| Voice debate sours with only weeks to go until polling day Parliament rose yesterday for the last time before Australians head to the polls to vote in the first referendum in 24 years. As the campaign this week dissolved into accusations from both camps of racism, and polling remained stubbornly low for the Yes vote, some are turning their minds to how the nation moves on from what could be an extremely divisive result on 14 October. In better news for the government, their long-stalled housing bill finally passed the Parliament, ticking off another election commitment they had been under pressure to deliver. All that and more in this week’s Parliament wrap. |
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| Greens back down on rent freeze call After promising an additional $1 billion for social and affordable housing, the Labor Government secured the Greens’ support to pass their key election commitment – the Housing Australia Future Fund. This is now a $10 billion housing policy – billion not million. The Greens had been withholding their support and demanding a two-year rent freeze across the country, however no state or territory leader would commit to this demand. As such, the PM had to offer further concessions to the Greens to get them across the line. The $1 billion social and affordable housing commitment is in addition to the $2 billion social housing accelerator that was announced in June. While the Master Builders Association welcomed the passing of the legislation, they were also quick to point out that the next hurdle will be approval delays with average approval and build times significantly increasing in recent years. There is no doubt Australia is experiencing a significant housing shortage, but the government can’t just throw money at the problem and expect it to be solved. There are so many other elements that must be addressed to unlock the supply shortage. Perhaps most immediate is the government red and green tape that stifles much needed development right across the nation. Local and state governments need to unlock vacant land and address the complex development application processes to ensure there is greater housing stock available. Prominent Voice campaigner makes racism claims A key member of the government’s referendum working group was accused this week of derailing the Yes campaign after she proclaimed the No campaign was ‘based in racism and stupidity’. Professor Marcia Langton made the claims at a Voice forum in Western Australia on Sunday and the comments were seized on by the Coalition in Parliament this week. Repeatedly asked to condemn Professor Langton’s comments, Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney and Prime Minister Albanese instead urged respect and calm in the national debate about the referendum. Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price made an emotional address to the National Press Club yesterday, saying the Voice proposal was ‘built on lies’ and assumed the democratically-elected Indigenous members and senators that currently sit in Federal Parliament weren’t able to make effective representations on behalf of their communities. Her message, which she has repeated throughout the referendum debate over the past year, is that Canberra needs ‘more ears’ not more voices. Government ministers and MPs will spend the next four weeks campaigning in their electorates and around Australia in the lead up to the national poll. If the referendum fails, as is widely expected, the Prime Minister will be under pressure to lead a divided Australia through a difficult period and propose an alternative plan to deal with public policy failures impacting Indigenous Australians. Unemployment rate unchanged…but that’s not the full story Yesterday, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the latest employment data which shows that Australia’s unemployment remains unchanged at 3.7 percent. While a 3.7 percent unemployment rate is a good outcome, it’s the underemployment rate that needs to be highlighted. Underemployment refers to people who are working less hours than they want/need. While the ABS announced a record participation rate – number of people over 15 years old working – of 67 percent, underemployment increased from 6.4 per cent to 6.6 per cent. ANZ Head of Australian Economics Adam Boyton pointed out that the predominance of part-time employment and reduction in number of hours worked “took the gloss off” the latest ABS data. Perhaps the ever-increasing cost of living is to blame for the underemployment increase – people are needing to work more to keep up with the rising costs of food, electricity and fuel. This would also help explain why one in 15 people are currently working more than one job. Government hails Qantas high court loss Things were looking no brighter for the nation’s carrier this week, when the high court found their decision to sack 1,700 ground workers at 11 airports in 2020 to be illegal. The long-running court battle, brought against Qantas by the Transport Workers’ Union, was backed by the Albanese Government, which intervened to argue against Qantas’ appeal. Workplace relations minister Tony Burke used Question Time this week to praise the union for their support of the affected workers and condemned the former Coalition government for standing by and not intervening at the time. First committee referral to NACC involves former MP A parliamentary committee has recommended the newly established National Anti-Corruption Commission investigate allegations made in relation to former Gold Coast MP Stuart Robert, consulting firm Synergy 360 and the awarding of government contracts. The allegations involve kickback payments for securing lucrative government contracts. The interim report tabled by committee Chair Julian Hill MP said “concerning evidence has been received raising serious allegations and questions about financial impropriety, improper relationships and undisclosed conflicts of interest with parties receiving contracts from the Commonwealth”. He also said the committee lacks the level of compulsory questioning and document gathering powers needed. During the process, the committee was unable to interview a former owner of Synergy 360 as he had left the country and claimed to have “severed all ties” with Australia. The committee report recommended the NACC examine all the material that was gathered during the parliamentary inquiry and then determine whether or not they need to conduct their own inquiry. Mr Robert has continually denied any wrongdoing and accused the committee of “using parliamentary privilege and process to even up political scores”. Federal Coalition take hard drugs stand The federal opposition yesterday tabled legislation in the Senate in an attempt to prevent the ACT Government’s new changes to illicit drug laws coming into effect. The Australian Capital Territory Dangerous Drugs Bill 2023 seeks to void the new laws that legalise the possession of small quantities of drugs such as heroin, ice and cocaine. The new laws, effective from the end of October, mean those found carrying small quantities of illicit drugs will pay a Simple Drug Offence Notice fine of $100 or be referred to a drug treatment centre. Some drug experts and the ACT Labor-Greens Government say the relaxed laws will lead to a decrease in the amount of people using illicit drugs, but others – including senior members of the Australian Federal Police – have warned it will lead to an influx of illicit drugs in the nation’s capital. The Federal Greens and ACT Senator David Pocock have attacked the Coalition for seeking to override ACT legislation, and the bill has no prospect of passing the Parliament. As every other Premier and Chief Minister – predominantly Labor leaders – face similar calls for drug law reform, the Coalition have taken a stand they think resonates with their base, especially in light of the youth crime crises sweeping states like Queensland. Government launches health workforce review Health Minister Marker Butler on Monday opened consultation for the government’s Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce Review. A recommendation of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce, the review hopes to explore the opportunities and obstacles to Australia’s health professionals working to the full scope of their practice. The review, led by Professor Mark Cormack, will consider how the current models of care cater to community needs – especially in light of worsening health workforce shortages in regional and rural Australia. Palaszczuk still Premier…for now Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk returned home on Sunday from vacation to a media frenzy over speculation she had lost the support of her party room. When met by journalists at the airport she confirmed her commitment to remain as leader and contest the 2024 state election. During Tuesday’s Question Time, the Opposition attempted to capitalise on the speculation and apparent Labor infighting by asking her a series of questions relating to her leadership. However, the Premier fired back highlighting that the LNP has had five leaders during her time as leader of the Labor Party. The leadership speculation coincided with the release of new polling that shows the LNP is in an election winning position. On Monday, research from RedBridge Group revealed there was a “strong mood” for change and on a two-party preferred basis the LNP was at 55 percent to Labor’s 45 percent. To make matters worse for Labor, the same poll had their primary vote at just 26 percent – this is the same level as the 2012 election when the then Bligh Government was reduced to just seven seats in the 89-seat parliament. While political commentators can’t envision a repeat of the 2012 election, many agree that if this trend continues the LNP could secure a comfortable majority of at least 54 or 55 seats. And in news from outside the bubble… In case you thought the indictments and commotion surrounding former US President Donald Trump’s 2024 run for the White House was enough, hold the phone – because House Republicans have just launched an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Conservative Republicans have been calling for the inquiry for months, after prolonged investigations into the President’s son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. The inquiry will focus on Hunter’s actions while Joe Biden was Vice-President and whether the now-President himself benefitted from his son’s business deals. The White House says Republicans have no basis for an impeachment inquiry as they’ve uncovered no hard evidence linking the President to his son’s business interests. Republicans will be hoping it gives them the ammunition they need to dispose of Biden at next year’s presidential elections. And in breaking news this morning, Hunter Biden has been indicted on gun charges – the first time a child of a sitting US President has been indicted. This election year is one for the books, strap yourselves in! Meanwhile, dictators Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un have met in Russia to discuss collaboration on space projects – and allegedly Russia’s war on Ukraine. Details of the meeting remain tightly held, but the two were happy to pose for happy snaps at one of Russia’s space bases and Mr Kim pledged his “full and unconditional support” of Putin’s plans. International observers remain on edge, and the United States has accused North Korea of colluding with Putin to progress his war against Ukraine. Federal Parliament takes a four week break and resumes on Monday, 16 October. |