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Australia politics live: Chalmers says economic woes driving voters to One Nation; Wong sanctions Israelis over West Bank violence | Australia news
One Nation ‘not our enemy but an opponent’, Liberal senator says
Nino Bucci
James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, says that One Nation’s “increased prominence” should bring “increased scrutiny”, brushing off suggestions from new party president Tony Abbott that the Liberals should not fight with parties to their political right.
Paterson told the ABC on Monday night:
One Nation are not our enemy but they are a political opponent, they are trying to take votes and seats off the Liberal party.
Their increased prominence in the polls brings increased legitimate scrutiny on their performance, on their policies, on their candidates, on their conduct.
Paterson went on to quote a story from The Australian that reported One Nation’s leader, Pauline Hanson, missed 88% of Senate estimates hearings in the past decade.
When asked directly by comments from Abbott that suggested the Liberals should not fight with One Nation, Paterson responded:
It’s up to the parliamentary party to chart our own course, and I’m very clear about our role in this.
It’s not really his role as party president, it’s an organisational role, his role is to rally the troops, to raise money, to get the campaign organisations fighting fit, I’m very pleased he’s put his hand up for that role, he’ll be outstanding in it.
Key events
Hanson’s attendance ‘up to Pauline’, says Farley
One Nation representative, David Farley, says it’s up to Pauline Hanson on when and how she attends parliament, skirting questions about her track record on RN Breakfast earlier this morning
Farley, who won the Farrer byelection in May, will be sworn into Parliament this morning.
Asked whether he commit to attending all sessions of Parliament, Farley says “that’s my objective, unless something calls me with a greater urgency outside of it”.
I’m not exactly sure if, you know, besides reading the press on the weekend, Pauline’s attendance record and understanding it. But it’s up to Pauline to see where she’s more effective. And I’ll leave that to that question for Pauline.
Just last week Hanson posted a photograph on social media (while estimates was on) of herself and mining magnate Clive Palmer enjoying a lunch in Queensland for her birthday.
Hanson ‘can’t even be bothered showing up to do her job’: Paterson
The shadow defence minister, James Paterson, has taken a jab at Pauline Hanson’s attendance in parliament, and says it reflects badly on her.
Reporting in The Australian yesterday found Hanson had skipped 88% of Senate estimates hearings. There’s “no more important forum” than estimates for an opposition or crossbencher, Paterson says.
Asked whether people at home flocking towards One Nation would care about her attendance, Paterson said, “they may or they may not, but I still think it’s important because senators are paid very well by taxpayers to do our job”:
If 88% of the time Senator Hanson can’t even be bothered showing up to do her job, to advocate for her constituents, I think that reflects badly on her commitment to her job.
Paterson agrees with Chalmers that the biggest driver of One Nation’s popularity is the economy. But he also says the public are “animated” by cultural issues.
I think the biggest driver is the economy. I think it’s the loss of living standards that Australians have suffered in the post-pandemic era, which has meant they’re very disillusioned with the direction of their country and they are looking for alternatives. But they are also animated by cultural issues. They are animated by the flag, anthem and Anzac Day. They’re also very concerned about immigration.
I think it’s in Australia’s interest that mainstream politics resolves those problems, solves them in a way that minor parties have no interest in actually solving them. They just want to mine them for political grievance.
That last line sounds pretty similar to what Chalmers was just saying about the Coalition and One Nation.
‘Real risk of capability gap emerging’: Paterson
The shadow defence minister, James Paterson, is next in the RN Breakfast hot seat, and voices concern over yesterday’s announcement that Australia will receive three used Virginia-class submarines from the United States under the Aukus agreement.
Paterson says that the boats have a lifespan of around 33 years and we would be receiving them when they are already a decade old, which could open up some capability gaps in the future.
It means they need to be replaced sooner by other submarines. And that’s the SSN Aukus program, which is the Australian program to build nuclear submarines with the United Kingdom. If that doesn’t happen on plan and on schedule, and these are megaprojects that have high risks, then you have a real risk of a capability gap emerging.
Paterson says that in the government’s “optimal pathway” plan, Australia was to receive one new Virginia class submarine, and two secondhand ones.
Host Sally Sara asks if it’s worth taking the three secondhand subs to maintain a good relationship with the US, but Paterson says, “not in my view, no”.
I think the most important thing about this program is securing Australia’s national interest, about being able to defend our values, about how to defend our country ultimately and we shouldn’t swap that for praise from a foreign government. We should do what we believe is in our national interest.
Treasurer says shift towards One Nation economic in nature
Chalmers says the voter shift towards One Nation is being driven by the economy, which he says the government doesn’t dismiss.
But he adds that Labor wants to address it, whereas the opposition and One Nation want to use it for political point scoring.
One Nation’s primary vote has been quickly catching up to Labor and one poll in the Financial Review on Sunday showed the minor party had overtaken the government.
Chalmers says:
People do have legitimate concerns about how the war in the Middle East is playing out and the hefty price that we are paying for it in inflation here at home. And so we don’t dismiss for one second or disregard for one moment the very legitimate concern that people have about where they fit in our economy and in our society.
The difference between us and the three-ring circus on the right of politics is that they want to benefit politically from this sense of dislocation, whereas we want to address it.
Chalmers prepared to take the ‘political hit’ for CGT changes
Jim Chalmers has said from the beginning that he understands his budget is contentious, but new polling from Redbridge shows that the measures haven’t been a hit with the young people it’s supposed to help either.
Polling shows that 51% of millennial voters believe the budget would be bad for them personally.
Chalmers tells RN Breakfast again that he didn’t expect to be popular, particularly in a difficult economic time. The government’s also left itself plenty of room before the next election when the polls actually count.
Chalmers says:
I would rather get the policy right and take a political hit for that than to take a much easier decision politically, which is to leave everything exactly as it is.
‘Our job here is not to target a particular price outcome’: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers says auction clearance rates were already slowing before the budget, as prices across capital cities face a fall of up to 10%.
Speaking to RN Breakfast, Chalmers reiterates that the Treasury department predicts house prices will continue to increase, but more slowly, and says first home buyers should be getting a fair chance at auctions.
Host, Sally Sara asks if it’s a good thing if prices go backwards. Chalmers says:
Our job here is not to target a particular price outcome. Our job here is to make sure that there are more affordable options for first home buyers to get a toehold in what has been historically a really difficult market …
The tax changes aren’t the only factor here. The last few decisions from the independent Reserve Bank are playing a role, the softer economic conditions are playing a role as well.
Asked whether he’s concerned that first home buyers using the 5% deposit scheme could end up with negative equity in their first few years of ownership, Chalmers says “no”, because housing is a medium term, or long term investment, not a short term one.
Government places new sanctions in response to settler violence in the West Bank
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has announced new sanctions by the commonwealth over three Israeli individuals and four entities in response to “escalating settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank”.
The entities will receive targeted financial sanctions while the individuals will receive travel bans to Australia.
Wong says the new sanctions have been coordinated with New Zealand and other nations.
In a statement, Wong’s said:
For the first time, designated entities now include farming outposts that serve as hubs for settler violence.
Settler violence is used to displace Palestinians and perpetuate the settlement enterprise, through destruction of property, displacement of families, beatings, sexual assault, and torture, resulting in serious injuries and deaths.
‘A beat up’: Chalmers refutes having godlike powers over CGT details
Jim Chalmers, heading over to the Today Show studios, is challenged over the government’s power to add details on the capital gains tax changes, after the first tranche of legislation was introduced last week.
The treasurer said that more details, after the government finishes its consultation with the start up and business industry, will be added to subsequent legislation.
Asked by host Sarah Abo if he’s given himself “godlike powers” to make changes to that legislation, Chalmers says, “of course not”.
This is another beat up. It’s not unusual in tax legislation for the definitions to be settled in what’s called legislative instruments.
Chalmers says minimum wage workers deserve a ‘decent real increase’
Jim Chalmers starts on the ABC’s News Breakfast and says that workers deserve a “real” wage rise ahead of the Fair Work Commission’s decision on the next minimum wage increase. A real wage rise means a rise above the rate of inflation.
But the government won’t – and previously hasn’t – specified a number. The treasurer says that’s for “good reason”, but that Labor has “made our views clear on this occasion, as we have on other occasions”.
Workers on the minimum wage and on awards need and deserve a decent real increase today.
We’ve made that very clear [that] higher wages and lower taxes are the best way to help working people with the cost of living by making sure that people are earning more and keeping more of what they earn.
The increase will come into effect on 1 July. The Australian Council of Trade Unions has been pushing for a 6% wage rise.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you, thanks to Martin Farrer for getting us started.
Ahead of today’s minimum wage announcement, the treasurer is doing the media rounds, making his way through the press gallery. The government is still on the budget sell, after some mixed reviews (to say the least) about the capital gains tax changes.
And there will be plenty on in estimates – we’ll be keeping a close eye on that.
Let’s get stuck in!
Greens to question US use of Australian naval base
Speaking of Aukus, Australian Associated Press reports that defence officials will be scrutinised today over how the US is designating a key Australian naval base for the Aukus pact.
The Greens are expected to use Senate estimates today to press officials and the Albanese government about HMAS Stirling in Western Australia being classed as a US shore installation.
A US government procurement site has since April referred to the base as “Naval Support Activity Stirling”.
Bases located in the US and across the world are referred to as being used as part of “naval support activity”. What that actually means is unknown.
The Greens’ defence spokesperson, David Shoebridge, will also grill officials about how taxpayers will pay for infrastructure, in addition to an announcement Australia will no longer buy new nuclear-powered submarines from the US.
Peter Garrett is going to head an independent, community-funded inquiry into the Aukus submarine pact.
He’s told the ABC this morning he wants to “give Australians the opportunity to ask the questions that haven’t been answered up to now about this extraordinary deal”.
He says:
This was the most significant, and by far the most costly decision made in secret by an Australian government, tying us to two other sovereign governments, and taking out an extraordinary amount of taxpayers’ money on a proposition which has got a lot of distinct and very difficult complexities and potential problems lying up ahead.
Read our full story here:
Australia’s ebola screening measures sufficient and border closures not needed: health department
Luca Ittimani
Australia is screening overseas arrivals for Ebola and does not need to close its borders as the disease’s outbreak worsens in central Africa, the health department says
Canada has suspended immigration procedures for those travelling from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and South Sudan and required anyone arriving from countries with Ebola cases to quarantine for three weeks. The US has also issued limits.
Australia has not brought in such measures. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said on Monday:
Australia has strong border health measures to screen for people who may be symptomatic with very serious communicable diseases like Ebola disease.
We do not need to close Australia’s borders to safely manage the current risk, which remains low for Australia.
We are aware of measures taken by some other countries, and we decide on the measures most appropriate for Australia based on Australia’s circumstances.
The spokesperson said the government had put up signs at Australian airports for arrivals from DRC or Uganda, with a QR code that provides information on symptoms and what to do if they develop. They said:
Anyone who has signs or symptoms on arrival will be identified by the existing screening measures.
The department and the Australian Centre for Disease Control are monitoring the global situation and will work with border agencies to implement additional measures if the assessed risk changes.
Minimum wage increase to be announced today
Luca Ittimani
The Fair Work Commission will this morning hand down its decision on how far to raise minimum and award wages from July.
Business groups have called for increases of up to 3.9%. The peak small business body has called for a temporary wage freeze, with increases to come only in December.
One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has suggested there should be no increase at all this year.
The Albanese government has called for a “sustainable real wage increase”. It has declined to specify how big the increase should be, or even what inflation measure or what period of time it wants the Commission to consider.
The Reserve Bank expects headline inflation to hit 4.8% by the end of June and underlying inflation to hit 3.8%.
Trade unions are calling for a 6% increase for 3 million of Australia’s lowest paid workers, arguing pay should rise faster than inflation.
It is not clear where the wage panel is leaning, though one of its members has implied a 6% increase would stoke inflation.
The decision will be announced from 10am.
One Nation ‘not our enemy but an opponent’, Liberal senator says
Nino Bucci
James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, says that One Nation’s “increased prominence” should bring “increased scrutiny”, brushing off suggestions from new party president Tony Abbott that the Liberals should not fight with parties to their political right.
Paterson told the ABC on Monday night:
One Nation are not our enemy but they are a political opponent, they are trying to take votes and seats off the Liberal party.
Their increased prominence in the polls brings increased legitimate scrutiny on their performance, on their policies, on their candidates, on their conduct.
Paterson went on to quote a story from The Australian that reported One Nation’s leader, Pauline Hanson, missed 88% of Senate estimates hearings in the past decade.
When asked directly by comments from Abbott that suggested the Liberals should not fight with One Nation, Paterson responded:
It’s up to the parliamentary party to chart our own course, and I’m very clear about our role in this.
It’s not really his role as party president, it’s an organisational role, his role is to rally the troops, to raise money, to get the campaign organisations fighting fit, I’m very pleased he’s put his hand up for that role, he’ll be outstanding in it.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live politics blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Krishani Dhanji with the main action.
James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, has told 7.30 that One Nation’s increased prominence should bring increased scrutiny. He says the party is not the Coalition’s enemy but “an opponent”. More coming up.
The Fair Work Commission will this morning hand down its decision on how far to raise minimum and award wages from July. More details up soon.
