My apologies for stealing another Tony Burke missive, but me mum has been hospitalised again with pneumonia. So things are at sixes and sevens in this household. Over to you, Tony:
[BTW, I’ve been trying to find one of those turnbull/abbott morphing pics/cartoons, but without success – so if anyone could give me a link …]
I remember saying that Malcolm Turnbull’s transformation was complete when he had gone full Tony Abbott.
Then he went full One Nation.
This was the week that One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts boasted how happy he was that the Government had started following One Nation’s lead, and Liberal Senator James Paterson said the Government’s decision to water down racial hate speech protections would help win back One Nation votes for the Liberal Party.
1. One of the very first items of business on Monday was Bill Shorten introducing his Private Members’ Bill to protect penalty rates. If this bill passes, people will have their penalty rates protected. Without it, nearly 700,000 workers are up for a pay cut. We didn’t get to vote on the Bill in the Reps but there was a vote in the Senate on protecting penalty rates. Jacqui Lambie and the Greens voted with Labor to protect penalty rates. And the Government, One Nation, Derryn Hinch, Cory Bernardi, David Leyonhjelm voted against. The Nick Xenophon Team didn’t vote. If they’d voted with Labor, we would have won.
2. The fight in the Senate to stop cuts to welfare payments resulted in some extraordinary speeches. Both Katy Gallagher and Jacqui Lambie delivered deeply personal accounts of the challenges faced by people who need the support of government payments to get by. The speeches were impassioned and powerful. When the issue came to a vote these pleas were ignored with the Liberals, Nationals, One Nation, Derryn Hinch, David Leyonhjelm, Cory Bernardi and the Nick Xenophon Team lining up together to impose the cuts.
3. One of the best things we did in Government was deliver education reforms so that every school would have the resources they needed to help every student. The Government has been tearing apart the “Gonski” reforms but the campaign to deliver the resources that schools need won’t go away. On Wednesday, the Australian Education Union brought the Gonski bus to Parliament House, with principals explaining how Labor’s reforms could change the lives of students for the better. After Question Time, Tanya Plibersek spoke about the choice between Labor’s reforms focussing on every child and the Government’s $30 billion of cuts to schools.
4. You may be surprised to read that Scott Morrison was angry this week. Thanks to Jim Chalmers and Nick Champion he became just that little bit angrier. After Scott Morrison gave an answer claiming he had a good record on debt and deficit Jim Chalmers was on his feet with this question:
“My question is to the Treasurer. If a deficit of $11 billion was a budget emergency in the 2014 budget, what does he call a deficit of $37 billion, which has more than tripled on his watch? Given this Treasurer has tripled the deficit, doesn’t this just prove that the Treasurer is completely incompetent and hopelessly out of his depth?”
As Scott Morrison wandered forward to the Despatch Box trying to think of an answer, Nick Champion called out,
“How old will Wyatt Roy be before you deliver a surplus?”
5. Despite everything that came from the Government in between, Question Time on Thursday started and finished decently and respectfully. The PM and Bill Shorten opened with speeches about the horrific attack in London and the British High Commissioner was invited into the Chamber to be with us when we all stood together in silence. Then at the end of Question Time, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs stood up and gave an answer about a program to help veterans with mental health issues. Labor’s Amanda Rishworth stood up after the answer and offered Labor’s full support for this important issue.
1. You can’t make this stuff up. Tuesday was the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. In every school it was Harmony Day. And in Parliament House it was the day the Government announced it wanted to change the law to give permission for more racist hate speech.
2. Anne Aly asked the PM what racial speech it was he wanted people to be allowed to say that they couldn’t say now. He responded with the patronising line: “The question is really this…” and then he answered a different question. Anne stood straight back up for the next question and we had this exchange:
ANNE ALY: My question is to the Prime Minister. As someone who has been subjected to racism time and time again as I was growing up and even in my life now, please give me an answer: what exactly does the Prime Minister want people to be able to say that they cannot say now?
MALCOLM TURNBULL: I understand the point the honourable member is making.
TANYA PLIBERSEK: You don’t; that’s the point.
3. No matter which way you look at the Government’s changes to the Racial Discrimination Act they guarantee there will be more racist hate speech in Australia than there is now. After all, how can it be about freedom of speech unless it is going to allow more things to be said?
I led a debate on Tuesday about how dangerous these changes are. Mark Dreyfus, Linda Burney, Anne Aly and Peter Khalil spoke and were able to draw on deeply personal accounts of the impact of racism. Linda quoted an awful message that she had received only that morning with these words:
“The previous speaker […] said that all Australians are decent people. I hope that is true. It is true in the main, but let me read you a tweet that I received this morning […]. It says: ‘@LindaBurneyMP: Why are you Abos allowed to harass people for dollars outside grocery stores? You are uneducated drug addicts and disgusting. Change it.’ She is talking about 18C. She is talking about what you people are about to try and do […] People that have never experienced racism cannot possibly stand in the shoes of those that have.”
4. Part of the Government’s strategy on the weakening of the Racial Discrimination Act has been to introduce the bill into the Senate first instead of the House of Representatives. This is a deliberate and calculated scheme to play for One Nation votes while at the same time avoiding their local MPs from having to vote on the issue. It’s an attempt for the Liberals to broadcast one message on the TV and a different message at every community event. Well we didn’t let them get away with that. On Wednesday, Bill Shorten moved a motion which included a specific commitment to keep section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act in its current form. No matter what they’ve been saying in their communities, every Liberal and National MP voted against it. And to top it off, just as Bill started his speech Christopher Pyne moved that he be not allowed to speak. So much for freedom of speech.
5. This week in the Reps, we nearly finished the speeches debating the Government’s $50 billion handout to big business. The strangest thing is that even though Government backbenchers were standing up one after the other committing to the handout to big business, Scott Morrison wouldn’t commit to it. Now you might think, but isn’t the handout Scott Morrison’s idea? Well the answer is yes. Isn’t it his policy? Well the answer is yes. Wasn’t this the centrepiece of the last Budget and the key to their entire so-called economic plan? Well yes. Will it be in the next Budget? How dare you ask! Chris Bowen pursued this all week, and Scott Morrison found many words, in fact many angry words, but still had no answer to the question.
So next week a series of issues will come to a head. The $50 billion handout to big business should reach the Senate and there will also be debate on whether we should allow forms of racist hate speech that have been considered unlawful for 25 years. On top of these issues, the Government’s submission to the Fair Work Commission on penalty rates is due by 4pm today. None of this will make Australia fairer, but that’s the Government we have, and why we need to change it.
A final message, if you live in Sydney or if you know anyone who lives in Sydney we have the Walk for Respect opposing racism next week on Friday afternoon. It’s not an angry protest, but a celebration of modern multicultural Australia. I hope you, your friends and family can make it along.
I’ll be back in touch next week.
Tony
P.S. Chuck Berry died this week and there have been endless tributes from some of the greatest musicians in Australia and around the world. In honour of a Government without an agenda here’s Chuck Berry with “No Particular Place to Go.”
THE PUB 
How very British,
or very Golfer!
KEpp Calm and Carry On Golfing
You have to feel it for the clerks.
Why am I minded of preschool?
Solicitors’ clerk: “Thank you, madam chairman.”
Those clerks should get AOs, or at least free drinks, for putting up with Brandis.
me, they are having a division over a motion to shut up shop for the night and come back at 9am tomorrow.
What twat wants to stay in The Senate chambers past midnight?
Test
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Mesma has showed her claws and spat at the backbenchers who helped to scuttle the China-Australia extradition treaty.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-condemns-colleagues-over-china-extradition-treaty-collapse-20170330-gv9yok.html
Three years of wrangling over a section of Australia’s racial discrimination laws has again amounted to naught after the Senate killed off the Turnbull government’s proposed changes late last night. Bernardi and Brandis slugged it out afterwards. The whole thing wasn’t at all pretty.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senate-kills-off-turnbull-governments-changes-to-18c-race-discrimination-law-20170330-gvadad.html
Michelle Grattan reviews another not so good week for Turnbull.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-turnbulls-taxing-battle-as-fractious-session-grinds-towards-end-75480
Sean Nicholls on how Turnbull is becoming Berejiklian’s weak spot.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/malcolm-turnbull-is-fast-becoming-gladys-berejiklians-biggest-weak-spot-20170330-gv9oft.html
John Hewson says that in a political world where winning is just about scoring points, the legitimacy of debates in almost every significant area of public policy has now been undermined by a lack of economic rigour and disciplined analysis.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/we-need-economics-more-than-ever-to-understand-the-world-20170330-gv9nb3.html
A good article from Waleed Aly on the fantasy of a future for coal.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-fantasy-that-coal-has-a-future-helps-no-one-20170330-gv9nli.html
The head of one of the country’s largest energy utilities has warned the nation’s energy markets risk fracture amid the mounting “uncertainty and inconsistency” of state-based energy targets and says the country needs an independent oversight of energy policy.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/need-for-energy-market-independence-to-avoid-fracture-20170330-gva3oq.html
Fair Work inspectors have raided more than 80 businesses in NSW in response to complaints of rampant underpayment of young workers. The Fair Work Ombudsman launched a series of raids in Wollongong in response to concerns young workers in the town were being exploited. I hope they don’t stop there!
http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/fair-work-watchdog-raids-more-than-80-businesses-20170330-gv9r5g.html
Now Ian MacDonald is set to dine with Eddie Obeid over a nice serving of porridge and water. Kate McClymont explains his downfall.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ian-macdonald-set-to-share-porridge-and-water-not-pig-and-wine-with-eddie-obeid-20170330-gv9wdo.html
The Dawn Patrol is locked out again. Back later.
I can’t find links on the still busted Poll Bludger site so I’ve emailed the Patrol to Bushfire Bill.
Despite what people who watched the great non event last night the GG still slipped in the word “victory” .
All for nought the months of Leak cartoons and endless articles decrying 18C. Guess ya just ain’t got it anymore eh Rupe ? (Insert Nelson Muntz “Ha Ha” ).
“Limited victory on 18C reform”
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/scramble-to-save-malcolm-turnbull-agenda/news-story/dc2a51c7ee23d98c65e03f17ff1dc4e5
I have released part1 looking for the others
I gave up after part 1
I’ll grab the others from over the road.
Section 2 . . .
What a tepid contribution from Mark Kenny!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/company-tax-debate-stalls-senate-oversteps-its-authority-again-20170330-gva7zc.html
And I wonder where the company tax legislation will land today.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-government-scrambling-to-land-company-tax-cuts-20170330-gv9yp8.html
A $1 billion solar-battery farm to be built by Lyon Group and Downer EDI in South Australia’s Riverland will be the world’s largest and ready to help prevent blackouts in the state’s fragile power grid by next summer. Google.
/business/energy/solar-energy/lyon-solar-1b-solarbattery-farm-for-sa-by-xmas-20170330-gv9tvc
Labor has warned the Turnbull government’s new sugar peace deal – unveiled after a brief voting strike by the One Nation senate bloc – could offend Australia’s free trade agreement with Singapore.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/30/labor-warns-sugar-deal-could-offend-free-trade-agreement-with-singapore
Now Trump is tweeting threats to sections of his own party! He’s mad.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-vows-to-fight-hardline-republican-freedom-caucus-in-2018-midterm-elections-20170330-gvafrt.html
There are more than 50 lawsuits against Trump over the travel ban.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/its-everyday-people-v-trump-more-than-50-lawsuits-filed-against-us-president-20170329-gv9itj.html
Richo reckons the White House farce will end in tears. Google.
opinion/columnists/graham-richardson/white-house-farce-will-end-in-tears/news-story/a5bdc58c4b80800e03f182d5335ac34a
Michaelia Cash did not cover herself in glory in an interview with Neil Mitchell yesterday.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/michaelia-cash-under-fire-over-minimum-wage-but-pm-turns-attack-back-on-labor-20170330-gv9u1f.html
Is Sally McManus, the new secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the saviour of social democracy in Australia?
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/sally-mcmanus-australian-social-democracys-new-hero,10161
Andrew Leigh writes that the Turnbull Government needs to step up and participate in the urgent international financial response to the funding gap left by President Trump for vital women’s health programs. We can do our part where the United States has fallen short.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/andrew-leigh/australia-can-prevent-the-catastrophic-consequences-of-trumps/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
Section 3 . . .
Stephen Koukoulas says that as the mining investment slump continues and the housing boom is at an extreme risk of turning nasty, the Australian economy is getting another dose of good luck. In the last year or so there has been a significant rise in commodity prices, and this is adding to national income and corporate profits, presenting upward momentum to the economy for the first time in four years.
https://thekouk.com/item/478-what-s-behind-australia-s-sheer-dumb-luck.html
A survivor whose voice will be one of the last to be heard in the child abuse royal commission has urged political leaders to cast aside religious loyalties and urgently introduce strong child protection measures. That’s a big ask!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/30/introduce-child-protection-measures-survivor-to-tell-last-day-of-inquiry
Andrew Street proposes the use of raffles to sort out the many problems facing Australians.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/dont-worry-if-youre-struggling-a-raffle-will-save-you-20170330-gv9rbb.html
Centrelink has demanded payments of more than $10,000 from people with disabilities using its controversial automated debt recovery methods, causing distress and adding to financial pressure on families, a parliamentary inquiry into the “robo-debt” saga has heard.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/centrelink-debt-recovery-chaos-hits-people-with-disabilities-advocates-say-20170329-gv92yj.html
Nick O’Malley wonders what is the source of Mark Latham’s anger.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/mark-lathams-anger-is-hard-to-comprehend-when-hes-been-so-blessed-20170329-gv9m30.html
The Herald-Sun says Bronwyn Bishop still doesn’t get it. Google.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/bishop-still-doesnt-get-it/news-story/98b9473ed1ecf80eaf2947091c97e516
Sam Dastyari believes he has the numbers to have the Senate investigate “fake news” and its impact on Australia to identify who is responsible and how to combat it.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/parliament-to-launch-inquiry-into-fake-news-in-australia-20170330-gv9xwz.html
Take the time to read this article from Laura ingle on the Hanson phenomenon. Google.
/opinion/one-nation-just-who-are-the-coalition-trying-to-appease-here-20170330-gv9y8h
Why Wayne Swan is staying in politics.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/from-deputy-pm-and-treasurer-to-backbencher-why-is-wayne-swan-still-in-politics-20170330-gv9rkn.html
Has Joe Hockey been asleep for the last few months?
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ambassador-joe-hockey-praises-practical-trump-administration-and-warns-against-constant-criticism-20170330-gv9z9s.html
Section 4 . . . Cartoon Corner
Cathy Wilcox on what started to downfall of MacDonald.
Alan Moir on the resurgence of the ACTU.
Cathy Wilcox has solved the problem of managing politicians’ expense claims.
Mark David unveils the 2017 budget.
Ouch! Broelman goes straight at Turnbull.
David Rowe with some home truths for the government.
David Pope thinks McManus might be difficult for the government to handle.
A classic from Mark Knight. Iceberg Bronny.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/9e05078bbf5e95172618ca4d72d8c734?width=1024
Jon Kudelka with government deal making with Pauline Hanson.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f19bb57528e67a578de400dc67662c1d
Let’s see if the jpgs work with this post.
Section 4 . . . Cartoon Corner
Cathy Wilcox on what started to downfall of MacDonald.
Alan Moir on the resurgence of the ACTU.
Cathy Wilcox has solved the problem of managing politicians’ expense claims.
Mark David unveils the 2017 budget.
Ouch! Broelman goes straight at Turnbull.
David Rowe with some home truths for the government.
David Pope thinks McManus might be difficult for the government to handle.
A classic from Mark Knight. Iceberg Bronny.7
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/9e05078bbf5e95172618ca4d72d8c734?width=1024
Jon Kudelka with government deal making with Pauline Hanson.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f19bb57528e67a578de400dc67662c1d7
Spare a thought for those faceless parliamentary staffers who miss out on penalty rates because the Senate adjourned for 9 hours, if the adjournment had been taken at 1 am they would earn double time today
The vote to suspend the sitting until 9 this morning was 29 ayes, 28 noes. no prizes for guessing who the ‘no’ votes came from.
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/Dynamic_Red?autorefresh=&track=0&scrollto=newest
Small business using employee super for cash flow
http://thenewdaily.com.au/money/work/2017/03/30/unpaid-super-why/
No problems. The Rodent said that is fine. But then at the time in true Banana Republic style nepotism the government was bailing out his brother Stan for millions of dollars worth of worker’s entitlements that his company had spent. Strangely enough I believe it was the only company the government stepped in to help in this manner. But then his was a government that whacked up excise duty on imported ethanol as a tanker from Brazil ( the first shipment) was 1/2 way to Australia forcing it to turn back. Quite a coincidence that Manildra and what was one of if not the largest coalition donors had their only competition torpedoed by the Rodent. Fed ICAC NOW !
Here’s something interesting – and you won’t see it in the media.
Last night One Nation voted against the amendment to 18c.
Yes, that’s right, Malcolm Roberts had been ranting for days about race-hate speech laws protecting Muslim criminals, and other fruit-loop rubbish, so it seemed One Nation would vote with the government last night in the attempt to amend section 18c of the Human Rights Act.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/29/18c-protects-muslim-criminals-one-nation-senator-malcolm-roberts-says
There’s another surprise too. Cory Bernardi voted against this amendment as well.
The media obviously weren’t expecting this. All the reports this morning refer to Labor, the Greens and ‘other cross-benchers’ voting down the amendment. Some reports mentions Jacqui Lambi and/ot NXT, but no-one mentions One Nation or Bernardi.
I think this is a very serious oversight. I don’t know why the ultra-conservatives on the cross-bench decided to vote against this amendment, maybe they didn’t like the way Brandis explained his peculiar interpretation of ‘harass’. Both Bernardi and Hanson questioned it. When Brandis tried to explain what he meant by ‘harass’ and how the word was to be applied in his bill he just made himself look like a fool.
Anyway, it’s all in Hansard, if you want to wade through it.
Here’s the vote on the amendment to 18c.
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;db=CHAMBER;id=chamber%2Fhansards%2F644a98a8-8eaf-4347-a5ff-4d72ba01c276%2F0196;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansards%2F644a98a8-8eaf-4347-a5ff-4d72ba01c276%2F0000%22
The Senate is now continuing the debate on other amendments.
Love it!
Both Brandis and Bishop have had a bad week.
Sorry if already posted but the headline deserves an encore.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/bronwyn-bishop-rails-against-socialists-while-collecting-a-250k-pension-from-taxpayers-20170329-gv9kjc.html
Josh Marshall (of Talking Points Memo) and his entire family were kept in a “holding” queue at JFK airport because one of them had been red-flagged for closer inspection after a name match.
Problem was: it was his 8 year old son.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/annals-of-the-cbp-good-times-edition
It’s very much the George Brandis Show in the Senate this morning, and it’s woeful entertainment. Brandis, not long ago, was dithering his way through yet another explanation and sounding very confused about it. Perhaps he should have opted for an early adjournment and a good night’s sleep last night instead of filibustering and keeping the Senate sitting until midnight.
I suppose the successful passage of his bill to amend the Racial Discrimination Act was intended to be some sort of triumphant swan song for Bookshelves, a brilliant finale to his distinguished (cough, cough) political career, something big to make sure he would be received in London as a great legal mind. Instead it’s all turning to mush. Brandis has managed to have a few amendments passed, others, including the biggie, the 18c amendment, have been ditched and Brandis has made an absolute fool of himself through the whole thing.
There are schoolkids in the Senate gallery right now. Poor things! They must be bored witless.
The Shovel –
Michaelia Cash Insists Low Income Workers ARE Often Found In High Income Households. “Take My Cleaning Staff
http://www.theshovel.com.au/2017/03/30/michaelia-cash-low-income-found-in-high-income-households/
Status of company tax cuts?
The Senate hasn’t got to that yet. Still debating amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Leone,
Thanks for link to Hansard.
I posted it on the TGA site.
I noticed Murpharoo didn’t mention the One Nation vote or the Bernardi vote, although she did talk about Hanson and Bernardi having concerns about the word ‘harass’. I checked earlier,
I dare say she wrote “in anticipation”.
Very sloppy.
Click bait headline from the SMH:
Thousands left without power as floods cause chaos across NSW
“… across NSW”… now that would be from roughly Cameron Corner in the North-West, down to Mildura in the South-West, across to Eden-ish in the South-East, up through Sydney to Tweed Heads in the North-East, and all areas in between, wouldn’t it?
So how come the only areas under flood are in North-East NSW, as the actual article correctly states?
(And speaking of click bait, who gives a stuff whether Peter Stefanovich (unknown brother of Carl Stefanovich) has his wedding ruined by a competing PR company cashing in on his brother’s extra-marital antics or not?)
Oh, the original flood article is here….nah… it’s just clickbait
Finally – the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 gets through the Senate.
Now for the tax cuts for business aka Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016
There will be about 17 government senators speaking for this bill plus one One Nation and one Labor – Jenny McAllister, who has already spoken, very briefly. The Senate is in for a very boring afternoon as government windbag after government windbag waffles on and on about the virtues of tax cuts for squillionaires.
I won’t be watching.
Just some trivia from the last few days.
Pauline Hanson says she has been ‘listening’ to her supporters and because they don’t want penalty rates cut she won’t be supporting those cuts. That’s quite a backflip, considering her long-term crusade to abolish penalty rates ‘across the board’. It’s amazing what a thumping great election hiding will do for a party leader’s hearing.
Also no longer supporting cuts to penalty rates is Hinch. He has been ‘listening’ too, taking notice of the deluge of emails and phone calls he has been getting, many of them allegedly abusive.
Neither of these attention-seekers are at all interested the problems facing workers who face pay cuts. It’s just fear that motivates them. Hinch is afraid he could lose that Senate seat in the next federal election, he’s one of the new senators who scored only a three-year term. Hanson fears losing votes in the Queensland election after her party’s failure in WA. It’s that simple.
You can be sure that it’s never heartfelt. “listening” was one of Howard’s favourite words when he backflipped.
If either of those two publicity hounds actually cared a shit about low paid workers they would never have had a bar of it in the first place.
Fiona,
You should have email.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-31/police-to-lay-more-charges-against-former-hsu-boss-kathy-jackson/8405174
Her schade: my freude.
Good
OK I have technical problems with free to air TV, I appear to have fallen off the digital cliff when new neighbours moved into the apartment block 3 metres from my TV aerial. Any suggestions?
For something completely flippant watch this gangnam style video
And down she goes …
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/03/31/company-tax-cuts–lie-with-xenophon-.html
Did the Senate knock back the company tax cuts or were they still arguing over which companies got tax cuts
Any so ends another glorious week for the milquetoast Truffles blancmange (on toast)
Sam Dastyari says the government senators have done a dirty deal with NXT. Senators will keep on filibustering until the amendment can be written.
Sam is not happy, but we all knew NXT would cave in.
Snot says the Tax Office has told him it doesn’t have to go back to the Reps if the Senate passes it.
I think he forgot to add “if not amended.”
So that’s hoe it rolls. The Reps can go home, the Senate does a dodgy deal to get their tax thing past the Senate then the ATO says it’s all legal and it becomes law.
So why did they waste hours on a stupid debate, unless it was just buying time while they got Xenophon to agree to a deal?
Such a dubious character, that X.
Xenophon is just another Liberal pretending to be independent. Just like Hanson and Hinch.
New Thread
Comments closed here soon
Trump just declared war on Americas poor and probably everyone who is not super rich