‘Not one person has ever mentioned it’: Lambie on after hours work calls
Jacqui Lambie is speaking to ABC radio RN Breakfast about some of her concerns with the bill, which includes the right to disconnect:
I have to say nobody has ever spoken to me in the 10 years I’ve been in and out of politics, about phone calls after hours, not one person and even going through this not one person.
And I’ve been out there with my boots on the ground because I’m running a team in Tasmania for the state election. Not one person has mentioned anything about that not ever. So I just think if there’s not a problem while we’re trying to fix it.
Lambie says since the pandemic there has been a lot more flexibility around workplaces, and workers can already go to the fair work commission if they have an issue.
Here’s Cait Kelly with more on the issue:
Key events
Catie McLeod
More asbestos has been found in new locations in Sydney and regional NSW following the discovery of contamination at several other Transport for New South Wales sites including the Rozelle parklands.
TfNSW said it found bonded asbestos yesterday around Belmore Station and Punchbowl station as it continues to undertake testing following the discovery of asbestos in multiple sites around the park on top of the Rozelle interchange last month.
The department said it had also found bonded asbestos fragments in recycled garden mulch used along the Nowra Bridge project site – the first time the contaminated mulch has been identified outside Sydney.
A TfNSW spokesperson said:
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been notified of all positive results across Transport sites.
The health and safety of the community and our workforce remain our highest priority.
The NSW environmental watchdog is continuing its own investigation into the contamination at the Rozelle parklands and other TfNSW infrastructure sites.
The Environment Protection Authority has said it now has 110 staff working on the investigation.
Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has come to an agreement with the government on the IR laws:
I am happy to announce that I have successfully negotiated further protections for casuals as part of the closing loopholes package, and will be supporting it. pic.twitter.com/p4ocgBC015
— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 6, 2024
Paul Karp
Greens now move to debate support for Israel in House of Reps
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, is attempting to suspend standing orders in the House of Representatives to move that Australia “end its support for Israel’s invasion of Gaza”.
The assistant foreign affairs minister, Tim Watts, explained the government’s position on the conflict, and accused the Greens of seeking to “divide” and play domestic politics.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, accused the Greens of antisemitic conduct “at the state level”, a possible reference to controversial comments by NSW MP Jenny Leong highlighted on social media, and the federal level.
Dutton questioned why the prime minister was not leading the government response, and criticised Labor and the Greens for swapping preferences.
It’s being voted on now and will be defeated. The full text of the motion is that the house:
(1) notes that since the House resolution of October 16, 2023 concerning Israel and Gaza, which supported the State of Israel’s looming invasion of Gaza by stating that the House ‘stands with Israel’, the following have occurred:
(a) an appalling and increasing toll of deaths and injuries caused by the State of Israel’s bombing and invasion of Gaza;
(b) a growing humanitarian catastrophe caused by the State of Israel’s blockade, bombing and invasion of Gaza; and
(c) the State of Israel is the subject of recent International Court of Justice orders in South Africa’s case regarding the prevention of genocide; and therefore
(2) does not support the State of Israel’s continued invasion of Gaza and calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and
(3) calls on the Australian government to end its support for the State of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Nemesis may have wrapped up, but bitter is forever. The former treasurer, turned US Ambassador Joe Hockey gives a masterclass in vague posting here.
To be clear I was asked multiple times to go on #nemesis. @abcnews I refused all requests from multiple sources. As I said in my Valedictory Speech I care too much about Australia to be bitter and twisted… no matter how much justification I may have for those emotions.
— Joe Hockey (@JoeHockey) February 5, 2024
PNG prime minister to arrive later today
Daniel Hurst and Rebecca Kuku have all the details regarding the PNG prime minister, James Marape’s visit to Australia – Marape will arrive later today ahead of his historic address of the parliament tomorrow:
Australia will roll out the red carpet to the visiting Papua New Guinea prime minister, James Marape, amid efforts to stall China’s security talks with the Pacific country.
Marape is due to arrive in Canberra on Wednesday before he addresses a joint sitting of the Australian parliament on Thursday – the first Pacific leader to be afforded this honour.
Amid increasing competition for influence in the region, the Australian government will seek to build on the security agreement with PNG that Marape and Anthony Albanese signed just two months ago.
You can read more, here:
Benita Kolovos
Jacinta Allan confirms she’s a Swiftie
Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has confirmed she’s a Swiftie.
Speaking outside parliament, she says she’s heading to one of Taylor Swift’s three concerts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with her daughter:
I am very excited. Peak excitement. I’m happy to take advice on the outfit, I’m still in two minds about what I’m going to go with.The focus has been on what Peggy is going to be wearing. I would love to wear sparkles but I am being advised against it.
She says event organisers and the MCG have a plan in place to ensure the safety of “Taylorgating” – where fans without tickets gather outside her shows to experience the music from outside:
Arrangements are being put in place to ensure that for people who are going to the concert can move in and out of the MCG in a safe way but also too for those who may be around the venue to ensure that is managed in an appropriately safe way.
Victorian premier to visit India
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, has told reporters her first overseas trip as leader will be to India as the country has strong links to the state’s “community and economy”.
She says:
It’s a source of great pride that many many people from India and the broader subcontinent choose Victoria, choose Melbourne as their home. We have deep cultural relationships, historic relationships with India and also too they are one of one of our biggest and most important trading partners.
In 2018, her predecessor, Daniel Andrews, visited India on a three-day trip. But he was more known for the seven trips to China he made during his time as Labor leader.
Deadline for Dunkley byelection nomination looms
The deadline to nominate as a candidate in the Dunkley byelection is approaching. Anyone who wants to stand has to have their paperwork in by midday on Thursday 8 February 2024.
The AEC says late nominations won’t be accepted.
As expected, the latest Greens motion to suspend standing orders to debate Australia’s support for Israel has failed. The senate moves on.
Adeshola Ore
Victorian Indigenous bodies urge action on Closing the Gap report
Victoria’s First Nations groups are calling for urgent action after the Closing the Gap report found agreed reform to end Indigenous disadvantage had not been prioritised.
In a scathing report, the Productivity Commission has called for urgent changes to rescue the landmark agreement, accusing the federal government of “weak” action on key areas and not fulfilling its promises.
The First Peoples’ Assembly – the democratically elected Indigenous body in Victoria – says the report showed a treaty process was the missing ingredient to close the gap.
The assembly’s co-chair, Rueben Berg says the report highlights the importance of transferring decision-making power to Aboriginal groups to improve outcomes for communities:
It’s common sense. If politicians want better outcomes for our communities, if they want to ‘close the gap’, then they have to start handing over some of the decision-making power to Aboriginal people. That’s what we’ll be talking about in our Treaty negotiations.
Greens move to debate support for Israel in Senate
In the Senate, the Greens are attempting to suspend standing orders to debate a motion on Australia’s support for Isreal.
The motion, put forward by Jordan Steele-John is the latest in the Greens attempts to have the Senate debate Australia’s support and actions.
This motion, like the ones before it, will fail on the numbers, with Labor and the Coalition voting against it.
At the same time, there is a protest outside the parliament, calling for a permanent ceasefire and recognition of Palestinian rights.
It is the second anniversary of the day the government adopted the Kate Jenkins Set the Standards report.
There is obviously still a lot of work to be done. A lot.
The presiding officers, Milton Dick and Sue Lines have released a joint statement, which you can find here.
Benita Kolovos
‘Lives are at risk’: Victorian MPs push again for pill testing
The “progressive bloc” in Victorian parliament’s upper house – made up of the Animal Justice party, the Greens and Legalise Cannabis party – are making another push for pill testing today.
Last year, they introduced a joint bill to parliament – the first by multiple political parties – to introduce a pill testing scheme. But they say the issue has become more urgent after several overdoses at music festivals over the summer.
Georgie Purcell, from the Animal Justice party, said:
As some of the youngest members of parliament, we know that people take drugs that’s the reality and pill testing doesn’t encourage the use of drugs. It simply makes it safer. For those who do we’ve obviously seen some really, really tragic circumstances, this summer during festival season and that’s why we’re calling on the government to listen.
The Greens MP Aiv Puglielli said:
We know that this should be above party politics … we have to push as much as we can, lives are at risk. The best time to have introduced this policy was 20 years ago, but the second best time is now. We need this in place before the next summer.
Benita Kolovos
Victoria police to gain new powers to search for firearms
Further to the earlier report on the weapon changes in Victoria the police minister, Anthony Carbines, is introducing today, Carbines is also amending existing laws to make it easier for police to serve a firearm prohibition order (FPO) on a person.
An FPO allows police to stop and search a person of interest at any time to see if they have a firearm on them.
He said while the scheme has seen Victoria police issue more than 2,000 FPOs, they currently can only be served in person, which is difficult when people are actively avoiding police:
“If police believe you’re in a home or you’re in a vehicle and stopped, you can be served and you can’t avoid that service. We’ve had people in immigration detention, we’ve had people in custody, who have refused the service of firearm prohibition.
Carbines said only people of “ill repute” were subject to FPOs – no person doing the right thing will be stopped and searched under the changes. He said:
“You have to meet a pretty significant threshold to be the subject to a firearm prohibition order … Clearly a character of pretty ill repute.
Indigenous groups call for urgent action after Closing the Gap report
Josh Butler
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations have called for urgent action in the wake of the Closing The Gap report, which gave a scathing assessment of the potential failure of the whole agreement due to governments simply not doing enough.
The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association (NATSIHA) said the Indigenous housing and homelessness crisis would “continue to deteriorate” if governments don’t fundamentally change their tack. They’ve called for a separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing and Homelessness plan to address the housing emergency.
Rob Macfarlane, CEO of NATSIHA, said they are “yet to see any real commitment” despite bringing ideas to government.
It is time for governments to move beyond rhetoric and embrace true power sharing … The gap will widen for our people if attention is not given to addressing the housing emergency faced by our people,” he said.
The SNAICC CEO, Catherine Liddle, called for governments to “substantially shift the way they operate”. She said that despite community-controlled organisations entering into the CTG agreement with good faith, “despite our best efforts this hasn’t happened. It’s past time all Governments got serious about changing the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations.”
The Productivity Commission was blunt in its assessment that without fundamental change the Agreement will fail. Australia cannot afford to keep failing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,” Liddle said.
PM criticises Dutton’s ‘vague commitment’ on tax reform
Anthony Albanese stopped briefly for a doorstop after his speech at the UN Women’s breakfast this morning.
He slammed Peter Dutton for a “vague commitment” on more tax reform from the Coalition in future, and admitted governments “need to do more” on Indigenous policy in the wake of the scathing Closing The Gap report out today.
We need to do more and the government acknowledges that,” Albanese said, after the Productivity Commission said the CTG report was on the brink of failure and that governments simply weren’t listening.
We’re doing work on a range of issues,” he continued, noting policies to develop housing in remote Australia, employment and boosting the Community Development Program.
All governments need to do better. The report today is a reminder of that, which is why we’ll continue to move forward practical measures in order to close the gap.
Albanese again pointed toward next week’s Closing The Gap statement, to be tabled in parliament, as a possible avenue for new policy announcements.
Asked about Dutton’s pledge to cut tax more ahead of the next election – which he didn’t give any details of yesterday – Albanese dismissed it as a “thought bubble”.
I’ve never seen such a vague commitment from a Labor government or a Labor opposition. You can’t just say ‘we’re gonna have more tax cuts, but we can’t tell you what they are or who they’re aimed at’,” Albanese said.
Their third position they’ve had in a week. They need to say, what will the cuts be and what will the new taxes be to make up for it? Either that or they’re going to be fiscally irresponsible.”
Asked about Jacqui Lambie’s reluctance to back the “right to disconnect” in the new IR bill, Albanese said discussions remained ongoing.
What we’re simply saying is, someone who’s not being paid 24 hours a day shouldn’t be penalised if they’re not online and available 24 hours a day,” he said.