Tensions rise in extended Senate question time as Watt gives short responses to extra questions
Josh Butler
We’re now into the extra time section of Senate question time, and everyone is very tetchy.
After the non-government senators yesterday teamed up to extend QT, in a bid to make a point about Labor’s failure to produce key documents, the government senators have been in a cranky mood (as have the Coalition politicians on the other side).
We got through the normal question time session, from 2-3pm, without much drama – lots of yelling, back-and-forth, and some snippy comments. Getting past 3pm, we knew there would be five extra questions, with none going to the government.
Labor’s strategy was clear from the start: while the Senate orders required them to face five extra questions, the order didn’t say how long they needed to hang around for. In the first few questions, Labor ministers gave only very brief answers, sitting down and finishing their response after only a few seconds.
The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi asked a question about a whale caught in shark nets. The environment minister, Murray Watt, in very curt answers, said he was pleased the Greens were interested in environmental reform, and suggested they back his EPBC reforms.
Faruqi, after a second short answer, responded that it was “an example of what a farce this question time has become”. Watt, exploding and gesturing, responded: “it’s your doing”.
A senator yelled out that Watt was “a failure at your job”, which they were asked to withdraw.
“It’s all about politics for you Murray,” a Greens senator yelled out.
As all this was going on, Tasmanian senator Tammy Terrell was waving and laughing at children in the public gallery, flashing shaka hand gestures at them.
Key events
‘Democracy has been set on fire’: shadow minister on Senate drama
Duniam goes on to welcome the announcement by Trump that a rare earths deal and tariff reductions have been agreed with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping.
Next, he is asked about today’s Senate shenanigans. As we reported earlier, Today’s Senate question time began with more yelling and arguing back-and-forth across the chamber than usual.
The government lost control of the chamber yesterday after the non-government senators teamed up to extend question time in a debate about transparency.
Duniam says:
Democracy has been set on fire. There is a real problem with this government. It takes a lot to unite every non-government senator to vote together against the government to get specific outcomes … We had to take the action of extending question time by another five questions. So angry is the Government about that, they are pulling stunts now. They do not like the senate flexing its muscles, but this is democracy at work.
Coalition has concerns about Trump nuclear testing announcement
Duniam is also asked about Donald Trump’s instruction to the Pentagon to immediately match other nuclear powers in their testing of nuclear weapons. He says:
Look, I think we have to respect the sovereignty of other nations, but when it comes to nuclear weapons, of course, as a nation that believes we should disarm and not have the proliferation of nuclear weapons, there are concerns. I want to see the detail of any agreement to this. They are an ally and we do have them as a trusted partner and I want to make sure it is in our interest whatever they’re doing and there are appropriate safeguards for any tests.
Shadow home affairs minister says EPBC tabling a ‘galling request’
The shadow home affairs minister, Jonathon Duniam, is being interviewed on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
Duniam, who was shadow environment minister until May, has been asked about Labor’s introduction of its bill for changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC), which faces an uphill battle after the Coalition and the Greens ruled out supporting it in its current form.
He says:
It is quite a galling request from this minister to table this today, 700 pages of legislation, of explanatory memoranda, and say pass it now.
Ahead of a scheduled meeting by the Coalition to debate net zero on Friday, Duniam says:
I’m not a fan of net zero at any cost. We have to make sure whatever policy we take, and that is a matter for our entire party room, I will not preempt that, but we need to get it right.
Krishani Dhanji
Thank you all for following along on the blog with me!
I’ll hand you over to the lovely Penry Buckley for the rest of the arvo. I’ll see you back here for another fiery sitting week on Monday.
Tl;dr here’s what happened in question time
In the house, for a final QT of the week, all was a bit subdued today (and I’ll be honest, a little boring).
The Coalition started on housing, and then went to a range of issues including inflation, or ‘Jimflation’ as Ted O’Brien called it.
Independent MP Sophie Scamps pushed the government on when it would release a report into “jobs for mates” government board appointments – which David Pocock has been driving in the Senate, but Labor gave little clarity.
Independent Rebekha Sharkie got two questions this week, and asked the aged care minister again about the cost of home care packages.
Meanwhile in the Senate, with the extra half hour of question time for non-government question, things were a more explosive (read: shouty) as everyone got a little tetchy.
Luca Ittimani
‘A lot of work’ went into ‘first-class’ US-Australia relationship, Rudd says
Kevin Rudd says Australia’s “first-class” relationship with the US has been the product of “a lot of work and a lot of prime ministerial time,” reflecting on Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington DC.
Rudd, Australia’s US ambassador, said Albanese had begun building a new “pillar” of the two nations’ relationship by securing a critical minerals deal last week and had “renewed afresh” their military relationship with Aukus. Speaking at the Sydney Investment Summit, he said:
Australia, you’ve seen with the PMs recent engagements with president Trump, is enjoying a first-class working relationship with the Trump administration, and that has been a product of a lot of work and a lot of prime ministerial and ministerial time, and you’ve seen some of the practical fruit of that, from what the PM agreed to in recent days.
Rudd added the Albanese government deserved “full marks” for building ties with China.
The prime minister has also been at pains to stabilise the Australia-China relationship … through the actions of the PM and through the actions of the foreign minister [and] trade minister, we have reached a relatively stable set of arrangements.
Rudd also praised the state governments in the US for enabling growing investment from Australian super funds and cheered the growth of Australian businesses working on artificial intelligence, which his embassy in Washington estimates has risen to about 1,500.
Tensions rise in extended Senate question time as Watt gives short responses to extra questions
Josh Butler
We’re now into the extra time section of Senate question time, and everyone is very tetchy.
After the non-government senators yesterday teamed up to extend QT, in a bid to make a point about Labor’s failure to produce key documents, the government senators have been in a cranky mood (as have the Coalition politicians on the other side).
We got through the normal question time session, from 2-3pm, without much drama – lots of yelling, back-and-forth, and some snippy comments. Getting past 3pm, we knew there would be five extra questions, with none going to the government.
Labor’s strategy was clear from the start: while the Senate orders required them to face five extra questions, the order didn’t say how long they needed to hang around for. In the first few questions, Labor ministers gave only very brief answers, sitting down and finishing their response after only a few seconds.
The Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi asked a question about a whale caught in shark nets. The environment minister, Murray Watt, in very curt answers, said he was pleased the Greens were interested in environmental reform, and suggested they back his EPBC reforms.
Faruqi, after a second short answer, responded that it was “an example of what a farce this question time has become”. Watt, exploding and gesturing, responded: “it’s your doing”.
A senator yelled out that Watt was “a failure at your job”, which they were asked to withdraw.
“It’s all about politics for you Murray,” a Greens senator yelled out.
As all this was going on, Tasmanian senator Tammy Terrell was waving and laughing at children in the public gallery, flashing shaka hand gestures at them.
Mark Butler gets the final dixer again where he whips out a medicare card – which gets the opposition benches roaring, and Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, booted out of the chamber.
About 30 seconds after the expulsion, question time ends for the week.
Bowen takes aim at oppositions ‘vision’ for Australian critical minerals
The opposition turns the spotlight back to Chris Bowen and the impact of energy prices on industry. Liberal MP Melissa Durack says the CEO of the chamber of minerals and energy of WA warns electricity costs are on, “an unsustainable trajectory preventing expansion activities in a region that is experiencing booming interest in both gold and critical minerals.”
Bowen spruiks the governments policies on critical minerals and green energy, and then (to no one’s surprise) takes the opportunity to have a whack at the opposition.
We want to see more of those minerals exploited and more value added in Australia and minerals processed in Australia. That’s our vision. Your vision is stuck … about whether climate change is real and whether humankind has anything to do with it.
Chalmers asked about government efforts to reduce regulatory complexity
Back to the crossbench Independent MP Allegra Spender asks how the government will cut red tape, and if the treasurer will set targets to reduce regulatory complexity.
Jim Chalmers says the government is considering targets and will work with the productivity commission to see if targets are “appropriate”.
He said that since the roundtable the government has slashed some nuisance tariffs and asked the board of tax to reduce complexity in the tax system.
I think the government recognises, the member recognises, participants at the roundtable recognise as well, that we have some work for you to wind back some of this complexity and wind back some of this red tape.
Assistant treasurer says super fund collapses ‘distressing for many people’
Changing tack again, Nationals MP Pat Conaghan asks the government how many times it’s ignored warnings from treasury and Asic to regulate the superannuation industry, after the recent collapse of the Shield and First Guardian funds.
Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino says the collapses have been “distressing for many people lost considerable amount of funds”.
I have met with victims of these collapses and I’ve heard first hand harrowing stories and I understand how difficult this has been. Can I stress that the focus of ASIC over recent months has been to protect investor funds and it has undertaken a range of actions to do so.
Conaghan makes a point of order, to get Mulino to answer the question of how many times it “ignored warnings” from the department and Asic.
Mulino says he received briefings from Treasury, Apra and Asic.
I haven’t ignored any warnings. When I was notified of this matter earlier this year I very quickly sought briefing from my department in relation to the matter. I wrote to APRA and received briefings in relation to what further actions might be needed in relation to platforms. I have been working constructively on that matter.
