Labor senator Glenn Sterle likens Bridget McKenzie to a ‘naughty little lady’ in Senate estimates
Josh Butler
The deputy Nationals chief, Perin Davey, has questioned the behaviour of the Labor senator Glenn Sterle, who referred to Bridget McKenzie as a “naughty little lady” throughout a Senate estimates fracas this morning.
Sterle, a authorities senator for WA, mentioned he was “going to do my block” throughout a disagreement within the rural and regional affairs committee in Parliament Home this morning. McKenzie, the Nationals senator from Victoria, was asking questions of a dairy organisation showing earlier than the listening to, and pushed again on interjections from different senators about her line of questioning.
McKenzie: It’s attention-grabbing – I’ve requested a respectable query … I want to proceed my questions… you’ve each been yabbering at me.
“We’ve been going so properly,” Sterle mentioned, earlier than McKenzie appeared to interject to defend herself. Sterle, the committee chair, then spoke up extra loudly:
Sterle: Senator McKenzie, do you all the time must have the final phrase? I used to be going to defend you then. Actually like a naughty little lady, are you able to be quiet whereas somebody finishes? You don’t must have the final phrase… I’m going to do my block in a minute.
Sterle gave the decision again to McKenzie, earlier than additional arguing with the Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson in regards to the tone of discussions. Whish-Wilson requested Sterle to withdraw his remark, however Sterle refused.
You’re all as unhealthy as one another… I can’t withdraw it, I’m in all probability the simplest one to get on with.
McKenzie herself requested Sterle to withdraw, whereupon he apologised and mentioned “you’re not a naughty little lady”.
We’ve contacted McKenzie’s workplace for remark, who declined so as to add any additional to it. However Davey, the Nationals senator from NSW, tweeted in response to a clip of the change:
Key occasions
Filters BETA
Paul Karp
One we missed from earlier right this moment in Estimates:
David Pocock requested the Australian Electoral Fee about “doctored superman corflutes from the election marketing campaign” – which depicted him sporting an Australian Greens shirt.
The AEC has beforehand mentioned it thought of this to breach part 329 of the Electoral Act, which bans materials that “is more likely to mislead or deceive an elector in relation to the casting of a vote”.
AEC officers informed Pocock that it will probably’t prosecute folks, but it surely had referred the matter to the AFP to research additional.
Peter Hannam
Rain aid on the way in which – maybe? – as oceans shift to extra impartial circumstances
Japanese Australia has been having fun with a comparatively dry spell of late – until you’re within the path of some slow-moving main flood waters, such because the Barwon-Darling/Bakka river.
The Bureau of Meteorology has up to date its local weather drivers report, with some excellent news from the north-west. The unfavourable section of the Indian Ocean Dipole has ended, snapping the primary recorded back-to-back annual incidence of this occasion.
Throughout the unfavourable section, floor waters off north-western Australia are comparatively heat (in contrast with these on the western aspect of the Indian Ocean), making it extra doubtless for clouds to type. These rainbands stream throughout the continent in late winter and spring, lifting rainfall as we’ve seen, significantly within the southeast. The shallow La Niña within the Pacific can also be tilting again in direction of impartial circumstances.
After three La Niña years in a row, we’ll be glad to see the again of this one, which is probably going in January, if not earlier than.
Climate and local weather, although, don’t change on or off, and so we’re in all probability speaking in regards to the gradual easing of circumstances as summer time performs out.
As an island continent, although, what occurs to the south performs a job too. The Southern Annular Mode – which tends to supply extra rain throughout the nether components of the nation – seems to be like remaining in its constructive section for now at the very least.
Because the bureau notes, meaning elevated odds of above-average rainfall for the close to time period for components of jap NSW, jap Victoria, and south-eastern Queensland. (Western Tasmania appears to be the place to move in order for you drier-than-usual climate simply now.)
The wildcard within the pack, although, could possibly be tropical cyclones, which might deliver a number of additional rain to many areas. La Niñas favour extra such tempests than ordinary, which is one thing we didn’t see within the first two years of this trio. Will we be fortunate for a 3rd 12 months in a row?
Public servant nominated for award for function in designing robodebt scheme, royal fee hears
Luke Henriques-Gomes
Division of Human Providers officers nominated a public servant for a 2017 Australia Day award to mark his function designing the robodebt scheme, a royal fee has heard.
Emails introduced to the royal fee on Tuesday from November 2016 present that an e mail from DHS official Scott Britton nominated one other official, Jason Ryman, for an Australia Day achievement award for 2017.
He was nominated by the division’s compliance department for “main the On-line Compliance Intervention” challenge – which was the robodebt scheme.
Britton, who was giving proof on Tuesday, mentioned he didn’t know if Ryman had acquired the award.
Different emails aired within the fee in early 2017 confirmed that then human companies minister Alan Tudge had written to his division asking for a briefing, together with “actual life examples” of using ATO knowledge to boost money owed, partially as a result of the then prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, had learn an opinion piece in regards to the scheme. Tudge additionally requested particulars of the financial savings the scheme would generate.
The inquiry additionally heard that all through the second half of 2016 – after the robodebt scheme had been ramped up – Tudge’s workplace requested Division of Human Providers officers when the scheme would hit a $500m financial savings goal.
Departmental emails confirmed public servants weren’t conscious of any official goal, and Britton informed the inquiry he anticipated that the “goal” was a milestone that Tudge’s workplace needed to mark with a media launch.
The fee continues.
And on that observe, I’m going at hand you over to Steph Convery for the remainder of the afternoon.
We’ve got two extra days of the home sitting and three extra days of estimates, so who is aware of what might occur!
Thanks to everybody who adopted together with me right this moment – I can be again early tomorrow morning.
Have enjoyable with Steph – within the meantime, care for you.
And in case you haven’t seen it from Josh Taylor:
The net security regulator has written to Elon Musk, cautioning him his firm should adjust to Australian legislation and expressing concern in regards to the cuts to the platform’s security group and proposed modifications to verification.
Julie Inman Grant, who labored for Twitter previous to turning into Australia’s eSafety commissioner in 2016, informed a Senate estimates listening to on Tuesday she had written to Twitter’s new billionaire proprietor to hunt assurances Twitter would adjust to takedown and different authorities requests.
Australia’s on-line security act offers the eSafety commissioner powers to problem requests to firms like Twitter to supply info to her about accounts or take away content material comparable to bullying or image-based abuse focused at Australians.
Sarah Martin
The Coalition’s shadow finance minister Jane Hume is asking in regards to the costing of the stage-three tax cuts, suggesting the brand new authorities had costed the measure as a result of it had thought of scrapping it.
Hume asks why Treasury would value an “already legislated authorities coverage”.
“There’s a costing that has been finished to take away the stage-three tax cuts,” Hume mentioned.
Final month, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, introduced that the price of the stage-three tax cuts had blown out by $11bn over the medium time period to $254bn.
The finance minister Katy Gallagher mentioned it was a routine budgeting course of, and accused the Coalition of leaving the price range in “a multitude”.
“We needed a really clear understanding of all the things that was and wasn’t within the price range,” Gallagher mentioned.
Yeaman mentioned “not surprisingly” Treasury had checked out a variety of various choices on each the spending and income aspect, “to assist inform authorities resolution making”.
Hume requested Treasury present a solution as to when the costing was requested, commenced and accomplished.
Moist lady summer time appears inevitable.
Cancelling French submarine contract value $591m, Senate estimates reveals
Greens senator David Shoebridge mentioned estimates has revealed cancelling the French submarine contract value “half a billion {dollars}”:
Solely in a bungled multibillion-dollar Defence challenge would a authorities even attempt to conceal a lazy $591m in extra prices.
These prices have been ferreted away off the Defence price range, however they may nonetheless must be paid for by the general public.
It’s the chance value of those funds that basically hurts. Once we pay an additional $591m for not constructing submarines we lose these funds for public housing, colleges or earnings aid.
Whereas there are strategic arguments for retaining expert workers, the truth that the ASC contract prices $1.3m for each job is astounding.
The ASC contract is filling a workers capability hole brought on by the bungled dealing with of the longer term submarine challenge.
This proves that there are far more practical methods to advertise employment and financial alternatives throughout Australia than throwing numerous hundreds of thousands at overpriced defence contracts.
Sarah Martin
Nationals senator Matt Canavan has been pushing Treasury on the elements of inflation and its earlier forecasts, saying that inflation had began rising forward of the Ukraine invasion. Canavan recommended it was “self-interested” for Treasury accountable the pandemic and the conflict.
Yeaman is outlining how the pandemic and its provide shocks had contributed to preliminary inflation rises, pointing to shutdowns in China for instance and the shortages of products.
Canavan can also be asking Yeaman to elucidate what Treasury had meant when it talked about potential authorities intervention within the vitality market, asking if worth caps have been on the desk.
Sam Reinhardt, deputy secretary of the fiscal group, mentioned that they have been taking a look at a variety of choices.
It’s a big problem for presidency, in order you’ll perceive, Senator, there are alternatives alongside the entire provide chain for electrical energy era and we’ll have a look at all of the choices which might be out there.”
Canavan asks if that included taking a look at any enhance in provide, saying Australia must be taking a look at rising its exports of fuel and coal to assist help different nations, together with allies.
Reinhardt mentioned that will increase in provide that fed into electrical energy markets would cut back costs, and pointed to a “actually substantial variety of reforms” within the price range that will enhance grid capability and have a long run influence on costs.
Yeaman mentioned that whereas Treasury would offer recommendation, the choice on what kind of intervention came about would finally come all the way down to the federal government.
Given the market is at present being hit by … these disruptions, issues that act rapidly and immediately on the value are going to be handiest in our view …. in serving to folks to cope with the present vitality worth shock and impact this redistribution of earnings.”
Finance minister Katy Gallagher mentioned the federal government’s focus was on what could possibly be finished within the quick time period.
Sarah Martin
Economic system exhibits no indicators of wage-price spiral, Treasury deputy says
Greens senator Nick McKim is asking in regards to the contribution of wages and company income to inflation, with Treasury deputy secretary Luke Yeaman saying there was no proof of a wage-price spiral rising within the financial system. He mentioned inflation was being pushed by exterior provide shocks and value pressures coming from the pandemic.
McKim pushes Yeaman on whether or not company profiteering was a driver of inflation, saying this was the view of “well-credentialed economists” in Australia and abroad.
“Clearly, company profitability has been excessive just lately, which is primarily pushed from our perspective by the very giant will increase in commodity costs that we’ve seen just lately, and I believe essentially, the issues which might be driving inflation are as I mentioned, these value pressures coming by way of out of the pandemic and people exterior provide shocks from exterior not company income per se,” Yeaman mentioned.
McKim mentioned firms have been utilizing the exterior worth shocks as “cowl” to jack up their costs, and individuals who have been doing it hardest have been getting “smashed”.
Yeaman mentioned that the Australian Competitors and Client Fee was taking a look at any potential worth gouging.
McKim then asks Yeaman about correspondence throughout the division that mentioned excessive costs could also be coming from “margin rebuild”.
McKim and Yeaman are actually discussing whether or not this equates to company profiteering, with Yeaman saying that this might imply a return to regular dividends following the pandemic, with McKim saying that rebuilding margins clearly meant making income.
Tory Shepherd
Brewers hope for excise freeze amid hotter climate
The beleaguered beer trade has weathered pandemic shutdowns, provide chain points and the August tax hike, and is hoping for a bumper summer time.
Coopers Brewery has posted its 2022 outcomes, and managing director Tim Cooper mentioned a 3.5% fall in quantity gross sales was a good consequence, “given the availability and demand pressures going through your complete trade”, though he warned the cost-of-living disaster and worth will increase have been affecting folks’s buying selections.
For Coopers, revenue earlier than tax was $27.3m, down from $36.5m the 12 months earlier than.
“Whereas the general market stays tight, we’re seeing some constructive indicators rising,” Cooper mentioned.
The Brewers’ Affiliation of Australia has warned that the following excise enhance, in February 2023, might push costs increased nonetheless.
Chief government officer, John Preston, mentioned the August enhance of 4% was the “highest in 30 years”, and that the February enhance could be as excessive once more.
Beer is already $15 for a “increased finish” pint in some locations, he mentioned, and that will grow to be a extra widespread worth. Bars then have a selection of absorbing the associated fee or passing it on, Preston mentioned. The affiliation is looking for an excise freeze, and hoping the hotter climate and post-lockdown crowds ship for the bars.
“We’re simply hoping that they get a extremely good run at it this summer time,” Preston mentioned.
Mark Dreyfus finally ends up the questions with a dixer on the sports activities rorts Gaetjens report and query time, and my endurance for it, ends.
Andrew Hastie has a query for Richard Marles:
My query is for the minister for defence. The prime minister mentioned he doesn’t need duplication within the nationwide anti-corruption fee. Why is the ADF included within the fee however senior unit leaders should not.
Marles:
Thanks, Mr Speaker and I thank the member for his query. The army tribunal have their vital function to play. The federal government has dedicated to producing an anti-corruption fee which goes to be sturdy in accordance with the commitments that we took to the final election.