Australia politics live: Wong accuses Chandler-Mather of focus on building brand not building houses | Australian politics

Daniel Hurst

Many readers have been wondering today which aspects of the UN resolution on the Israeli occupation were of concern to the Australian government (Australia abstained on the resolution at the UN general assembly this morning, but said it did so with disappointment and had hoped it would have been in a position to support it).

Guardian Australia understands that Australia argued during the negotiations on the draft resolution that the wording mischaracterised a “prescriptive list of policy demands” as legal obligations on all countries.

Sources familiar with the diplomatic negotiations said Australia was already taking many of those steps, such as imposing sanctions on Israeli settlers, but “as a matter of considered policy not because we are legally obliged to do so”.

During the negotiations, Australia also argued the resolution included demands on matters that had historically been regarded as final-status issues to be negotiated between the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

For example, the resolution demanded that Israel allow all Palestinians displaced during the occupation to return to their original place of residence.

Here’s our latest news wrap on the issue:

And with that, we will hand over to Josh Taylor who will take you through the rest of the evening.

The Senate is being very senate-y – but none of the bills we have been talking about this week – housing, the EPA etc will be coming up for debate. So enjoy having all these same conversations again in the second week of October when parliament resumes.

We’ll be back with Politics Live then – until then, you can reach me at the usual areas (I am almost through answering your questions) – and please, as always – take care of you.

‘Leftwing journalists obsessed’ with Dutton apology to Lebanese Australians

The transcript from Peter Dutton’s press conference has lobbed, with this exchange:

Q: There was a story yesterday in the Sydney Morning Herald about an apology you made to Lebanese Australians. When did you make that apology and who did you make it to?

Dutton:

Well look, there are a couple of leftwing journalists who are obsessed on this issue. It’s not something I’m going to further comment on. I had a conversation and I had that discussion. I’m not going to betray that conversation with the senior person, who it was in the community at the time. The Sydney Morning Herald can obsess about that all they like.

Q: Not just leftwing journalists, Mazhar Hadid, who’s a Liberal on the Liverpool Council wants to know when you made it?

Dutton:

I’ve made comment.

The Senate is moving through its new order of business.

But the senators are also starting to look at the exits.

NSW retains Moody’s triple-A credit rating

Luca Ittimani

New South Wales has held on to its status as a reliable debtor, with global financial agency Moody’s giving it another triple-A credit rating.

In a bit of good news for government finances, the state will avoid the hike in borrowing costs that would have come with a downgrade, reflecting high agency confidence that the government will be able to repay its debts.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey had previously warned the state was set to lose its Triple-A rating after an April carve-up of GST revenue stripped the state finances, and again when he revealed forecasts of persistent deficits in his June budget.

In April, he said the “GST rip-off” had sent NSW “back to square one [and] almost certainly will lead to a downgrade” – apparently trying to pre-empt any bad news on credit agencies.

But Mookhey on Thursday celebrated Moody’s judgment that NSW’s strong governance and management had offset the risks of inflation and costly new programs. He said:

This determination is an acknowledgment of the difficult work that has been done to wrangle the state’s debt back under control.”

For alternative agency S&P, NSW remains at an AA+, after being downgraded from a triple-A under the Coalition government in December 2020. Western Australia remains the only state still holding a triple-A certification from both agencies.

Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory have all maintained ratings that are positive but below triple-A in the last week.

It is not the EPA bill – the agreement there is to keep talking on the government legislation.

This is about the cost protection bill – which aims to ensure people suing for sexual harassment would not have to pay costs if they lose.

Penny Wong is moving to guillotine the debate, so there will be a vote on it before the Senate rises.

Which means yes – the Senate will pass two pieces of legislation in the four days it has been sitting.

The last Senate-apoolza question time ends.

Penny Wong is now moving a motion to suspend standing orders to re-order business to consider legislation – which potentially means the Senate is about to pass its second bill for the week.

Exciting times. Two bills in four days – stunning.

Parliament ‘acutely aware’ of effects of past policies on Indigenous Australians, McCarthy says

McCarthy she is more than happy for the interjection and says:

Oh, look, I’m more than happy for people to watch. I think it’s important that people should see what democracy is all about and how debates take place in this Senate. Those that are sensible and those that are nonsensical, but I will say this – that the policies of the past have impacted First Nations people, President.

We are seeing that addressed in the redress, as I was saying to the Senate today in terms of the stolen generations. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of families across Australia still traumatised by the policies of the day, by governments from way back in the 1800s through to the 1970s and I know that the parliament of Australia today is acutely aware of this.

Thorpe asks another couple of questions, but doesn’t get the answers.

Thorpe asks for acknowledgment of ‘genocidal policies against First Peoples’ by successive governments

Independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe asks the minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy:

Minister, you’ve stated that one of your priorities is to stop politicians using First Peoples as a political football. Your government said it is committed to truth-telling. If we want to talk about truth, let’s talk about how over 98% of First Peoples in this country have been wiped out in less than 300 years.

There have been over 500 documented massacres and our children are still being removed and locked up at growing rates.

Minister, do you acknowledge that since colonisation, governments have implemented genocidal policies against First Peoples?

McCarthy:

I think it’s probably my first question from you as minister. What I will say is that the history of this – well, first at question time. You’ve had plenty in estimates, no doubt about that and I’m sure there will be more to come. But certainly the history of this country is fraught with policies that have impacted very negatively the lives of First Nations people, whether it’s to do with the stolen generations now in terms of the high rates of removals from the 1800s, right up to the 1970s, what this government has done has redressed those issues in trying to work with the stolen generations …

Thorpe has a point of order:

It was about genocidal policies against us. It wasn’t about what her government’s doing.

Gerard Rennick:

Capitalism only occurs when people manage their own capital. This excludes politicians, corporate executives and superannuation funds who manage other people’s money. However, politicians and corporate boards are at least elected by taxpayers and shareholders. Do the boards of superannuation funds have to be elected by their members? If not, why not? Shouldn’t members get a say in who manages their money?

Katy Gallagher:

Well, the superannuation legislation is clearly around the governance arrangements for superannuation funds and they are accountable to their members.

And they must act in the best interest of their members. I mean that is a requirement of the legislation, so there are very tight laws and governance arrangements through APRA that are there precisely for that reason.

I mean members of superannuation funds are not often the most engaged members with what’s happening with their accounts.

We would like to see more engagement of course with people’s superannuation arrangements but the reality is certainly for large periods of people’s careers, they’re not and therefore the laws and regulations and oversight of that industry is really important and I think the … superannuation legislation and all of the other accountability mechanisms ensure the best interests of members are paramount.

Government looking to help older, more vulnerable women

Gerard Rennick back with the super chat:

On average, men will retire with approximately 35% more superannuation than women, as many women choose to stay home for some of their career to raise their children. Wouldn’t it make more sense to reduce superannuation tax concessions and instead lift the pension and cut tax on low income-earners so that they and stay-at-home parents can live a better life in retirement?

Katy Gallagher:

Thank you and I thank you for the question on women and super and it is really important and I’m happy to have further discussions with you about what we can do to make it a fairer and better system for women.

Obviously the passage of the paid parental leave or super on PPL bill that passed this place this morning is an important step, as is increasing wages in those highly feminised industries like aged care and early education and care and for workers on the minimum wage, because those wage increases will actually flow through and contribute to higher superannuation balances as well. But I am open to further discussions and, indeed, I met this morning with HESTA, whose membership is 80% women, about improvements that can be made for women’s superannuation because, you’re right, women on average retire with 25% less super.

Women who are older are more economically vulnerable and we are looking at ways to strengthen that.

Superannuation not providing ‘good retirement’ for low-income earners, Rennick says

There are a lot of back and forths and people thinking they are very clever but nothing in terms of answers to report.

Gerard Rennick then gets the call and asks:

ATO figures show that the median superannuation balance for males aged 60 to 64 is $211,000 and for women $158,000, below the pension asset threshold of $314,000.

This means over 50% of the people about to retire approximately will still receive a full pension, the same percentage of retirees when superannuation began in 1992. Superannuation tax concessions cost the budget $50bn a year plus $30bn in fees but most of the concessions and fees go to the upper 30% of income earners. The pension funds 70% of retirees at a cost of $54bn.

Why does the Albanese Labor government believe that superannuation can provide a good retirement for low income-earners, when it clearly is not achieving that goal?

Katy Gallagher:

I hadn’t expected that question from you, Senator Rennick. But we are strong supporters of superannuation but at the same time we recognise that for the aged pension, it’s an important social safety net and that, at times, people will rely completely on the aged pension or they will have a mixed of aged pension with some superannuation in their retirement years. And as the superannuation system matures, we expect more people will benefit for higher incomes in the superannuation system but we also acknowledge that the aged pension is there as that social safety net.

Obviously, we are big supporters of super and increasing the superannuation threshold is part of that.

We have some legislation in this chamber now to, I guess, decrease some of the concessionality for high-balance super accounts, still highly concessional in the taxation system but less concessional.

And we would like that legislation progressed in the first instance, but we certainly strongly support the superannuation system, the concessions that are around it are around it for a reason and we accept also that the aged pension will be an important social safety net for those on low incomes even if they supplement it somewhat with their superannuation balance.

Small regional businesses ‘shocked’ by IR ‘agenda’, McKenzie says

Bridget McKenzie asks Malarndirri McCarthy:

Many small businesses in regional Australia have been shocked at the impact of Labor’s industrial relations agenda, especially measures like multi-employer bargaining and right-to-disconnect laws that were never revealed by the Labor party prior to the election. At the National Press Club yesterday, Minister Watt was asked by [Nine newspapers] David Crowe if Labor will put your IR agenda to voters or will there be some surprises after the election. In response, the minister said, “Well, I mean, I think governments always take items to an agenda, and then deliver extra things after they’re elected.”

To reassure small businesses in regional Australia, will the minister rule out surprise and unwelcome Labor industrial relations reform after the election? Or should they brace for more unwelcome surprises from Labor?

Penny Wong says that sounds like a question “for the bloke sitting next to her” in reference to Murray Watt. Simon Birmingham, looking like he has waited for this moment his entire life, actually has the receipts of when he asked a similar question but this one was framed in terms of the impact on the regions, which is McCarthy’s area.

Sue Lines:

Thank you very much, Senator Birmingham. I’m pleased that you take an avid interest in the rulings I make from the chair.

Always good to have a Martin Prince Jr in the house.

At that, Tammy Tyrrell who has one more question says she doesn’t need it, as her questions have now all been answered.

Tammy Tyrrell calls for long-term funding for teaching program

Independent senator Tammy Tyrrell asks Murray Watt:

Teach for Australia is one of two programs under the high achieving and teachers program funded by the Australian government to place high-quality teachers in disadvantaged schools facing workforce shortages.

An evaluation of the program in 2017 found participants became high-quality teachers, delivered the skills schools needed and a majority stayed teaching at the schools for two years after their placement.

Teach for Australia is currently funded in small blocks. I reckon a program like this would benefit from more certainty. Does the government support longer-term funding periods for Teach for Australia and similar programs?

Watt:

I want to thank you on behalf of my family, most of who are or have been, teachers. I think we all – are you questioning something, Senator Hughes?

And I think we all understand the incredibly valuable role that teachers play in our community, educating younger people in school environments and preparing them for the future.

I’m happy to seek some advice, Senator Tyrrell, on the specific question about the Teach for Australia program and the government’s intentions for that.

And then there was a follow-up where Watt finds himself answering the question.

We do acknowledge there is a teacher shortage in Australia and it is 10 years in the making. Too few people have been becoming teachers and too many have been leaving. In December 2022, education ministers agreed to the national teacher workforce action plan, which sets out a clear pathway to address teacher workforce shortages.

And for the first time, the commonwealth, state and territory governments have been working together to tackle this issue, a novel concept I understand for people opposite – working together with state and territory governments – but as a result of that we have 27 actions in train across five priority areas, improving teacher supply, strengthening initial teacher education, keeping the teachers we have, elevating the profession and better understanding future teacher workforce needs.

So there’s no doubt whatsoever that we need to invest in the teaching workforce. All research indicates that the best thing you can do for kids’ education is invest in their teachers and that’s what we’ll keep doing.

Andrew Messenger

Terrorist organisations should ‘expect retaliation’, Dutton says

Peter Dutton also repeated criticism of the prime minister from this morning about his decision to abstain on a UN vote condemning Israel’s “unlawful” occupation of Gaza.

The opposition leader also commented on an apparent operation by Israeli intelligence on Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, using booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies.

I just think if you’re going to be part of a terrorist organisation, you can expect retaliation, and you can expect there to be a price for your murderous conduct,” he said.

Terrorists are involved in the slaughtering of women and children. We know with ISIS, as we do with Hezbollah, they don’t care for human beings. These are people who are involved in suicide bombings and terrorist attacks, and the fact that Israel has struck back against them shouldn’t surprise anyone at all.”

Among the 32 fatalities of the explosion was a nine-year-old girl and two health workers. 3,200 people were injured.

Andrew Messenger

Dutton claims government responsible for increased interest rates

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has declared “this government’s increased interest rates on 12 occasions” at a press conference in Brisbane on Thursday.

The independent Reserve Bank raises or reduces interest rates, not the federal government.

Dutton made the comment at a press conference in Brisbane on Thursday, where he slammed the government over the latest jobs data, released today. Workforce participation was at a record high and unemployment steady on 4.2%.

Asked what policies the opposition would implement to reduce unemployment if they won government Dutton said:

If you look at the position that we had when we were in government, it led to an interest rate increase on one occasion, this government’s increased interest rates on 12 occasions.

So the government can say, well, here’s another $10 in your pocket through some allowance, but people are taking $100 out of the other pocket to give to the ANZ or to the Commonwealth Bank because their mortgage rates have gone through the roof under this government, and the Reserve Bank governor keeps pleading with the prime minister to not spend as much money in the economy because it’s inflationary, and inflation drives up interest rates, and interest rates are coming down in comparable economies, but they’re not coming down here yet, and they should already be down.”

Nick McKim follows it up with:

We’re very proud of Mr [Max] Chandler-Mather running rings around the prime minister, I’ll tell you that!

Senator, is your government seriously so committed to handing over $176bn in tax concessions to property speculators, to disadvantaged renters, that you would actually go to a double dissolution election to defend those obscene tax handouts?

Penny Wong:

First, senator, we’re going to give you another opportunity. We will reintroduce this bill, a version two, and we will give the Senate another opportunity, just as we did on the Haff, just as we did on the housing affordability fund, which you also delayed, we will give you another opportunity to vote for it. But what I would say to you is your interjection about Mr Chandler-Mather …

It really shows what you’re all about, isn’t it? It’s all about the politics. It’s all about the politics. It’s all about his profile. It’s all about him building his brand. We’re about buildings. You’re about building your brand. We’re about building houses.