19 November 2024

Last sitting session and the government needs some wins on the board

| Chris Johnson
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Anthony Albanese with Xi Jinping

Anthony Albanese with Xi Jinping at the G20 in Brazil. Photo: Anthony Albanese Instagram.

Federal Parliament has returned for the last session this year and, quite possibly, the last session before the next federal election.

It can’t be overstated how important this fortnight’s sitting is for the Labor Federal Government currently languishing in the polls.

Anthony Albanese needs things – votes on legislation – to go his way, but the Prime Minister, who is right now meeting with world leaders at the G20 Summit in Brazil, is finding out the domestic front is not likely to be that much fun in the countdown to Christmas.

On day one of this final session, the government was both stunned and embarrassed when the Coalition made a last-minute backflip over plans to cap international student numbers.

That plan is to limit new enrolments of international students next year to 270,000.

However, Education Minister Jason Clare resorted to calling Opposition Leader Peter Dutton a “fraud” on tough immigration policies by siding with the Greens to position the Coalition against the international student cap.

Mr Dutton had previously expressed support for the caps.

Opposition frontbenchers Sarah Henderson, Dan Tehan and James Paterson issued a statement decrying the government’s policy as a “piecemeal approach” the Liberals could not support.

Youth Minister Anne Aly described the Coalition’s move as “pretty extraordinary and baffling” and acknowledged the government had some serious negotiating to do.

“The Minister for Education, Jason Clare, will have to talk to the crossbench and the Coalition,” she said.

“But I don’t know what the intent behind this is. I don’t think anyone knows what the intent behind this is because Peter Dutton has always maintained that they would support a cap on international students; now they have done a complete turnaround.”

READ ALSO ‘Major party stitch-up’: Independents criticise federal donation law reform move

The overhaul of election funding legislation is finding more favour with the Coalition but not so much with the crossbench.

A whole bunch of independent MPs and senators got together on Monday (18 November) to say the legislation was rigged to serve the major parties.

Some independents have tried to defer the bills and refer them for committee scrutiny but were voted down.

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie perhaps expressed their joint view best: “They have their snouts in the trough so far that they’re blowing that many bubbles I could jump in and have a bubble bath.

“There is nothing I can think of worse, towards the end of the year, the end of sittings, and all the major parties are worried about is money and trying to maintain their seats.

“Here’s a good idea: why don’t you go and do what we all have to do go – earn instead of buying.”

Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister was on the defensive when asked about it during a media interview, saying it was about giving every Australian an equal say.

“The core of this legislation is about making sure people get to parliament because they have got support from their communities, not because they are sponsored by one wealthy individual,” she said.

“That’s what this legislation does. People will still be able to donate, to be able to support the candidates.

“But by placing caps, we stop the capacity for a handful of people, that very limited number of Australians who have access to very large amounts of money, to disproportionately influence the outcome of elections.”

READ ALSO Thorpe censured for her Royals outburst

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland had to defend the government’s social media ban plan for under 16s.

She was asked to explain how it’s all going to work and whether Snapchat would be exempt.

The Minister displayed how unprepared the government is with this “framework” that it says will be “clearly stepped out for the public” when the ban comes in.

“The government has made it clear that under this legislation, there will be a broader definition of social media to what is currently in the Online Safety Act,” she said.

“Defining an age-restricted service is a new legal term, and we have been clear the definition is likely to capture what is commonly understood to be social media.”

Clear as mud.

This is just the beginning of what is shaping up to be a rocking fortnight for the government, a fortnight that began on Monday with a censure motion in the Senate against independent Lidia Thorpe.

The censure passed but not with the help of Nationals Senator Matt Canavan, who – while insisting he agreed with the censure’s reason – voted against it because Senator Thorpe was not in the chamber to respond.

Whether a political ploy or a principled stand on integrity, Canavan’s move highlighted a position on fairness the government seemed unprepared to give.

Hopefully the PM is having a better time of it in Brazil.

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Riotact comments are certainly becoming highly toxic with all the free-for-all ad hominem attacks, especially from overheated “leftists”. If they really had all the arguments in their favour, why all their intolerance, arrogance, condescension, contempt and plain verbal abuse? Just seems like age-old behaviour of people who have power over others. Starts in the sandpit and some never mature out of it.

Yes leftists love name calling, especially one who refers to people as champ (try using that in prison)

Capital Retro8:47 am 20 Nov 24

At last, Chris Uhlmann has revealed the facts about Labor’s cover-up of the real cost of renewables.
Meanwhile Bowen throws $50M of our borrowed money to COP to help countries “affected by climate change”.
Hello, what countries would they be?

Chris Uhlmann’s anti-renewables commentary has repeatedly been debunked by experts.

As for supporting our Pacific neighbours, who do you think fills the void if we’re not there?

I’ll wait while the gears grind….*checks watch*….did you guess China? I know this stuff is a challenge for some.

…has repeatedly been debunked by experts. Who -ABC journalists (term used loosely) and Labor lackeys?

Capital Retro9:50 am 21 Nov 24

Seano is burdened by being a “critical thinker” Futureproof, so lacking normal thinking skills that you and I have he relies on ABC “analysists” and unnamed “experts” to guide him through the transition to renewables sophistry.

LOL,
Chris Uhlmann has simply ignored all the actual evidence amd research to focus on fossil fuel industry talking points.

There’s almost zero “facts” in his commentary and it is directly refuted by pretty much all research and evidence.

Don’t need the “ABC” when the actual industry experts are telling you the facts of the inevitable renewable transition which is simply based on superior economic outcomes.

Uhlmanns articles on this topic are so thin on actual evidence they better would make a better fit in the gossip pages.

Ah Yeah Retro, As chewy points out below, on energy Ulhmann is clueless, he’s an opinion piece writer with a bee in his bonnet about renewables who has been debunked time and again by actual experts.

PS. I’m not relying on the ABC I’m relying on the CSIRO and the AEMO (that’s Australian Energy market Operator for those who like to post snide comments on topics they clearly know nothing about).

Capital Retro5:49 pm 21 Nov 24

Says the greatest worshipper of scientism on this blog.

Capital Retro6:31 pm 21 Nov 24

China is already in the Pacific and they will end up owning most of it:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-28/pacific-island-nations-owe-astronomical-debts-to-china/104140248
Even the constant canine companion of visually challenged Frederick knew that (but not you, Seano)

“Says the greatest worshipper of scientism on this blog.”…no says the actual experts who deal with the energy market. Sorry Retro, facts don’t care about your feelings, Nuclear is not economically viable in Australia, it’s a talking point for people who don’t understand our energy market and dummies.

Being uninformed doesn’t really slow you down Capital, the reason China is so embedded in the Pacific is because we dropped the ball starting with Tony Abbott scraping Radio Australia which was pumping Australian news and views into the region because like most far right-wing dopes Tones knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.

Meanwhile it doesn’t take a genius *cough* to see that we’re not going to regain influence in the Pacific if we don’t invest and support our neighbours who already have the advantage of having closer cultural ties with.

Capital Retro11:08 am 22 Nov 24

What we are doing in reality my critical thinking friend is giving money to our “Pacific Partners” to pay their loan repayments to China.
And a chance to smear Abbott is never missed by you lefty haters, is it?

A) No we’re not we’re excising diplomacy, look it up. B) Tony Abbott killed Radio Australia…as ever facts are not your friend.

Capital Retro,
Sorry but I’m always willing to listen to actual evidence and research.

Uhlmann’s weak and extraordinarily biased reporting on this issue doesn’t cut it, particularly when it is directly refuted by any number of industry and scientific papers.

Your continued attempts to cherrypick and use anecdotes are the reason you never learn anything new. You’re just constantly trying to find the example of something you’ve already decided you agree with.

The sooner this Anti-Australia Labor Party is kicked out of office the better off all Australians will be.

HiddenDragon9:00 pm 19 Nov 24

Labor conned its way into power on the back of a strongly implied promise that it would deal with the “cost of living crisis” about which Albanese and his front bench banged on endlessly during the 2022 campaign and that, as part of doing so, it would deliver a $275 reduction in household power bills (through renewables, not through picking taxpayers’ pockets to give them their own money back as power bill rebates).

None of the second and third order issues on which Labor is now faffing about will change the central fact that, in the eyes of a growing number of voters, it has broken the crucial promise that it made to them in 2022.

A circuit breaker, in the form of an Albanese departure prior to the 2025 election might help, as might an unconditional apology/mea culpa by Albanese.

Absent either of those highly unlikely events, Labor is on track to suffer the same fate as most governments which conspicuously over-promise and under-deliver on what matters most to most voters. At best, it will limp back badly tarnished, with little political capital to deal with the major problems it will face, and will make easy pickings for whoever happens to be Leader of the Opposition in 2028.

Should the Coalition win in 2025, they will face a similar fate unless they have a very frank conversation, pre-election, with voters about their plans to deal with the problems which the nation faces – the era of easy options and fobbing off is over.

Canada is pushing ahead with modular nuclear reactors. That’s not me saying it, rather the extreme ideologue Trudeau. Meanwhile Blackout Bowen is swanning around at COP29 trying to get photographs with D listers

Futureproof,
How many new nuclear reactors has Canada built recently?

Also, good for mentioning them, seeing as their electricity production is already 70%+ renewable and growing.

That’s your “good” example for nuclear? LOL.

Oh dear. Handsome boy has been found out by the electorate. Bye bye Albo, was not good to have known you. But at least your mate Xi still loves you.

Well said Bob. The election can’t come soon enough.

Reporter at APEC: PM did you discuss Trump with Xi?
Albanese: No
Since Trump has a known agenda on China and tariffs, you’d think Albanese would talk about that

China is Australia’s largest trading partner. Why do you hate Australian jobs and small businesses Bob?

Maybe clean your glasses, Seano, because Bob’s post just mentioned the love affair between a viscous dictator and his fawning fan, Albanese

China is Australia’s largest trading partner Futureproof, why do you hate Australia jobs and small business?

PS. IF you’re so against Australia dealing with dictators I can only assume you’ve got no Chinese-made products or components anywhere in your house….you know because you’re really concerned about dictators huh champ?

You may not be aware of this Bob but most Aussies buy products made in china because they are cheaper. There are also plenty of Aussie jobs involved in our exports to China. So if you think we want to diss our biggest trading partner then I suggest you think again.

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