members of his party, do not act in ways and repeat phrases that incite, fuel or are used by those who incite or fuel antisemitism.

Updated at 3.40am BST

3.24am BST

Coalition moves Senate motion on ‘from the river to the sea’ slogan

In the Senate, the Coalition has moved a motion that the senate:

notes that the slogan “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” opposes Israel’s right to exist, and is frequently used by those who seek to intimidate Jewish Australians via acts of antisemitism;

(b) welcomes Prime Minister Albanese agreeing with comments from former Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson calling the slogan “a very violent statement” which could “easily flow into actions of violence against communities in our own country”;

(c) agrees with Prime Minister Albanese that “it is a slogan that calls for opposition to a two-state solution”, and that “those people chanting, they’re saying that one state should be Palestine”;

(d) concurs with Prime Minister Albanese’s statements in relation to recent university protests that “it’s important that there be respectful debate in this country and what we’re seeing at the moment … what is hatred, what is ignorance, what is divisive … and it doesn’t have a place”;

and (e) calls on all senators to engage in debates and commentary respectfully, and to refrain from inflammatory and divisive comments, both inside and outside the chamber at all times.

Updated at 3.35am BST

3.16am BST

Labor and Greens strike deal on offshore gas bill

Labor and the Greens have struck a grand bargain on vehicle standards, offshore gas and the petroleum resource rent tax, to pass all three bills in the Senate today.

The Labor-Greens deal will remove the schedule from the offshore gas bill that allows the resources minister to set new rules for offshore gas, which the Greens and others had warned could see changes to consultation requirements with First Nations people and override the environment minister. That said, the government is not abandoning its intention to legislate this reform, just taking it out of the bill to legislate non-controversial elements.

In return, the Greens will help pass the petroleum resource rent tax and the fuel efficiency standards.

Some on the Senate crossbench, like David Pocock, are outraged because this means no substantive changes to raise more PRRT. In the hours motion, senators Tammy Tyrrell and Lidia Thorpe voted with Labor and the Greens.

Breaking - the Govt is trying to ram through heinous offshore gas bill, woefully inadequate Petroleum Resource Rent Tax changes (bundled in with PWC changes) and vehicle efficiency standards without any debate in the Senate.
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) May 16, 2024

We’ll find out more when the Greens stand up at 12.30pm.

Updated at 5.18am BST

3.16am BST

Given all the inflation talk and hand-wringing over wages – a reminder from Greg Jericho about what the data actually shows:

My column on wages. One day we might have a wages breakout, but that day (as has been the case for the entirety of my working life) is not today https://t.co/Sptzxq0ulm pic.twitter.com/NX2AJVsiUA
— Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) May 16, 2024

Updated at 3.21am BST

3.00am BST

Funnily enough, Bridget McKenzie’s use of “we could be in Moscow” could have a double meaning here – Russia is one of the only other nations not to have fuel efficiency standards for its vehicle.

Updated at 3.16am BST

2.59am BST

‘We could be in Moscow’: Bridget McKenzie says Labor ‘afraid of dissent’ on vehicle standards bill

The shadow transport minister, Bridget McKenzie, has unloaded in the Senate, criticising Labor and the Greens for their deal to rush through fuel efficiency standards.

McKenzie said:

We could be in Moscow – or any other communist country. The green bells from the other side [the House of Representatives] have been ringing all morning, voting to shut down debate on new vehicle efficiency standards. So nobody … could have their say.

Here we are again with the Labor party putting this bill in their guillotine motion so nobody can have a say on the biggest change to the transport sector since we got rid of the horse and cart.

This is what weak leaders [do] when they are afraid, afraid of dissent …

That’s all she got time for.

Updated at 3.15am BST

2.52am BST

Jobs data has investors paring back expectations of further RBA rate rises

The labour market numbers have encouraged investors to pare back their expectations about another RBA rate rise, with the dollar down about a tenth of a US cent to about 66.9 US cents.

In the stock market, where lower interest rates boost many firms’ profits, the effect was more notable. Already up about 1.4% for the day, the benchmark ASX200 share index was closer to 1.7% higher soon after the jobs data landed.

Mind you, the fact the economy added more jobs than it lost last month doesn’t point to much weakness in the jobs market. And hours worked were also unchanged.

The increase in the unemployment rate owed a lot to the participation rate ticking higher to 66.7% from 66.6%. Still, along with those modest wage increases for March that we got yesterday, the RBA might take some heart by today’s figures (while their economist pore over the budget).

Updated at 3.12am BST

2.50am BST

Queensland environmentalists ‘heartbroken’ after losing appeal against coalmine expansions

A Queensland environment group has lost a federal court appeal against the environment minister Tanya Plibersek’s decisions on two proposed coalmine expansions.

The “living wonders” case, brought by the Environment Council of Central Queensland, sought a judicial review of the minister’s decision to send the projects to the next stage of the environmental assessment process. The groups alleged Plibersek failed to protect the environment from climate harm when she made these decisions.

The council was appealing an earlier judgment by the federal court in October last year, which found the minister had not acted outside her obligations.

The appeal was dismissed by the full federal court bench on Thursday morning.

In a statement after the hearing, Ashleigh Wyles from the council, said the group was “devastated and heartbroken” and was considering its legal options:

We’re afraid this decision will open the floodgates for the Minister to approve dozens of new coal and gas projects currently on her desk.

The science is clear. We are in a climate crisis, and every new coal and gas project is pouring more fuel on the fire.

Updated at 3.07am BST

2.49am BST

(continued from previous post)

Speaking to Guardian Australia at the rally, O’Sullivan said the government had shown a “tin ear”. He said:

There’s no way that we can support those [proposals] … It’s a fundamental attack on the rights of parents and the rights of individuals to maintain their faith and have it [lived out] in their everyday life.

The government has suggested allowing religious institutions to preference staff in line with their beliefs in the new bill, to replace Section 38.

One parent told the rally, attended by two dozen people, about the impact of Christian teachers on her children:

I want them to … be people who show God’s love and serve others in everything they do for the glory of God, and having Christian staff in our Christian schools is the only way that this can be realised.

Updated at 3.03am BST

2.49am BST

Opposition members join Christian schools protesting to preserve right to discriminate in hiring

Opposition senators and MPs joined two dozen protesting parents, teachers and students from Christian schools outside parliament this morning, calling for Christian schools to be able to discriminate when hiring teachers.

The national association of Christian schools delivered postcards addressed to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, calling for schools’ exemptions to be preserved ahead of a pending debate of religious discrimination laws.

Opposition parliamentarians Matt O’Sullivan, David Fawcett, Wendy Askew and Henry Pike joined association director Mark Spencer and Christian parents and students. Spencer said:

To the prime minister: when you get our postcards, please make sure you … give us clear protections for people of faith and for religious freedom.

The association collected the 1,556 signed cards from community members at town halls around the country, which Spencer said have been attended by numerous coalition politicians but only one Labor MP, Tania Lawrence.

The government is negotiating with the Coalition to pass a revised religious discrimination bill, after the Coalition slammed the first draft that proposed to remove section 38 from the Sex Discrimination Act, which allows schools to discriminate against staff and students on the basis of sexuality and gender identity.

Updated at 3.01am BST

2.45am BST

In the Senate, Labor and the Greens are voting to add four bills to the hours motion of bills that must be dealt with today.

These include: the two fuel efficiency standards bills, and the offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage legislation amendment.

That’s the bill the Greens warned allowed the resources minister to override the environment minister when it comes to setting approvals rules (including first nations consultation) for offshore gas.

Labor made some changes to the bill during the March sitting but the Greens were still not satisfied by these.

So something else has changed – we’ll let you know when we find out what’s in the deal.

Updated at 3.02am BST

2.44am BST

Why does a jump in unemployment mean rates are less likely to rise?

Peter Hannam raises an interesting point in his post, which is also something to keep in mind.

A certain number of unemployed people is built into Australia’s economic models as a way of keeping inflation down.

There is currently a debate going on about the definition of “full employment” which is not everyone having a job, but the number of people who can be employed without it creating inflationary issues (according to economists and economic modellers at the RBA).

This is called the “non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment”, and it essentially means what level of employment the economy can handle without inflation increasing. In Australia, this has sat between 4 and 6%.

When the RBA governor Michele Bullock talks about concerns about a “tight” labour market, this is what she means.

Which is another reason advocates say the government should raise the jobseeker rate – the economy literally requires (under orthodox thinking) people to be unemployed, to help keep inflation down.

Updated at 2.55am BST

2.39am BST

April unemployment rate rises to 4.1%

Australia’s unemployment rate jumped back to 4.1%, the same as in January, a shift that makes it less likely the Reserve Bank will need to hike interest rates again.

March’s jobless rate was also revised higher to 3.9% from 3.8%. Economists had expected April’s jobless rate to come in at 3.9%.

It was a mixed picture, though, for overall jobs. Employers added 38,500 jobs overall but 44,600 were part-time roles, with a drop in full-time positions making up the difference.

A loosening labour market is what the RBA wants to see, and April delivered.

Updated at 2.41am BST

2.38am BST

Rundown on ABS unemployment figures

Looking at the ABS unemployment figures, it shows:

unemployment rate increased to 4.1%.
participation rate increased to 66.7%.
employment increased to 14,300,000.
employment to population ratio remained at 64.0%.
underemployment rate increased to 6.6%.
monthly hours worked remained at 1,962 million.
full-time employment decreased by 6,100 to 9,845,300 people.
part-time employment increased by 44,600 to 4,454,700 people.

The participation rate is one to keep an eye on, as it shows the number of people who are actively looking for work, and therefore have joined the labour force, has increased.

The unemployment figures are worked out by looking at the total working age population, and then breaking that up between the number of people in jobs and the number of people looking for work, but without jobs.

If you are unemployed, but not looking for work – for health reasons, care responsibilities, parenting, or you’ve just retired for example – you are not counted in the labour force.

If you start looking for work, then you get moved into the official unemployment pool, and therefore are once again counted.

Migration can also impact this, as it can increase the total numbers of the working age population.

Bjorn Jarvis, ABS head of labour statistics said:

With employment rising by around 38,000 people and the number of unemployed growing by 30,000 people, the unemployment rate rose to 4.1 per cent and the participation rate increased to 66.7 per cent.”

The 30,000 people increase in unemployment reflected more people without jobs available and looking for work, and also more people than usual indicating that they had a job that they were waiting to start in.

Updated at 2.44am BST

2.33am BST

The unemployment figures for April are in and it has risen from 3.8% to 4.1%.

That is a bigger increase than economists expected.

Updated at 2.44am BST

2.25am BST

Looks like the government is going to ensure that the EV legislation is voted on in the Senate without it being sent to a committee first – there is a motion up for exactly that in the Senate.

And they would need the Greens support for that as well. So by the end of the day, as long as there is no last minute switcharoos, the efficiency standards legislation will be through the parliament.

Updated at 2.45am BST

2.23am BST

This is what we call “stakeholder management” in action.

Tony Burke is (we presume) explaining why the government gagged debate on the EV bill with no warning. The reason being – they have a deal to get it through the Senate today, which meant it had to go through the house ASAP in order to make it to the Senate in time.

They don’t look overly convinced.

Updated at 2.45am BST

2.18am BST

And what do you know – this alert just popped up in my inbox from the Greens for a coming press conference.

The topic:

Greens agreement with government on passage of legislation today.

(You can bet that legislation will be the EV legislation).

Updated at 2.47am BST

2.17am BST

Government rumoured to be rushing EV efficiency standards through house without debate so Senate can vote tonight

One of the rumours moving around at the moment over why the government is rushing the EV efficiency standards through the house without debate, is so they can put it up for a vote in the Senate before it rises this evening – and have it in place before the new financial year starts.

The Senate will turn to estimates when the parliament resumes in a week’s time, which means there are no bills considered.

But if the government manages to get the support it needs for the bill in the senate today (and we understand those discussions are well underway) then well, it can put it up for debate, and wham bam, the bill gets through.

For all of that to be even an option though, the bill has to get through the house quickly. Hence – no debate.

Updated at 2.47am BST

2.14am BST

Lots of different emotions going on in the chamber today it seems (as captured by Mike Bowers).

Updated at 2.37am BST

2.09am BST

Richard Marles has decided to go with “house of reps green” as a camouflage tactic today it seems.

Updated at 2.34am BST

1.58am BST

Economists tip unemployment rate to rise from March’s 3.8% pace to 3.9%

The health of the labour market may well determine whether treasurer Jim Chalmers’ confidence that inflation will drop to the RBA’s target band by the end of the year is warranted.

Later this morning, we’ll get April jobs figures from the ABS with economists tipping the unemployment rate will rise from March’s 3.8% pace to 3.9%. They also expect the economy added about 24,000 jobs.

As we’ve noted each month, there are a few moving parts that can determine whether the news is good, bad or mixed (though, of course, people who lost their jobs last month will have a more visceral experience).

If full-time jobs increase less than part-time ones, the net result may mask underlying strength. (Part-time kicks in from one hour a week, full-time is 35 hours or more.)

And if a lot of people either start or exit the jobs market - the participation rate - it can distort the picture too.

Yesterday’s wage price index numbers for March turned out to be slightly weaker than expected so perhaps we might see a similar downside surprise today (which would nudge the dollar lower and dim the chances of another RBA rate rise).

Anyway, the budget that landed this week forecasts the unemployment rate to rise to 4.25% by June (a bit pessimistic perhaps) and by 4.5% by June 2025.

Look out for the results right here at 11.30am.

Updated at 2.33am BST

1.57am BST

Albanese has been in discussion with Payman previously about her views on Israel

Does Albanese think Payman should have given his office advanced warning about her statement to SBS? Albanese says it is “a matter for her”.

Pushed, he says:

Well she’s an adult, people take responsibility for the statements that they make. You know, people will make those judgments. I certainly have discussed the issue with Fatima, as I’ve discussed it with everyone in our Caucus. This was an issue as well that was discussed in our Caucus on Tuesday, and not a single Caucus member raised issues with the vote that Australia cast on Friday night in the UN.

That was consistent with a way forward, consistent with the 1967 boundaries, consistent with opposition to settlements, and consistent with, it must be said, one of the things that’s forgotten here is that in 1948, the state of Israel, of course, was created.

It was created through a resolution passed in November 1947 that called for two states, not one. Israel and Palestine.

Updated at 2.26am BST

1.57am BST

Albanese says he has not spoken to Fatima Payman about recent statement

Has Anthony Albanese spoken to either Josh Burns, who spoke out against Australia’s vote in the UN, or Fatima Payman?

Albanese said he spoke to Burns about the vote, but has not spoken to Payman since she spoke out “because I wasn’t aware that she’d made that statement”.

He says he has previously discussed the issue with Payman. Will he speak with her again on this issue?

I need to speak to everyone all of the time, Raf. That’s what I do. I’m someone who’s committed to bringing people together because I think overwhelmingly of the people listening to this program, there will be some who have very strong views in two different directions. But you know what overwhelmingly your listeners would want by, I think, a considerable majority. They want Australia to continue to be a harmonious, multicultural nation that respects people of all faiths, that respects our Australian culture here, and they don’t want conflict brought here in a way from overseas. Whether it be on this issue or on many of the other international issues which are out there. There are conflicts in Africa, in Yemen, in Europe.

Updated at 2.24am BST

1.54am BST

Is the Labor party harmonious?

Which then led on to WA Labor senator Fatima Payman’s break from the Labor line on Israel’s assault on Gaza.

Q: Aren’t you struggling for harmony in your own party? I mean, you’ve got one MP, one Senator, sorry, Fatima Payman, Muslim. She says Israel is committing genocide. You’ve got another MP, Josh Burns, who’s Jewish, really upset with your government for voting with Palestine at the UN. I mean, if you can’t unite your party and have harmony in your party, how are we supposed to get harmony outside of the Labor party?

Albanese:

Well we have a very clear position, Raf. Our position has been to oppose the terrorist atrocity that occurred from Hamas on October 7. To call for the release of hostages. To express concern at the killing of any innocent life, be it Israeli or Palestinian. To support humanitarian ceasefire. To support humanitarian aid going into Gaza. To support a two-state solution, which is the long term position that needs to be reached, Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace and security with prosperity.

Q: I hear that PM, but genuine question. You’ve sort of listed a whole lot of things that you see as even handed, but that doesn’t satisfy the really concerned people in your own party. Like that’s, how do you bring harmony to the rest of us if you can’t unite your own team?

Albanese:

Well we are united behind those positions. We are united as a government behind all of those positions. And indeed in the parliament, if you go back and look at the resolution that was carried with the support of the Liberals and the Nationals, it put in place those principles immediately in the aftermath of the October 7 atrocity. So I think that was a significant achievement.

From time to time there will be people who seek to either for genuine reasons, and that is certainly the case of people putting forward some differences of opinion. I respect that. Respectfully though, my job is to bring together in a coherent fashion a way forward for us as a nation.

Updated at 2.23am BST

1.53am BST

Albanese says leaders must promote ‘harmony’ when it comes to ‘parliamentary standards’

The interview moved on to “parliamentary standards”.

Q: Parliamentary standards. Pauline Hanson stopped from wearing a scarf with the Israeli flag on it. In Victoria in the parliament, you can no longer wear a Palestinian keffiyeh. I just wonder if we are policing this too much. Like what if a Jewish MP decided to suddenly start wearing a Kippah, a skullcap because they’re concerned about Israel? Like, would that be okay?

Albanese : Look Raf, I’m not the Speaker of a House of Parliament.

Q: Are we policing it too much?

Albanese: I’m not a Speaker. I will make this point that what we need in this country is to dial down the temperature, not dial it up. There are many people who are distressed, as you’d be very conscious of …

Q: Oh yeah, they ring and text.

Albanese:

People in the Jewish community who are distressed because of the rise in antisemitism. People who have relatives in Gaza who are traumatised by what they’re seeing taking place there. What we need from political leaders is bringing people together, not seeking to advance conflict here or to convey that somehow we in Australia can control, are in charge of what is happening in the Middle East. So I have been very concerned about social harmony and I just say that it’s up to leaders to promote social harmony. We have a multicultural society where everyone is deserving of respect. By all means people have differences, but let’s debate them respectfully in a way that adds to social cohesion, doesn’t break it down.

Updated at 2.20am BST

1.51am BST

‘We are concentrating on increasing supply,’ Albanese says, rejecting rent caps

The host, Raf Epstein, pushed the prime minister on rent caps and changes to housing policy to help renters.

Q: What about rent caps? Your tenant, I mean, that’s kind of a rent cap if you gave them cheap rent. The guy who came to fix my heating, a rent cap would help them. Could you entertain that?

Albanese:

Well, how do you do it, Raf? The federal government doesn’t have the power to cap rents. You know, some of these things, what we actually need is real solutions rather than slogans. Slogans won’t house people. No one can live on a media release or on a slogan. What they need is a home with a roof, and a floor, and walls. And that won’t be done through just sloganeering.

Q: You can change negative gearing.

Albanese:

Well, that as well. There’s an argument there, as you know full well Raf, that a change there will result in less housing being built, not more. So, you know, that is a debate which is there, very much out there. That immediately won’t solve the problem for the person who came to fix, do repairs at your house.

Q: No, but you could restrict it to new builds. That would incentivise new builds, maybe?

Albanese:

Well, that was put to the Australian people and rejected frankly, Raf. What we are doing is concentrating on increasing supply. That is what we are doing.

Updated at 2.15am BST

1.48am BST

PM maintains decision on tenant who has ‘nowhere to go’

Anthony Albanese was interviewed by Melbourne radio ABC and was asked about his tenant.

Albanese’s tenant in a Sydney property he owns is on a month-to-month tenancy. Albanese wants to sell the property the tenant has lived in for 4.5 years and has served an eviction notice on the tenant ahead of the sale. The tenant does not want to go (because we are in the middle of a rental crisis) and has publicly asked Albanese to change his mind.

Q: I do want to talk about your budget, but first, what would you say to your tenant? He says he’s got nowhere to go.

Albanese:

Raf I’ve had changes in my personal life. The tenant, in his own words, has been living in the property, his personal life and arrangements have changed as well. There were other people in the property. I have, I think, been a good owner of the property. He’s paid around about half what the market rental is. I kept that situation there post Covid when the rent was substantially reduced. I’ve had changes in my life and because of that made a decision to sell the property. He’s a small business owner, runs a bar in the electorate up the road. I’m very sympathetic, I wish him well. But I am allowed to make changes which are a direct result of the changes that have happened in my life from where I was 10 years ago, with my former wife and family.

Q: I appreciate that, PM. And, you know, of course you can sell it. But it highlights the problem, right? Renters feel like they’ve got nowhere to go when people like you make a, you say it’s a reasonable decision, fine, but the renter’s got nowhere to go because there’s nothing affordable to go to. That’s the problem.

Albanese:

Well not everyone who’s an owner of a property has a situation whereby the people living in there are paying half the market rent. That’s true. Why he’s responded in this way is really …

Q: But he’s not the only renter to say they don’t have somewhere to go, PM. Like you know that.

Albanese pivots to speak about the budget.

Updated at 2.07am BST

1.45am BST

Liberal MP Paul Fletcher is cut off while calling out government gagging debate on EV bill

The government has the numbers in the house, so there is no danger in losing the vote here. It just doesn’t want the debate (there will be a debate in the senate).

Liberal MP Paul Fletcher is moving to suspend standing orders to move a motion condemning the government’s guillotining of the debate.

It shows a complete cynicism in the way this government ...

Fletcher is cut off by Tony Burke who moves that Fletcher no longer be heard (shutting down the suspension of standing order motion).

There will be divisions on this, which the government will win, and then the final vote on the EV bill, which the government will also win.

I can almost guarantee I am about to get a message from a staffer saying that the shutting down of the debate is because of time constraints, and so the house can stick to a schedule on what is the last sitting of the budget week session and so the bill can get to the Senate ahead of estimates starting in another week’s time, but given that estimates is starting in a week’s time, there doesn’t seem to be that much need of a rush.

Updated at 2.02am BST

1.39am BST

Zoe Daniel accuses government of 'abuse of process' by gagging debate on fuel efficiency bill

The government is pushing its EV efficiency standards legislation through the house, putting it to its third reading vote, without any debate.

Independent MP Zoe Daniel has accused the government of gagging debate on the “New Vehicle Standards” by “pushing the Bill through with no speeches, no debate”.

She tweeted:

I support this Bill wholeheartedly but this is a complete abuse of process. Do better

The government has gagged debate on the New Vehicle Efficiency Standards and is pushing the Bill through with no speeches, no debate. I support this Bill wholeheartedly but this is a complete abuse of process. Do better.
— Zoe Daniel MP (she/her) (@zdaniel) May 16, 2024

Updated at 2.03am BST

1.25am BST

‘Not how you exercise restraint necessary to put downward pressure on interest rates’, Angus Taylor says

Angus Taylor is continuing the Coalition’s new line on renewables – which boils down to “billionaires do not need a handout”.

This view doesn’t seem to extend to those with fossil fuel licences, but so far, the coalition has not explained the difference.

Taylor this morning said:

Look, every coffee shop in the country would love to be paid a buck every time they produced a cup of coffee. Because that’s equivalent of a production tax credit.

Why is it that billionaires should get that when coffee shop owners don’t?

I mean, this is not a good use of taxpayer money, $37bn [and] a lot more over the long-term. This is not how you exercise the kind of restraint that’s necessary to put downward pressure on prices and interest rates.

Updated at 1.44am BST

1.08am BST

Why doesn’t the Reserve Bank do more to contain rising house prices and rents?

For one thing, only rents show up in the consumer price index (and only for capital cities). The CPI also just captures the cost of building new homes, rather than what happens at auctions.

Anyway, Sarah Hunter, the RBA’s newish chief economist, has this morning provided more details on how the central bank interprets the (un)real estate prices facing most of us.

Hunter said the impact of interest rates on the housing sector was more “cyclical rather than structural”. She said”:

When interest rates are rising dwelling approvals tend to fall, and this then flows into commencements and completions.

But this typically reverses when the cash rate is cut.

Over the long run, it is the fundamentals of demand and the structural build cost that ultimately dictate supply - monetary policy does not have an impact on either of these underlying drivers.

As it happens, this week’s federal budget contained an update on one key source of new demand - immigration. Net migration in the current fiscal year will be 395,000, down from a record 528,000 in 2022-23. For the coming year, net migration will retreat to 260,000.

(So far there’s no comment we’ve seen from Hunter on the inflationary effects (up or down) of the budget. Ex-RBA board member Warwick McKibbin made his view clear here.)

Updated at 1.36am BST

1.08am BST

AEC opens submission for where the boundaries for NT federal electorates should be

The AEC has opened up submissions for where the boundaries for the Northern Territory federal electorates should be, as well as what they should be called.

Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers said it’s important members of the public have their say:

Suggestions may refer to either the name of an electorate, its geographical boundaries or both.

But there are still rules – “in making its proposal of revised electorates, the Redistribution Committee must ensure that the number of electors in each electorate meets strict numerical criteria”.

Rogers:

In addition to the numerical requirements, the committee will consider communities of interest, means of communication and travel, and the physical features and area of the proposed divisions.

While the boundaries of the existing federal electorates are being considered, the Northern Territory’s entitlement in the House of Representatives remains the same with 2 electorates.”

If the boundaries change, the members in the parliament remain the same, until the next election.

Updated at 1.30am BST

12.55am BST

13YARN says it needs more equivalent culturally safe services to refer people on to

(continued from previous post)

Lifeline’s 13 11 14 crisis helpline refers around 60% of help seekers to other programs and services, bridging the gap between clinical and non-clinical support.

In 13YARN’s case, there are not always equivalent culturally safe services to refer people on to, especially in remote locations.

If we are to truly close the gap, more homegrown culturally safe services in regional and remote locations, designed and run by local Aboriginal people, are critically needed.

As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led, designed and run service, 13YARN promotes trust among help seekers who know they will be yarning with someone who understands them.

There is always hope at the end of a yarn. Our teams listen without judgement. The conversation is confidential, and we are a safe space for people to yarn about worries, needs and concerns.

13YARN [13 92 76] is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Updated at 1.05am BST

12.54am BST

Indigenous helpline calls were up 40% during voice referendum

The Indigenous-led national crisis support service 13YARN says it has seen a sharp rise in demand since it was set up in 2022.

Service demand increased from around 17,000 calls in 2022 to 25,000 calls in 2023.

The number of callers citing racism as the reason for their distress has risen steadily over that period.

In 2022, 16% of callers cited racism as the reason for their distress, rising to 19% in 2023. Currently, it sits at 26% in the calendar year to date.

One of the most significant drivers for people seeking help has been racism in the aftermath of the referendum.

Amid news reporting of the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap report 13YARN saw around 43% of calls related to racism, and the release of Closing the Gap data saw 47% of calls connected to racism.

National program manager Marjorie Anderson says:

These two days represent the single highest figures to date.

Over the last two years, the demand for help is far beyond what we ever expected and continues to grow. We have seen 27 days with more than twice, and sometimes nearly three times the average number of calls from help seekers.

Many of these peaks coincide with sorry business, deaths in community and challenging moments in community life. We also support people in distress around the New Year period, Survival Day and through political and news moments such as the voice referendum in which calls were up by 40%.

Unfortunately, one of the most significant drivers for people seeking help has been racism in the aftermath of the referendum. It is sad this is the experience of our people, but we are pleased 13YARN can offer safe, confidential and culturally appropriate support.

Updated at 1.27am BST

12.46am BST

Labor’s Deborah O’Neill joins senators calling for right of protest while not endorsing antisemitism

Labor senator Deborah O’Neill brought a Jewish memorial candle, known as a yahrzeit candle into the senate and spoke about Holocaust remembrance day:

O’Neill said the United States deputy special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism “gave a briefing to parliamentarians, on my invitation” to parliamentarians on Tuesday morning:

We, as parliamentarians, must listen to the warnings of actions of hate that appear in the world, to educate and to eradicate xenophobia worldwide.

The Holocaust was an important and horrifying lesson to the world.

Yet, as I lit the candle on 5 May, I was still unsure if we have actually learned the lesson.

Hate is a powerful motivator of some individuals. It exists in every workplace, in every political party and in every country.

And the more inequity there is, the worst it gets. Hate is fed by inequity.

Hate is fed by a failure to see our common humanity. What frightened me were my conversations with the young people of Jewish faith who spoke to me about their experiences of simply trying to attend their university—the names they were being called; the actions that were being taken.

I believe in protest. I believe in the differences across our democracy. I do not believe in hate. I do not support or endorse antisemitism in any shape or form.

Updated at 12.56am BST

12.43am BST

‘We should stand up for students’ right to protest as we reject the poison of antisemitism,’ Pocock says

Barbara Pocock continued, speaking on the protests:

History will judge us. It will judge the shutdown of the protests of students against genocide in Gaza.

That is the true huge crime that we are witnessing right now: genocide.

As my colleague Senator Mehreen Faruqi said yesterday morning, we should not feel threatened by university students registering their moral opposition to the state of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.

We should instead be concerned about the genocide itself currently underway. I have no tolerance for antisemitism, but I add my voice to those who support the actions of students who have the courage, integrity and humanity to peacefully protest against this genocide.

The Australian government should take their example and acknowledge that the state of Israel’s genocidal campaign has no end in sight, with expansion of its military operation in Gaza. We should expel the state of Israel’s ambassador and sanction prime minister Netanyahu and his war cabinet.

We should end the two-way military trade with the state of Israel and call for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation of Palestine.

The history of genocide hangs heavily over humanity. We should remember all of that history and we should stand up for students’ right to protest as we reject the poison of antisemitism and insist that protesting against the horrors of Gaza does not make anyone antisemitic.

Updated at 12.51am BST

12.41am BST

‘No place for antisemitism in our society’: Greens senator Barbara Pocock

Greens senator Barbara Pocock used the adjournment debate in the senate to speak on what is happening in universities and Gaza:

Increasingly, we are seeing those who oppose the unfolding genocide in Gaza labelled antisemitic. There is no place for antisemitism in our society.

History shows us that, over centuries, Jewish people have been discriminated against, driven from their homes and murdered. Many Australian families bear the long legacy and consequences of that history.

As a teenager, my ex-partner of 22 years, John Wishart, discovered that his mother was Jewish when she burst into Yiddish in an argument with her mother in their Sydney kitchen.

Prior to that moment, John had no idea that his mother was Jewish, spoke Yiddish and had arrived on the wharves of Australia after a long, intergenerational, multi-century dispossession that began in the bloody streets of Minsk in 1905, in one of the many murderous pogroms that drove millions of Jews out of their homes in the centuries before the Holocaust.

Selina and her mother did not feel safe to be Jewish in the Sydney of the 1940s when they arrived from Minsk via decades in Burma and India. All throughout their lives, Selina never willingly discussed her history or her Jewish identity, and this is not an uncommon experience.

Today John, her son; and our kids, Jake and Indi—her grandchildren—are proud of their Jewish heritage. And they are all protesting against the carnage in Gaza.

Updated at 12.49am BST

12.35am BST

The parliament session has officially begun.

Mike Bowers was in the senate for the opening proceedings.

Updated at 12.46am BST

12.29am BST

Does Scott Morrison believe that Donald Trump would share the already publicly ventilated concerns about the US having enough nuclear-powered submarines before Australia received any, under the Aukus agreement?

Morrison:

Well, I think he would ensure that. I mean, that’s the point.

I think Congress here has just made that point themselves, in ensuring there was additional budget allocation to deliver the pace of two a year. I’m sure that the former president would be very confident in his ability, under an administration he led, that the United States would not lag in its production of nuclear-powered submarines and would be in a position to be able to fulfil the requirements under AUKUS.

I mean, it sort of assumes that the US would lose its pace - no, I don’t think that would happen with President Trump. I don’t think it would.

And I think that would put us in a very strong position to be able to ensure that those goals are achieved.

See, AUKUS wasn’t about displacement of capability, it was about enhancement of capability across all three partners.

It was never my intention, when I put AUKUS together, that this was about just moving submarines around. This was about having more submarines to do the job we wanted them to do. And I think the former president understands that.

12.28am BST

Given Donald Trump, as the Republican nominee for president, hasn’t said he is supportive of Aukus continuing if he wins office in November, should Australia be concerned?

Scott Morrison:

Because that’s not for me to say. And, no, I don’t think it’s right to be overly concerned about it. Of course, it’s the most important agreement we’ve had in place with the United States in 70 years. And, you know, we haven’t had an election yet here.

And there are a lot of things to happen between now and when these things would come into place, if he were to be making decisions about this.

I thought it was a good opportunity to have a good, friendly conversation with him, as someone who got on with him very well in office, and I’ve gotta say, I like where it’s going.

Updated at 12.46am BST

12.26am BST

So can Australia take from Scott Morrison’s meeting that Trump was supportive of Aukus?

Morrison:

You can say exactly what I said, which is that it had a warm reception.

What, exactly, does that mean?

Morrison:

I don’t think I can explain it any other way. We discussed it and it was received warmly, what I was talking about - which is how Aukus contributes to our collective efforts within the alliance, and now in partnership with the UK to ensure there’s a credible deterrent in place.

I think that’s important, really important, to understand what Aukus is trying to do, which is actually add to the collective effort, to the US effort.

And, you know, this is Australia, as I always said, not looking - just looking to the United States, and we’re not gonna leave it to the United States to do. We will actually do our share of the heavy lifting, which is what Aukus is always about.

Updated at 12.43am BST

12.25am BST

Scott Morrison: Trump’s ‘warm reception’ to Aukus

Scott Morrison has spoken to one of the ABC’s north America corros where he was asked about his conversation with Donald Trump:

I’m not going to go into that, because obviously it was a private conversation. (Which he announced on social media)

But just to say it was a good opportunity to explain how Aukus fitted into the issues in the Indo-Pacific, the contribution Australia makes as part of that, and the credible deterrent that’s necessary to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

So, to see Aukus not just as, you know, a set of procurements, or something like that, but its broader strategic role. And there’s a high level of sort of alignment in thinking around that. It was something that the president and I used to discuss regularly, when we were both in office.

And so that was ... a warm reception is the right way, at the end of the day. Should he be elected, I mean, he will make his judgements when that time comes about.

Updated at 12.45am BST

12.20am BST

Melbourne uni has not asked police to ‘intervene or to remove protestors’, police confirm

The University of Melbourne has not asked police to remove protestors as they enter their second day of occupying a major building on campus, a spokesperson for Victoria police has confirmed.

In a statement, Victoria police said it was “aware” of the protest activity and directed further questions to the university. Classes in Arts West have been cancelled today, which also includes a 150 person lecture theatre and multiple study spaces.

Mahmoud’s hall is ours for the night.

From @ColumbiaSJP to Unimelb, and Hind’s to Mahmoud’s Hall, students stand together in a global fight for justice against university complicity in genocide.

We shall not be moved. For a Free Palestine. @NationalSJP pic.twitter.com/rkazhJEXks
— Unimelb for Palestine (@Umelb4Palestine) May 15, 2024

Victoria police:

Police are monitoring the events and will respond to any public order issues if required. Melbourne University is presently managing the situation and has not asked Victoria Police to intervene or to remove these protestors. Victoria Police is liaising with Melbourne University to provide assistance when and if that is required.

Updated at 12.40am BST

12.20am BST

Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech to largely focus on migration not nuclear plan, Paterson confirms

Peter Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech will focus largely on migration.

James Paterson confirmed that again this morning:

Peter Dutton will outline our alternative approach tonight. And I’m not going to prejudge what he says. But I think the statistics are very clear. The Labor party plans to bring in over five years 1.67 million people at a time when housing starts in our country are lower than they have ever been. So it doesn’t take an expert to work out that’s going to cause problems for housing affordability, for rent, for Australians across the country. You cannot bring in the number of people the size of the city of Adelaide in five years and not expect there are consequences. We will reduce that significantly, and Peter Dutton will outline tonight how we will do that.

Will the Coalition’s nuclear plan be unveiled tonight?

No. No it will not.

We will talk more about our alternative energy policy in particular, low emissions, zero emissions, reliable baseload and nuclear power but we’ll have more to say about that in the lead up to the next election. We don’t have to do that all tonight.

Updated at 12.37am BST

12.18am BST

‘Test for the prime minister is, will he stand up?’: Liberal senator James Paterson

The Coalition has signalled they will be pursuing the prime minister over Labor senator Fatima Payman’s call for “Israel to end its genocide in Gaza”.

Liberal senator and security hawk James Paterson headed out to doors this morning (where MPs go to lay out the talking points of the day) and said:

Senator Payman has laid down three very serious challenges to prime minister Anthony Albanese today, and he faces a very serious test of his leadership.

Number one, Senator Payman has repeated a phrase and endorsed a phrase that the prime minister has said is a violent statement that has no place in our country.

Secondly, in doing so, she has outed herself as an opponent to a two-state solution and peace in the Middle East, and demonstrated she’s an advocate of a one state solution. Again, in the prime minister’s own analysis of this language.

And thirdly, she’s made extraordinary and extreme demands of her own prime minister, who she called out by name, including that Australia should end all trade with the state of Israel, a friend and ally. So the test for the prime minister is, will he stand up? Will he show strength or will he again show weakness and equivocation? Will he tolerate these extreme statements from a member of his own caucus, or will there be consequences for Senator Payman today?

Q: What kind of consequences?

Paterson:

That’s a matter for the prime minister. He’s the leader of the party. He has to determine what he’s willing to tolerate from his own caucus members.

Payman had asked for accountability:

I ask our prime minister and our fellow parliamentarians: how many international rights laws must Israel break for us to say enough? What is the magic number?”

Updated at 12.29am BST

12.13am BST

Pizza Hut pays $2.5m penalty after sending millions of texts and emails to customers without permission

Pizza Hut has paid a $2.5m penalty for sending millions of texts and emails to customers who had not given the chain permission to do so or had withdrawn their consent to receive marketing.

An investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that the pizza chain sent more than 10 million marketing messages that breached spam laws over a four-month period in 2023.

ACMA authority member Samantha Yorke said:

Some of the customers involved had attempted to unsubscribe several times and received multiple messages after trying to stop them.

The public expects more from businesses who are using their data. They have a right not to be sent marketing messages if they haven’t consented or have chosen to unsubscribe.

Pizza Hut has also agreed to appoint an independent consultant to review its compliance with the relevant rules.

Anti spam rules prohibit companies from sending marketing emails without consent and without an unsubscribe facility.

Pizza Hut was approached for comment.

Its Australian operations were sold by a private equity group to US-basedFlynn Restaurant Group last year. The breaches occurred before the change in ownership.

Updated at 12.22am BST

12.02am BST

Government should call ‘for peace and an end to the invasion’, Bandt says on pro-Palestine protests

Back to the Adam Bandt interview on the encampment protests and the criticism over the “intifada” chant. The Greens leader said he believed that “calling for peace and an end to the invasion” is what the government should be doing.

I think you have to understand the context here.

… There needs to be significant investment in a peace process so that Palestinians and Israelis are both able to live in a just peace and lasting security exercising their rights to self determination under international law, and that must start with ending the invasion and ending the occupation.

Updated at 12.09am BST

11.45pm BST

Melbourne uni cancels classes as pro-Palestine protestors continue to occupy building

The University of Melbourne has cancelled all classes in Arts West today as pro-Palestine protestors continue to occupy the Parkville building.

In a statement, the university said alternative arrangements would be communicated via subject coordinators.

The University of Melbourne regrets to advise there is no access to Arts West today, Thursday 16 May, due to disruption and safety issues caused by protest activity within that building. Classes will therefore not take place in that building.

The University is working with University Security to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff. If you have concerns for your safety, please raise these with your supervisor in the first instance. We regret the inconvenience the protest is causing our University community.

On Wednesday, hundreds of protestors entered the building and unfurled a banner renaming it “Mahmoud’s Hall” after a prospective Palestinian student who was killed with his family in Gaza. Students have vowed they will not leave until the university divests from weapons manufacturers and discloses their ties to Israel.

This made me cry but also made my day!

Students at Melbourne University have renamed Arts West to Mahmoud's Hall in honor of my brother Mahmoud who was killed with 20 members of our family at the hands of the terrorist Israeli army. pic.twitter.com/qyuwcTo22G
— Ahmed Alnaouq (@AlnaouqA) May 15, 2024

Updated at 11.58pm BST

11.38pm BST

Adam Bandt said he wasn’t at this protest as it has happened while he was in Canberra for parliament, but that he has visited the encampment.

He says:

It was a peaceful protest, where people were going to great lengths to say what they want is an end to the invasion of Gaza, and an end to the occupation of the Palestinian people.

11.24pm BST

Adam Bandt is asked about Melbourne uni protestors chanting ‘intifada’

Adam Bandt was asked about the University of Melbourne encampment and the protesters chanting “intifada” and whether it was appropriate. The term intifada is defined to Bandt in this interview as “given what it means, suicide bombings, these are the sort of memories that many Jewish people have” and “the word has so many dark memories for people, why would you use it?”

Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik covered off the interpretation of protest language in a recent column, here;

The passing of this culture into mainstream English language discourse since 7 October has reduced the words within it to literal meanings, projected on to them by observers with little knowledge of their history and nuances. The term intifada has been treated as nothing short of an unambiguous declaration of holy war. The phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which doesn’t originate in Arabic but expresses a Palestinian longing for their historic homeland, has been stretched to imply nothing that it says. Britain’s then-home secretary Suella Braverman said it was “widely understood as a demand for the destruction of Israel”. But how exactly Palestine will be free is not something the Palestinian people have ever had the privilege of fully specifying.

Updated at 12.04am BST

11.17pm BST

Labor’s ‘budget is condemning renters to a housing hellhole,’ Bandt says

On the $300 energy rebate, Adam Bandt clarifies the Greens position – he thinks the government should wind back the tax cuts given to higher income earners through the stage-three tax cuts.

The government is giving $4,500 a year in tax cuts to politicians and billionaires who are now going to get this additional subsidy on top of that.

We think that that in terms of the handouts that are going to billionaires, let’s wind back now the $4,500.

I hear Peter Dutton and various other senators getting outraged about the $300 going to billionaires? Well wait till they find out about the $4,500 which they all seem very happy to take.

That’s where the government should should wind it back.

He says if the government can regulate electricity prices in this way, then it can do the same for rent.

What the government should do with rents [is] what it’s doing with power bills, get all the state and territory premiers together, and work out how to cap and freeze rents.

If you can do it with electricity bills, you can do it with soaring rents, and instead Labor’s backed in unlimited rent increases and his budget is condemning renters to a housing hellhole.

Updated at 11.20pm BST

11.11pm BST

Labor is dropping ‘massive climate bombs that will wipe out’ any climate gains: Adam Bandt

Adam Bandt says the Greens see the gas strategy (which includes new gas fields opening up and the use of gas to continue to 2050 and beyond) as linked to the Future Made in Australia plan, and can’t seperate them in the negotiations.

They’re absolutely linked because if this is about cutting pollution, then the government should be cutting pollution.

The government should be cutting pollution and not saying that they want to greenwash their coal and gas agenda with a future made in Australia that actually means keeping coal and gas in the system past 2050.

Now they’ve got to decide – there seems to have been a big pivot from this government in the last year or so.

They’ve decided that this is perhaps their ticket to winning some seats in some states. I don’t know … you have to ask them why they’re doing this.

But they’ve come out very clearly –under Labor, they’ve approved five new coal projects and eight new gas projects. Then they put out a document saying that they want the Beetaloo to go ahead, they want Browse to go ahead, these massive climate bombs that will wipe out all the climate gains that we’ve been able to wring out of these governments in our time here.

Updated at 11.18pm BST

11.06pm BST

Greens leader ‘sick of climate fraud from Labor’

Adam Bandt continues:

We’re saying very, very clearly to the government; we’re happy to talk to you about measures that are aimed at cutting pollution.

But why should the Greens work and pass legislation that cuts pollution if Labor is going to then undo it the next day by opening new coal and gas mines that will run past 2050 and wipe out all of those climate gains?

The government’s got to pick a lane. We are sick of climate fraud from Labor, of them saying they care about climate change and then in their own words, saying they want fossil fuels to run past 2050.

You can’t have it both ways.

Updated at 11.15pm BST

11.05pm BST

Greens leader concerned Labor’s Future Made in Australia is a ‘future for coal and gas past 2050’

Greens leader Adam Bandt is next up on RN and he is asked about whether or not the Greens will support the forthcoming Future Made in Australia legislation.

The government will most likely have to negotiate with the Greens and the crossbench in the senate, because the coalition is saying its a tax break for billionaires (a position it has not, and does not take with the billionaires involved in fossil fuel, it has to be said).

So it is most likely a no from the coalition, which leaves the government with the Greens and progressive senators like David Pocock, Lidia Thorpe and (depending on the day) Jacqui Lambie in the senate.

Bandt says:

Our concern is that Labor’s Future Made in Australia is a future for coal and gas past 2050.

We’ve long said as the Greens we need to expand green metals, green hydrogen, critical minerals, and we said places like Queensland for example, where there’s lots of minerals that can be used to power the things the world will need for a zero pollution society [and] that the best job for a coal miner is another mining job.

And so we are very supportive of moves that would say public investment to assist with the transition out of coal and gas, we’d want to do it a bit differently.

We’d like to see the public have a greater stake in it and greater public equity and public investment in it.

Our big issue is that what is buried in the back of the budget is still the billions of dollars of subsidies for the fossil fuel sector. Now, you can’t have your foot on the brake and the accelerator at the same time and expect to go somewhere.

Updated at 11.12pm BST

11.01pm BST

Albanese defends evicting tenant from his Sydney property

The interview finishes on the story which is in News Corp papers today about Anthony Albanese’s tenant “Jim” being evicted from a property Albanese owns in Sydney.

The tenant has pleaded to stay through the papers.

Albanese says:

From time to time when people’s personal circumstances change and my personal circumstances, they change, you’ve been pretty public.

He’s speaking about his engagement and forth coming marriage.

I’m changing arrangements. The person who’s in the property will says, as in his own words I have been a more than been fair owner of that property.

He has lived there for four years. There was other people there at the time and his personal circumstances have changed. He’s a small business owner, [and] I have had him in the property with the rent being about half what is the market rent to keep him in for longer.

But does he have to go?

Well, he’s refused to have discussions with the the real estate agent, that’s a matter for him. I wish him well. He has been well looked after for a long period of time. But I am entitled to make decisions in my personal life including selling a property that I own because I wish to move on in my personal life in a different direction. The property was bought when my personal circumstances were different.

Updated at 11.06pm BST

10.58pm BST

Labor senator’s use of ‘from the river to the sea’ was ‘not appropriate’, Albanese says

On Labor senator Fatima Payman saying that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and calling on the prime minister to sanction Israel, Anthony Albanese says he speaks for government policy.

Daniel Hurst has covered off Payman’s statement to SBS here:

In a significant rupture with the Labor party position, Payman called for sanctions and divestment from Israel and declared ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ – a politically charged phrase that Albanese has criticised.

But Payman characterised the call as signifying ‘freedom from the occupation, freedom from the violence and freedom from the inequality’.

Albanese was asked about Payman’s use of “from the river to the sea” and said it was “not appropriate”:

What’s appropriate is a two state solution. A two state solution where both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live in security in peace and in prosperity.

It is not in the interests of either Israelis or Palestinians to advocate there just be one state that is a forerunner of enormous conflict and grief and we are seeing enormous grief in Gaza.

That is having a significant impact on people who have relatives and friends in Gaza. And and that is a very traumatic occurrence – just as a lot of trauma is being experienced by Jewish Australians due to the rise in antisemitism that we’re seeing here, where people who happen to be Jewish, being held responsible for actions of the Netanyahu government.

I don’t believe that it is appropriate the targeting of people because they happen to be Jewish.

Updated at 11.07pm BST

10.54pm BST

Well is Anthony Albanese happy to hear that Trump was favourable to Aukus (there are concerns within the government that a Trump presidency will put an end to the Aukus agreement)?

I assume that anyone who looks at it, the Aukus arrangements, will say that the arrangements that we have put in place are very sound and are in the interests of all those who support a more secure and peaceful region and world.

Updated at 10.58pm BST

10.52pm BST

‘We use our former prime ministers from time to time’, Albanese says

So is the government using Scott Morrison in a soft diplomacy pincer move with Donald Trump? Did Albanese speak with Morrison?

I have not had a discussion with with Scott Morrison in recent times.

But could Morrison be a useful diplomatic tool in a Trump presidency?

Albanese:

I will leave diplomacy, funnily enough to diplomatic endeavours. I won’t be discussing them on RN. But we use our former prime ministers from time to time – I was very pleased to travel with former prime minister’s Abbott, Howard and Turnbull, for example, to the Abe funeral in Japan and that was appropriate because of the relationships that they had.

Updated at 10.56pm BST

10.50pm BST

How does Albanese feel about Scott Morrison’s meeting with Trump?

Anthony Albanese says he won’t weigh in on Scott Morrison referring to Donald Trump’s criminal charges as a “pile on”.

I leave matters that are before the courts here in Australia. I play it straight back to them. I certainly am not about to intervene in matters that are before courts in the United States.

Is Albanese happy that Morrison raised Aukus with Trump?

Look Scott Morrison is a former prime minister of Australia. I respect the office of prime minister. Scott Morrison, I know was meeting with the US ambassador to the US while he was in Washington, Kevin Rudd and that’s entirely appropriate.

Updated at 10.53pm BST

10.47pm BST

Government could always do more for domestic and family violence, Albanese says

On criticisms that the government has not spent enough on domestic and family violence, Anthony Albanese says:

Patricia, you’ve been around a while and you know that every single group you could claim any group health education. Any group will always say we need to do more. And we recognise we need to do more in this area. This is a national crisis. But we are doing across the board.

He goes through the measures which were announced, which included measures previously announced, but says it remains a priority of his government.

Patricia, we’ve produced a budget that is producing substantial investment in this area. Could we always do more in this area? Of course that’s the case.

Updated at 10.50pm BST

10.45pm BST

Anthony Albanese is speaking to Patricia Karvelas from the Lodge – and you can hear his dog Toto barking in the background.

10.44pm BST

Could concentration of solar panel and batteries’ supply chains leave Australia vulnerable?

Has the government ignored Treasury advice by moving forward with its build solar panel and batteries in Australia, after Treasury advised given the concentration of the supply chains in those areas, it could leave Australia vulnerable.

Albanese:

What is a good use of money is recognising that there are not just industry policy objectives, that it’s also a national interest test. And when you have more than 90% of the world’s solar panels that will help to power the global economy produced in one country, then that leaves us vulnerable.

… What I’m saying is we need to be more resilient as an economy. We need to recognise that trade disruptions can have an enormous impact. We need to make more things that aren’t necessarily here just for the same reason.

Updated at 10.47pm BST

10.41pm BST

‘Every single senator should back it’: Albanese on Future Made in Australia

Anthony Albanese is speaking to ABC radio RN Breakfast, where he is asked about the Future Made in Australia plan.

More specifically, the tax credits and whether or not Labor will negotiate with the Greens, which they will probably need to do, given the Coalition is leaning towards a big no.

Albanese says:

This is about whether we want to make things here. This is about Australian jobs. This is about whether we will take up the opportunity that we have to seize it, of the changes in the global economy where we are positioned with an enormous advantage. We can have the best green hydrogen industry in the world because we have the space to do it.

So will the government negotiate? (The Greens are looking at the gas strategy as being part of the package and want the government to shift on that, which the government so far as said no way to)

We’ll introduce the bill and we will argue the case and every single senator should back it because if they don’t back it, they’re not backing Australian jobs and they’re not backing Australian industry.

Updated at 10.45pm BST

10.33pm BST

Angus Taylor is ‘a big believer in freedom of speech’ when asked about Gina Rinehart portrait

Angus Taylor is then asked about the complaints the National Gallery of Australia has received from THE Gina from Noosa, better known as Gina Rinehart, over a portrait of her in award-winning artist Vincent Namatjira’s exhibition.

What does Taylor think about artistic freedom?

You know, this is the first time I think I have ever been asked for advice on art. My wife doesn’t ever ask me for advice on art. It’s not my area.

Ok, but what about artistic freedom?

Taylor says he believes in that.

I do. I’m a big believer in freedom of speech and allowing people to have their say and I don’t always agree - I often don’t agree with some of the things people say, but I am a believer in freedom of speech. But when it comes to critiquing art, I’m not the guy to go to.

Updated at 10.40pm BST

10.29pm BST

‘We don’t think production tax credits is way to go’: Angus Taylor on Future Made in Australia

Is the Coalition going to vote against the Future Made in Australia policy, which was fleshed out in the budget and includes tax credits (in 2028) for things like critical minerals mining and green hydrogen?

Angus Taylor told the ABC:

We haven’t seen the act. We don’t think production tax credits is the way to go in order to have a strong manufacturing sector.

It’s about getting those fundamentals right whether it be approvals, whether it be getting rid of red tape or making sure the construction costs are competitive with the rest of the world.

This is a massive issue for Australia. Our costs of construction of anything of hydrogen electrolisers right through to nickel processing, our costs of construction are way, way over our competitive countries.

We got to get productivity back into those sectors, making sure we got sensible industrial relations that’s good for employees and good for employers, all of these are the issues that you need to get right if you’re to have a successful manufacturing and resources sector in this country.

So that is a maybe.

Updated at 10.38pm BST

10.26pm BST

‘Why do millionaires with multiple homes get this rebate for each property they own?’: Michaelia Cash

Liberal senator Michaelia Cash also had views on that topic and it goes on a journey:

Oh, but it’s also a drop in the ocean, you know. What are we saying? It’s a Band-Aid on a bullet wound compared to the pain that mum and dads in Australia are actually feeling.

I can tell you, they’ve paid a lot more than $300 under Mr. Albanese for their electricity. For the life of me, though, what it does show is Mr Albanese, [and the government] they’ve got their priorities all wrong.

Why do millionaires and billionaires with multiple homes get this rebate for each property that they own?

It is beyond me. But as for the $300, Karl, a drop in the ocean. You know, really sad Band-Aid on a bullet wound, considering the pain that Australians are feeling because of the electricity price hikes under this government.

Updated at 10.31pm BST

10.23pm BST

Billionaires who don’t want $300 energy rebate ‘please pass on to neighbour’, Labor senator says

Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy was speaking to the Nine network where the topic is still “billionaires” receiving the $300 in energy relief that was contained in the budget.

Yesterday the host attempted a gotcha-moment by asking Anthony Albanese about “Gina from Noosa” receiving the money, which he followed with a (paraphrasing here) “what if I told you ‘Gina’ was GINA RINEHART” but it didn’t quite land. So he’s having another go today.

McCarthy is told “not even the billionaires” want the $300 (Clive Palmer complained about it yesterday) and asked why isn’t it means tested.

McCarthy says:

Well, the billionaires can certainly hand it back, if that’s the case. Or they can give it to their neighbour, to someone in need, this is about, as the treasurer said the other night, an opportunity for all Australians to receive this.

And most Australians who desperately need this will get this, and clearly, if there are billionaires out there who don’t want that, well please pass it on to your neighbour.

Updated at 10.29pm BST

10.15pm BST

‘Australians who love their sport’ shouldn’t have to pay to watch it, Greens senator says

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young spoke to the Seven network this morning about the anti-siphoning issue. It’s all over free-to-air sport and the increasing lack of access to it.

Hanson-Young has been on this issue for some time and says it is time the government acts:

What I want to do is fix it. I want to make sure the millions of Australians who love their sport, whether it’s football, cricket, watching the beloved Matildas, are able to watch those games for free. We’re in a cost-of-living crisis.

You shouldn’t have to get out your credit card and sign up to a subscription for pay television or a streaming service like Kayo just to be able to watch the cricket or the footy.

Yet that is what this current legislation will do. So I’m hoping that we can negotiate with the Government over this. I don’t think it’s fair, at all, that if you’ve got an old-school television with an aerial, you get to watch the cricket for free.

But if you’re one of those [in a] couple of years it is going to be half of all households who don’t have an aerial, want to watch the football on their smart TV through the internet or on their iPad or phone, they should be able to do that for free as well. It is just not cricket.

Updated at 10.25pm BST

10.06pm BST

Morrison calls Trump’s indictments a ‘pile on’ after meeting with former president

It’s always nice to start the morning with a little bit of a lol.

In this instance, it is brought to you by former prime minister Scott Morrison, who is in the US and caught up with former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in New York referring to the four indictments amounting to 86 felony charges Trump is facing as a “pile on”.

Was pleased to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night at his private residence in NY. It was nice to catch up again, especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US. Was also a good opportunity to discuss AUKUS, which received a warm reception. We also discussed the continuing assertions of China in the Indo-Pacific and the threats against Taiwan. These were issues we discussed regularly when we were both in office. Once again, the former President showed his true appreciation of the value he places on the Australia-US alliance and the shared role of supporting what our friend, Shinzo Abe, called a free and open Indo-Pacific. Good to see you DJT and thanks for the invitation to stay in touch. All the best.

Was pleased to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night at his private residence in NY. It was nice to catch up again, especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US. Was also a good opportunity to discuss AUKUS, which received a warm… pic.twitter.com/3FUTrwJVnC
— Scott Morrison (@ScoMo30) May 15, 2024

Updated at 10.12pm BST

10.02pm BST

Good morning

We have made it to the last day of the budget session.

Huzzah.

Thank you to Martin for starting us off this morning – you have Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day now – I’ll take you through to after question time, and then swing by again to take you through Peter Dutton’s budget-in-reply speech, which will be delivered this evening.

Ready?

Let’s get into it (and by it, I mean the fourth coffee of the morning).

Updated at 10.10pm BST

9.56pm BST

‘Anger’ and ‘resentment’ over lack of responsibility for Afghanistan war crimes

A lack of acceptance for responsibility by senior military leaders for war crimes in Afghanistan has caused “ongoing anger and bitter resentment” among troops and veterans that will last for years to come, a panel warns (and Australian Associated Press reports).

In its final report to defence minister Richard Marles, the Afghanistan inquiry implementation oversight panel says it did not agree with the Brereton inquiry’s finding that most senior military officers shouldn’t be held accountable for the murders of up to 39 Afghans by special forces soldiers.

The 2020 Brereton report found “credible” evidence elite Australian soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.

But it failed to sanction senior commanders, frustrating former and current serving personnel.

The independent panel overseeing the defence response to the inquiry, said there was an “unmet need for defence senior leadership to communicate to the serving and ex-serving ranks of the ADF that they collectively accept organisational responsibility and accountability for part of what when wrong in Afghanistan”.

The panel says:

There is ongoing anger and bitter resentment amongst present and former members of the special forces, many of whom served with distinction in Afghanistan, that their senior officers have not publicly accepted some responsibility for policies or decisions that contributed to the misconduct such as the overuse of special forces.

The report, which is expected to be tabled in the Senate this week, says the resentment will “likely last for a long time”.

The panel says commanders needed to accept accountability to “prevent or mitigate any recurrence” of unlawful conduct. It suggested the issue be further considered.

Updated at 10.09pm BST

9.46pm BST

NRL bans two spectators

The NRL has issued indefinite bans to two spectators alleged to have racially abused South Sydney Indigenous players Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker at a match at Kogarah Oval on Saturday.

The NRL chief executive, Andrew Abdo, said abusive behaviour directed at players “will not be tolerated” and thanked other fans for bringing the matter to the league’s attention.

The Rabbitohs CEO, Blake Solly, said he welcomed the NRL’s response and offered support to the players’ families.

“Racism is archaic, disgusting and will not be tolerated,” he said.

The two fans have five business days to respond to the banning notices, issued under the NRL’s spectator code of conduct.

Mitchell and Walker have called out racist abuse in the past. Last year, a fan in Penrith was banned from attending NRL games after racially abusing Mitchell.

Updated at 10.00pm BST

9.42pm BST

Nine in 10 NSW principals report teacher shortages

Nine in 10 New South Wales principals reported teacher shortages at their school in the past year-and-a-half, a new survey has revealed.

The State of Our Schools survey, released by the Australian Education Union today, surveyed 6,794 NSW public school principals and teachers in March and April.

It found more than half of principals were merging classes regularly due to ongoing teacher shortages and just 12% described their school as well resourced.

The AEU federal president, Correna Haythorpe, urged governments to reach an agreement funding to the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) – the minimum benchmark required to meet the needs of students.

“The challenges are too great and the cost of inaction too high for governments to continue to fail on funding. Teacher shortages are having a detrimental impact on teaching and learning with schools forced to merge classes, run classes without a teacher and reduce the range of specialist classes offered.”

The NSW Teachers Federation president, Henry Rajendra said NSW public schools were grappling with a $1.9bn funding shortfall this year alone.

“It’s time for the prime minister to step up and lift the federal SRS share from the current 20% to 25% by 2028.”

Updated at 10.21pm BST

9.29pm BST

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’m going to run through a few of the best breaking overnight stories before my colleague Amy Remeikis cranks up the computer.

Australia’s murky involvement in Timor-Leste is dragged into the daylight again today by our exclusive lead story, which reveals how the government is trying to “censor” an official history in case its embarrasses officials or diplomats. “What we’re talking about here is issues that amount to censorship,” says one leading historian of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ refusal to sanction part of an official history of military operations in Timor. Despite being cleared by other government agencies, Dfat wants no mention of Asis spies having bugged the Timorese cabinet room during negotiations over Timor Gap oil resources in 2004 – the same revelation that led to the criminal prosecution of a former Asis operative known as Witness K, and his lawyer, Bernard Collaery.

Jim Chalmers has said the projected halving of net migration will contribute to Australia’s inflation fight ahead of Peter Dutton’s budget reply, which is expected to attack Labor over the post-pandemic spike in arrivals.The federal government’s decision not to further increase funding for jobseeker, housing and domestic violence is a “gaping hole in the heart of the budget”, advocates have warned, with critics also dismayed there was not more cost of living support or environmental measures in the package. The lack of jobseeker increase means Centrelink payment remains below the poverty line, our data experts report. The Albanese government will relax some of the requirements imposed on people under the jobseeker program as a condition for their income support, with changes expected to prevent around 1m welfare payment suspensions every year.

A ban on same-sex parenting books at libraries in part of western Sydney has been overturned at a marathon late-night meeting after large crowds of protesters clashed outside the council chambers. A vote on the issue went 13-2 in favour of overturning the ban, which was introduced after a much tighter vote earlier this month. The Cumberland mayor, Lisa Lake, was forced to evict unruly attendees after repeatedly warning them to let speakers to continue without interruption.

And a news survey has found nine in 10 New South Wales principals reported teacher shortages at their school in the past year. More on that soon.

Updated at 9.31pm BST

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