The Point Live: Government pushes for mining friendly environment law pass, Coalition wants tax cuts. As it happened

We have two more days of this to get through, with an announcement that a deal has been made on the environment laws expected tomorrow morning. No one is saying anything concrete, but the Greens have been back in the driving seat because Sussan Ley does not have the authority to get anything contentious through her party room. We hear there is no climate trigger although there might be a couple of other surprises (we swore we wouldn’t report it as it’s not done yet) but this isn’t a bill about climate – so don’t think it is going to have anything in there about improving Australia’s climate position – Labor doesn’t want that. So if this deal gets done, it is not going to do anything for climate and it will be the bare minimum for the environment.

Just remember there has been a lot of PASS THIS from the mining industry and business council which tells you everything you need to know about these laws.

But it could be worse – the Coalition could have come to the table (although listening to Murray Watt talk about those negotiations, it seems the Coalition brought along a cast of thousands which is no way to run a negotiation.

Which makes sense because the Coalition is currently trying to get Chris Bowen to swear in parliament that he will be attending every single sitting of parliament next year, so it can be ‘mandated’ because they are maybe the stupidest opposition to ever stupid.

This will get the SAD crowd excited but does nothing except make them a joke. A bad one. Circuses don’t work when there are too many clowns.

So until tomorrow – take care of you. We are all going to need a very big Bex and a lie down after this.

Michelle Rowland quietly announced in QT that the government would be bringing forward funding for the CSIRO but the Greens have won an inquiry into the proposed job cuts and funding issues more broadly.

Peter Whish-Wilson said:

The Albanese government has dealt the CSIRO some of the most savage job cuts in the science agency’s entire history.

It is reprehensible that the Albanese government has failed to address concerns that the job cuts disproportionately impact public good science – with the Environment Research Unit set to bear the brunt of proposed cuts.

The government is either disregarding the biodiversity and climate crisis facing our nation, or it doesn’t care. 

Science is one of the best defences we have in tackling Australia’s biggest future challenges – from climate change, food security, and health emergencies. 

The short-sightedness of the Albanese government’s job cuts to the CSIRO is negligent. Everybody needs science, and we need to defend it from attack. 

Scientists deserve better and they deserve answers, indeed all Australians do. It is critical the Senate examines how the CSIRO ended up in this position, who knew about the dire state of the agency and for how long, and why senior executives took bonuses while funding cliffs were obviously approaching.”

Here are the proposed dates for the next sitting year – we are coming back in the first week of Feb, which is going to be annoying

Well, we learned, thanks to the member for Mayo, that there is a funding announcement coming for the CSIRO. Michelle Rowland said:

There has been a decision taken by the government through the MYEFO process to provide additional funding for the CSIRO dollar, details of which will be communicated to the public at the appropriate time.

But not much else.

The opposition have no idea how to proceed. It defies logic that they keep hitting Bowen on being a ‘part time minister’ because – a) it doesn’t make sense b) most people don’t know what COP is c) most people think politicians don’t do much work anyway and d) Bowen is very capable of swatting the Coalition away.

You would think a smart tactics team would hit them on energy costs, but in ways that make sense. Over the stalls in the mining-friendly environment laws. The lack of gambling ad regulation, The CSIRO, any topic the crossbench picks up – because that is where their success has been – when it has managed to unite the parliament against the Labor party.

But guess that is hard when you are captured by the same interests

Mike Bowers has also caught the opposition MPs doing what they do best – clowning

Bowers caught the moment the lights went out in parliament and the Opposition lost its mind:

Independent MP Helen Haines brings some sense back to proceedings and asks:

Prime Minister, 16 Days of Activism is a powerful and unified campaign to eliminate gender-based violence. Family violence is three times more likely to occur in families where there is problem gambling. In 2024, the Government’s rapid review of evidence-based approaches to prevent gender-based violence backed up the Murphy Report, with a recommendation to restrict gambling advertising leading to a total ban. Prime Minister, when will the government act and ban gambling advertising?

Anthony Albanese

I thank the member for Indi for her question and for the way that she engages constructively with the government in representing her electorate and her political viewpoint.

I do want to take the opportunity – because the question provides it for me – to mark what is Day 2 into that 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence. Whilst this is a campaign for 16 days, we know that – I hope everyone in this House can agree, we need to campaign on this for 365 days a year. Because every death or every act of violence against a woman is one too many. As leaders in this place, we must renew our unwavering commitment to ending violence. Because any death of a woman is unacceptable and, as Australians, we mourn every one of the lives that have been lost this year. We know that, for every life that we lose, there are many more women and children whose lives are marred by violence, abuse or assault every day. And we must look to where we’re falling short, and find new ways of doing better. Yesterday, Minister Plibersek announced an almost 40% funding boost for 1800RESPECT so that, when people reach out for help, it’s there to help them. We have a $4 billion national plan to end violence against women and children, agreed with the states and territories, with the special meeting of the National Cabinet that I convened.

That’s why we boosted and secured funding for front-line services and delivered more financial and housing support for women and children escaping domestic violence. Because women shouldn’t have to choose between poverty and violence. Too often, when women remain in violent relationships and are asked, “Why didn’t you leave?” it’s because they didn’t have anywhere to go. That’s why we created a special stream under the Housing Australia Future Fund as well.

(Haines interjects to ask about the actual question – the link between gambling stress and domestic violence)

Albanese still does not answer the question:

I am responding, very directly, to the question. There is no question, as well, that the cause of violence can never be excused but, in many cases, that is one of the issues – along with alcohol abuse, along with so many issues that cause violence for people to put up their hand and say, “That is why.” The truth is, it can never be excused. That’s the truth. And the truth is that all of us – particularly men – have a particular responsibility.

Because we must all know – we must all know people, when you look at the statistics, who are our friends, or our neighbours, who the gauge in this sort of activity. I’ll continue to engage constructively. One of the reasons why we are doing measures, just to name one of the measures that we’re putting in place, that we have put in place to deal with problem gambling that’s related to people being in a cycle where they feel like they can’t get out is BetStop, the National Self-exclusion Register. That has seen 51,000 total registrations, of whom 38% of people – people who feel like they can’t possibly control it – have chosen a lifetime ban. That’s one of the reasons why we did that. That’s part of the motivation. But I’ll continually work constructively with the member for Indi on all of these issues. I thank her for the question.

The opposition, for reasons beyond logic, think they can make great hay by continually suggesting Chris Bowne in a part-time Minister and full-time President of the COP.

Aside from probably around 99% of people not knowing what the “COP” is, the reality is politicians often do multiple roles.

Famously, Bob Hawke, when he entered parliament was still President of the ALP. When criticised for holding two roles he famously replied “If you can’t ride two horses at once, you shouldn’t be in the bloody circus.”

Given the clowns on the oppositions benches, the circus is very much in full swing.

Richard Marles takes a dixer on Ukraine:

Last night, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I attended a virtual meeting of the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine, a group of 35 countries – largely NATO, but including both New Zealand and Australia. Present was President Zelensky, as was the US Secretary of State Rubio – both of whom briefed the meeting about the recent peace talks in Geneva over the course of the weekend. All of us want to see peace, and we are deeply grateful to the efforts of the Trump administration in seeking to bring about peace.

This is obviously really difficult work. Any peace must respect the sovereignty of Ukraine. They are the innocent part – the victim of Russian aggression. And central to this is the security guarantees which will deter future Russian aggression, which has been at the heart of much of the discussion of the coalition of the willing.

And from the very outset, our Prime Minister has made clear that wherever this lands, Australia will play its part. Because the Albanese government’s support for Ukraine has been steadfast and it has been consistent.

And fundamental to that has been supporting the coalition of the willing, which is about ensuring the long-term security of Ukraine. For us, this has been a matter of principle. It can never be about politics. In the meantime, in the last 48 hours, we have seen a deadly and a despicable Russian attack on civilian apartments and infrastructure in Ukraine.

And last night’s meeting condemned that attack, but it is a reminder that, in the prosecution of this war right now, we must stay the course with Ukraine. In the coming weeks, the final tranche of the 49 Australian-gifted Abrams tanks will arrive in Ukraine. During the course of this year, more than 200 Australian personnel have been involved in the deployment of our Wedgetails with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Since the beginning of this conflict, we have provided $1.5 billion of support to Ukraine, and I can announce that very shortly we will be announcing our next package of support for Ukraine. Because what is at stake here is the global rules-based order.

It is as relevant to us here in the Indo-Pacific as it is to those who are in Eastern Europe. Over the course of the last four years, the people of Ukraine have been absolutely inspirational. And the Albanese Labor government and the Australian people will stand by their side for as long as it takes.

Kevin Hogan is told he won’t get the call until he gets off his phone, which I think is something Milton Dick enjoyed saying.

His question is stupid though, so we could have all been spared.

Hogan:

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy: The Energy Minister who, in his part-time role, just confirmed he signed up to an agreement which compels Australia to phase out 3 of our top 10 exports, including gas, coal, and crude petroleum, with a combined value of $163 billion in trade. When asked yesterday about this action by the full-time COP president, the Minister for Trade said, “I don’t tell him how to run his portfolio – he certainly doesn’t tell me how to run mine.” Whilst working as a part-time minister, did the full-time COP president consult the Minister for Trade before signing this executive order?

Angus Taylor gets booted out under 94A.

Bowen is not bothered by any of this. And that is understandable because most Australians – Ted’s Matt and Jenny included – would never have heard of COP. So this is just ridiculous. This is what happens when you have the third rate advisors no one else wanted leading your tactics.

Bowen:

He asks me about the transition away from fossil fuels which, as I said, the leaders of the Pacific – Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific nations – agreed on 10 November 2023. He was then reflected in the COP decision language later that year in Dubai, and that is something that was reflected in that COP decision.

Yes, Australia did join with other countries in the declaration on the transition away from fossil fuels. I can understand, while this is offensive to those opposite, because it says, “We reaffirm that the best available science must guide the implementation of the transition.”

That’s what Australia agreed with those countries. I know the word “science” triggers those opposite, because they find that offensive.

Other countries that called for a roadmap for a transition away from fossil fuel at the COP last week in Belen include: Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea – which I note also announced they are closing all coal-fired power stations in 2040 – those terrible woke warriors in the Republic of Korea who are closing all their coal-fired power stations earlier than Australia… ..and the United Kingdom, amongst about 80 countries. Around 80 countries called for a roadmap for transition away from fossil fuels.