Facing legislative fires on multiple fronts, the government is yet to secure the support of the Greens for their signature housing, manufacturing and climate policies – threatening to derail the May budget.
As department secretaries and ministers faced Senate Estimates this week, the Coalition pursued a familiar fight over Labor’s border protection policies after the government moved to abolish Temporary Protection Visas.
Meanwhile, the government is stressing the independence of the RBA and defending it’s handling of the economy as interest rates and unemployment rise.
TPV move sparks border protection row
Labor’s election platform included a commitment to abolish TPVs, a position the Coalition argues dismantles a key component of the successful Operation Sovereign Borders. The government is moving to fulfil that commitment, while carefully managing the perception that doing so weakens the Tony Abbott-era border policy.
Refugees on TPVs, who arrived prior to Operation Sovereign Borders commencing in 2013, will be able apply for a new visa that will grant them access to the same rights and benefits as permanent residents.
Coalition senators used Estimates this week to grill head of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo over changes to the policy, and used Question Time to allege the government had invited the return of asylum seeker boats to Australian waters – which the government firmly disputes.
Government sets up senate fight with Greens over housing fund
The government’s Housing Australia Future Fund bill passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, with the Greens abstaining from the vote over it’s concerns with the legislation.
It sets up a showdown with the minor party in the Senate, who want Labor to commit to a $5 billion/year spend on social housing, plus a national freeze on rent increases.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has also signalled they will block the government’s safeguard mechanism bill unless it rules out supporting new coal and gas developments – which Labor refuses to do.
RBA governor digs in over rate rises
Despite senior frontbenchers weighing into the debate about the RBA’s ninth consecutive rate rise last week, the Treasurer is at pains to stress the bank’s independence and distance the government from Philip Lowe.
Lowe was grilled at Estimates this week over the bank’s approach to tackling inflation, and his decision to hold a private lunch with bankers last Wednesday before the release of the statement on monetary policy was blasted.
The opposition continued their attack on the government’s economic agenda in question time, with the Prime Minister in response slamming the Coalition’s refusal to back Labor’s national manufacturing fund.
Shadow ministry changes after departure of Alan Tudge
At the beginning of the week, opposition leader Peter Dutton announced Victorian senator Sarah Henderson would replace Alan Tudge as the Coalition’s education spokesperson.
Former immigration minister David Coleman returns to the frontbench as Shadow Minister for Communications.
Parliament has risen for two weeks, and will return on Monday, 6 March for three weeks of pre-budget sittings.