Summary
The Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, took to the lectern in Canberra this morning to outline his Government’s commitment to growth. Giving the keynote address at the Committee for Economic Development Australia’s State of the Nation Conference, the Prime Minister said, “we have made the tough and pragmatic decisions to put the budget in a stronger position. Yes Liberals prefer lower taxes?—?but we dislike unsustainable deficits and mounting debt even more”. The Opposition Leader, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, opted to visit a building site in North Canberra with the Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, to discuss his party’s opposition to a range of Government policies. The Opposition Leader said that the Prime Minister “can choose between looking after millionaires and multi-nationals and looking after working Australians. I don’t think it takes a Rhodes scholar to work out who he’ll choose”.
Question Time was a colourful event, for more reasons than one might expect. The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader traded barbs over schools funding, the NDIS, Medicare and tax breaks for millionaires.
1.The Opposition used their first six questions, all directed at the Prime Minister, to bait the Government over its enterprise tax plans that provide taxation reductions for small and medium businesses, up to $50m in turnover, over the next decade. Whilst the Opposition was wily in attempting to link this tax plan with the independent Fair Work Commission’s decision over Sunday penalty rates, the consistent tactic from the Opposition made for good viewing.
2.The Member for Dennison, Mr Andrew Wilkie MP, used a rare opportunity in Question Time to seek a response from the Prime Minister over the current security arrangements at Hobart Airport regarding the Australian Federal Police. This naturally provided the Prime Minister with an opportunity to remind the House that “the threat of Islamist terrorism is here at home and it is right around the world”. While the Opposition Leader was right to take a moment of indulgence to associate his party with the Prime Minister’s remarks about the calibre of our protective services, and of the tragedy of more terror attacks overnight in the Middle East, it was disappointing to see the Member for Dennison misread the mood of the House. Mr Wilkie rose to his feet, notionally on a moment of indulgence, but to again reiterate his question. The Speaker, the Hon Tony Smith MP, rightfully dismissed his interjection and kept proceedings moving.
3.Proving politics in Australia is multicultural, the Members for Chisholm and Hindmarsh, Ms Julia Banks MP and Mr Steve Georganas MP, sought permission from the Speaker to welcome the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Terence Quick, in their native Greek language. To nodding approvals from the House, the Speaker quipped at the conclusion of the second welcome that, “I’m sure the Deputy Foreign Minister feels very welcome now”.
4.And last, but certainly not least, State of Origin fever gripped Question Time as the usual smattering of charity badges and lapel pins were replaced with maroon and blue scarves in the House. The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, during an answer to a Dorothy Dixer from his Nationals colleague and the Member for Capricornia, Ms Michelle Landry MP, couldn’t help himself when musing about the clothing of the Opposition Leader. The Deputy Prime Minister said, he’s (Mr Shorten) wearing a “maroon tie and a blue shirt. He’s obviously supporting New Queenssouth Land”.
1.During a response to a question at the National Press Club in Canberra about whether he agreed with ASIO chief, Mr Duncan Lewis AO, who has said there was no link between refugees and terrorism, Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mr Andrew Colvin APM OAM, said the majority of persons of interest police deal with in terror investigations are first and second generation Australians. He went on to confirm “I heard Duncan’s comments on the radio this morning and I absolutely concur with what he said. I think we have to be careful to draw absolutes in this discussion.” He said the main problem was “by and large” a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam.
2.The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, today confirmed the death of an Australian girl, Miss Zynab AlHarbiya, 12, from Melbourne, who had been visiting Iraq with her family. Speaking on the tragedy in Canberra today, the Minister outlined the news “with great sadness” of a “vicious car bombing that killed so many people”. The high school student was with her family at an ice-cream parlour in Baghdad’s central Karrada district in the early hours of Tuesday, local time, when a terrorist blew up a car packed with explosives.
3.
Fairfax reports the Australian Embassy in Kabul was put into lockdown after a powerful car bomb exploded in the centre of Afghanistan’s capital. At least 15 people were killed and 300 injured in the blast near the fortified entrance to the German embassy on Wednesday.
4.The Australian reports five million Australian premises can now order a broadband service over the National Broadband Network. On these figures, the NBN Co should able to exceed its expectations of having 5.4 million premises ready for service by the end of the 2017 financial year.
Today’s legislation focus included:
1.National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality And Safeguards Commission And Other Measures) Bill 2017
2.Social Services Legislation Amendment (Ending Carbon Tax Compensation) Bill 2017
3.Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Carbon Capture And Storage) Bill 2017
4.Safe Work Australian Amendment (Role And Functions) Bill 2017
