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Issue 80 07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016
Saving you time for nine years.
Another Seasonal Edition
IN THIS ISSUE:
Double Dissolution or Otherwise Billson Franchise role Kennett on Turnbull
Greens no longer the nutters they were Royal Commission into banks?
What is debt? Rudd on the move Same sex marriage law.
New England Fight Hats allowed in Parliament
Abbott hits back at book ACCC furious over Coles criticism
Shorten’s bombsell crackdown Safe Schools
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www.affairs.com.au 3 Editorial 13 Agriculture, Cattle & Water
3 Feature Item 1 13 Media
Letter From Canberra is a monthly public affairs 4 Feature Item 2 13 Justice
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4 Governance 14 Broadband & IT
public policy and government decisions, which
affect business opportunities in Victoria and
7 Party Happenings 14 Welfare
Australia. 8 Industrial Relations and Employment 14 Transport & Infrastructure
9 Business, Economy, Manufacturing, Finance 14 Education
Written for the regular traveller, or people with 10 Mining 16 Foreign Affairs
meeting-filled days, it’s more about business 10 Trade 17 Defence
opportunities than politics.
10 Refugees & Immigration 17 Indigenous
Letter from Canberra is independent. It’s not party 11 Tax 18 Sports & Arts
political or any other political. It does not have the 11 Tourism 18 Society
imprimatur of government at any level. 12 Climate Change, Environment, Energy
The only communication tool of its type, Letter from
Canberra keeps subscribers abreast of recent About the editor
developments in the policy arena on a local, state Alistair Urquhart, BA LLB
and federal level.
Alistair Urquhart graduated from the Australian National
University in Canberra, in Law, History and Politics. He may
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07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
EDITORIAL The full focus of the new session will be on the under some semblance of government
Your Editor, believe it or not, is not a great footy passing or failure of the controversial Australian control.”
fan or any other sport for that matter, despite the Building and Construction Commission Bills in
Football Charts that his firm distribute, with the the Senate. On this occasion it also works together with the
chosen AFL or similar, team of Federal and prospect of a double dissolution of the Senate to
Victorian parliamentarians. If you do not have Prime Minister Turnbull has effectively create the circumstances where an election
one as the Season has started, please contact challenged the Opposition and cross bench could be held on 2 July 2016.
the Editor. He always barracks for Geelong, as Senators to pass the ABCC bills or face a
he grew up there, except when Essendon is double dissolution of Parliament. It is an Double dissolutions are also not all that
playing, which is where his father had had his ultimatum. common and occur with some complicating
earlier years. So the Game at the MCG last factors surrounding the term of office of the
weekend had Essendon and Geelong both on If the ABBC bills are rejected twice by the Senators. However, right now with the recently
41 points at half time. ‘Twas a good game until Senate the constitutional grounds for a double amended voting system for preference vote
half time, then Geelong only with difficulty dissolution are available for both houses of counting in a Senate election, there is a strong
kicked some serious goals, not too many, and Parliament and an election at which all Senate incentive for the Coalition Government to seek a
lots of points. And went on to win. and House of Representative seats could be double dissolution.
spilled. In the event of a double dissolution (all seats in
The Essendon supporters left the ground with a both houses) the Coalition Government would
certain sense of pride, that they had really given The Budget session has also been bought be hoping it will be returned to Government and
one of the top teams a real challenge. One forward to 3 May. win a majority in the Senate under the new
supporter threw an Essendon scarf at the voting rules which should mitigate against
Editor, the first he has ever worn. There is more But what does it all mean? micro parties using preference deals to manage
to come out of the Governance of the Essendon For the man in the street unaccustomed to a quota from a very low base of first preference
Club by others in recent times. Give us Time! following Parliamentary procedure and votes. i.e. Senator Ricky Muir of the Australian
constitutional law the language can be Motoring Enthusiasts Party in the last election.
And now we have another Election season, confusing.
without really knowing how long each side has Matters of Constitutional interpretation are
to kick their goals before the siren sounds. Even Prorogue means: complex and confusing for the public, not many
the timekeeper does not know when to blow “All things come to an end—that is, all business study the constitution. Therefore, there is some
whichever whistle. on the Notice Paper lapses. Provision exists for public misapprehension and mistrust of these
the resumption in a new session, under certain politically strategic decisions, to say the least.
As at 5 April, The Opposition lead Shorten was conditions, of proceedings on bills which lapse
ahead of Prime Minister Turnbull in a Newspoll by reason of prorogation” There has been some political commentary
for its erratic economic policies or messaging, saying that by using section 5 the Coalition
with perhaps three months to go until an Some commentators have described the Government is “tricky”. Because most voters
election in particular tax indecisiveness where it prorogue as the equivalent of rebooting a are not across the Australian Constitution and
almost felt like he was polling the Australian computer, or using an older analogy; the slate is the Electoral Act taking this route does imply for
electorate to find out what they liked, it ‘aint wiped clean and a new session of Parliament some a strategic manipulation, but
taxes’! can commence. Constitutional experts agree that using section 5
is valid and unlikely to be challenged.
The FEATURE item of this Season is about how This provision to prorogue has been used
the Australian Constitution has clauses which sparingly to stop and restart Parliament over the If the new session of Parliament leads to a
can change the way legislation can pass past 50 years; once in 1968 following the double dissolution, it is not without risk for the
through the Parliament. disappearance of Prime Minister Harold Holt, in Government. The quota of votes required for a
1970 by a Coalition Government, by the Senate candidate to succeed in a double
The other FEATURE item is the Senate not Whitlam Government to facilitate the opening of dissolution election is reduced to 7.67%. (One
passing the legislation, which would have given a new Parliament by Queen Elizabeth in 1974 thirteenth of100% of votes divided equals
large trucking companies and unions control of and in 1977 at the conclusion of the term of the 7.67%). In half Senate elections the quota is
individual truck owners. Whitlam government by Governor General Sir 14.29%. Some smaller parties may be
John Kerr. advantaged in a double dissolution election
Cover The Seasons have only just started, AFL under the new rules, for example Senator Nick
and the Federal Game. The green oval that you The effect of the prorogue is to end the session Xenophon and his running mates in South
see is early in the Game, when Essendon and of Parliament, remove all bills from the agenda Australia are more likely to add to the one seat
Geelong are kick for kick and point for point and usually works along with a dissolution of the won last election.
before the half time mark. Then the Cats went House of Representatives towards meeting the
on to win, but under heavy pressure. Behind the constitutional arrangements for a forthcoming How will it all pan out, is it a gamble of long
sporting fence, ongoing questions are being election. odds and high stakes? Will this strategy back
followed up about the treatment of Essendon. fire on the Government? We can only wait and
As Lenore Taylor writing for The Guardian see what happens after 18 April when the
Thoughtful Reading… commented on this initiative by Prime Minister Senate is scheduled to sit again in a new
Turnbull; session.For more information; see the following:
“the prime minister has effectively pressed Commentators to follow
FEATURE ITEM 1 control-alt-delete. On the entire parliament.
Australian Parliament prorogued by Clause 5. The reboot is intended to make him look For some different perspectives on this issue
David Russell, public policy consultant decisive and put the policy debate back and the election try: Antony Green at the ABC,
It is looking ever more likely that a federal
election will be held on 2 July 2016 after Prime Chasing the Facts
Minister Turnbull wrote to the Governor General
on 21 March and sought to invoke section 5 of
the Australian Constitution. Section 5 says: This year Letter from Melbourne will have a regular feature on an area of
The Governor-General may appoint such public policy, focusing on the particular facts of an issue or circumstance.
times for holding the sessions of the Parliament For example, South Australian Energy sources. Victoria’s water resources.
as he thinks fit, and may also from time to time,
by Proclamation or otherwise, prorogue the Public servant numbers in Victoria, where are they all. All details that
Parliament, and may in like manner dissolve the Professor Google and others can provide. However, we write this magazine
House of Representatives. for very busy people, who have particular professional or business or
Acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, personal or community interests so that is just a Quik Flick Through for
Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove
prorogued Parliament effective from 15 April these people, perhaps a little bit more.
2016 and authorised a recall for a new session
of Parliament for 18 April 2016.
3
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
Peter Van Onslen of The Australian and Lenore in return for a Senate deal to crack down on double dissolution election makes tactical
Taylor of The Guardian. union misbehaviour and hence avoid a 2 July sense.
double dissolution election. Turnbull rang, so
The Prime Minister’s Letter the media tell us, Family First senator Bob In one sense Turnbull is playing a game of two-
The Prime Ministers letter to the Governor Day to seek a breakthrough a week after up with Labor in which heads he wins and tails
General, advice provided by the Attorney threatening the full-Senate election unless the they lose, on the issue of well-documented
General and the reply of the Governor General Senate re-establishes the Australian Building union thuggery according to The Age. Either
is available on the internet. It is actually an and Construction Commission and introduces way, industrial relations reform will be an
interesting read. See below: tougher oversight of all unions and employer important issue in the forthcoming election
https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/gg/ groups. Senator Day is the only unequivocal whether it is a double dissolution poll, or an
2016/Documents%20relating%20to%20prorogu supporter of both bills. With the support of six of election in the normal timeframe.
ation%20of%20the%20Parliament%2021%20M the eight cross benchers needed to pass the
arch%202016.pd bills, Turnbull told Senator Day that it was Applause for PM’s Bold Strategy
Or use google to search. pointless trying to negotiate individually. He Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s gambit of
asked the South Australian to talk to the others bringing Parliament back for a special three-
ELECTION DATE 2 July as we go to press. and organize a bloc of at least six to negotiate week session on April 18 is leading to a May 3
with the government, as reported in The Age. budget to exert pressure on the Senate cross
benchers is regarded by Liberal elders as a
FEATURE ITEM 2 Power Play or Miscalculation? smart move as per The Age.
Government moves to repeal Truck Safety & Federal campaigns usually run for 25 days.
Renumeration Tribunal Act They are the only time in the election cycle A Heartland Return
when the leader of the opposition party is almost The Nationals have begun a campaign to win
We have been puzzled as to why this has taken on equal footing with the prime minister when it back the one-time heartland seat of Murray in
so long to come to a head since the change of comes to media coverage and voter interest. Victoria’s northeast after Sharman
Government the other year. However a Repeal Stone’s decision to retire from politics at the
Bill was passed in the Lower House and the Turnbull’s Satisfaction on the Slide next election according to The Australian.
Senate. Owner Driver Truckies demonstrated Voter confidence in Malcolm Turnbull’s
their support for abolition of the Road Safety performance has tumbled to a five month low Shorten’s Bombshell Crackdown
and Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) on 17 April and dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister has Bombshell economic modeling shows Bill
with a convoy of big rigs driving to Canberra and reached the highest level since he seized the Shorten's negative gearing crackdown could
circumnavigating Parliament House. leadership from Tony Abbott in September as lead to lower house prices, rent rises of up to 10
reported in The Australian. per cent, cost the budget more than it saves and
The action of Government to repeal the RSRT cause unemployment to rise. The modeling,
legislation was promoted on National TV news Malcolm Turnbull presented Bill Shorten with released by economic forecaster BIS
by Prime Minister Turnbull, Deputy Barnaby a gift when he told voters on Monday to prepare Shrapnel, predicts Labor’s plan to limit negative
Joyce and Senator Michaelia Cash on National for a double dissolution election on July gearing to new homes from July next year will
Media with parading trucks roaring past in the 2. Clearly, Turnbull believes that he leave renters, low-income households and
background. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has Shorten’s measure, and his confidence is young people worse off and could cut gross
was quoted as saying that the scrapping of the supported by the whopping 39-point lead he had domestic product by as much as 1 per cent, $19
Tribunal will lead ‘a race to the bottom’ on AT THAT TIME over the Labor leader as billion a year.
wages. preferred prime minister in the latest Fairfax-
Ipsos National Poll. It predicts a decade of disruption in the housing
Many industry groups including the Australian market, tighter supply for rental premises and a
Logistics Council support abolition of the RSRT. Andrew Catsaras disagrees insist- string of unintended consequences. These
Incidentally, Australian Industry Group and ing Turnbull has totally stuffed this up” in his include 175,000 fewer jobs created over a
others, claiming it to be unconstitutional, had first six months in the Prime Ministership. decade, lower council rates receipts and lower
appealed a decision of the RSRT to the High ‘What’s the plan? He’s going to go to a double stamp duties for state governments, according
Court. More next edition. dissolution on the back of the ABCC to The Australian.
(Australian Building and Construction
Commission). Most people wouldn’t have a Labor Ready To Fight
GOVERNANCE
clue with what the ABCC is. Most people Labor leader Bill Shorten will fight an election
PM seeks deal to avoid DD election
would PM’s Risky Election Gambit. Malcolm on health, education funding and climate
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is prepared to
Turnbull’s exercise in brinkmanship by daring change. But another Coalition weak point, he
consider anti-corruption measures for industries,
Labor, the Greens and the cross benchers to believes, is its apparent plan to cut company
beyond construction (building and construction)
reject industrial relations legislation or face a taxes in the budget. According to The Age,
4
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
Greens leader Richard Di Natale said his party Malcolm Turnbull has my full support and will ‘Efficiencies, not cash, the key for hospitals’
was in “good shape” for any election and said get my vote in the next election. But increasingly The former Queensland health minister who
he would not lose senators in a double I wonder if the extraordinary goodwill that engineered a massive drop in growth in public
dissolution. accompanied his rise to the prime ministership health costs while reducing surgery and dental
has been lost, and worse, whether the waiting lists has warned against “just throwing
Old Rules for New Candidate opportunity for good government has been more money” at public hospitals, saying it won’t
The Maritime Union of Australia’s bid to install lost. Unless he pulls a rabbit from the hat in the work without a corresponding drive to improve
one of its officials as the Labor candidate in the May Budget, it will be clear that by his key efficiency in the delivery of services.
prized seat of Fremantle is expected to succeed performance indicators, which he outlined when
due to unreformed party rules allowing union assuming the leadership, he is failing. “We need Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence
power brokers and factional bosses to decide an economic vision.” Nothing so far, according Springborg, who was health minister in
pre-selection contests in Western Australia. But to Jeff Kennett for The Herald Sun. the Newman government from 2012-2015, said
rank-and-file ALP members in Fremantle will state and federal leaders needed to widen the
only get 25% of the votes in the pre-selection Stop Having A Lend Of Us debate on how to keep health from
ballot. The other 75 per cent will be decided by One of the great mysteries of federal politics is overwhelming government
affiliated unions and the union-heavy Labor how the debt and deficit crisis, of which we used budgets. Springborg cut annual funding growth
state executive, making it more likely to hear so much, has disappeared from the of about 10 per cent to an average of just over 5
that Brown will win the battle. The Australian national political agenda. But avoiding the issue per cent in his three years in the portfolio, and
doesn’t mean it will go away, no matter how delivered rare annual surpluses in the health
ScoMo’s Cavalry convenient it might be for the major parties. budget.
A group of conservative backbenchers has
thrown support behind the embattled Scott In a low-key but sensible intervention, And while the Newman government was
Morrison following days of internal criticism of NAB chief executive Andrew Thornburn said politically savaged over its agenda, including the
the Treasurer’s performance. Five liberal that business leaders, and all Australians, for sacking of more than 4000 health workers and a
backbenchers, including Michael Sukkar, that matter, had the right to expect a credible bruising battle to force public hospital doctors on
Andrew Astie, Andrew Nikolic, Tony plan from the Coalition and Labor to return the to contracts, Springborg said it produced a
Pasin and Zed Seselja publicly budget to surplus. better system for taxpayers and patients.
defended Morrison, saying he was consultive,
performing well, and should be left alone to do The big danger, he said, was an acceptance When the Newman government won power
his job. ‘Scott has been a consulting in an that the task was too hard, leading to after almost two decades of Labor rule,
exemplary way with the backbench on a range incrementally larger deficits until the nation lost independent reports found widespread rorting
of economic and tax issues. In all my dealings it its cherished AAA credit rating as per The within the system including the existence of
seems clear to me he has a very closer and Financial Review. funded “ghost” positions and doctors being paid
strong relationship with The Prime Minister,;’ hundreds of thousands of dollars in
The Victorian-based Zukkar said in The Herald Kroger open to Greens overtime. Springborg said he did not oppose tax
Sun. Liberal Michael Kroger says a preference deal reform to pay for hospitals into the future, but
with The Greens would be acceptable because that it could not be sustainable “without
Next they are not “the nutters they used to be” expenditure reform” as reported in The
Jason Falinski, a former Young Liberals according to The Age. The Victorian Liberal Australian
president, has beaten former Speaker and Party President is under pressure to rule out any
Minister Bronwyn Bishop for the New South agreement with the far-Left party that could help Savva Right Not to Play
Wales nice suburban seat of Mackellar. the Greens win inner-city seats in exchange for What is compelling about Niki Savva’s new
help in marginal suburban electorates. book is the number of sources who have gone
Twenty two or three federal on the record, expressing concerns about the
parliamentarians have retired or ben replaced ‘Bob’s Bank’ dysfunction within Tony Abbott’s prime
in the pre-selection process The Greens’ spiritual leader Bob Brown has ministerial office. Savva has already said that
heaped praise upon Malcolm Turnbull for she didn’t seek responses from Abbott
Turnbull Must Stick With What He Believes delivering ‘a feather in the Greens’ cap” with the or Credlin because they had numerous
In the past few weeks a couple of people have decision to retain the $10 billion Clean Energy platforms to tell their side of the story.
accused me of being a supported of the Labor Finance Corporation. But the announcement
party. Nothing could be further from the truth. has created a divide in the Greens with current She wanted to give a voice to the many staffers
There is nothing the ALP could promise party leader Richard Di Natale branding the who lived through the dysfunction but didn’t
Australia, Victoria or me, that would convince Prime Minister’s move a “con have a platform. I am amazed at how forthright
me that it would be better economic manager of job’. The CEFC was derided as “Bob so many are. Both Abbott and Credlin have
our affairs than the Coalition. The last Labor Brown’s bank” by the Abbott-led Coalition, already responded to the book, and will no
administration that achieved something positive which had campaigned to abolish the agency doubt do so again and again as reported in The
for the nation was the Hawke/Keating devised by the Gillard government as part of its Australian.
government. There has been none in our state carbon tax deal with the Greens as reported Pay Brawl looms as poll issue for Barnett
in my memory. inThe Australian. Unions are threatening industrial action in
5
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
Western Australia in the lead-up to next year’s party executive with responsibility for campaign according to The Australian. Previously, the
state election as the prepare to fight a hardline finances. His resignation as party agent comes Attorney-General’s Department had been
government wages policy that will leave public ahead of the NSW Liberals amending their working towards presenting a draft bill for the
servants worse off. disclosures to admit receipt of illegal donations wording of a same-sex marriage plebiscite
from property developers, which will see them before Easter, as well as establishing the
Treasurer Mike Nahan revealed the face a fine of nearly $700,000 or equivalent to ground rules for the public campaign, including
government had scrapped its policy of linking the dollar value of the donations unlawfully on the funding for the two sides.
wage increases to the forecast rate of inflation, received as reported in The Australian.
and would instead offer pay rises of no more The threat of divisions within the Coalition and
than 1.5 per cent a year. He said the move Abbott Legacy Exclusive fears that the issue will distract government
would save the government about $825 million Amid mounting alarm in the Liberal ministers and MPs from focusing on the key
over the next three years. Most of WA’s Party about Tony Abbott’s aggressive defence election issues of economic management and
enterprise bargaining agreements are set to of his legacy, the former prime minister has sent union lawlessness have, however, delayed the
expire before next year’s state election, a message of assurance to Liberal MPs and process.
including those for nurses, prison officers, supporters worried that the government’s
doctors, police officers, teachers, firefighters election campaign will be derailed by disunity as Tough Agenda Ahead for Sims
and general public servants. per The Australian. Competition boss Rod Sims intends to use the
next three years to secure a tenfold increase in
Dr Nahan said the state’s public servants were Here to Help penalties for breaches of consumer law while
among the highest paid in the country and the Over the past year, reports have gathered pace seeking through the planned shake-up to
new policy was “reasonable and appropriate” in that Rudd, an epic networker, is preparing the competition rules, including rolling out the so-
the current fiscal environment. groundwork to replace UN Secretary- called effects tests according to The Australian.
General Ban Ki-moon, who retires at the end of
But the state’s biggest union, the Australian the year. The reports have prompted derisive Sims who has been nominated by the Federal
Nursing Federation, described the move as a jokes in Australia about Rudd’s reputation as a Government to chair the Australian Competition
“direct path to industrial action”. The Australian megalomaniac. His aspirations are dismissively & Consumer Commission for another three year
filed in the “typical Kevin” basket. term, also defended his time as head of the
Sinodinos Case Exposes Threat of Double regulator and laid out his commitment to “robust
Jeopardy Despite the UN being a target of conservatives capitalism”.
The full list of the secret donors involved in who regard it as a time-wasting, left-leaning
almost $700,000 worth of payments at the heart bureaucracy filled with fellow travellers, the role Dissent in Labor Ranks over Gender
of the NSW Liberal Party election donations of secretary general remains one of the world’s Program
scandal has been revealed in leaked financial most prestigious public positions. Rudd,thus West Australian Labour Senator Joe
records. Documents obtained by The far, has declared repeatedly that he is not a Bullock has defied Bill Shorten by joining
Australian show 73 payments by individuals and candidate. He has left open the question of conservative senator Cory Bernardito oppose a
companies were funneled through the Liberals’ whether that will change. Rudd holds an array contentious anti-bullying program that teaches
controversial Canberra-based trust, the Free of significant international roles, which take him school kids about sexual orientation and
Enterprise Foundation, to the party’s NSW around the world, simultaneously building a transgender issues. The Opposition leader
division before the 2011 state election. As solid game-work for his candidacy. suggested in a venomous exchange in
the NSW Liberal Party attempts to reach a Parliament House that Senator Bernardi was a
settlement with the NSW Electoral Rudd is president of the Asia Society Policy “homophobe” for opposing the scheme, but
Commission in order to receive $4.3 million in Institute, an offshoot of the Asia Society. must now face the realty that Labor MPs hold
funding it is withholding in the lead up Circumnavigating the world as the head of concerns too as reported in The Australian.
to Turnbull’s election campaign, the party is the ASPI think-tank; chairing conferences,
facing the prospect of legal action by property lecturing, producing papers which Name a Stain
developers, furious they were encouraged to all gives Rudd an open door to the top ranks of Veteran liberal MP Russell Broadbent has
make the donations via the trust. business and political leaders and foreign written to the Australian Electoral
ministries. Commission, asking for the electorate’s name
The Independent Commission Against to be changed during the next redrawing of
Corruption and the Australian Electoral As chairman of the Independent Commission boundaries in 2017. He told The Herald Sun it
Commission have previously disclosed donors on Multi-lateralism, a project of the long-time was no longer “appropriate” for Angus
to the Free Enterprise Foundation but, for the New York-based International Peace McMillan’s name to be associated with the
first time, The Australian can reveal which Institute, Rudd is on the board of directors electorate. The seat should be renamedGunai
donations were funneled into the NSW Liberal according to The Australian. Kurnai, the native Aboriginal people of the
Party coffers, potentially unlawfully according region. McMillan and his men, known as the
to The Australian. Plebiscite Pause for Election “Highland Brigade”, were said to be responsible
The Federal Government has shelved plans to for multiple massacres including the killing of up
Finance Director Stands Down produce the framework and wording for a to 35 at Butchers Creek and “hundreds” and
NSW Liberal Party finance director Simon plebiscite on same-sex marriage until after the Bruthen Creek and Warrigal Creek as per The
McInnes will stand down from his role as the election that is now expected on July 2 Herald Sun.
6
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
Sophie not doing well majority support from WA’ Labor’s 32 member but about other things, too.” She admitted
Ousted Liberal politician Sophie caucus and majority support from rank-and-file she had a rule that politicians were either
Mirabella’s hopes of a comeback appear to be members, according to The Australian. sources or targets and that “I learned to slice
fading as a new poll shows the independent Police Probe and dice anyone who… spoke to others and not
MP Cathy McGowan seized her seat is on track Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus me”.
to retain it. McGowan shocked the political referred the matter of Stuart Robert to
establishment with a famous victory over the the Australian Federal Police on February 14, Nor can Credlin be the office monster
Liberal MP in the 2013 election, taking the rural citing sections of the law that deal with abuse of that Savva describes given her successfully
Victorian federal seat of Indi by 439 votes. A public office by Commonwealth officials. Robert serving three opposition leaders,
new opinion poll has found support had been on a trip to China which drew conflict including Turnbull himself. Indeed, Abbott as a
for McGowan has since grown according to The of business and his role as a parliamentarian. PM had a lower turnover of staff than
Herald Sun. He was until 12 February Minister for Human either Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard.
Services. On February 16 the AFP advised that Why has Turnbull refused to stick up
John Howard best PM of modern era the matter was still being evaluated. An for Credlin, saying only: “I don’t want to buy into
34 per cent of voters judge John investigation is now underway, as reported all that commentary”? Savva was treated as the
Howard (1996-2007) as the best prime minister by The Herald Sun. oracle on ABC’s The Insiders as she continued
since 1972, followed by Bob Hawke to shop these rumours, “perceptions” as she
and Gough Whitlam. A new essential research Robert Declines to provide paper proof calls them, of Abbot’s sexual relationship,
poll provided exclusively to The Australian finds Sacked federal minister Stuart Roberts has writes Andrew Bolt for The Herald Sun.
that 34 per cent of voters judge refused to produce any documentary evidence
Howard (1996 to 2007) as the best prime to support his justification for charging taxpayers Abbott Hits Back At Book
minister since 1972. Hawke (1983 to 1991) was more than $1,600 to visit the site of a gold Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has
selected by 13 per cent as the best, mining company in which he had bought shares responded to clams made in Savva’s new book
and Whitlam (1972 -1975) by 10 percent. Tony for himself and his family, as per The Australian. about his “weird” relationship with chief of
Abbott (2013-2015) was again ranked last, with staff Peta Credlin by denying his government
just 2 per cent of voters seeing him as the best PARTY HAPPENINGS was dysfunctional.
prime minister. Malcolm Turnbull, who has Barnaby Vs. The Bush Baron
been prime minister for six months, was rated It has been characterized simply as an unequal Credlin later joined the fray by blasting rumours
highest by only 3 percent of voters. In the match-up, as a bitter contest between an that she and Abbott had a sexual relationship.
middle of the prime ministerial pack is Paul independent challenger and deep establishment “Completely false, utterly untrue, unfounded and
Keating (1991-1996). The online poll of 1017 figure, or a political cage fight between an wrong,” Credlin told The Australian. “I cannot be
respondents showed some significant variations opportunistic turncoat and a hyper-energetic any clearer, it is about as low as it gets. It’s
in support when choices of respondents were buffoon. None of that is strictly true when it vicious and malicious.”
broken down by party, gender and age. comes to the impending battle for New England
between Tony Windsorand Deputy Prime Same Club But Different
Howard was rated best prime minister by 64 per Minister Barnaby Joyce. The New England Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott are very
cent of Liberal voters. Hawke received the brawl will in fact pit against each other two different. Bear with me and read on after that
support of 7 per cent of Liberal voters, followed wealthy families, both stalwarts of the fertile statement of the bleeding obvious because
by Turnbull with 6 per cent support. NSW region’s agricultural community, according there is an important point to be made.
to The Australian.
The favorite among Labor votes was Hawke. Despite the stark differences in personality,
Greens votes rated Keating as the best prime Windsor back to torment Coalition background, manner, social views and
minister, with 18 per cent support. Tony Windsor has political pundits salivating at management style, both men as prime minister
Although Gillard is the only woman prime the prospect of a knockdown, drag-out political have faced some of the same, self-generated
minister, she was rated by just 6 per cent of battle with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby political problems.
women as the best since 1972, as reported on Joyce in the seat of New England.
by The Australian. The former Independent, who retired in 2013 The Abbott and Federal Governments have
and has threatened a comeback over a raft of seen policy retreats, contradictory messages
Lawler Resigns issues including coal mining on the Liverpool sent through the media, internal criticism of their
Besieged Fair Work vice-president Michael Plains, has been testing support in his treasurer, uncertainty about the budget,
Lawler has resigned from his $435,000-a-year electorate. Joyce won a 54.2% of the primary speculation about an election date, failed
position in an unprecedented finale to more than vote in New England in 2013 after Windsor expectations and a resultant decline in the polls
a year of controversy over his extended paid retired, The Australian reports. (disastrously for Abbott).
sick leave. One of Australia’s most senior
members of the quasi-judicial industrial tribunal, Reith: Pull Your Head In The one great political failure of the Abbott
with all the status and perks-of a Federal Court Former Liberal federal minister Peter government was the lack of a clear political
judge,Lawler has taken almost a year of sick Reith says ex-PM Tony Abbot’s decision to message. The priorities seemed to shift on
leave while regularly assisting his partner, tour marginal seats was a bad idea, and he budget and economic management; there were
disgraced unionist Kathy Jackson, to fight would be “doing himself a disservice and a confusing and contradictory messages on
allegations of theft. disservice to the country” according to The whatAbbott wanted to do, what Joe
Herald Sun. Hockey wanted to do, and what policies were
Labor picks its next RBA governor being pursued and what was being dumped.
Treasurer Scott Morrison is refusing to consult Vile Attack Stinks of Hypocrisy’
the opposition over a raft of top economic The smearing of Peta Credlin in a new book as Simply, Abbott didn’t talk enough or to enough
appointments in the lead-up to a likely election a hysterical control freak who probably slept people. What’s more he didn’t listen when he
in July, including the promotion to governor with Tony Abbott has backfired. This vile did consult. Now, six months
of Reserve Bank of Australia deputyPhillip attempt to destroy Credlin, chief of staff after Turnbull replaced Abbott as Prime
Lowe who has won Labor’s backing. Shadow to Abbott as prime minister, has instead Minister the coalition is facing a similar set of
treasurer Chris Bowen demanded the exposed the author as a self-confessed liar. problems, though they are not nearly as dire
government stop naming senior Treasury according to an opinion piece in The Australian.
portfolio positions without consulting the More importantly, it has exposed the ABC as
opposition, because the government is two-faced and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Bullock quits over gay marriage
effectively on an election footing. as a small man gripped by hate. Credlin is the West Australian Labor senator Joe Bullock has
target of journalist Niki Savva, who obsessively announced his shock decision to quit parliament
attacked her as a columnist on The Australian, less than two years into his six-year term,
Over there and now savages her in her book, The Road To saying he could not remain a member of a party
Former federal Labor minister Stephen Ruin, purporting to explain why that would force him to support gay marriage as
Smith has launched an extraordinary pitch to the Abbott government fell. reported in The Australian.
wrest the Labor leadership from opposition
leader Mark McGowan in a bid to become the But there’s more. Six years ago Savva wrote Plum UN Job for Bernardi
next Western Australian premier. Smith, who is another book in which she confessed that “as a Outspoken Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has
not a sitting local member, would need to gain journalist I lied often, usually about my sources, been handed a three-month secondment to
7
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
the United Nations in New York. He will spend and particularly the band, which was knitted by Premier Backs Workplace Law Reform
three months as parliamentary observer of my older sister,” he told the University of Australia’s workplace laws should be
the United Nations General Assembly. The NSW magazine Uniken in 2009. “It’s second overhauled to include family violence leave as
Herald Sun. nature to me – I feel a bit undressed when I part of sweeping reforms proposed by the
don’t have it on my head. I get very annoyed country’s first royal commission into domestic
Dirt Sheet Smears Gay Libs Candidate when I see people carrying a hat instead of abuse.
Former human rights commissioner Tim wearing it” he said to The Australian. The royal commission, which was established
Wilson voiced concerns about the Safe by the Victorian government last year after the
Schools Coalition with the government early Gay rights a maiden issue for new MP death of 11-year-oldLuke Batty, made 227
last year ahead of the current review, still facing Trent Zimmerman, the newest member of recommendations, all of which Premier Daniel
a vicious internal smear campaign over the federal parliament, has used his maiden speech Andrews has promised to implement.
issue as he fought for Liberal pre-selection. to call for greater acceptance of gay people and
said that nobody should feel “compelled to live a Among the recommendations was an
The smear campaign attempted to life that is not their own”. ReplacingJoe amendment of the Fair Work Act to include an
paint Wilson as a overt supporter of the Safe Hockey in the seat of North entitlement to paid family violence leave for
Schools Coalition when the truth is he has Sydney, Zimmerman backed four-year employees and unpaid family violence leave for
privately advocated for reform according to The parliamentary terms, more federal funding of casual employees as reported in The Australian.
Australian. He won his pre-election and will win public transport and looked forward to a day
his federal seat. when Turkey “properly recognises the Armenian Worker Exploitation Disgrace
genocide” of 1915. Over the course of a year and 10 public
PM Faces Revolt over Safe Schools hearings, the Senate inquiry, chaired by
Malcolm Turnbull faces his first genuine Zimmerman used the occasion to acknowledge Senator Sue Lines, heard first-hand evidence
backbench revolt involving as many MPs as the he was the first openly gay man or woman to from victims, regulators, unions and academics,
numbers who moved against Tony Abbott as take up a place in the House of outlining cases of wage fraud, worker
Liberal leader. Representatives, according to The exploitation and in some cases slavery. It has
Australian. He did not refer to Penny Wong. now released a report titled A National Disgrace:
A majority of Coalition backbenchers has The Exploitation of Temporary Work Visa
rejected a snap review of an anti-bullying We Lost Millions Holders.
program for gay and transgender children Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his family
ordered by the Prime Minister. They have put have retrieved some of their investment in a Over in Britain, your Editor met the Minister for
their names to a petition that details their failed tech start-up as other wealthy and famous Slavery last year. The British have a Minister
concerns and was delivered to Turnbull investors face losing $100 million thanks to an with that title in 2016 to look into such issues.
yesterday afternoon. argument with the company’s former chairman,
ex-NSW premier Nick Greiner, as reported by The more controversial recommendations relate
Some 43 MPs, including former prime the Financial Review. to labour hire companies and the $170 billion
minister Abbott, have demanded a franchise industry. A key recommendation is
parliamentary inquiry to allow submissions from that Treasury and the ACCC reviews the
parents and teachers concerned about he INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS & EMPLOYMENT franchising code of conduct and “whether there
scheme and pushed for a suspension of the Jobs cut as aluminum plant faces closure is scope to impose some degree of
program’s funding according to The Australian. A Portland smelter risks closure and a mass responsibility on a franchisor and the merits or
shedding of jobs, with the aluminum plant now otherwise of so doing” according to The Age.
Senator Spills the beans but backed by running at a loss and facing a huge surge in
Abbott costs later this year. Unions must strategize, not just merge
NSW Liberal conservative Concetta Fierravanti The union movement’s strategy of mergers has
Wells has used a reference from Tony The smelter, which supports 2000 jobs, is set to generally been a failure, as it has not rebuilt or
Abbott to back her pre-election for the next lose as much as $40 million this financial year maintained the power of organised labour,
election in the week is was revealed she due to a collapse in aluminum prices according says Tim Lyons, a former
provided damning comments for a contentious to Macquarie Bank analysts. senior ACTU official. He said the union
book.‘Politics is about movements arguments for mergers such as
perceptions,” Senator Fierravanti Albanese cans CFMEU attack on PM “bigger is better” and ‘stronger together”
Wells told Abbott, ‘Rightly or wrongly, the Labor’s Anthony Albanese has condemned the deserved to be shaken by the evidence.
perception is that you are sleeping with your construction union’s claim Malcolm ‘You can see enormous benefits of
chief of staff. That’s the perception, and you Turnbull is ‘happy for workers to die’. consolidation everywhere except in the hard
need to deal with it.’ The Construction Forestry Mining and numbers and real-life experience about what
Energy Union has launched an aggressive happens after you do it. As a strategy to rebuild
Abbott and Credlin have denied the rumours social media campaign targeting the Prime or maintain the power of organised labour,
and described parts of the book as salacious Minister over plans to bring back the Australian consolidation, at least as it has been practised
rumours not put to them for denial or correction Building Commission. up to now, has generally been a
according to The Australian. failure. Lyons proposed a detailed framework
for future mergers, saying unions must
What is worse than violating someone’s trust “Malcolm Turnbull is happy for more workers to comprehensively assess the drivers, establish
and disclosing a private conversation about a die, if it makes more profits for his donors. clear objectives and develop strategy to remove
sensitive information you raise with them? How The ABCC will cut jobs, kill workers, and let big risks, as published in The Australian.
about seeking a raise from that same person business off the hook,” says one of the union’s
before they know you have breached their tweets. Albanese acknowledged the left-wing Shipyard Dumps Workers
confidence? unions efforts to protect workers, but rejected Defence, security and aerospace company BAE
the rhetoric. “Without unions, I tell you what, the Systems will cut 50 jobs from its Williamstown
Pat and his dress code limits catastrophic consequences for the health of shipyards. The job cuts reduce the total
Pat Dodson’s trademark, black-brimmed people who go to work, and their families who shipyard workforce to just 150.
Akubra poses a new test for parliament’s expect them to come home at the end of the The company has been bleeding jobs over the
evolving standards that already prohibit the day, would be much great. But that doesn’t past 18 months, with more than 800 jobs list.
wearing of shorts by senators and the mean, because you have to acknowledge that, The BAE Systems blow comes up as 80 jobs
distribution of apples in the lower house. you can support the sort of language, which I will also be lost at Treasury Wines packaging
don’t” as reported in The Australian. and warehousing centre in Mildura according
Dodson would become one of the first senators toThe Herald Sun.
to wear a hat in the chamber since Federation- Union Threat to $48b NT Gas Project
era rules governing MP’s headwear were Unions are preparing to ramp up a campaign for ‘If ABCC Does Nothing But Clean Up, It’s A
abolished in 1988 as a “relic” of their about 30 per cent more time off in Inpex Corp’s Win’
time. Dodson has described the Akubra as both Ichthys liquefied natural gas project in northern The managing director of Perkins
a “practical” safeguard against the northern sun Australia, which could send on the of the most Construction employs 300 people at the
and a cultural aide-memoire. “It is a reminder costly energy projects in Australian history even business his father and uncle founded in
that Aboriginal people are part of this country, further over budget as per The Age. Bunbury, 180 km south of Perth, in 1965 – jobs
8
07 March 2016 to 15 April 2016 Letter From Canberra
he said would be safeguarded by Turnbull took over as prime minister, conceded fastest growing part of Woolworths business,
the Australian Building and Construction in The Australian that” clearly there is scope for which includes the BWS chain according toThe
Commission watchdog. improvement.” Financial Review.
The long-running battle between employers and Unions Block Police Oz Banks Snared
unions over the ABCC comes down to “power” The Forestry Mining and Energy Union are Two of Australia’s biggest
and “the long-term preservation of fighting to block police permanently from banks, ANZ and NAB, have been drawn into a
jobs”,Perkins told The Australian from Bunbury accessing files that could incriminate two of its Singaporean money laundering investigation
last week. As national president of the Master senior officials. Australian Federal into the IMDB scandal, in which the Prime
Builders Australia industry group, he is Police officers last year raided the union’s Minister of neighbouring Malaysia, Najib Razak,
lobbying hard for the reinstatement of the Brisbane headquarters amid claims former has been accused of stealing $US1 billion from
regulator the Gillard Labor government Queensland boss David Hanna and CFMI state the country’s sovereign wealth fund as reported
scrapped in 2012, which is fiercely opposed by secretary Michael Ravbarburned and dumped in The Australian.
the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy potential damning documents that would have
Union. “The unions criticize the ABCC in the been required for the royal commission on trade New VW Recall hits reputation
name of protecting jobs and about safety, but unions, as per The Australian. The Volkswagon group is recalling 800,000
from my firsthand experience this issue isn’t SUVs worldwide in the latest blow to the
about either of those things,” Perkins said, “If ACT Labor’s Union Deal reputation of the German car making giant. The
the unions were serious about jobs they’d want The ACT Labor government has signed a secret recall takes in 391,000 Volkswagon
to protect the companies so they stay viable”. deal giving all the unions in Canberra the right to Touaregs and 409,477 Porsche Cayennes,
veto tenderers for government goods and model series 2011 to 2016 and involves a fault
CFMEU accused of targeting contractor services, including in the building industry that with the pedals as reported in The Australian.
The NSW state secretary and a dozen other has been identified as a hotspot of union
officials of the CFMEU have been accused of corruption and stand over tactics. Hands-on Chairman to guide Telstra
targeting a contractor company with an All ACT government agencies have been told to Telstra’s chairman-elect John Mollen is a
extraordinary range of malicious workplace decline to award a tender proposal for ACT master of timing, stepping in after Catherine
disruptions including kicking down safety rails to government works or services if the tenderer Livingstone’s retirement as the chairman
then declare a concrete pour unsafe, according does not undertake to meet a list of union of Telstra after a seven year term.
to The Australian. demands, reports The Australian.
Take Business Ethics Seriously, ASIC
Turnbull To Increase Spending on Industry Unions are also to be supplied with the names preaches
The federal government has presented its of companies and contractors tendering for The corporate regulator will accuse the banks
defence white paper as the centre piece of an business before any contract is let, to advise the and big business in general of failing to fix
election strategy about jobs and local industry, government if the tenderer fails the union test fundamental flaws that have led to a string of
arguing increasing strategic pressure and a and can ask for a contract to be cancelled if the corporate scandals. In a sign that
reduced defence capability justify extra company breaches the union requirements. The the Australian Securities and Investments
spending department responsible for procurement is also Commission is toughening its stance against
of $30 billion over 10 years, as per The Age. required to give the unions a list of employers what it regards as corrupt company cultures, the
who breach the agreed government-union regulator will accuse large wealth companies of
The spending will surely kill any chance of conditions. presiding over conflicts of interest. Vertically
putting a date of return to budget surplus, and integrated fund managers will be put on notice
will be utilised to fund Australian manufacturing Federal Employment Minister Michaelia thatASIC will investigate if it finds that cultural
reported in The Australian. Cash said the deal was “deeply disturbing. It is problems are behind the
clear from the MOU that Union effectively been conflicts. ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft will hit
Coalition Fails To Deliver On Workplace given the ACT government business,” back at company directors who have
Promises reports The Australian. complained that the corporate regulator is trying
Australia’s foremost workplace law experts, to become the “culture blame police” and warn
Professor Andrew Stewart declares the them that simply blaming scandals on a “few
Coalition had largely failed to deliver its election BUSINESS, ECONOMY, bad applies” will no longer be acceptable as
agenda. Since September 2013, just four MANUFACTURING & FINANCE reported in The Australian.
pieces of industrial relations legislation have Got Franchisees Back
been passed into law. The Fair Work 2014 bill Former federal small business minister Bruce Macquarie rejects junk yard-dog tag
amended the rules around unpaid parental Billson hopes to revive the nations’ $144 billion Macquarie group denied it had become one of
leave, changed so-called “strike first, talk later” franchise sector as he takes reins of a the world’s biggest holders of “high yield” or
provisions and changed the rules on prominent industry lobby group. Billson has “junk” debt after reports it had invested over $30
negotiations between employers and unions on been appointed executive chairman of billion in the securities over several years, and
so-called “greenfields” agreements for new the Franchise Council of Australia. its loan default rates had blown out to five times
building projects. In contrast, the Coalition’s as high as Australia’s big four banks. The
2013 policy promised to restore theAustralian ‘I’m a huge fan of the franchise sector and it’s investment bank said it was unfair to describe
Building and Construction Commission and enormously important to the Australian the loans and investments in the article as junk
to establish a Registered Organisations economy,’ Billson toldBusiness Daily. ‘The because they were diversified, secured against
Commissionto monitor unions, but both bills Franchise Council was looking for refreshment high-quality assets and had numerous
have been blocked by the Senate. and renewal and I felt helping to lift the sector to covenants as reported in The Australian.
the next level was something I could really
A promised ‘urgent’ review of the Road Safety support.’ Billson said the council aimed to Infrastructure Investment Taking Off
Remuneration Tribunal took place, but the ensure the 79,000 independently owned and Infrastructure investment at the end of 2015
report has never been released. A pledge to operated franchise outlets across the nation had recorded the largest increase since the end of
introduce a paid parental leave scheme was access to opportunities to grow their the resources boom.Australian Infrastructure
dumped, as were plans for an appeals body to businesses, while encouraging more Metric forecasts a construction recovery ahead,
be attached to the Fair Work entrepreneurs to consider entering the industry, led by large transport infrastructure projects in
Commission. Proposed changes to union right according to The Herald Sun. NSW and Victoria, based on data produced
of entry laws and other recommendations have by Infrastrucure Partnerships
stalled in the Senate. Professor Stewart said the Online alcohol good cheer for Woolies Australia and BIS Shrapnel.The report shows
long list of unmet promises said something Dan Murphy’s online liquor sales are growing transport infrastructure investment is forecast to
about their ability to deal with the at three times the rate of its 204 physical stores increase by $3.2 billion next financial year, with
crossbench. There are not a lot of in a rare example of an entrenched retailer NSW expected to dominate during that period
achievements. Yes, they have failed, but the key repeating its success on the internet. as per The Australian.
test remains what will they propose from Dan Murphy’s, which is owned
the Productivity Commission review - the by Woolworth’s, is Australia’s biggest online Think Tank Warns of Economic Hazard
action is yet to come,” he said. liquor business and has an estimated 2 million The economy is facing hazards unlike any seen
customers and 1.4 million loyalty program in more than 20 years, and is starting from a
Workplace Minister Michaelia Cash, who members. It has captured more than 50 per position of income weakness, according to a
replaced Eric Abetz when Malcolm cent of the online liquor market and is the drank new report. It means incomes and the tax
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