Australia politics reside: Labor says lease freezes don’t work as Pocock welcomes shift on housing fund | Australian politics

Greens get together room briefing wraps up

The Greens have completed their get together room briefing – from what I hear, it was dominated by the housing fund, however we are going to hear precisely what went on quickly.

Prime minister identifies present alternatives for Australia as a nation

So what are these alternatives?

Anthony Albanese says they’re:

• The chance to be a renewable power superpower – and to make use of that to drive turning into a producing powerhouse.

• To guide the world in the usual of care and help that we provide our residents.

• To drive a brand new wave of productiveness in our huge corporations and our small companies and our start-ups.

Australia has the sources, the individuals, the get-up-and-go to grab this second. Our authorities is set to make it possible for we do exactly that.

We’re a authorities with a way of objective. Greedy these alternatives and sharing them is on the very coronary heart of that objective.

In our first yr, I consider that we’ve laid a really sturdy basis. That was the theme of our funds.

Within the yr forward, we’ll proceed to construct the higher future that the Australian individuals voted for.

PM: Labor at all times understood ‘the world would current us with challenges’

As a result of by way of “the state of the nation”, issues usually are not nice. Anthony Albanese didn’t precisely channel Gerald Ford’s “the State of the Union shouldn’t be good” line, however he did level to the challenges:

When my colleagues and I had been campaigning in the course of the election simply over a yr in the past, we knew that Australia was going through a interval of financial uncertainty.

We knew there was a stunning legacy of waste and neglect that we must take care of. And we knew that occasions past our borders and outdoors our management would carry vital and complicated and unpredictable challenges.

However we sought the privilege and the chance of presidency to take up these challenges, to take them on. To take care of Australians doing it powerful, to assist individuals underneath strain right here and now – however all whereas by no means taking our eye off the long run agenda.

That’s why individuals flip to Labor governments – they belief us to make the best selections for the current, however importantly as nicely, to form the long run.

And whereas my colleagues and I at all times understood the world would current us with challenges, we additionally held to the assumption that it might supply us nice alternatives.

Abstract of Anthony Albanese’s speech to the Committee for Financial Growth of Australia

The Ceda speech from Anthony Albanese included the same old “rah-rah authorities” strains:

Australia’s future safety and our future prosperity will depend on our financial system breaking new floor:

– Attracting new sources of worldwide funding.

– Diversifying our future exports.

– Boosting the abilities of our workforce.

– Constructing higher resilience in our provide chains.

– Transferring extra of our companies up the worldwide worth chain.

– And supporting the complete, equal, respectful and overdue participation of girls within the financial system.

That is the dynamic, aggressive and diversified financial system that we’re already working with enterprise to construct – and we’re seeing encouraging outcomes:

– Probably the most jobs created within the first yr of any authorities in Australian historical past.

– Document ranges of participation, together with a report variety of girls in full-time work.

– Wages rising on the quickest charge in a decade – and actual wages progress forecast for subsequent yr.

We’re happy with this report – however we’re not resting on it.

Nevertheless it additionally focussed on the challenges. Not even coming challenges. As a result of we’re in them.

Important ballot excellent news for Anthony Albanese

The most recent Important ballot comes forward of Anthony Albanese’s Ceda deal with. As Paul Karp studies, there may be some excellent news for the prime minister within the numbers:

Labor is now the popular get together to deal with the rising price of residing and rates of interest after a collapse within the proportion of Australians who consider the Coalition is finest on key elements of the financial system.

The results of the most recent Guardian Important ballot of 1,123 voters is a warning signal for the Peter Dutton-led opposition, suggesting that voters usually are not indignant on the Albanese authorities’s dealing with of the financial system, regardless of the ache of 12 rate of interest hikes and inflation.

Listening to on migration points tomorrow

The pinnacle if dwelling affairs, Michael Pezzullo, will face the joint standing committee on migration tomorrow, which would be the first time he has fronted this explicit committee.

The committee chair Labor MP Maria Vamvakinou stated in its seven conferences thus far, the committee has heard lots about what’s mistaken with the system because it stands and now it’s going to the supply for solutions to a few of its questions:

This listening to would be the good alternative for the committee to get solutions on the present operation of the migration system from these straight chargeable for administering it. The listening to is especially well timed given the current completion of the Parkinson Assessment, the announcement of the federal government’s proposed migration technique, and the continued multicultural framework evaluation. The committee might be very to listen to in regards to the outcomes of those initiatives and the way the division will implement related reforms.

Tune in for that one.

Parliament to start out at noon after get together room conferences

Parliament goes to start out at noon right now, due to the get together room conferences.

These conferences are going to be a bit messy right now as a result of a) it’s the final sitting earlier than the break and b) everyone seems to be in a preventing temper.

The Coalition suppose they’re on to a winner with the Katy Gallagher assaults. Labor is outraged over them. Everyone seems to be spitting mad.

And that’s earlier than we even get to the referendum laws debate within the Senate (it can move) and the housing invoice negotiations.

By the tip of this sitting, everybody will want a break.

PM on Gallagher assaults: ‘we received’t be distracted by these type of campaigns’

In a harbinger of how uncomfortable right now goes to be, the PM was requested in that very same interview about Katy Gallagher. The day in parliament will cowl each, usually on the similar time, and it’s going to get messy.

Requested about whether or not Gallagher had inquiries to reply, Albanese stated:

Oh, that is absurd. Katy Gallagher has been clear. We’re speaking about right here an alleged incident, an alleged rape that occurred in 2019, in a Liberal minister’s workplace, of 1 Liberal employees member, by one other Liberal employees member, and one way or the other Katy Gallagher is chargeable for …

Q: I don’t suppose it’s that, however the query is being put. At one level it was like, what do you know when? And there’s been two totally different solutions to that.

Albanese:

No, that’s not proper. Go and take a look on the footage. Linda Reynolds in that speaks about ‘you knew weeks in the past’, and she or he says that she was instructed that two weeks in the past or weeks in the past, she was instructed that there could be a conspiracy, that Labor was planning this.

And that’s simply not true. It’s a weird conspiracy concept that means that Labor one way or the other is on the centre of all of this.

And certainly, in response to Senator Reynolds herself, within the dialogue that happened at the moment, on the Monday evening, Katy Gallagher stated, ‘Sure, I used to be made conscious in broad phrases that there was an incident within the days beforehand’.

So this has been recognized by Senator Reynolds since that point, since 2021, and now in 2023, one way or the other, that is this concocted challenge by what’s a determined Liberal opposition in search of any challenge. I imply, one would have thought that simply weeks after we handed down a funds, they’d be concentrating on the financial system and on points that have an effect on common Australians.

We’ll proceed to do our job and we received’t be distracted by these type of campaigns.

PM on Hunter Valley bus crash: ‘a tragedy past perception’

Chatting with ABC Radio Sydney this morning, Anthony Albanese spoke in regards to the Greta bus crash tragedy:

It’s simply such a horrific incident to happen. Individuals affiliate weddings with love and lifelong commitments and celebrations with household and associates. And for it to finish on this horrific tragedy, with so many deaths, so many accidents, however in fact, the scars will final for such an extended, lengthy time frame. It’s going to be very troublesome for the communities concerned, the 2 sporting groups concerned as nicely. It’s only a tragedy past perception.

David Pocock welcomes Labor supply on housing fund

The ACT’s impartial senator David Pocock has welcomed the federal government’s shift on the housing fund, saying it has now responded to 6 of the eight preliminary joint crossbench requests:

We’re all seeing the results of the housing disaster in our communities. It’s hurting increasingly more Australians. We want motion.

These most up-to-date adjustments in response to suggestions from stakeholders and the crossbench will guarantee this bundle of payments does extra to handle that disaster.
The 2 huge areas the place the federal government hasn’t budged are rising the general quantum of the fund and offering further funding for First Nations housing.

Nevertheless, by agreeing to carry ahead the date of the primary evaluation there’s a chance to reassess the scale of the fund and its operations.

Whereas the group needs to see extra authorities funding, the necessity is rising and motion is pressing.

These have been troublesome negotiations however floor has been given and I hope there may be ample help within the Senate to move the payments this week.

Gallagher and Higgins inquiries to be centre of right now’s parliamentary session

Parliament goes to be very, very messy right now because the coalition and Labor go face to face over whether or not or not Katy Gallagher misled parliament. Gallagher was not a minister when the Senate estimates change occurred. However that received’t cease the politics as either side accuses the opposite of politicising the problem.

Simon Birmingham went on Sky Information to push the Coalition’s aspect:

The truth is that it was Anthony Albanese’s Labor crew that selected to, by way of the parliamentary processes, [ask] a whole bunch and a whole bunch of questions on these allegations to take them from a authorized matter, a felony matter, a matter to be determined by the courts and put them by way of the parliament as nicely.

Now, having accomplished that and accomplished that while proclaiming the innocence of their crew by way of any prior data or involvement within the political nature of that assault, frankly, [that] does now warrant scrutiny as as to if or not they did have that prior data or info.

The questions Labor was asking on the time was about what the then prime minister Scott Morrison or his workplace knew on the time, in addition to what the then authorities did when the allegations had been privately raised.

There’s additionally the essential questions of how Brittany Higgins’ personal textual content messages have been leaked.

Queensland declares additional 50,000 free kindergarten locations as a part of funds day

Comfortable Queensland funds day, to those that rejoice. The lock up is about to start, however here’s what we all know thus far (from employees reporters and AAP)

The Queensland authorities has kicked off funds day by asserting it can make kindergarten free for all of the state’s households from subsequent yr. At the moment 14,000 kids obtain free kindy, which is a 15-hour-a-week authorities authorized program aimed on the yr earlier than kids begin college.

Below the reforms, which can apply to kindergarten applications at lengthy day care centres in addition to group kindergartens, which means an 50,000 further kids will be capable of attend without cost.

Annastacia Palaszczuk described it as a $645m funding within the state’s future.

There are at present round 8,000 kids who’re eligible to attend a kindy however don’t, and it’s time to shut that hole.

The federal government has hinted there might be additional cost-of-living aid within the funds, together with an anticipated enhance within the current $175 power rebate to assist individuals scuffling with energy payments. Regional Queensland residents final week had been hit with the very best electrical energy enhance within the nation at 29%.

The associated fee-of-living measures come as the federal government is flush with cash from larger coal and petroleum royalties, with the funds replace six months in the past forecasting a $5.2bn surplus for 2022/23.

Shorten: ‘We within the Labor crew have numerous help for Senator Gallagher. Full cease’

Invoice Shorten got here to the defence of finance minister Katy Gallagher whereas chatting with the 9 community this morning.

Gallagher is going through scrutiny over whether or not she might have misled parliament over what she knew in regards to the Brittany Higgins allegations and when. Paul Karp has these questions lined right here:

Shorten stated:

I’m simply going to make a few factors about Katy. And one of many the reason why she does an superior job is as a result of she’s bought such integrity and respect amongst the entire Labor crew. When it comes to what Senator Reynolds is complaining about within the parliament, Katy Gallagher was in opposition.

She was asking powerful questions of Senator Reynolds on a selected matter. After which Senator Reynolds has determined to say that she was deceptive the parliament. Senator Gallagher stated she wasn’t. And we within the Labor crew have gotten numerous help for Senator Gallagher. Full cease.

…with out me entering into each element of each crossed T and dotted I, the purpose is that Senator Reynolds was saying that Senator Gallagher had weaponised this matter, that she was conscious of all the pieces for weeks prematurely.

And Senator Gallagher has stated she wasn’t, and she or he was answering Senator Reynold’s query.

The precise factor that Reynolds was placing to [her] – it wasn’t true, in response to Senator Gallagher, and she or he simply stood her floor.