What we learned; Monday 27 March
We’re going to wrap up the live blog now. Here’s what made the news today:
The Albanese government’s signature climate bill targeting big polluters is a step closer to passing after a deal was struck with the Greens, including an absolute cap on emissions.
The former Greens leader, Bob Brown, said Labor’s rejection of the Greens’ push for no new coal and gas as part of those negotiations was “a colossal mistake”.
The Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, buckled to pressure and withdrawn his bid to expel controversial MP Moira Deeming from the party room.
Whistleblower Richard Boyle will face a trial and potential prison term after judge Liesl Kudelka found his actions were not immune to prosecution under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
There’s been more fallout from the NSW election. The cost-of-living crisis in western Sydney and a loss of trust in government drove voters in the region away from the Coalition, experts say.
Australian sport is facing a “$2bn black hole” in investment over the next decade that sets the nation up for failure at upcoming major international events, according to Matt Carroll, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee.
Amy Remeikis will be back with you early tomorrow morning. Until then, have a great evening.
Updated
‘Extraordinary stuff’: Labor MP claims Deeming contradicted Pessuto in tweet
The Labor MP Josh Burns is highlighting a tweet from Moira Deeming that appears to contradict the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pessuto’s statements about her earlier today.
Pessuto buckled to pressure earlier today and withdrew his bid to expel Deeming from the party room. Instead, after a two-hour meeting, the Liberal party room on Monday unanimously voted to suspend the upper house MP for nine months, as well as strip her of the position of upper house whip after she belatedly condemned anti-transgender activists.
Pessuto said he had proposed the new outcome after receiving “important concessions” from Deeming at 6.30am on Monday that included a condemnation of comments made by Kellie-Jay Keen and the rally’s organiser, Angie Jones:
Whilst it took a few days, Moira actually provided the condemnation I’d been seeking all along and that provided an opportunity during today’s meeting for me to propose a slightly different outcome.
Pesutto said Deeming “specifically” condemned comments made by Keen and Jones that were contained in a 15-page dossier sent by the Liberal leadership to MPs last week.
On Twitter a short time ago, Deeming said she never condemned Keen and Jones.
Pretty extraordinary stuff. Liberal MP, Ms Deeming, is publicly contradicting @JohnPesutto.
— Josh Burns (@joshburnsmp) March 27, 2023
Clearly, Pessuto's authority is completely shattered and his position is untenable. #springst #auspol pic.twitter.com/pe6SJ1ue98
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Study to probe how electric vehicle drivers recharge
Hundreds of electric car owners are being sought for a study looking into whether Australia’s electricity grid will be able to charge millions of the next-generation vehicles by 2030.
The research, by the University of Queensland, will also test whether new electric vehicle owners can be tempted to change their charging behaviour to use solar power and what incentives would encourage them to do so, AAP reports.
The findings will add to data collected in a 2021 study that found three in four electric vehicle drivers were already charging their cars outside peak demand times.
Chief investigator Andrea La Nauze said the research team hoped to survey 400 Australian Tesla owners for the latest stage of the study.
Even though tens of thousands of electric vehicles were already being used in Australia, Dr La Nauze said little was known about when and where owners were powering their cars:
We’re interested in charging behaviour, what determines charging behaviour and what consumers really want to shift their charging behaviour.
We want to know how responsive they are to incentives and do they like pricing programs that encourage them to charge at different times of the day.
- AAP
Updated
Analysis: Labor-Greens deal on safeguard mechanism gives each party a win
Chief political correspondent Paul Karp has just filed analysis on the government’s signature climate bill and what’s likely to happen in coming months.
The Labor-Greens deal on the safeguard mechanism won’t put a stop to new coal and gas projects, but it will put a hard enough brake that we’ll hear the screech if any get the government’s go-ahead. For weeks the climate and energy minister, Chris Bowen, has been locked in negotiations determined to pass the signature climate bill without taking up the minor party’s “offer not ultimatum” of no new coal and gas.
Through rounds of interviews urging them to help reduce emissions, Bowen has ruled out a ban, a pause and a climate trigger in environmental approval laws. But behind the scenes, the Greens were fashioning demands they say amount to the next best thing.
On Monday the deal was revealed. At its heart is a cap on participants’ emissions of 1,233m tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030 or about 140m tonnes a year.
Expect to hear these lines all the way to the election: “we tried to stop new coal and gas and they wouldn’t let us” from the Greens; “Labor has caved to the Greens, hobbled our industries and hurt households” from the Coalition.
In the meantime, a deal is a win for the government, which somehow continues to find a way on climate change despite sky-high demands.
Read the full piece here:
Updated
QLD minister supports calls for state ban on Nazi salutes
We’re set for another big sitting week in Queensland parliament with anti-hate crime legislation to be introduced and a housing roundtable kicking off tomorrow.
On Monday, it was the transport minister, Mark Bailey’s turn to field questions from the media ahead of a Labor caucus meeting.
Bailey said the banning of Nazi salutes was a matter for the attorney-general but expressed his strong personal support for such a move:
I have zero time and very open hostility to fascism and Nazism and extremism ... There is no place for fascist or Nazi symbolism. I would support any ban on the Nazi salute.
The Victorian government confirmed it would seek to ban public displays of the Nazi salute after “disgusting” scenes at an anti-trans protest.
So far the Queensland government has steered clear of explicitly confirming whether they would follow suit.
A spokesperson for Queensland’s attorney general, Shannon Fentiman, told Guardian Australia the legislation “will introduce a circumstance of aggravation for a range of offences, including public nuisance, where the offence is motivated by hatred or prejudice”.
This will mean that a court is able to impose more severe penalties for these offences. Whether the new laws will apply to certain behaviours or situations will depend on the specific circumstances in each case.
It comes after Fentiman confirmed the Queensland government would move to ban Nazi tattoos as part of a hate symbol framework it has dubbed “among the strongest in the country”.
Updated
Some Sydney nurses to strike tomorrow morning
The NSW premier-designate, Chris Minns, has barely put his feet under the desk, but strike action is already looming in the state.
NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association members will hold a one-hour stop work meeting from 7am at Mater Private Hospital in North Sydney and ban requests for overtime for a 24-hour period. Union members at St Vincent’s Private will also ban requests for overtime.
The union’s assistant general secretary, Michael Whaites, said he wanted to highlight the frustration private sector nurses and midwives have reported about staff shortages. According to a statement by the union, nightshift staffing levels will be maintained in all wards and units.
Updated
Property market showing signs of stability, small uptick
It wasn’t that long ago that people were predicting steep dives of 20% or more in property prices, with higher interest rates to be the main driver.
Lately, the real estate market has been showing signs of stability, if not a bit of an uptick. That’s despite 10 consecutive rate rises by the Reserve Bank, and the prospect of one or two more to come.
According to CoreLogic’s preliminary numbers, auction clearances over the past week were 71%, or the highest since mid-April last year.
Auction clearance rates are now back to April 2022 levels (prelim, at least), @corelogicau says. Auction levels are still well below this time a year ago, so recovery is some way off. pic.twitter.com/tgnZyvd5CM
— @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) March 27, 2023
It’s worth highlighting that auction totals remain well down on a year ago, but if vendors see a higher proportion of auctions succeeded, we will likely see more of them willing to sell.
Prices, it seems, have stopped falling too - after losing about 9% from their peaks.
Nearly the end of March:
— Stephen Koukoulas (@TheKouk) March 27, 2023
House prices so far in the month, a few days to go:
Looks increasingly like a base in prices is unfolding.
Sydney +1.1%
Melbourne +0.3%
Brisbane +0.1%
Adelaide 0.0%
Perth +0.4%
5 cities +0.6%
Others next week.
It’s mixed news, of course. Those owning a home want to see its value retained. Those desperate to escape from rising rents, however, would rather see those prices fall further.
And RBA board members want to see more proof higher borrowing costs are sapping excessive demand before they opt to pause rate hikes. March, it seems, won’t provide much evidence on that front, at least.
Updated
Liberal MP calls for ban on gambling ads
Just circling back to Russell Broadbent’s appearance on ABC Afternoon Briefing. After declaring an interest in racehorses, Broadbent supported calls for a ban or heavy restrictions on gambling ads.
I can’t stand the advertisements. Are we not mature enough a nation to listen to what Zoe Daniel is saying and get those ads off the television? Especially ‘bet with your mate’. The underlying [message] is you are not really a mate unless you bet with me.
Updated
Malcolm Turnbull criticises ‘right wing angertainment complex’
Helpful as always, Australia’s 29th prime minister has his say on the message the NSW election result sent to the Liberals.
A very civil and wise insight from Trent Zimmerman - the attempt from the right wing angertainment complex to blame Matt Kean’s allegedly “leftist” policies (like taking climate change seriously) for a swing to parties of the Left (Labor, Greens) is absurd https://t.co/yjuwaMbMbj
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 27, 2023
The former federal MP Trent Zimmerman, a moderate, said the NSW election result should provide “some deep soul searching in Liberal ranks”:
One of the debates already under way is whether this new national picture reflects a common theme or if there are factors unique to each state that makes a national narrative more difficult to ascertain. It’s an important question and will determine some of the learnings for the Liberal party.
You can read his full piece here:
Updated
Labor signals spending to avoid 30 June budget cliffs
The Albanese government has hinted it will spend billions to avoid going off the edge of funding cliffs in the budget, with arts institutions, e-safety, My Health Record and even the radioactive waste agency otherwise slated for cuts.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, and finance minister, Katy Gallagher, have released details of agencies and programs they say the Coalition failed to budget for, with many set to run out of funds from 30 June.
The move is the strongest signal yet that arts and collecting institutions, including the National Library’s Trove database will see funding restored in the May budget.
It follows $4.1bn of additional spending in the October budget to avoid so-called budget cliffs.
According to Chalmers and Gallagher, the My Health Record and public health dental schemes were due to receive no funds from 1 July, leaving 23 million people without access to health records and 180,000 without subsidised dental services.
The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency was to receive no funding from mid-December 2023.
The National Emergency Management Agency and the eSafety Commissioner were both due to have “significant” reductions in funding from 1 July.
Labor made the funding cliffs a significant focus in question time on Monday, with dorothy dixers to the communications minister, Michelle Rowland and arts minister, Tony Burke.
Burke told the lower house that additional funding is due to run out on 30 June for the maritime museum, portrait gallery, national museum, the national film and sound archive, the national gallery, and old parliament house.
He said:
Part of telling the Australian story isn’t just the institutions themselves but it’s about digitising that story and keeping it through the process of trove and many members on this side and across the crossbench have contacted me for some time about Trove. Trove is one of the Australian government’s most visited online services. More than 50,000 visits a day. Over 1,500 digitised newspaper titles. 900 partner organisations. But under their proposal, it would be funded until, guess what date? 30 June. And at 30 June, the money for the National Library to be able to continue funding Trove was all going to finish.
Updated
Australia’s wine industry fizzing over prosecco
Taking a very quick break from politics to talk about something else most of us love – prosecco.
Australian winemakers are being urged to have their say on the European Union’s proposal to claim the naming rights for key products including prosecco, AAP reports.
A final round of major negotiations with the bloc will take place in Brussels next month, as delegations work to seal a free trade deal by a mid-year deadline.
One of the biggest sticking points is Australia’s unwillingness to give ground over geographical indicators on locally made produce such as prosecco and feta.
The government is running a public objections consultation process on wine GIs put forward by the EU.
Lee McLean, head of Australian Grape & Wine, said prosecco growers first went into battle in 2013 to protect the Australian industry which is now worth $200m.
Here’s what McLean told AAP:
We will certainly be voicing our grievances about the EU’s push to protect prosecco as a geographical indicator.
Prosecco is a grape variety, just like shiraz is, just like chardonnay is. We need to make sure that Australian producers maintain that right to use the grape variety name on their labels.
Updated
Deeming resolution ‘a missed opportunity’, Thwaites says
The Labor MP Kate Thwaites, also a Victorian, has a very different take on the Moira Deeming development to Russell Broadbent. She’s told the ABC the Victorian Liberals should have taken a much stronger stance.
I think it’s a missed opportunity. John Pesutto tried to take a stand and show that the Victorian Liberals don’t stand for hate and they don’t stand for division and his party room has rolled him. I think that is really unfortunate message.
I had parents in my electorate who have transgender children contact me and say those children have found the past weeks very difficult.
Updated
Liberal MP says Deeming backdown ‘a big win’ for the party
The Liberal MP Russell Broadbent, who represents the Victorian seat of Monash, has told the ABC the state party reached the right outcome regarding controversial MP Moira Deeming.
Earlier today, the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, buckled to pressure and withdrawn his bid Deeming from the party room.
Pesutto had initially sought to move a motion to expel Deeming from the parliamentary Liberal party, after she attended a rally headlined by the British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen last weekend that was also attended by neo-Nazis, who were photographed performing the Nazi salute.
Here’s Broadbent’s take on ABC Afternoon Briefing:
From my point of view, the Liberal party had a big win in this because whatever position each one took after the event that weekend, they have been able to come to a place where, after a couple of hours of solid discussion with one another, come to a place that is acceptable to everybody.
I’m not saying which way I would have gone in any given instance, I’m a great supporter of women’s rights and women’s issues and women who want to stay at home and look after the children we don’t give that enough emphasising.
Updated
Crossbench pushes for limit on gambling ads
There’s a big push from the crossbench to limit or ban gambling ads this week. Rebekha Sharkie, Andrew Wilkie and Zoe Daniel have all drafted legislation and the issues is the subject of an ongoing parliamentary inquiry.
Today the government released a new study that found 38% of the adult population gambled at least weekly. Three in four Australians gambled at least once during the past 12 months and, of those, almost half (46%) were classified as being at some risk of harm from wagering.
Zoe Daniel has told ABC Afternoon Briefing that gambling ads should be restricted, they should be banned.
I know the studies released suggest time restrictions, I say ban ads on television.
I think the same argument was made about alcohol and the same argument was made about tobacco. We managed to navigate our way through both of those bans for the public good.
As far as broadcast advertising, the numbers are pretty extraordinary with hundreds of thousands of broadcast gambling ads over the year, almost 1,000 ads a day.
Updated
Senator Tyrrell signals support for safeguard mechanism deal
The Jacqui Lambie Network senator Tammy Tyrrell is also doing the media rounds this afternoon and has signalled support for the safeguard mechanism deal, although she’d like to see more of the detail. Here’s what she just told the ABC:
Look, we haven’t seen a lot of the detail around what the Greens have put up. We have seen some of the media and [the Greens] have done some beautiful speeches on it, but standby, we’re OK with it.
Tyrell, whose vote along with Jacqui Lambie’s could be crucial in the senate, has again campaigned for Tasmanian industry to be supported.
We want industry in Tasmania and in Australia. If you can carve out some safety and security, we’re happy.
Updated
China trip an ‘opportunity to engage’, Ayres says
Tim Ayres has also flagged an upcoming visit to China from his senior minister, Don Farrell. He didn’t directly answer a question whether his upcoming visit to China was “a downpayment by the regime to clear the way” for future visits.
It is just an opportunity to engage. I see it like that. There’s certainly been an invitation extended to minister Farrell. I expect that visit will happen in due course. We are carefully and methodically working through these issues in the national interest. We always put the national interest at the centre of the representations that we make.
Updated
Government has made ‘steady progress’ with China, senator says
The assistant minister for trade, Tim Ayres, is also on ABC Afternoon Briefing talking about his upcoming visit to China for a business forum. It’s another sign of thawing diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing, but Senator Ayres says don’t get too carried away:
It’s important not to overstate or understate the progress that has been made to date. There has been progress over a select range of commodities. These are trade impediments that never should have been in place in the first place and we are working in a careful and methodical way. If given the opportunity, I will be making the case about all of the range of projects that have impediments in front of them. There will be business leaders from some of those sectors who are engaging themselves as well and we support the work that they are doing. As you said, there has been steady progress over the term of the government as we work to stabilise a relationship with China.
Updated
The parliament continues to be a messy beast and Paul Karp, Josh Butler and Daniel Hurst have eyes on that for you, to let you know where the cards fall (or indeed where they will fall) so make sure you check back.
I will hand you over to the lovely Henry Belot now to take you through the rest of the day’s news. I will be back very early tomorrow morning. But a very big thank you to those who came along with us through a huge day– hope you get a bit of a break tonight and please, as always – take care of you.
Greens have stopped half of future oil and gas projects with deal, Bandt says
Speaking to ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Adam Bandt says the Greens have secured a win when it comes to the safeguard mechanism:
We have for the first time put a cap on actual pollution which puts a limit on how much coal and gas can expand in Australia and it will be in law. When we started these discussions with Labor when they put the scheme on the table, pollution from coal and gas would keep going up.
It was going to increase substantially as they opened lots of new coal and gas projects. With a new project in the pipeline, we managed to stop emissions equivalent to about half of them, managed to stop about half the projects going ahead and that is because there will be a cap in law that the big polluters cannot offset their way out of.
Updated
Meanwhile, the government is staying fairly quiet about its housing fund, because, well, it is quite far from where it would like to be in terms of gaining support.
The Federal government has a long history of helping build social & affordable housing. Australia is in a housing crisis and the Govt needs to do more, including upping the ambition of the Housing Australia Future Fund. There's a community rally tomorrow https://t.co/h0JjZIlevz…
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) March 27, 2023
Updated
Just reviewing question time, I probably should have pointed this out – Peter Dutton was unusually silent. As in, didn’t even ask a question silent.
The Aston byelection is this weekend. And quite possibly closer than it seems if Dutton is staying silent in QT. He also didn’t attend the safeguard mechanism press conference – that was held by Ted O’Brien by himself.
Quite possibly the only two happy people in the parliament today (as captured by Mike Bowers)
Updated
I missed this earlier today in *gestures to all of it* but there has been some condemnation of the anti-trans rights agitators from the Liberal party.
Specifically seeking to damage minorities like the trans community is morally wrong and not the answer for any party of the mainstream.
— Senator Andrew Bragg (@ajamesbragg) March 27, 2023
The importation of US style culture wars designed to marginalise vulnerable populations must be resisted by the Liberal Party.
Stuart Robert was making a personal explanation in the chamber when the chamber started getting rowdy.
Sussan Ley has walked across the chamber to where Sam Rae was and began yelling at him.
It was loud enough that Milton Dick had to stop proceedings and ask for people to sit down.
Updated
Sam Rae denies saying ‘at least I have my own children’ in chamber
The LNP MP Angie Bell has written to the speaker, Milton Dick, alleging that while she was giving a speech, the Labor MP for Hawke, Sam Rae, “yelled the phrase” ‘at least I have my own children’.
Bell asks the speaker about it:
Earlier today in the chamber, the members for Hawke interjected with statements about my own family life which is was unacceptable especially post the Jenkins report and I wrote to you regarding this incident.
I accept that the member has stood up and apologised for something that was an interjection. But I placed on the record that it was not an interjection. It was a slur on my family. And I think it should be outlined.
Rae had already addressed this before Bell stood up, denying he made those comments:
I’ve received comments from the media and in the chamber concerning an interjection I made during debate earlier today during a speech by the Honourable Member for Moncrieff, the comments of my alleged objection was of a personal nature against the member.
This is absolutely not correct.
I accept interjections are always disorderly and apologise to the member for being disruptive during her speech.
My comments made absolutely no reference to the member herself. The comments that have been attributed by some to me were not made by me and would never be made by me.
Updated
And question time ends.
Question on voice to parliament and RBA decisions
Julian Leeser is back – and has a question which is very similar to a question a reporter asked Anthony Albanese in a press conference earlier today.
The proposed voice to parliament will have a constitutional function of making representations of the executive government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Reserve Bank of Australia is part of the executive government and interest rates affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as they do all Australians. Will the Reserve Bank need to consult with the voice before making a decision on interest rates?
(The question in the press conference was whether the voice would have to consult on things like the safeguard mechanism).
Linda Burney is very, very short with her answer (in tone and length)
The last time I checked, the RBA was independent.
Updated
Anthony Albanese continues:
The shadow attorney general has been involved in a deeper way in this process for longer than I have been. That is why he knows full well, he knows full well that some of the campaign that has attempted to draw questions where they simply are not there are disingenuous going forward.
Noel Pearson [referred to] the shadow attorney general in his article in the Australian of a few weeks ago. ‘I said to the shadow attorney general that he was right than, he should, he should have the courage to stand up for the principal position that he has historically taken on this issue and support, yes, when it is put to the Australian people went this year’.
The shadow attorney general knows because it was outlined historically how this process occurred in that article by Noel Pearson just a couple of weeks ago in the Weekend Australian. To the credit of the weekend Australian they got it right and I say to the member to take it on that.
Updated
‘The government does not release cabinet papers,’ Albanese says
The shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, has the next question:
Labor governments have routinely released solicitor general advice when convenient to do so on at least three occasions. Why won’t the government relay that advice to the voice department. Why only when its politically convenient to do so?
Anthony Albanese:
The government does not release cabinet papers, nor did the gvernment that he sat in the nine years release cabinet documents, not once. Not once. I must about, I assume this is talking about the voice to parliament although the question didn’t refer to that.
The fact is that I would encourage the shadow attorney general to continue to engage with the government because one of the things that he knows, because he helped to write some of the words. He helped to write some of the words that are now going to be put before the Australian people. When he was a part of a process more than a decade ago. What the shadow attorney general knows, others may not but he knows full well is how disingenuous some of the comments have been made. Because the shadow attorney general ...
Dan Tehan wants Albanese to answer the question.
Which he did. At the beginning. When he said “the government does not release cabinet papers, nor did the government that he sat in the nine years, release cabinet papers”.
Updated
Question on wiping student debt
The Greens MP for Brisbane, Stephen Bates, asks:
Student help debt hangs over entire generations adding more financial stress to people already struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. If the government can afford the $254bn stage three tax cuts and to spend $268bn on nuclear submarines, why can’t we afford to wipe student debt?
Jim Chalmers:
We understand that students and young Australians are under pressure at a time when we’ve got inflation which is higher than we would like and will hang around for longer than we’d like.
Our job is to try and strike the right balance between the most responsible budget possible and doing what we can to ease the pressures on people.
We’ve got a system, as the honourable member knows, and all honourable members here know, where people repay their student debt when they reach a certain income level.
They pay a portion of their university costs. We think that that is a good system, because it means that people don’t start to repay that debt until they’re beginning to earn, you know, what is approaching a decent wage.
Obviously we are aware of, in the last few weeks there have been stories about the pressures on former students in particular – reports about students and former students under pressure, and we take that very seriously.
When it comes to the broader pressures on the budget, we’ve been up-front about those as well and we need to manage those carefully in the context of high inflation, which is impacting disproportionately, including on the people he asks the question on behalf of.
One of the other things, Mr Speaker, which is really important is to make sure that we are building more social and affordable housing for people and that’s why it is so disappointing, Mr Speaker, that when the Greens in this place were given the opportunity to vote for more social and affordable housing, they scurried for the door. They ran for the door.
That was disappointing, Mr Speaker, because you would have thought for a party that talks so much about younger people, a party that talks so much about affordable housing, the least they could have done is to support the minister’s efforts so we can get the supply and build more homes and begin to take some of the pressure of people. It was disappointing. On the specifics of the question, I think I have answered that about pressures on students and former students in particular. The least of the Greens could do is when the government puts forward a sensible, important policy to make life a bit is here for those people, the less they can do is vote for it.
Updated
Interim NSW Labor cabinet to be sworn in tomorrow
An interim New South Wales Labor cabinet will be sworn in tomorrow, as counting continues following the weekend election.
The state’s incoming treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, announced on Monday that Labor would form an interim ministry made up of members of the party’s senior leadership tomorrow.
Incoming ministers have held informal meetings with the public service today, but Mookhey said the formal swearing in would allow it to begin receiving formal briefs.
The senior leadership team is made up of the incoming premier, Chris Minns, and senior ministers-designate including the deputy leader, Prue Car (education), Penny Sharpe (environment), Ryan Park (health), Jo Haylen (transport), John Graham (special minister for state), and Mookhey.
Mookhey said:
Tomorrow there will be a Labor government formed in NSW constitutionally.
It will allow us to have access to the public service and to get the briefings by departments. It will formally bring an end to the caretaker conventions is the other point here, which will allow decision making to resume in NSW.
With vote counting still under way and a handful of seats undecided, Mookhey said the rest of the ministry is likely to be sworn in next week.
He said the government’s immediate priorities included receiving briefs on the status of flood relief measures in the state’s north, as well as on a recent fish kill in the Menindee lakes.
Updated
Question on cashless debit card
The Coalition’s Michael Sukkar has the next question:
Prime minister, since the government abolished the cashless debit card the consequences have been devastating with police records showing an almost doubling of offences in Ceduna alone. Prime minister, in the gallery today, there are representatives from the northern Goldfields who are here to speak to parliamentarians about the devastating effects the government’s abolition of the cashless debit card is having on their communities. When will the prime minister reverse his decision to abolish the cashless debit card?
Anthony Albanese:
The minister will be meeting with the delegation who are here today and I understand from a media release from the member opposite that he has raised them meeting here and of course people should have the opportunity before this parliament to engage. It’s something that my government does. We’re respectful of people, we listen to people, and we went to the election with a clear commitment ... (Sukkar is interjecting and gets warned)
We also understand that on so many of the issues that have been raised – for example, in the Northern Territory, where there hasn’t been a change – there is substantial misinformation about the impact which has occurred here.
The truth is that in so many of these communities what we’re dealing with is intergenerational disadvantage. That is a failure – a failure – of all governments. Of all governments across the board. Now, the minister might like to, or the shadow minister might like to think that everything was all OK beforehand, but the truth is that when you sit down and talk with communities, as I have around the country ... they will inform you – they will inform you that these issues of intergenerational disadvantage, intergenerational unemployment, despair, is something that has brought certainly myself to the view that we need to try and do things better in the future.
That’s what my government is committed to do. That’s what my government is committed to do and I’d encourage those opposite, and in particular the member opposite, to engage in a constructive way with the government to achieve solutions and move forward in their interests.
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‘No customer should bear the cost of a data breach’: government on cybersecurity
The cyber security minister, Clare O’Neil, has released a statement on the Latitude hack (this is the fourth or fifth data hack my details have been caught up with. FUN)
Here is part of it:
On 16 March the Federal Government convened the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM) to bring together agencies across the Commonwealth, states and territories to ensure that all possible support is being provided to Latitude Financial and all those customers whose personal information has been stolen.
The NCM has met five times in relation to the Latitude incident, and we have established two NCM working groups to address specific issues relating to the Financial Sector, and Identity Security and Services.
Latitude Financial is cooperating with government in responding to this incident, and we expect the company to continue to swiftly provide the government with all information it needs.
It remains our position that no customer should bear the cost of a data breach and we are working with Latitude Financial to ensure that the customers affected by this attack are protected from immediate and future risks.
Updated
More on budget ‘legacy issues’
'Tony Burke is next on the “legacy issues” train when it comes to dixers.
(Paul Karp tells me Peter Dutton is waving to kids in the gallery while this goes on.)
Burke:
Additional funding – additional funding – runs out for the Maritime Museum on 30 June, for the Portrait Gallery on 30 June, for the National Museum on 30 June ... funding for the National Film and Sound Archive on 30 June, for the National Gallery of Australia on 30 June, and for Old Parliament House the additional money runs out on 30 June.
Now, those opposite have already started interjecting about what a wonderful job they did with respect to the arts and cultural institutions ... So wonderful there’s actually a motion on the notice paper at the moment from the member for Lyons saying that their arts funding reached 55 million Australians.
So with those sorts of numbers they’ve got quite a story to tell!
Part of telling the Australian story isn’t just the institutions themselves but it’s about digitising that story and keeping it through the process of trove and many members on this side and across the crossbench have contacted me for some time about Trove.
Trove is one of the Australian government’s most visited online services.
More than 50,000 visits a day.
Over 1,500 digitised newspaper titles, 900 partner organisations. But under their proposal, it would be funded until, guess what date? 30 June.
And at 30 June, the money for the National Library to be able to continue funding Trove was all going to finish.
It is across all the collecting institutions. I don’t know if they thought maybe at the National Gallery you hold the roof up with blue poles or maybe it would be like Night At The Museum and all of the exhibits would start running around and fixing the building themselves every night.
But under their funding the workers don’t have a future who work there and under their funding the buildings are allowed to leak and collapse. This is the legacy, this is the legacy.
And they laugh about – the leader of the National Party laughing about the concept of a building leak. Think of the value of what’s held in the National Gallery. Think of the concept of being custodians of the national story and think about a budget where everything finished on 30 June.
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PM on Aukus and defence
Anthony Albanese answers that question with:
Anthony Albanese:
The first question on Aukus I got from anyone on the other side. This is a very significant announcement and we put up over a period of decades the fact that the cost would be between $268bn and $368bn.
Under that arrangement Australia would be responsible at the end of life, when the nuclear fuel cell is completed we will be responsible for the storage of that and we have said it will be on defence land.
We also, I can confirm that there is no responsibility to store anyone else’s waste.
It’s a responsibility to store what effectively will be our own, because what the plan is here is for us to build these submarines in Adelaide and for once the Australian flag is on a submarine, like once the Australian flag is on a plane or any other piece of equipment, it is our responsibility and we are in control.
That is a part of our national sovereignty member opposite would agree is important. But the issue on the economy is also important, to say this.
Unless – unless – our national security is looked after, then the impact on our economy, on our society, on everything else, falls away, and that is why expenditure and investment in our national sovereignty is so important, is so absolutely vital. I don’t apologise for making a commitment that will see our defence expenditure rise over future years.
The truth is, we live in an era of strategic competition in our region. The truth is, we live in very uncertain times and it is important that we invest in our capability. It’s also important that we invest in our relationships and my government is doing both. We are investing in our capability, whether it be nuclear-powered submarines, or whether it be other military equipment that will improve our capability.
Next month, we’ll be releasing the defence strategic review that will outline the work of Sir Angus Houston and Stephen Smith, but that is an important priority for us going forward. We make no apologies for that. But at the same time we’re also building positive and constructive relationships to advance peace, security and stability in our region.
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Question on Aukus costs and nuclear waste
Dai Le, the independent MP for Fowler, wants to know:
The government committed to spending $368bn on acquiring nuclear-powered submarines when people are struggling to pay the grocery bills. We still don’t know the full cost to taxpayers and where and how the nuclear waste will be stored. What will it cost our taxpayers to manage this nuclear waste and will Australia be accepting any nuclear waste from other Aukus [members] under the agreement?
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Question on regional funding
Kevin Hogan, the Nationals MP for Page, asks Catherine King:
I refer the minister to the government’s failure last week in parliament to address the regional programs to for local councils and given it has been 10 months since the federal election and five months since the budget, how many grants to local councils and community groups have been formally assessed and approved from Labor’s regional and community programs announced in the budget?
The infrastructure minister says:
We inherited an absolute mess when it came to regional grants. And if you remember, we got elected on a promise to clean up the rorts and pork-barrelling that categorise the regional grants program. When we came into government we had the building better regions fund, which was because the to substantial Australian national office report which found there were significant flaws in the way in which the previous government made decisions. When we came to office, we found that not a single one of around six building better regions fund had been assessed at all.
So concerned were all of you about all of those programs and so concerned you are asked specifically about it …
Paul Fletcher has a point of order on relevance and Milton Dick asks King to get to the question:
Again because we are talking about the reason that when we came to government, we have had to clean up the appalling job that those opposite particularly the National party did when it came to regional grants programs.
I don’t make any apologies about us taking some time to actually build integrity into the regional grants program.
Because we had under the community development grants program billions and billions of dollars frankly pork-barrel into National party and Liberal party seats across this country.
We are taking our time with the growing regions program, the guidelines are currently before all of the stakeholders to look at ensuring that they are being used with the best possible processes we can and the announcement about the of those applications will be done shortly.
Again I remind the house, the reason we have had to do this to take our time is because of the terrible job, the terrible job those opposite did when it came to regional grants programs. Frankly, when it comes to things like the community development grants, like the building better regions fund, you have no integrity when it came to the distribution of those grants and I’m looking forward to having a program that puts in place an important program to fund our regions, to fund our regions properly, fairly and transparently, something does opposite were incapable of doing and it means absolutely it shows why not a single one of them should ever occupy these benches ever again when it comes to integrity and grants.
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Chalmers on holes in Coalition’s budget
As part of this dixer, Jim Chalmers is going through the measures which had not been funded by the Coalition for this budget, despite having made announcements:
For example, the former government jumped up and said they were going to fund [inaudible] of the Olympics in south-east Queensland, they budgeted precisely $0 for that task.
Those opposite had the My Health Record system that is used by millions of Australians to store personal health information, not funded beyond the middle of this year.
There is a safety commissioner that is responsible for keeping our kids safe online, not funded, the Australian radioactive waste agency in charge of disposing radioactive materials – not funded.
MyGov is not funded in an ongoing way. This is the way those opposite went about vandalising the budget.
They were notorious for making the big announcements but not funding them in the budget.
The leader of the Opposition cannot distance themselves from the behaviour, he was a member of the committee that made these decisions. He sits over there hoping if he doesn’t ask any questions the voters of Aston won’t notice and won’t remember who the member of the Liberal Party is in Canberra.
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“Pressures on the budget and pressures on the economy” – the subtitle of Jim Chalmers’ new book “$1 trillion of inherited Liberal party debt”.
Chalmers is running through the chapter “booby traps in the budget” in this dixer.
(In case I need to make it clear, there is no book, but given the amount of words Chalmers has spoken on this topic since coming to government, there could be several volumes).
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Same cost of living question, different answer?
Sussan Ley just pointed out in a point of order that the Coalition has asked the question about the cost of living “hundreds of times” and never gets an answer.
To be fair, it gets different versions of the same answer every time.
Adding in this tag-line- “Will this out-of-touch prime minister finally admit that families always pay more under Labor?” allows Anthony Albanese to talk about whatever he likes.
Meanwhile, we are the ones who suffer.
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Crossbench question on infrastructure investment
Allegra Spender has one of the crossbench questions and the independent Wentworth MP wants to know from Anthony Albanese:
In 2014 you told this house that independent cost benefit analysis of infrastructure proposals was necessary to ‘Ensure there is proper value for taxpayers from infrastructure investment and that we get the right infrastructure investment to boost productivity’. Does the prime minister still hold this view and if not why not?
Albanese:
Indeed I am very proud that we established Infrastructure Australia was one of the first pieces of legislation, the first week of the new Labor government when parliament first sat in 2008 after 2007 election.
But that it is bring together a board, serious board made up of private sector representatives as well as representatives from state and local government. To make sure there was productivity at analysis so the funding and investment from the Commonwealth went to the right projects.
That was a board that contained the former Kennett government minister in Victoria, who was the deputy chair. We had people like Kerry Schott and serious people doing proper analysis through the process. What that led to was projects being funded – every single one of the priority projects being funded. Upon coming to office, we now have legislation before this parliament to amend Infrastructure Australia to make sure it goes back to where it should be. Indeed ... I mean, with respect, having a former, you know, deputy mayor of a council where the minister happened to come from was ... somewhat compared with Sir Rod Eddington, was just an undermining of that process and it was not taken seriously. The legislation that is before the parliament moved by the infrastructure minister will make sure that there’s transparency, will make sure that there’s proper analysis, because there is a finite level of resources, and that is why we should make sure that productivity drives that agenda going forward. That is what my government has committed to and that is what we will get on with the business of doing and I look forward to the parliament supporting the legislation moved by the minister.
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Labor rejecting Greens call for no new coal and gas 'a colossal mistake': Bob Brown
The former Greens leader, Bob Brown, has some thoughts on the deal on the safeguard mechanism:
The Greens have fought for no new coal and gas and Albanese rejected that outright. It is a colossal mistake. Instead, the Greens will get a hard cap on emissions which stops half the proposed 100+ future coal and gas projects going ahead. Their strong stand for no new coal or gas will be vindicated as the impact of rising temperatures, worse storms, coral bleaching, drought and sea-level rises wreak havoc on every Australian’s wellbeing.
Minister Bowen flagging today that he may ‘amend the rules to amend the cap’ is flagging Labor treachery. If he does that he will bring the house down. Australians, not least Labor voters, will want him to have the integrity to stand by the hard cap agreement and if he reneges he will be selling out to profit the coal and gas billionaires at the planet’s expense.
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Australian sport 'staring failure in the face'
Australian sport is facing a “$2bn black hole” in investment over the next decade that sets the nation up for failure at upcoming major international events, according to Matt Carroll, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee.
Carroll used an address to the National Press Club in Canberra today to call for more federal funding over the course of the next 10 years, citing a “continued and significant decline” in strategic government investment that has set sport on a path to “fall over a financial cliff”.
Carroll said the AOC analysis showed a huge shortfall in the 10 years leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics, and 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, placing ambitions for the events on home soil under threat.
The shortfall consists of half a billion for participation and $1.5bn for high performance, spread over the 10 years,” Carroll said. “That’s not nearly enough to retain the current levels of sports performance, let alone to maximise the Brisbane 2032 opportunities.
Without investment, what governments in Australia want sport to achieve for the community is not going to happen and, in all honesty, and openness, unless this situation is rectified, Australia will be staring failure in the face at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games because our home teams will have been undermined by inaction.
Carroll proposed a package of measures to address the issue, including a new partnership between sport and the government, a stand-alone federal department of sport and a national “statement of purpose” that clearly identifies where sport sits as a national priority.
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Question on power bills …. yet again
There is another question about a Coalition constituent who is seeing their power bill go up and broken promises on the cost of living.
Anthony Albanese gives his 6,785th version of this answer:
One of the reasons why the member of the Goldstein is here, one of the reasons why she is here is because of her position which she went to the election on, supporting action on climate change. Like the other crossbenchers up there.
And for those opposite, even after Saturday, to not have some sort of bellringer. some sort of wake-up call after the Victorian state election, where Daniel Andrews increased his majority, increased his majority, I’m not sure what it takes for them to realise that the future and people want action for the future.
Those opposite, those opposite can be stuck in the past but we will continue to move forward, continue to move forward along with, as part of global action, as part of international action that we need to be a part of.
Those opposite are just so stuck in the past and the problem isn’t that they are frozen in time as the world warms around them, the problem is they want everyone to stay back there and keep them company.
To stay back there and keep them company.
Those on the side of the house will not do that. Will not do that. We will continue to engage in a constructive way, a constructive way to get things done in this parliament.
And what amazes me is that those opposite are actually having opportunity to participate in debate.
It they instead choose to be observers, they don’t participate in all at any of the processes that are better before the Senate or any of the processes here, they just come in here and vote no, no, no, to everything.
That is why they gets upset when I say about the Noalition. If they are so upset about that than better stop acting like it.
Updated
Albanese refers to ‘Greens political party’
In a dixer on the safeguard mechanism, Anthony Albanese referred to the “Greens political party” which made Adam Bandt crack a smile.
Paul Karp, who is in the chamber, heard a Coalition MP yell out “you’re in charge, Adam”.
Which seems to be giving the game away – because given the senate numbers, if the Coalition says no, then Labor has to go to the Greens to get the numbers it needs.
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‘A sad day for the LGBTIQ+ community, Jewish community’: Victoria Labor
A statement has just landed from Victoria’s minister for equality, Harriet Shing:
This is a sad day for the LGBTIQ+ community, Jewish community and all Victorians who oppose bigotry and hatred.
The fact the debate was held in what is supposed to be a mainstream political party is a disgrace – the fact it was lost is abhorrent.
It’s only one week ago that John Pesutto said this was a “necessary step” to ensure the Liberal Party was an “effective opposition” and “ready to govern” come the 2026 state election.
The Andrews’ Labor government is getting on with doing what matters for all Victorians – and ensuring that in our state, equality is not negotiable.
Updated
Question time begins
OK question time begins, and it begins in the same way it has for the last week – will Anthony Albanese take responsibility for the cost of living crisis and Albanese talking about how it started under the Coalition and somehow time is still allegedly moving forward.
Updated
Just before question time starts, a little more from Melbourne:
John Pesutto denies he’s made a compromise in allowing Deeming to stay in the party. He also denies that he jumped the gun in calling for her to be expelled:
I wanted to send a strong message that this kind of behaviour – Nazi references, or whatever else it might be – has no place in the Victoria I want to lead with my colleagues in 2026. So it was absolutely necessary to bring the notice of motion ... I didn’t need any further convincing about the urgency of the matter. I will not tolerate it. That’s why I brought the motion when I was satisfied on Sunday that there will be no concessions forthcoming.
He again reiterates it’s not a freedom of speech issue. Says Deeming is entitled to her views on trans rights as long as she “understand[s] and appreciate[s] the sensitivities of the debate”:
There is a discussion going on around the world. And I’m not here today to go into a debate about those issues. International sports federations are grappling with this. Schools are grappling with this. It’s a very sensitive and complex discussion.
Updated
NSW Liberals scramble to lock down replacement leader
The outgoing New South Wales attorney general, Mark Speakman, has indicated a possible tilt at becoming the state’s new opposition leader.
After the outgoing premier, Dominic Perrottet’s announcement that he would step down as party leader following Saturday’s election loss, Liberal figures are scrambling to lock down a replacement to take over.
Right-faction figures Alister Henskens and Anthony Roberts are understood to be considering a run for the job, but the moderates – the dominant faction in NSW – have been left without an obvious pick after the outgoing treasurer, Matt Kean, ruled himself out.
Speakman, a senior minister in the Perrottet and Berejiklian governments and the MP for Cronulla, is now seen as the most likely pick from the party’s left.
On Monday afternoon he released a statement indicating he was considering a run. He said:
I’m looking forward to discussions with my colleagues to ensure that we have a strong, refreshed & energised team ready to hold the government accountable in the interests of the people of NSW. I’ll have more to say shortly.
The party is still coming to terms with Saturday’s loss, and many senior party figures were scrutineering votes on polling booths as counting resumed on Monday morning.
As the count continued, the Liberals received a boost on Monday with the ABC predicting it would hang onto the seat of Willoughby, previously held by the former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The incumbent, Tim James, received a serious scare from the independent Larissa Penn.
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Question time looms
There is now 10 minutes until question time.
What. A. Day.
The opposition seems very energised by the safeguard mechanism deal, and just as intent on ignoring the fact it dealt itself out of negotiations at the very beginning to try and shape it to its liking, so expect questions on that and on the $275 (by 2025) power bill promise.
Meanwhile, being the last week of sitting before the budget, expect the government dixers to begin highlighting all the issues within the budget it inherited from the Coalition.
All things considered – you could go save yourself now and disengage for an hour or so. Go on without me.
Updated
‘You’ve got to take people on their face value’: Caulfield MP on Deeming
Back in Melbourne and the Caulfield MP, David Southwick – who is Jewish – is asked how he feels that Deeming will remain in the party after attending a rally attended by neo-Nazis:
Well, I wanted to firstly say that John has shown leadership today. John is showing that he’s prepared to listen. And he’s prepared to take somebody at face value that they’ve made a mistake. And they’ve admitted to that mistake, and they’re prepared to learn and work with the team. There is no question that what we’re seeing over the last week or so, for all communities, certainly from my community has been very hurtful. And that was certainly part of the discussion. But I think largely, you’ve got to take people on their face value ... For me, a real part of anything is actually getting people to admit their wrongs and to give them an opportunity to make them right. And I think that’s what it is. We need to give that opportunity for Moira to make it right. Let’s see what nine months bring. But it’s a big decision. It’s a decision that we haven’t taken lightly. John has shown true leadership that he’s listened and he’s given his colleagues the benefit of the doubt.
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O’Brien likens safeguard mechanism to carbon tax
Ted O’Brien is giving the Labor party wayyyyyyy too much credit here.
And also, just ahead of you reading this, the safeguard mechanism is not a carbon tax in any way, shape or form.
O’Brien:
You see, Labor has done what Labor is very good at and it has been their cunning plan, they’ve picked up something the Coalition created, the safeguard mechanism, and turned it on its head completely changing it. And they used it as a Trojan horse for a carbon tax. So this looks nothing like what the Coalition introduced years ago.
I wouldn’t be surprised if O’Brien tried to rip the mask off the safeguard mechanism Scooby Doo-style down the track.
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Safeguard mechanism a ‘venomous attack’ on coal industry: Bob Katter
Bob Katter voted against the safeguard mechanism, along with the opposition and independent Dai Le, on the grounds it was a “venomous attack” on the coal industry.
Now you want to cold bloodedly go and destroy the jobs of 200,000 people,.
And I sure would like some of our so-called trade union leaders to stand up here because, it seems to me I’m one of the very few that’s standing up.
It’s alright for everybody here, with a nice warm job and their $250,000 a year.”
I think from the votes that the Liberal MP Bridget Archer abstained. Last week she said she couldn’t vote for the bill in its current form, but she wouldn’t be voting against it either.
Updated
‘We should never dehumanise one another’: Pesutto
A reporter has asked the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, what happens if one of his MPs attends an anti-trans rally next week. Here’s his reply:
What I encourage all people no matter what political viewpoints, I’ve said this many times, ‘When you engage in debates particularly on important social and personal issues, we should never dehumanise one another.’ When I talk about being civil and respectful, you need to respect and appreciate the common bond of humanity we all share. And that means no matter what events you go to, if you see violence against other people, that’s never justified. If you see vilification, that dehumanises others – call it out, no matter what side of the debate you might be on. And those are my road marks for anybody engaging in public debate and entering the public square
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‘Hugely positive step’: Spender on safeguard mechanism deal
The independent MP Allegra Spender on the safeguard mechanism:
This deal looks like it will significantly strengthen the safeguard mechanism. It’s a hugely positive step towards net zero and reflects strong collaboration between the government, crossbench, and Greens.
The deal includes many of the changes that I and other crossbench members have been advocating – including a hard cap on emissions and restraint on the use of offsets.
We also see strong action on new entrants, prioritising the future of Australian industry over polluting fossil fuels.
We were elected to deliver on climate action. Today’s announcement shows that this parliament is doing that.
Updated
Coalition on safeguard mechanism deal
The shadow minister for energy, Ted O’Brien is holding a press conference criticising the government for dealing with the Greens on the safeguard mechanism, a piece of legislation the opposition said no to at the starting block, dealing itself out of the negotiations.
O’Brien is now complaining about the outcome of these negotiations.
Updated
Pesutto:
I know we’re in politics and we look at these things through a political lens, but there’s a human element and the human element is that you want people to learn and to grow. And sure, I would have preferred. In fact, but I demanded ... she did that on Sunday but she’s done it and now she has an opportunity to work on it.
Pesutto says Deeming has nine months to “prove herself”:
I’m giving her the chance. And what I’d ask is we all give her the chance over the next nine months to prove herself. She’s got a great opportunity to do that. I thought and still considered that it was the sensible, reasonable and fair thing to do. Having seen her condemn it this morning, albeit many days too late, But nevertheless she’s condemned it.
Opposition leader John Pesutto says Deeming accepts there must be consequences for her actions:
Everything I said last week I can proudly stand by because she condemned the conduct which prompted the motion I brought, she’s accepted there must be serious consequences for not having done that earlier. And she accepts as a consequence losing the whip’s position as well, what we want. Remember, we want people to learn from these experiences.
He denies he didn’t bring an expulsion motion forward because he lacked the numbers in the party room:
I always felt confident that I had the numbers.
What about Deeming’s anti-trans rights view?
So Moira Deeming condemned the material in the dossier at 6.30am ahead of the meeting, but so far the condemnation stays private.
And apparently that is all that John Pesutto wanted. So she is now suspended from the Liberal party for nine months.
What about her anti-trans rights views?
What she’s accepted is that our discussions around this must always be respectful and inclusive, even if people disagree. Remember, we live in a democracy and the main thing is to make sure that when people are engaged in public discourse, they do it in a courteous and civil way they can disagree.
Updated
‘That’s what I wanted all along,’ Pesutto says
We are not allowed to see the concessions though.
John Pesutto says that Moira Deeming has “specifically” condemned the anti-trans rights agitator Kellie-Jay Keen and a tweet in the dossier which was put together by Pesutto when he first announced the expulsion which is “what I wanted all along”.
So Moira condemned the references to the Nazi material that you saw in the Kellie-Jay Keen references in the dossier, and also the Angie Jones tweet. So you’ve seen that from the dossier and for me, that’s what I wanted all along. I wanted it to be condemned, and she’s done that.
Updated
John Pesutto says he had sought the concessions from Moira Deeming last weekend. She did not provide it until this morning, but Pesutto says it contained the condemnation he had been after. And because of that, Pesutto put forward the suspension proposal:
What I can say is that the proposal I put to the party room was met with unanimous support. So out of this whole exercise, which began last weekend, we have a situation where the conduct I’d wanted condemned has been condemned, where there is a consequence that follows from not having condemned that when the first opportunity arose, and certainly when my colleagues and I sought a remark, and we’ve got a party room was unanimously behind the outcome. So we’re very pleased with that.
Updated
Deeming ‘called out Nazism’ in meeting, Liberal leader says
The Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, has opened his press conference by saying that the Victorian Liberal party is inclusive.
No matter your sexual preference, no matter what their race or ethnicity, political views, and we will listen and engage with people right across the board.
That’s the Liberal party I want to lead, and today marks a turning point where we are on the road to achieving that in the lead up to the 2026 [election].
But he says that after receiving the information he had been seeking from Moira Deeming, he “proposed” a new outcome.
Today, we had an extended, very lengthy and very emotional party room meeting that went for a very long time, and many members spoke and were very emotional during the course of that meeting, which took place off the back of some new information that was provided by Moira Deeming early this morning at around 6.30am.
I’m advised that new information contained important concessions, and those concessions were in the form of a condemnation of the types of conduct that were referred to in the dossier in which I had always sought from the very start, and which had in fact, been what prompted the notice of motion in the first place.
So whilst it took a few days, Moira actually provided the condemnation. I basically provided an opportunity during today’s meeting for me to propose a slightly different outcome given what Moira had provided I’ve been seeking and recognised why it was important to do that.
And having heard from Moira along with other speakers herself, where she amongst other things, and I won’t go into all of the detail, but certainly called out Nazism and also called out any kind of bigotry against the LGBTI community.
So in light of that I proposed an outcome. That outcome sees Moira be suspended from the parliamentary party for a period of nine months. She will lose the whip’s position and important position in the upper house.
Updated
We are just waiting on the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto’s press conference to begin.
It’s meant to start in the next few minutes, but that means nothing on days like today.
Updated
It is almost Senate time!
The Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 has passed the second reading stage.
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) March 27, 2023
The bill is now being considered in detail, with a number of proposed amendments having been circulated. Further details available on the bill's homepage: https://t.co/3MKseOVanp. pic.twitter.com/nqJDp1mPhk
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Traditional owners hope safeguard deal will end fracking in Beetaloo Basin
The Nurrdalinji Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, which represents traditional owners with native title interests across the Beetaloo Basin, is hopeful the amendments will put an end to the fracking of the region
Traditional owner and Nurrdalinji chair Johnny Wilson said in a statement:
Our country is in the hands of these big gas companies and I feel very grateful that we may one day not have to fight to protect our land, sacred sites, culture and water.
No one has seen the jobs and economic benefits which have long been promised by the fracking companies, and we do not believe they will ever come.
We want to live peacefully on our country and keep it safe for our children and grandchildren. The future lies with power from the sun, not drilling into my grandparents’ country and damaging water and everything that relies on it.
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Reaction to the safeguard deal is starting to roll in:
We’ve just heard from @AdamBandt & @AlboMP on climate deal at Parliament
— Australia Institute (@TheAusInstitute) March 27, 2023
There’s now a cap on & cut to pollution which is good, but no blanket ban on new gas & coal, which isn’t
It’s not enough according to the science, but it’s better than where we were last week @RDNS_TAI pic.twitter.com/N0gq0rsVvk
Updated
The House is still working through amendments to the safeguard mechanism.
Again, the government is only supporting those it has already agreed to in negotiations. Amendments moved by the teal independents have been voted down.
Updated
Hundreds march after Indigenous man fatally shot by Queensland police
Hundreds of people are marching in the north Queensland city of Mareeba after a local Indigenous man, Aubrey Donahue, was shot and killed by police on Saturday.
Donahue’s family claim the 28-year-old was unarmed, carrying a phone and attempting to surrender to police when he was shot on Saturday afternoon. He had earlier been threatening self-harm.
Police initially released a statement claiming Donahue advanced on officers while holding a knife. But since Saturday, police have refused to make any further comment or address family claims that he was unarmed, saying it would be “inappropriate” to do so.
At a public meeting on Sunday, a senior police officer said those “questions” were a matter for the coroner.
Donahue’s brother was arrested by police immediately after the shooting and released from custody on Monday, during the protest. He raised his fist as he left the watch house.
Updated
Morning recap
So to catch you up on the morning:
The Greens and Labor have struck a deal on the safeguard mechanism, which will see a hard cap of 140 megatonnes of pollution built into the legislation.
Victorian upper house MP Moira Deeming has escaped expulsion from the Liberal party and instead will receive a nine-month suspension.
Former US president Barrack Obama is in town and has done some sort of Singin’ in the Rain revival with Anthony Albanese in Sydney.
No sun, no problem! Welcome back to Australia, Mr. President! pic.twitter.com/0M2el9WkVK
— U.S. Embassy Australia (@USEmbAustralia) March 27, 2023
Updated
Deeming suspended but not expelled from Victorian Liberal party room
Moira Deeming has avoided being expelled from the parliamentary Liberal party after a marathon two-hour meeting of MPs, instead receiving a nine-month suspension.
Guardian Australia understands opposition leader John Pesutto’s expulsion motion did not go to a vote in the special party room meeting held at parliament on Monday morning.
Pesutto sought to expel Deeming after she attended a rally headlined by British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen where neo-Nazis were photographed performing the Nazi salute last weekend. Deeming has denied wrongdoing.
The vote had been considered an early test for Pesutto, who took over the leadership following November’s election loss vowing to bring the party back to the centre.
On this account it’s clear he has failed, after earlier vowing to make no compromise. Expect the division between the party room’s socially liberal and conservative members to continue.
Deeming left the meeting without commenting. She was flanked by her supporters.
Pesutto left with leadership team and called presser for 1.15pm.
Pesutto press conference at 1.15pm @GuardianAus
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 27, 2023
Updated
It seems there is a little bit of confusion among the Coalition on what they are meant to be opposing in these amendments.
An amendment to the safeguard mechanism just passed without division (Kylea Tink tried to put in an amendment, that it seemed one Coalition MP almost accidentally supported) but the government opposed it, so the amendment went down.
On the second reading, it seems only Ted O’Brien, Angus Taylor and Paul Fletcher were confident enough to call for a division (usually all those who oppose say nay to force the division, but there is a little bit of hesitancy in the chamber today).
Or maybe it is just recovery from the weekend’s election result.
Updated
Over in the chamber, and debate has resumed on the safeguard mechanism bill.
Amendments are being moved – the only ones the government will support are ones they have already agreed to in negotiations.
Back in Melbourne:
MPs walking out of party room. No word on result yet. Deeming made no comment.
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 27, 2023
PM hopes parliament gives ‘unanimous support’ to Indigenous voice
Back to the prime minister – this is what Anthony Albanese had to say on whether or not he thinks the Liberal party will land on “no” under Peter Dutton for the voice referendum:
I seek bipartisanship here. This is about two things and two things only. Not about, you know – it does reflect on our international relationships, but it’s about two things.
It’s about recognising First Nations people in our constitution and then it’s about that they’ll be consulted on matters that affect them. That’s what it is about. Nothing more but nothing less.
And the Australian people will be given the opportunity to have a say towards the end of this year.
And I sincerely hope that the Australian people support “yes” and I hope that it is – receives the unanimous support of this parliament, but that’s something that I can only be open, which I have been.
You know, part of the debate that I have had an engagement with people in this room has been, “Why aren’t you more prescriptive?”
The reason why we weren’t more prescriptive is to give people the space to come onboard, to make a suggestion, to say: “Well, if this happens, we’ll be more supportive.” We changed our position on the pamphlet going out.
Why did we do that? Because we wanted to show that we were prepared to do something even though I, personally, if it was up to me, just me, it’s not a preferred position.
It’s not about imposing my will. It’s about providing support. I was one of the least important people up here last Thursday. You know, it’s about these people who have fought their whole life for just a bit of recognition in our constitution and justice and to be listened to. Not because they want to engage, because they want to make a difference.
It’s about practical outcomes. We know that outcomes will be better when people are consulted.
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Millions of consumer's details compromised in Latitude hack
Latitude Financial has disclosed that details of 14 million consumer records – including driver’s licences, passport numbers and financial statements – were stolen from its system in a cyber hack that is far worse than the company initially reported.
The consumer lender, which offers personal loans and credit to customers shopping at stores including JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Harvey Norman, said in a statement on Monday that some of the documents date back to at least 2005.
Latitude chief executive Ahmed Fahour said:
It is hugely disappointing that such a significant number of additional customers and applicants have been affected by this incident. We apologise unreservedly.
We are committed to working closely with impacted customers and applicants to minimise the risk and disruption to them, including reimbursing the cost if they choose to replace their ID document.
Latitude first disclosed it was hacked in mid-March, although the breach was thought to only include about 100,000 identification documents and 225,000 customer records.
The company detected unusual activity on its systems but not before the attacker obtained Latitude employee log-in credentials to access the documentation.
The breach is the latest in a series of major attacks on Australian companies, following hacks at Optus and Medibank, among others.
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PM on Dutton’s stance on voice
It seems Anthony Albanese is feeling a little bullish this morning.
Q: Prime minister, we talk a lot about desire to get bipartisanship and you have even talked about giving Mr Dutton space to arrive at a position.
Albanese:
Sure.
Q: Wouldn’t soliciting the solicitor general’s advice be a small price to pay for getting the Coalition onboard?
Albanese:
Are you telling me it’s your view? I know it’s – we’ll do a two-way here. Are you telling me it’s your view if we release that advice, then they’ll change their position?
Q: Well, I’m asking: wouldn’t it?
Albanese:
I’m asking if you were me, if you were me, would you think that there is any sign that in any of the times in which Peter Dutton has been asked a question about the voice to parliament that have been any sign other than that he is not – well, any sign other than that he is undermining a support for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? I’m awaiting it.
I have had seven meetings with him. He’s met with the referendum working group. There are no signs, and he was a member of a government that did not release any cabinet papers or advice to the cabinet in the nine years in which he was a member of the cabinet.
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Seems like there is some movement in the Victorian Liberal party room.
Clapping in the Liberal party room @GuardianAus
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 27, 2023
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Chris Bowen runs to meet his speech obligations in the chamber.
A reporter asks Anthony Albanese if the safeguard legislation is something the Indigenous voice to parliament would have an impact on.
Albanese seems very exasperated:
Of all the very strange questions I have been asked about the voice, that’s up there. You know, the voice is about matters that directly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. That’s what it’s about, and people shouldn’t look for the voice distractions. But they can if they want, they can ask all sorts of things about whether it will, you know, give advice on who should play five-eighth for Souths this week, but that is not what it is about.
… The voice is not about defence policy. It’s not about foreign affairs policy, it’s not about these issues. The voice is about issues that directly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Chris Bowen on whether the Greens amendments will stop projects like the Beetaloo basin by stealth:
In terms of the facts, we always wanted aggregate pollution, absolute pollution, to come down. That’s why we’re creating safeguard mechanism credits to incentivise that. It’s appropriate that be represented in the act. And if for whatever reason that cap is being approached, the obligation on me is then to publicly consult, to amend the rules if I regard that, safeguard rules, that is the best approach, or to take other policy actions.
Others can, you know, reach conclusions about the implications. In terms of your question how I’ll act – I’ll act according to the advice and the best policy available to the government at the time, and I’m sure future ministers of the day would.
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Chris Bowen, always a fast talker, is talking at triple speed today, as he has to run to the chamber very shortly to see the bill pass the House (and to give the summation to the debate).
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Energy minister Chris Bowen says the agreement with the Greens is in line with the “spirit” of the policy.
They do two things – strengthen accountability, transparency and integrity of the scheme, and secondly, provide extra support for those strategic manufacturing industries that are so important for our economy and transition as well.
In the interests of time, I have to go into the House to make sure it passes the House in a few minute. I’ll run you through the top lines briefly. Of course, I previously announced the government had previously announced $600 million of support for safeguard facilities.
Also announcing an extra $400 million for those key strategic industries for the transition to ensure their ongoing presence in Australia as a sovereign capability – steel, aluminium and cement. In addition, for manufacturing, as well as a 3% revenue test for a reduced baseline, reproducing a new test based on the cost of abatement as a percentage of profit, which will support manufacturing.
We are also making clear our intention in the act that … emissions must reduce over time, expressed as a five-year rolling arch, to take into account any short-term fluctuations. If the cap in terms of pollution, if the advice to me is that it would be exceeded, then I must consult on my policy options and as the minister of the day, either amend the rules or take any other policy action available to the government at that time.
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Back to the safeguard mechanism press conference Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen are holding, the PM can’t help but throw in a few digs at the opposition:
The safeguard mechanism is the vehicle to achieve our commitment for 43% reduction by 2030.
That is a precondition as well for our engagement in the region and the world.
We need to act on climate change. We can’t afford to continue to engage in conflict in this place in order to try to get the perfect outcome.
And I’m pleased that the crossbenchers, in particular the Greens party, have held a press conference, I understand, and indicated their support.
I want to thank the crossbenchers who have engaged constructively. It says a lot about the state of the Liberal and National parties in 2023 that in spite of the election result, they have excluded themselves from any participation. They’re the observers of Australian politics rather than the participants.
I believe that we have a responsibility to participate and to achieve real solutions, to achieve real outcomes, to protect our manufacturers, to grow our economy while we’re dealing with emissions reduction.
We have a huge opportunity to be a renewable energy superpower. We have an opportunity to take advantage of the fact we’re in the fastest-growing region of the world in human history.
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Whistleblower ruling ‘a major blow for democracy’, rights lawyer says
As my colleague Tory Shepherd has just reported, Richard Boyle, the Australian taxation office whistleblower, has lost his bid to use the nation’s whistleblowing protection laws to shield himself from criminal prosecution.
Subject to any appeal, the decision means he again faces the prospect of a criminal trial for his alleged actions prior to blowing the whistle to the ABC on the ATO’s aggressive pursuit of debts.
The decision has prompted immediate reaction.
Human Rights Law Centre senior lawyer Kieran Pender said it showed the utter weaknesses of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PID Act).
Pender called for comprehensive reforms, including the establishment of a whistleblower protection authority. He also called on attorney general Mark Dreyfus to intervene and end the prosecution.
Today’s decision is a major blow for Australian democracy. Whistleblowers should be protected, not prosecuted – and the Public Interest Disclosure Act was enacted to ensure just that. The court’s decision that Boyle’s whistleblowing on wrongdoing within the Australian Taxation Office was not covered by the PID Act shows that the law is utterly broken.
This prosecution, and that of war crimes whistleblower David McBride, are unjust and undemocratic. The whistleblowing laws enacted by Mark Dreyfus when he was attorney general in 2013 have now failed both men. There is no public interest in either prosecution and it is high time that Dreyfus intervened to drop both cases, just as he dropped the [Bernard] Collaery case.
The decision today only underscores the urgent need for law reform to ensure whistleblower protections are real and don’t just exist on paper. The attorney general should prioritise comprehensive reform to the PID Act and the establishment of a whistleblower protection authority.
Whistleblowers make Australia a better place and our laws need to reflect that.
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Victorian Liberal meeting over Deeming continues
The Victorian Liberal party room meeting is still going – they’ve been in there for just under two hours, with leader John Pesutto moving a motion to expel Moira Deeming from the party.
A handful of MPs just went for a loo break and told us the vote hasn’t happened yet.
Last week, another party room meeting also dragged on for a bit over two hours, with a group of MPs unsuccessfully moving a motion to delay the vote.
Hopefully we have a result soon.
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Safeguard mechanism deal ‘a great day for our environment’, PM says
Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen are holding their press conference in the blue room (it is raining in Canberra, so no PM courtyard announcement).
Labor is claiming victory over the safeguard mechanism:
After a wasted decade under the Coalition, today is a very good day indeed. A great day for our environment, for jobs and for the economy. A good day for manufacturing, but a good day as well for all those who voted for a government to take action on climate change last May.
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The pollution trigger is something the Greens have been working towards for some time and it was something Labor gave some wriggle room.
BUT the hard cap only kicks in once it is reached. So the cap would have to be reached before there was a stop to emissions trading. The Greens say the cap will be 140 megatonnes (but there are still some questions to be answered)
So we will have to wait and see what the numbers are. Let’s see if the government has any more answers.
Updated
So the Greens didn’t get “no new coal and gas projects”. But what it did get was a hard cap in the legislation, which can not be exceeded through safeguards.
And Adam Bandt says that cap would be exceeded if Labor approved new coal and gas projects – that it wouldn’t be able to pass the projects on account of the pollution they would emit.
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Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen have called a press conference for 11.45am, or when this one with the Greens ends.
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And finally, the Greens say they have also secured:
Increased methane monitoring, leading to greater coal and gas emissions reductions.
A Climate Change Authority-led sectoral emission reduction plans to make it harder for coal and gas projects to get financed and to support the litigation of greenwashing.
For the first time, the act will require reporting of all types of gases and offset generation use, creating greater transparency and pressure on corporations to do more.
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Continuing on from the previous post:
All new gas fields for LNG export will need to be net zero CO2 from day one.
The agreement will significantly improve the integrity of ACCUs with a freeze on the most dubious offset class (human-induced regeneration) until they are subject to an independent audit.
The bill will include a requirement for incentives for onsite abatement and to ensure facilities are encouraged to actually cut pollution
Corporations will be required to justify their use of offsets if they use offsets for more than 30% of their baseline.
A review by the CCA in 2026-27 will look at the use of offsets and implementing measures to restrict their use if on-site abatement isn’t occurring to satisfactory levels.
The Powering the Regions fund will not be used to fund coal or gas projects.
The grant funding power the Liberal government used to subsidise fossil fuel projects will be changed in the act to prevent funding for extracting coal and gas.
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What does the deal between the Greens and Labor look like on the safeguard mechanism?
It includes:
A hard cap or ceiling on actual or absolute (gross) emissions, which won’t be able to exceed current pollution levels (140 MT per annum), and there will be a decreasing cap over time. Pollution will actually now go down, not up, and the coal and gas corporations can’t buy their way out of it with offsets. This puts a limit on coal and gas expansion in Australia. Actual pollution from safeguard entities was forecast to rise under Labor’s original safeguard, from about 140MT now to between 155-184MT in 2030.
A pollution trigger in the safeguard mechanism bill that will require the climate change minister to test a new or expanded project’s impact on the hard cap and net carbon budgets. If the assessment finds that the project would contribute to exceeding the cap or budget, the minister must consult and recalibrate the rules (such as by limiting ACCUs, reducing the value of ACCUs or adjusting the decline rates of baselines) or impose conditions on new entrants.
Using these wide-ranging powers, the minister could set baselines at zero and ACCU allowance at zero, effectively stopping a project from proceeding. The minister’s action or lack of action would be subject to legal enforcement. Approvals under the EPBC and advice from the Climate Change Authority would trigger the assessment, as would assessment of emissions data and forecasts.
All scope 1 emissions from the Beetaloo gas project will have to be net-zero, with scope 2 and 3 emissions referred to the Ministerial Energy Council. This will be a significant financial barrier in the way of the project proceeding.
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Adam Bandt is winding up his comments here:
I want to say to everyone who despairs about the future under our climate crisis and who is worried about their lives or their kids’ or their grand kids’, you should have a spring in your step today because we have shown that it is possible to take on the coal and gas corporations and win.
But there is a lot more that we need to do. What is clear is that now we need to build a movement to take on the coal and gas corporations and the government who does their bidding to stop every one of the other ones still left in the pipeline from going ahead.
We will be working hard now to fight to get a proper climate trigger in our environment laws, to stop the remaining fossil fuel subsidies going to the coal and gas corporations in the budget, and we will be fighting and standing side-by-side with all of those communities that are right around the country, for the Beetaloo to the Barossa to Narrabri who are fighting to stop the destruction of country and the fast-tracking of climate collapse by the opening of new coal and gas projects.
That is where we’ll go to now.
Adam Bandt:
The Beetaloo gas field will be required from day one to offset all of its emissions – scope one, scope two and scope three – for domestic use.
This derails the business case for the Beetaloo.
On some estimates, based on the level – we don’t know exactly what the level of the price of offsetting permits will be – on some estimates, this could add up to an additional billion dollars a year to the Beetaloo project, potentially ensuring that it doesn’t go ahead.
Now, it hasn’t been finally stopped, but it has been derailed. And this will be a huge, huge shot in the arm to the campaigners against the Beetaloo project.
Likewise, all new offshore gas projects that will be feeding in to LNG terminals will be required to be zero CO2 from day one.
Now, given that so many of these projects are big and have lots of CO2 in them, this will also add a substantial cost to these projects and put a huge hurdle in the way of them proceeding.
We have also secured a number of other amendments including stopping large amounts of public money going to funding new coal and gas.
Updated
Adam Bandt:
On our initial calculations, this means that the equivalent emissions from about half of those 116 projects is prevented.
That means about half of those 116 projects and their equivalent emissions won’t be able to go ahead.
There will be, in law for the first time in this country, a limit on the amount of pollution that these corporations including the coal and gas corporations, can pollute.
And if pollution starts to rise above that, and the Minister doesn’t take steps to fix it, they’ll be breaking the law.
This will be in legislation. Not only that, but for the first time, new projects that are proposed to enter the system will have to pass a pollution test.
There will be a safeguard trigger in the legislation that means that if new projects coming in look likely to breach the cap, then the Minister has to do something about it.
The Minister will have the powers under the legislation to take steps to stop the pollution going up including potentially stopping the project by putting restrictions on them.
This is a first in legislation because for the first time, new projects for coal and gas will now have to undergo a pollution test and that wasn’t there before. We have also put significant hurdles in the way of a number of the projects currently underway in the pipeline that the government and others have been backing.
Greens secure 'hard cap' on emissions
Adam Bandt continues:
Under the original design of the safeguard mechanism, pollution from coal and gas was going to go up.
For those who are interested in the numbers, the pollution from the entities covered by the safeguard mechanism was, is about 140 megatonnes now.
Under the projections, under Labor’s scheme, it was going to go up between 155 and 184 megatonnes.
That’s how much Labor wanted to expand coal and gas in their original safeguard design.
Any good climate policy should be stopping that, but Labor wanted to expand it. So as you know, the Greens have been pushing hard on new coal and gas because coal and gas are the main causes of the climate crisis and as the UN secretary general has said if we’re to get the climate crisis under control, we have to stop opening coal and gas mines.
The Greens, through the negotiations, have secured a big hit on coal and gas. There will now be, in legislation, a hard cap on actual emissions that the safeguard sector can emit.
This puts a limit on coal and gas expansion in this country. In fact, the limit must decline over time.
This means a huge number of those 116 coal and gas projects in the pipeline will not be able to go ahead.
This cap will be a hard cap on actual emissions and the coal and gas corporations will not be able to offset their way out of it, no matter how many offsets they buy.
Updated
Bandt lashes Labor after deal on emissions safeguard mechanism
Adam Bandt is now speaking to the media about the deal he has struck with the Labor party in regards to the industry emissions safeguard mechanism:
What I’m about to say isn’t any comment on how they conducted the negotiations or the spirit of them, but it’s about – one of the things that has become readily apparent about this place and this parliament, negotiating with Labor is like negotiating with the political wing of the coal and gas corporations. Labor seems more afraid of the coal and gas corporations than climate collapse. Labor seems more afraid of Woodside than global warming.
And neither has it been clearer than in the couple of public statements in the public positions we have seen other recent weeks – on the day that the world scientists and the UN secretary general gave us our final warning and said countries like Australia need to stop opening coal and gas mines, the government defended more coal and gas mines.
… It’s become readily apparent that we are dealing here in this parliament with a government that is still captured by the coal and gas corporations was when it came to the original design of the safeguard mechanism.
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There is lots of waiting now.
Waiting for the outcome of the Moria Deeming vote.
Waiting for the details of the deal the Greens and Labor have made in regards to the safeguard mechanism.
Allegra Spender supports cheaper batteries bill
Back in the house and Wentworth independent MP Allegra Spender is backing Helen Haines’ bill for cheaper batteries:
Cheaper home batteries are a climate and a cost of living imperative for all Australia. But without a helping hand from government, we won’t achieve the pace of uptake that we need.
Because although home batteries are coming down in price all the time, the up-front costs of between $7,000 and $15,000 remain a significant barrier for many.
This is one of the reasons why only 35,000 households installed a battery in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available.
Whilst this was an increase on 2020 – but it is less than a tenth of the number of rooftop solar installations in the same year.
And it’s a far cry from the hundreds of thousands we need to install each year if we are to electrify Australia’s 10 million households over the next decade.
Updated
Further to Paul’s post, the Greens have announced a press conference for 11.15 to discuss the safeguard mechanism agreement.
Court rejects whistleblower’s bid for immunity
ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle will face a trial and potential prison term after the South Australian district court denied his application to be considered immune from prosecution under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
Boyle’s case was a significant test for whistleblower protections, and the reasons for the decision have been put under an interim suppression order.
Updated
Greens expected to agree to safeguard mechanism deal
Guardian Australia understands that the Greens have met this morning and approved a deal with the Albanese government on the safeguard mechanism.
The deal stops short of endorsing the Greens’ demand for no new coal and gas projects, which the climate and energy minister, Chris Bowen, has repeatedly ruled out.
Last week we reported that Labor could agree to treat existing non-fossil fuel industries – such as cement, aluminium and steel – differently to new coal and gas developments in a bid to reach agreement with the Greens on a signature climate policy.
We expect an announcement later this morning with the details.
Updated
Helen Haines calls for cheaper batteries for households
Meanwhile, Indi independent Helen Haines is introducing a bill into the parliament to try to make batteries cheaper for households to help with the transition to renewables:
It’s not just improving household savings that would be achieved under this bill. Batteries provide a reliable energy source during times of emergencies like bushfires and storms, when our powerlines fail us – in places like Corryong and the Alpine areas.
They are also a critical part of reducing our national emissions. If 500,000 batteries are installed, that’s the equivalent of taking 500,000 cars off the road each and every year.
Batteries will reduce our power bills, secure our energy supply and reduce our emissions. It should be a no-brainer for the government to provide that extra help so households can afford them. This bill gets this done.
Updated
Little bit of a response to the private member’s bill Henry Pike introduced into the parliament – you can find out more about his bid to cement Australia Day as 26 January here.
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Meanwhile in Sydney:
Honoured to welcome President @BarackObama to Sydney. pic.twitter.com/0EsyEBIceP
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) March 26, 2023
Queensland MP pushes to ensure Australia Day date isn’t moved
Henry Pike, an LNP MP from Queensland, has submitted a private member’s bill to the parliament.
So what is the concern of the Bowman MP? What is the first order of business from a Coalition MP following the NSW Liberals loss where people voted for more progressive candidates?
Australia Day.
Or, more specifically, that Australia Day not be moved from 26 January.
The primary purpose of this bill is to enshrine Australia’s national day in federal law. The provisions in this bill are the same as those used to enshrine Anzac Day as a national day of commemoration through the Anzac Day Act 1983. The date of Australia Day would be formally established as 26 January. This legislative protection ensures that Australia Day must remain as a national day and cannot be abolished by the actions of the government.
The remainder of the bill provides an avenue through which the date of Australia Day could be changed in the future. This process would be the same prescribed in the Flags Act 1953 for changing the design of Australia’s national flag, namely through a national plebiscite.
How a national plebiscite on Australia Day would be formed and conducted will be at the discretion of the parliament. However, any alternate proposals must include 26 January as an option that can be selected by voters in the plebiscite. Those qualified to vote in federal elections would be qualified to vote on any proposal for an alternate date for Australia’s national day.
It is up to the government when private member’s bills come to the parliament for a vote. Can’t say this one will rate too highly on government business.
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Bank chief says collapses resemble 1980s disaster
ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott believes recent bank collapses overseas have more in common with the savings and loans disaster that gripped the US in the 1980s than the global financial crisis.
The comments, posted on the bank’s website on Monday, come amid a turbulent period for the sector, triggered by the collapse of California-based Silicon Valley Bank, and Switzerland government-backed rescue of Credit Suisse.
There are growing fears of contagion after investors also sold-down shares in Germany’s biggest lender, Deutsche Bank, late last week.
Elliott said:
The GFC was fundamentally a crisis around the quality of assets and the loans that banks make, and that’s not what the risk is here.
This is a different issue. This is really to do with the global war on inflation and how central banks are raising rates very quickly in order to combat that, and that has casualties.
The 1980s savings and loans crisis came during a period of rising interest rates that cut the profitability of many lenders in the US. The lenders were also not able to attract enough depositors, eroding the stability of bank operations.
This differs from the GFC collapses from 2008, which were linked to banks making excessive bets on the US subprime mortgage market.
Elliott said the recent banking issues in the US and Europe could turn into a broader financial disaster, adding it was too early to tell.
Every five to 10 years there’s something going on in the world. And so we shouldn’t be surprised, in a funny way, that things like this happen.
It’s too early to call it – I mean, it’s a crisis for some, obviously – but is it a financial crisis, who knows? Does it have the potential to be one? Yes, it does.
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IMF warns on China temperature rise’s economic risks
Days after the IPCC issued a “final warning” about the need to cut said emissions, the IMF’s managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, noted temperatures were rising faster in China than the global average. GDP losses would be in the order of 2.3% a year by 2030, and rising, the IMF reckons.
(Within China, the drying out of the northern plains, the loss of snow-caps that provide water for millions in the west, and rising sea levels and storm surge risks in the east are among the threats in a hotter world.)
She said:
[O]ur research shows such rebalancing could lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 15% over the next three decades. [T]his translates into benefits for the whole world: a fall in global emissions of 4.5% over the same period.
Whether or not nations listen to the IMF’s advice is another thing. (They don’t like Australia’s property bubble, for one thing.)
Still, as we saw last month, there’s a race of sorts between China’s much-touted rush into renewables and electric vehicles, and its ongoing binge of building new coal-fired power plants:
There’s a lot riding on who wins that race.
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IMF nudges China to shift economic focus, cut carbon emissions
The International Monetary Fund has gently told China to shift its economic model to favour consumption over investment and make lifting productivity a priority to lower its greenhouse gas emissions to the benefit of all.
In a speech to the 2023 China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, noted that China’s faster growth would help buoy economies in the region (including Australia’s, which she didn’t mention).
The IMF reckons China’s GDP growth will quicken to 5.2%, or about 2 percentage points faster than in 2022.
“The robust rebound means China is set to account for around one third of global growth in 2023,” Georgieva said. “A 1 percentage point increase in GDP growth in China leads to 0.3 percentage point increase in growth in other Asian economies, on average—a welcome boost.”
That’s all well and good - and perhaps a reason why Victorian premier Dan Andrews is flying to China to spruik that state’s economic prospects, including for foreign students.
But more interesting is the IMF’s advice about the need for China to “rebalance the economy away from investment and towards more consumption-driven growth that is more durable, less reliant on debt, and will also help address climate challenges”.
Such a shift would lift productivity of the economy by around 18% by 2037, helping to offset the pressures of a shrinking economy. But the benefits go further, particularly if the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter acts to cut pollution.
Victorian MP Nick McGowan says he supports Deeming
Liberal upper house MP Nick McGowan says he’ll be backing Moira Deeming. Speaking ahead of party room meeting, he said:
My mother raised me to do what is right … I don’t believe for a second that Moira is a Nazi, a Nazi sympathiser or has any association with Nazis. It’s incumbent, I think, upon each and every one of us here as human beings, as reporters – who I defend – to make sure whatever the vote here today is, that when you write, when you publish, when you report, you keep that foremost in your mind.
At the end of this day we’re dealing with a human being, an intelligent, creative woman. That’s not to say that I nor you … will agree with all her views on all matter of subjects, but it would remiss of me not to make that comment here today.
Important to note Pesutto is not alleging any of the above. He alleges Deeming’s position as “untenable” after her “involvement in … promoting and participating in a rally with speakers and other organisers who themselves have been publicly associated with far rightwing extremist groups including neo-Nazi activists”.
Deeming denies wrongdoing.
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Government mulls more curbs on dating apps amid safety concerns
Communications minister Michelle Rowland says the federal government is considering the possibility of further regulating dating apps, as the commonwealth continues its investigation of online safety around the services.
Further to Rowland’s morning media interviews, which Amy brought you earlier, the minister gave a short doorstop press conference in the Parliament House press gallery this morning.
Her office this morning announced Rowland had “issued a detailed information request to the top ten online dating services used by Australians about the extent of harms occurring on their services, and the safety policies and procedures they have in place to keep their Australian users safe”.
That information includes the number of reports the apps had received about sexual harassment and abuse, user bans, referrals to police, and the processes in place to keep banned users from creating new accounts.
Rowland said research had found three in four Australians using the apps have experienced some form of harm, but also that dating apps are the most common way to meet a new partner for young people, so the government was looking at further action.
Rowland said in her doorstop:
If we don’t get the kinds of responses we think should be forthcoming, we will consider further regulation here.
One of them could be, and this isn’t novel because it’s used across broadcasting and telco sectors, is some form of code of practice that is devised by the industry which could be subject to regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Work is still ongoing with state and territory attorneys general, the federal eSafety commissioner and relationship services, but Rowland said the recent focus on the sector – including a roundtable on safety in January – had seen apps voluntarily set up their own extra safety features.
It’s pleasing to see the focus on this area has had the effect of incentivising regulation in this area, with some of these dating apps introducing new safety features. Some of them, we’ve questioned why they are behind some paywall services because everyone should be entitled to safety.
It’s pleasing this has already focused the minds of these app providers on what they need to do better.
In a release this morning, Rowland and social services minister Amanda Rishworth said the government would “continue to put pressure on online dating services to be transparent about the safety of their users, making clear that services will be held to account for sexual harassment and abuse facilitated by their platforms”.
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The barriers give this real Queensland LNP leadership spill energy.
Moira Deeming has arrived at party room accompanied by Renee Heath, Richard Riordan, Bev McArthur, Ryan Smith and Joe McCracken @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/MVkrgCeSuN
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 26, 2023
Assistant minister Tim Ayres to talk trade and climate on China trip
We are still not sure when trade minister Don Farrell will be heading to China, but we know that his assistant minister, Tim Ayres, is on his way.
Ayres will take part in the Bo’ao forum – and is the first Australian minister to participate since 2016.
He said:
The Bo’ao forum provides a platform for high\-level dialogue between governments, business, academics and other non-government organisations to discuss regional economic and trade issues.
In addition to engaging in a series of meetings to discuss trade and investment, I will participate in a panel session exploring the future of clean energy.
I will use the panel discussion to highlight the Albanese government’s strong action on climate change, which has put us in the front row to capitalise on trade and investment opportunities from the global transition to net zero.
Daniel Andrews has also headed to Beijing:
(Posters are hoping for an update to the infamous phone meme. Sadly, I don’t think they’ll get their wish granted.)
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I’ve covered many a Liberal spill in my time at Victorian parliament and never have we had this sort of set up restricting access to MPs as they come in and out of the party room.
Liberal party room has been blocked off - restricting access to MPs - ahead of Moira Deeming vote @3aw693 pic.twitter.com/ODCEoGPQQs
— Stefanie Waclawik (@StefWaclawik) March 26, 2023
Benita Kolovos has pointed us in the direction of this tweet – Sam Groth is a moderate.
Liberal MP Sam Groth has flown back from a family holiday in Fiji to be at today’s vote to expel Moira Deeming. He flew in early this morning and hopes to be back beachside later today. #springst
— Backroom Baz (@BackroomBaz) March 26, 2023
Federal secrecy provisions reviewed
The commonwealth secrecy provisions are under review. Attorney general Mark Dreyfus is asking for consultation on these aspects of the provisions:
What principles should govern the framing of general and specific secrecy offences in commonwealth legislation
Whether any general or specific secrecy offences should be amended or repealed
What defences should be available for general and specific secrecy offences
What principles should govern the framing of the public interest journalism defence and should any amendments be considered.
Submissions for the consultation process close on 4 May 2023 and the review’s final report will be delivered to government by 30 June 2023.
The review’s consultation paper can be found here.
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Deeming arrives at Victorian parliament ahead of vote on her fate
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has arrived at the state’s parliament ahead of a vote to determine her future in the party room.
Deeming arrived at parliament accompanied by Renee Heath, who held an umbrella over her colleague’s head. The pair were joined by Richord Riordan, who last week made a failed attempt to delay the vote, and Bev McArthur, Nick McGowan and Joe McCracken. The group of conservative MPs are believed to be voting against the motion.
Opposition leader John Pesutto launched a bid to expel Deeming after she attended a rally headlined by British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen where neo-Nazis were photographed performing the Nazi salute last weekend. Deeming has denied wrongdoing.
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Victorian Liberals to decide Moira Deeming’s fate
Good morning from the Victorian parliament. In an hour’s time, a special party room meeting will be held by Liberal leader John Pesutto to expel Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party.
Pesutto has sought to expel Deeming after she attended a rally headlined by British anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen where neo-Nazis were photographed performing the Nazi salute last weekend. Deeming has denied wrongdoing.
The vote has been considered an early test for Pesutto, who took over the leadership following November’s election loss vowing to bring the party back to the centre after years of infighting between socially liberal and conservative MPs.
There are 31 members in the state Liberal party room, meaning Pesutto needs at least 16 votes for his motion to succeed. Unsurprisingly, he’s found support for his motion from the party’s moderate faction, while those opposing are from the conservative faction of the party and former leadership rivals.
Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, who last week made a failed attempt to delay the vote, arrived at parliament early and was seen with fellow conservative MP Joe McCracken. It is believed they will be voting against the motion along with Chris Crewther, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans and Bev McArthur.
Guardian Australia has spoken to several Liberal MPs who have suggested should Deeming be expelled, Pesutto could still face instability in the long term unless his motion has a “resounding victory”.
My colleague Adeshola Ore and I will have updates throughout the morning.
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David Pocock has been working on these issues since he came into the parliament – and today’s report showing that the community wants more done is only going to bolster that work. Given his importance to the federal government getting legislation through the Senate, something is going to have to give.
There is urgent need for gambling reform. This is something that's consistently raised with me and other crossbenchers.
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) March 26, 2023
Gambling is causing so much harm in our community - it should NOT be normalised.
We must push the major parties to give up their https://t.co/wmReS6mj5E…
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Joyce says NSW wanted ‘a change’ after 12 years of Coalition
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also thinks the NSW election result was down to “it’s time”. He told the Seven network:
I don’t think splitting the Coalition achieves an awful lot, but that’s a decision that my colleagues in New South Wales have to make. I really do think it’s a time to change the curtains. The curtains were working perfectly well, but after 12 years, people want a change.
But now, with the Labor party all across Australia, they’ve got no one else to blame. But they’ve got to look after the cost of living, so food prices are their issue, power prices are their issue, fuel prices are their issue, rent is their issue, and they’ve got no excuses, because that’s the biggest issue on people’s minds. They’ve got to fix it.
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Meanwhile, doesn’t look like the Liberals want the media coming too close as MPs enter the party room meeting which will decide Moira Deeming’s fate within the party.
Oppostion have set up bollards ahead of their party room meeting this morning @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/WOZjS4OIFL
— Benita Kolovos (@benitakolovos) March 26, 2023
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Fletcher warns voters against turning to independents
Paul Fletcher wouldn’t get drawn into whether the NSW Liberals’ embrace of climate change policies helped starve off the teal independent challenge in NSW state electorates.
Instead, he warned against voters turning to independents. He said that the voting landscape was now 30% rusted-on Labor, 30% rusted-on Coalition and 40% floating. That, Fletcher said, presented a danger that people might start voting against (gasp) the two party system:
One of the big dangers that we face is the idea that if you keep adding more and more independents, it doesn’t threaten the stability of government.
It’s very important we don’t end up a country like Israel; like Belgium, where I think after one election for 10 months, they were wrangling about who is going to form government; like Italy, where government changes regularly.
The two party system has served both our nation and our states. Well, now the imperative is on us as a Liberal party to make the case at both federal and state level as to our capacity to govern in the interests of the broader community, and we’ll obviously continue to do that at federal level and at state level to make that case very strong.
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Fletcher won’t offer ‘gratuitous advice’ on Moira Deeming move
The vote on whether or not first term Victorian upper house Liberal Moira Deeming will remain in the Liberal party is to be held today (there is a party room meeting in just under two hours).
Does Paul Fletcher support the bid to expel Deeming from the party?
What I support is that the leader in Victoria and the party room in Victoria.
My Victorian state colleagues will make the decision that they determine is in the best interests of the Liberal party but, more importantly, of the people of Victoria who they seek to serve.
So I won’t be offering gratuitous advice from the sidelines.
They’ve got an important responsibility and I’m sure they’ll discharge that as they judge is the best way to do so.
Fletcher will not go into whether he would be concerned at anyone in his party room attending an anti-trans rights protest.
I’m not going to be offering commentary on these matters.
Is there a place for those views in the Liberal party?
I’m not going to be commenting on hypotheticals.
Patricia Karvelas tries again – does he believe there is room for those views in the Liberal party room?
My view is that we are a party with a diverse range of views. And what’s very important is that we can have a vigorous exchange of views within our party room. We take our internal party democracy, democratic process very seriously. And that is how it should be. And look, I’m not going to get into ruling in or ruling out particular viewpoints on this or any other issue in an abstract, hypothetical way.
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Fletcher won’t say if he’ll seek another term
Paul Fletcher won’t answer the question of whether or not he will run again in Bradfield.
He is dancing around this question like he is auditioning for the new Fred Astaire biopic. (Tom Holland has the role, and anyone who has seen his Umbrella dance will know why.)
I continue to consider serving the people of Bradfield to be an enormous privilege and … any rational politician always considers what they’re going to do as you come to the end of each term.
I’ve done that before the end of each past term, but what I can tell you is it’s an honour to serve the people of Bradfield. I continue to be committed to it, energetic in doing, so I spent most of Saturday across a whole range of polling booths engaging with my constituents. I enjoyed it. I found it energising, and I believe that the Liberal party has a very important role in serving the people of Australia and certainly in serving the people of Bradfield and that’s something I’m committed to.
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Fletcher puts NSW election loss down to long incumbency
Federal Liberal MP Paul Fletcher, whose electorate of Bradfield covers northern Sydney, is now speaking to ABC radio RN Breakfast and he thinks the NSW election loss was down to time.
I think the first point is that after three terms and 12 years, inevitably, it becomes harder to win a fourth term.
It’s the nature of our democracy, of Australian democracy, that the electorate starts to look for alternatives.
And of course, 12 years of good government – extraordinary rollout of infrastructure, Metro north-west Metro City and south-east West connects north, connects new schools, hospitals all across Sydney, all across New South Wales – a government with a very good track record.
But inevitably, after 12 years, it’s not surprising that people look for a change. That’s that’s been a pattern in Australian politics for decades.
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Constitutional law expert professor Greg Craven has disagreed. He said last week the inclusion of executive government could open it up to all sorts of challenges.
Bret Walker says in his experience, that will not be the case.
These are not laws which will hand over to the voice without parliament being able to control it, the extent to which weight has to be given to what the voice says by the executive government from time to time. That’s within the parliament’s control.
And it is simply not the case that there is any prospect of litigation that would cause even a slight tick up to executive government.
Executive government lives day by day in the courts of this country with checks on its lawfulness, ultimately administered by the court.
That’s not only not a bad thing … that’s exactly what courts are for and what the rule of law means.
So no, there is no trick, there is no inconvenience for government. And there is, in particular, in this recently announced wording, here is the double precaution against any such prospect emerging.
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Barrister says voice question won’t open floodgates to constitutional challenges
On Thursday, the referendum question for the Indigenous voice to parliament will be introduced into the parliament.
That doesn’t mean it will be the final wording – there is a parliamentary committee process and that could lead to some changes.
And it also hasn’t stopped the calls for “detail”, primarily from the opposition, with critics saying it could open the floodgates to constitutional challenges.
One of the high court’s busiest barristers, Bret Walker SC, told ABC radio RN Breakfast no.
What does Walker think of the wording and principles released by the prime minister?
They seem to me to be a very safe formula with a bit of a double precaution against some of the notions that were floated by opponents. So, for example, there’s absolutely no possibility now that parliament will not be able to control the manner in which the executive, for example, will deal with representations by the voice. All of that now has been put beyond any doubt by the explicit capacity of parliaments from time to time to check adjust and control the way in which procedures will operate.
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Aston byelection looms
All eyes are now on the Aston byelection, which could also end up deciding Peter Dutton’s leadership.
It would be historic if Labor won the seat. Not just because it has been a Liberal stronghold but because governments don’t win byelections from oppositions as a general rule.
But there is a lot of chatter that Labor is doing better in Aston than it is saying and that the contest is closer than is comfortable for the Liberals.
Does Michelle Rowland think that the mood from NSW will carry into the Aston byelection in Melbourne on Saturday?
She is not saying:
I think it would be quite extraordinary for government to win a by election like this of the opposition party, not even a year into its first term, but that will be up to the voters of Aston to decide in a few days.
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‘He’s also very committed to harm minimisation’
So would Michelle Rowland like to see Chris Minns and Labor adopt the stronger gambling policy the Liberals took to the election?
Not exactly.
Well, he went to the election with a clear policy in this area, people made their decision there. This is an area that is regulated under state law and I expect that he will hold true to his election commitments.
And I also expect that as premier he will be open and consultative about that process. That he’s also very committed to harm minimisation and that he will ensure that what the community expects in terms of delivering on his commitments he fulfils.
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‘Chris Minns spent a lot of time in western Sydney’
Michelle Rowland is a NSW Labor MP, so what did she take from the NSW Labor win?
I think it came down to probably two factors. The first is there was certainly a sense of this is was a tired government. But I think that it was more nuanced than that. I think Chris Minns asked a very genuine question – do you really think this government’s best days are ahead of them?
And I think that prompted people to consider not only the then current premier, but also everything that had gone on in the past, how their quality of life had progressed.
But I also think that there is there’s something going on in the outer and growth suburbs of our metropolitan areas, but also our regional areas, like around Monaro. There’s something going on there where the electorate expects a certain level of services and good planning, so that they can have confidence in the future.
They have the right health services, education, that they have the infrastructure that they need. And I think in these areas, those electors felt let down after 12 years, and I think by picking up on that by being very engaged, particularly in north-west and south-west Sydney, I know that one of his first acts as coming to Labor leader, which wasn’t even two years ago, was that Chris Minns spent a lot of time in western Sydney even when we went into lockdown.
He also spent a lot of time in western Sydney, doing things for the community, packing hampers for people who were in isolation. So I think he demonstrated he was someone who was very in touch with those basic needs.
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Gambling harm minimisation plans
Communications minister Michelle Rowland is out and about early this morning talking up the government’s harm minimisation reforms when it comes to gambling.
Rowland drew controversy a little while ago when it was revealed she had accepted donations and hospitality from online gambling giant Sportsbet while the shadow minister. Now as the minister with responsibility for online gambling, Rowland is having to work to ensure people have trust that she will go far enough in regulating that industry.
Rowland tells ABC radio RN Breakfast:
It’s clear that we have an agenda to minimise harm and to keep Australians safe, and that includes in relation to people who are vulnerable and at risk of harm in this space. The entire premise here is about harm minimisation. We went into we were in opposition, having a strong track record on harm minimisation, we’ve come into government with a clear agenda in this area. We are actually doing more in our first year about tackling this problem, getting the right settings, getting the evidence and setting an agenda than the last government had in its entire term. So I expect that this government and myself as minister will be judged on our record. It’s very clear that we understand the community expects action in this area. I’ve made my position very clear in relation to those other matters. And I’m getting on with the job.
The government has launched an inquiry into some of the issues surrounding online gambling, including limiting exposure to children.
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Good morning
Welcome to the last sitting week before the budget!
Labor is hoping the message from NSW will carry over into its safeguard negotiations so it can wrap them up in time for its 1 July carbon trading deadline – but the Greens are also pointing to the more progressive vote to try to prod the government into going further.
The same battle is playing out over the housing future fund. The Greens think the government can go further than 30,000 homes in the first five years. David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie agree. Labor says it has the balance right but that doesn’t mean anything if it can’t convince the Senate.
The government’s workplace gender equality bill will be introduced this week to try to close the gender pay gap (companies will have to publish their gap with the idea being transparency will bring about change) and, on Thursday, the wording for the Indigenous voice to parliament will be introduced in the house.
So it’s a busy week. And one starting with Labor on a high from its win in NSW. You may have noticed the Coalition wasn’t mentioned in that legislation negotiation rundown – that’s because it’s written itself out of the negotiations by saying no from the beginning.
Today the federal Coalition party room will have a bit of reckoning of its own – mainland Australia is wall-to-wall red. John Howard has told the Australian newspaper that Labor’s hold on power is “brittle” and won’t last long. The Queensland election is not until October 2024 and that will be the first chance the LNP has to win back some power, so it’s going to last a little over a year and a half (unless, of course, the rumours Anthony Albanese will call a snap election for early next year play out).
Unlike 2007, the Coalition is still trying to work out what it stands for. All those seeds Howard planted, turning the Liberal party into a party of conservatives, have now borne fruit. This IS Howard’s party and voters haven’t exactly embraced it. Demographic changes mean younger voters hold the power now and they are, so far, becoming more progressive. Yet the overwhelming calls from within the Coalition house have been to go further to the right to win back voters.
It’s going to be a long ride.
So strap in as we take you through today. You have Amy Remeikis on the blog, with Mike Bowers in the hallways (yay).
Paul Karp, Josh Butler and Daniel Hurst are in Canberra while the rest of the Guardian brains trust will keep you updated on what’s happening beyond Capital Hill.
Ready?
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