5&5: Star-crossed lovers
Both houses were back for our second last sitting of the year.
Here’s the 5&5.
BEST
We’re closing the gender pay gap
Kayla’s Free Tafe story
NRF made in Australia
Zaneta’s 90sec statement
Bill Shorten and Dr Michelle Anada-Raja
WORST
Dutton’s nuclear obsession
Another Coalition roadblock
Thursday’s headline
The Opposition wants to privatise the NBN
Star-crossed lovers
1. The Albanese Labor Government is reducing the gender pay gap. This week we had news. It's the lowest it’s been since reporting started a decade ago. Our efforts to lift wages in feminised industries is having a real impact. On Wednesday, three incredible Labor women led the charge in QT.
2. Labor’s Fee Free TAFE policy is making a real difference to people’s lives. On Monday, Andrew Giles told the House about single mum Kayla from WA, who is learning new skills at TAFE – to give her kids a better life – and it’s not costing her a cent. “She's been working in kitchens most of her life, but now, with her kids in school, she wants to get a qualification towards a career she can do for the next 20 years. This is a really big deal. Kayla told us what she was telling her kids: 'I'm going to school to get a better job so we can have a better life.”
3. On Tuesday, Ed Husic announced the Government’s landmark $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund will ensure a pioneering Toowoomba manufacturer stays in Australian hands. It’s the first funding announcement from the NRF, to shore up thousands of jobs and make sure the future is Made in Australia. “We are a country that makes things. That we can stand on our own two feet, that we are not dependent on vulnerable or concentrated supply chains, and that in the process we can make secure, well-paying jobs in our regions and in our suburbs.”
4. Zaneta Mascarenhas had an excellent 90 second statement on Wednesday. She was talking to a member of her electorate in Swan who was a victim of robodebt and the mental toll it took on him. “Robodebt should have never happened. Who knows what would happen under a Coalition Government? Robodebt, Robo Cop, robo who knows what? It shouldn't have happened and we will make sure that it never happens again.”
5. The PM said it best, “Bill's contribution has been extraordinary. He went through the three phases of that contribution to public life. As a trade union leader of the Australian Workers Union, as the Member for Maribyrnong and importantly as one of the small number who had the privilege of leading Australia's oldest and greatest political party, the Australian Labor Party.” In his valedictory speech, Bill said: “I have known in this place extraordinary highs and some painful lows. Good days and hard days and sleepless nights. I would not hand back a single minute of a single hour of a single day that I've spent in this place or in this job. I leave here full of gratitude to all those who made it possible. I leave here full of optimism for the future of the movement and the party I love, the people we serve and the country we are so fortunate to call home.”
Unfortunately, at the next election the seat of Higgins in Victoria will be dissolved, meaning we’re also saying goodbye to Federal Labor MP Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah. She ended her valedictory speech with these words: “As the first Labor Member for Higgins and its last ever member, I reflect that although it is not a utopia it is a strong community, where the environment is itself therapeutic: people living productive lives—close to jobs, close to opportunity, close to services—who are supported from the cradle to the grave. Places like Higgins should be the norm, not the exception, in this country. It has been an honour to serve this community and to serve in this Labor government.”
1. After releasing an unfunded nuclear plan, with an unjustified timeframe and not explaining how much electricity would be added to the system, Peter Dutton asked why this government isn’t signing up for nuclear? Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles made sure the Chamber knew exactly why, “We don't have a civil nuclear energy establishment in this country and nor do we seek to establish one. The reason we don't seek to establish one is because to do so, would be to pursue the single most expensive form of electricity in the world today. That would be an additional $1200 on the energy bill of every household in this country.”
2. Peter Dutton is joining with the Greens to block the Government’s plan to reduce migration. It’s an almighty backflip from the Coalition, who are now under pressure to explain how they plan to tackle the problem. Murray Watt pointed out the Opposition Leader’s breath-taking hypocrisy. “Mr Dutton is so addicted to saying no, he's now even saying no to himself—because, remember: in his budget reply speech back in May, Mr Dutton told us that he would drastically reduce net overseas migration by, among other things, capping international student numbers. And now he votes against his own idea! In fact, more than six months later, they still have no ideas about how they will deliver their promise to reduce net overseas migration. As each day goes by, Mr Dutton proves why he is not fit to lead this country. He's reckless, he's arrogant, and, at a time people are doing it tough, he'll make things worse.”
3. Lots of people were scratching their heads about the way the Liberals said they would vote on education visas. Jason Clare made clear that the legislation involves a serious crackdown on some dodgy providers, and then read from Thursday’s Sydney Morning Herald:
“'Senior Liberal headlines event for student visa agents before tanking migration bill'. The story reads as follows: ‘Coalition frontbencher Sarah Henderson headlined an event for migration agents and private colleges and launched a new brand for a Liberal Party member who helps international students extend stays in Australia just a month before tanking Labor's bill to crack down on the private education sector.’
“It goes on: ‘Henderson, who leads the opposition's education policy—’ and now, it seems, the migration policy as well— ‘spoke at the private forum attended by dozens of colleges and agents – some of whom have had restrictions imposed on them by the tertiary education regulator or helped international students appeal their visa rejections …’
“It goes on: ‘Some of the companies are also Liberal Party donors.’ The plot thickens!”
4. This week, Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland put a Bill through the House to make sure the NBN is never privatised. For years the Opposition deliberately and recklessly underinvested in the NBN, including in regional communities. This week, they voted against the Bill to prevent the NBN from being privatised. As Kristy McBain said on Wednesday, ‘the string and can method doesn’t work anymore, reliable connectivity isn’t a nicety it's a necessity - we need to make sure the NBN remains in public hands.’ She continued “If the Leader of the Opposition ever stepped foot out of inner-city Brisbane he would know in the regions, we need high-speed Internet and we need to keep the NBN in public hands.”
5. By blocking our plan to cap the number of overseas students, the Coalition and Greens consummated their growing love affair. It means they are now voting together on immigration, housing and the environment. Richard Marles had this hilarious take: “I think Romeo and Juliet teaches us that love conquers all, but I definitely do not think that Shakespeare imagined what was going on here. What we are seeing here is the most unholy alliance between the Greens and the Liberals. So, every Australian needs to know that when they go out and they vote for the Greens political party or when they vote for the Liberals, when it comes to Canberra it is the one team.”
Next week both the House and the Senate will be back for the final sitting week of the year.
'til then,
Tony
PS. I’d love to say our band ‘Left Right Out’ was the musical highlight of the week after we played the Pharmacy Guild Christmas party on Tuesday night, but we also had a visit from Amy Shark. In honour of her ARIA award nomination this week’s song of the week is It's Nice to Feel This Way Again from Amy Shark’s new album Sunday Sadness.
PPS. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have a bonus song of the week to honour the star-crossed lovers that are Coalition and the Greens. The bonus song of the week is (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet by Mental As Anything.
