Canberra week in review - 4 March

SBS World News Radio: The week in politics has seen renewed suggestions of disunity within the federal government after secret defence documents were released to the media.

Canberra week in review - 4 MarchCanberra week in review - 4 March

Canberra week in review - 4 March

The week in politics has seen renewed suggestions of disunity within the federal government after secret defence documents were released to the media.

Speculation the Prime Minister is considering sending Australians to the polling booths early grew this week with Industry Minister Christopher Pyne adding to the conversation on Channel Seven's Morning Show.

"Well, the election is August, September -- that's when it's supposed to be due. so if there was an election in July I don't think it would be particularly early."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull continued his parliamentary question-time attacks on Labor and its tax policy -- taking a more restrained approach, though, than in the weeks prior.

"The Labor Party's policy on negative-gearing and its proposal to increase capital-gains-tax by 50 per cent is an ill-considered reckless effort to undermine Australia's transition to the new economy."

Some government backbenchers are worried about the Prime Minister's own approach to tax reform, or rather, his delay in actually announcing one.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott contributed to debate telling the Coalition party room that Malcolm Turnbull should avoid raising taxes and that Australia has a spending problem.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the conversation between Mr Abbott and Mr Turnbull was warm and welcomed.

"George Brandis has briefed-out what Tony Abbott said in the party room. It was well recieved. The contributions of our colleagues are always well recieved. We are a party of lower taxes, smaller government."

But that's an explanation the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wasn't prepared to accept.

"Today the former prime minister has shirt fronted the current prime minister over his lack of economic leadership."

Treasurer Scott Morrison used a report by the economic forecasting company BIS Shrapnel to back the attack on Labor's negative gearing-policy.

"It does pick up that rents will rise by 10 per cent, it does pick up that new home building will shrink by four per cent, Mr Speaker, nationally. It does say that it'll hit GDP by 19 billion dollars a year, Mr Speaker."

The attack was close to a political misfire with speculation of a biased view and questions over who commissioned the report and what they had to gain by its release.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen defended Labor's policy.

"Now Labor will argue this case until six o'clock on election night we developed this policy over time, carefully and properly."

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott's input continued throughout the week speaking to a newspaper about leaked defence documents from a national security committee.

It's not clear who released the information to the media but Mr Abbott's office is being blamed by some and it is certainly distracting for a government in an election year.

Bill Shorten questioned Malcolm Turnbull on getting to the bottom of what he says is a criminal offence.

(Shorten)"Has this national security breach been referred to the Australian Federal Police?"

(Turnbull)"The secretary of the Department of Defence has advised me that he has initiated an investigation which will oviously be conducted by the Australian Federal Police into the apparent leak of these classified documents."

It's anticipated that legislation reviving the Australian Building and Construction Commission could be a possible trigger for a double dissolution election.

If the Senate rejects the bill a second time the government could disolve both houses of parliament.

Industry minister Christopher Pyne says that can be prevented.

"If they pass that legislation the reasons for a double dissolution would not longer exist."

Although it appears the government is delaying such a move to introduce the trigger - Labor is starting to announce political candidates.

Linda Burney from the NSW State Parliament was the first, if elected she will be the first Aboriginal woman in the House of Representatives.

"It is who I am. It is what I stand for, but I have a much broader view of the world."

Indigenous leader Pat Dodson became the second star recruit.

"I'm honoured that you have provided me with this opportunity to serve as a Labor senator of West Australia."

Mr Dodson will be filling a casual vacancy after the resignation of outspoken Senator Joe Bullock -- who left office stating he was unable to support Labor's position on same-sex marriage.

 

 


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4 min read

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By David Sharaz



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