Summary
Sensing a political dividend in the quagmire of the same-sex marriage debate, the Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, together with the Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, today fronted the press to outline the merits of their Fair Work Amendment (Corrupting Benefits) Bill that passed the Senate last night.
True to form, Parliamentarians gifted the Australian public a regular Thursday Question Time performance: one full of rowdiness and rancour.
1.The Minister for Small Business, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, became the unwitting victim of a nimble Opposition in Question Time. A faltering Minister, charged with the difficult task of defending the incompetence of the ABS, given their recent Census failings, had to publicly back the agency in light of the decision to grant them responsibilities for the execution of the postal plebiscite. The Opposition asked three of their 11 questions to the Minister before the Manager of Government Business, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, was forced to intervene, through a technicality, and allow the Prime Minister the opportunity to direct questions on the matter to the Treasurer.
2.The Government sought to highlight policy ventures well away from the same-sex marriage debate, opting instead to focus on the anti-Union corrupting benefits legislation, citizenship protections, energy security and business tax cuts. While sensible to vocalise other issues in Parliament given the current climate, the Government failed to gain any credible momentum, either in defence or attack, in a fractious Question Time.
3.Answering a Dorothy Dixer from the Member for Gilmore, Mrs Ann Sudmalis MP, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, gave the sharpest performance of the session, even offering a quant zinger at the expense of his old foe: the CFMEU. Answering a question on citizenship changes, the Minister said “I’m sorry to inform, but there has been an unintended consequence of the cancellation of these visa holders, who are outlaw motorcycle gang members. It seems that we have created somewhat of a shortage in the hired muscle required by the CFMEU on building sites around the country”.
4.It was a busy day for the Speaker, the Hon Tony Smith MP, who was forced to boot six Opposition Members out of the House under Section 94a. The Members for Ballarat, Bendigo, McEwen, Gellibrand, Newcastle and Wakefield were all given an early mark, presumably to catch an afternoon flight home on the last sitting day of the week.
1.Fairfax has revealed two allegedly corrupt Australian Border Force officers have been arrested as part of the wave of organised crime crackdown in Sydney and Dubai this week, that also netted alleged high profile crime figures over an international drug and tobacco syndicate. Leaked documents confirm one of the arrested men, Mr Craig Eakin, is still with ABF while Mr Johayna Merhi is a former employee. ABF confirmed today that Mr Eakin has been placed on unpaid leave pending the allegations being heard. At a press conference on Thursday, the Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Mr Neil Gaughan APM, said “we will be alleging that these persons utilised their knowledge and expertise to assist the Jomaa organised crime family bring border-controlled drugs into Australia”.
2.The Australian has revealed the homeless and self-described “mayor” of the tent city in Sydney’s Martin Place has a long criminal history of serious assaults against young women and police, as well as theft and driving offences. The New Zealand born activist, born Rutene Lanceforde Priestly, has a criminal record in his home country, dating back to the 1970s, before moving permanently to Australia in the 1980s. In 2007, Mr Priestly served time in jail for assault occasioning bodily harm. After failing to appear in court, Mr Priestly faced a judge in 2011 when he was ordered to spend six months behind bars. He was also convicted of affray in NSW in June 2007 and was fined for another charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in March 2004.
3.The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, has confirmed Australia would not automatically be involved were there to be any “catastrophic” conflict on the Korean peninsular under the ANZUS alliance or the Korean War armistice. Speaking with the ABC, the Minister said “in fact we were not a party, in the legal sense, to the [Korean War] armistice so there is no automatic trigger for Australia to be involved. As far as the ANZUS alliance is concerned, that is an obligation to consult. But of course we’ve been in constant discussion with the United States”.
4.The Victor Chang Institute revealed a world-first breakthrough in pregnancy research that is expected to change the way pregnant women are advised before and during their pregnancy. Professor Sally Dunwoodie, working for over 12 years, has identified a major cause of miscarriages as well as heart, spinal, kidney and cleft palate problems in newborn babies. The landmark study found that a deficiency in a vital molecule, known as NAD, prevents a baby’s organs from developing correctly in the womb. The study found that vitamin B3 (Niacin) can prevent these issues. Vitamin B3 is found in many common foods, including Vegemite.
Today’s legislation focus included:
1.Competition And Consumer Amendment (Abolition Of Limited Merits Review) Bill 2017.
2.Product Emissions Standards Bill 2017.
3.International Monetary Agreements Amendment (New Arrangements To Borrow) Bill 2017.
4.Education Services For Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2017.
5.Safe Work Australia Amendment (Role And Functions) Bill 2017.
