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Senator accuses Labor of politicising wage bump
By Nick Bonyhady
Assistant Industrial Relations Minister Amanda Stoker has accused Labor of trying to politicise the independent pay umpire’s minimum wage decision, which was released yesterday and will give the country’s lowest paid full timers an $18.80 weekly raise.
“Labor wanted to politicise this, they really wanted to make this a political issue that gets decided by politicians, how much wages you get to take home a week,” Senator Stoker said. “That’s an appalling thing to do.”
Assistant Industrial Relations Minister Amanda Stoker.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Predictably, business groups said the decision would hurt their members who had to cope with a 2.5 per cent pay rise, especially those in sectors such as hospitality and tourism.
Equally predictably, unions emphasised the independent minimum wage panel’s decision to delay the raise for a cluster of industries that are still recovering from the pandemic.
That includes retail, where some firms have done fine while others have suffered.
“We always have to be careful that, in helping, at least at a surface level one group, we don’t in fact have unintended consequences that happen,” Senator Stoker said.
“And that’s why we have experts do this. That’s why we have people who are right across the data that drives the balance in our economy, responsible for making non-political calls about where the right sweet spot is. And I’m quite comfortable that this reflects about the right amount.”
Scam warning for Victorians hit by damaging winds and power outages
By Roy Ward
A local council in Melbourne’s outer east has warned residents of shonky tradespeople offering to do clean-up work after damaging winds wreaked havoc across the region.
Last week’s storms have caused damage across the Yarra and Dandenong Ranges with scores of trees toppled, houses destroyed and power and water cut off.
Yarra Ranges Council has shared reports of unknown tradespeople going door-to-door in storm hit areas over the weekend, collecting payments upfront and then not providing any services.
“If you’re approached for services, please check if the business is legitimate, look for a website, social media presence and a registered ABN,” the council tweeted.
What to expect in Canberra today
By Nick Bonyhady
Looking ahead this morning there’s plenty happening in Federal Parliament.
Labor has accused One Nation of doing a “buckram deal” with the Government to pass superannuation reforms. For its part, the Government says it’ll save workers billions and One Nation denies it. Economics correspondent Jennifer Duke will have her eyes on the Senate as the machinations unfold.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack at Parliament House yesterday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Important economic data on jobs and population data will be out too, which should give us a clearer picture on how the economy travelled through the coronavirus and into this year. My colleague Shane Wright will be on that and a speech to be delivered by Philip Lowe, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The Prime Minister is on his way back from his European trip, leaving deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack still in charge. I’m sure we’ll see more questions from Labor to the Nationals leader on whether the federal government is doing much about the mice plague that’s causing a lot of distress in regional Australia.
Victoria records no new cases of COVID-19
By Broede Carmody
It’s a doughnut day in Victoria.
The state recorded zero new cases of coronavirus in the community yesterday and just one case was detected in hotel quarantine. That’s off the back of 25,635 COVID-19 tests.
It comes as the state prepares to remove the metropolitan border from 11.59pm tonight and allow people to have up to two visitors in their homes.
Senate set to vote on controversial superannuation changes this morning
By Nick Bonyhady
Rewinding a bit now and Parliament sat late last night as the Government whipped through debate on its overhaul of the $3.2 trillion superannuation sector.
The changes could pass as early as today after independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, who controls one of a handful of swing votes, signalled her support.
Here’s economics reporter Jennifer Duke with the latest developments:
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday morning, Senator Lambie said she had a good relationship with Superannuation Minister Jane Hume’s office and, while she was still waiting to see amendments from the federal government, backed steps to improve the super sector.
The Your Future, Your Super package is expected to go to a vote this morning in the Senate following months of fierce debate between the federal government and Labor about how the reforms should be implemented. The changes aim to “staple” workers to their super funds to avoid the creation of multiple accounts and force funds to meet performance benchmarks or be blocked from adding new members.
This is expected to save consumers almost $18 billion over 10 years with the changes to kick in from July 1.
Labor, and some crossbenchers including Rex Patrick, want several changes including a delay of one year to ensure underperforming funds are weeded out before workers are stapled to their funds and automated systems are in place. They also want the Bill broadened to include more retail funds.
Industry Super Australia sent out a statement this morning asking Senators to protect workers from ending up with a “dud fund” when they vote today. ISA is supportive of Labor’s amendments.
“Senators that vote to shackle workers to the worst performing funds will punch a huge hole in the savings of many Australians,” it said.
NSW Premier expects testing rates to go ‘through the roof’
By Daniella White
Premier Gladys Berejiklian expects testing rates in Sydney’s east to “go through the roof” today after two cases of COVID-19 emerged yesterday.
Speaking this morning at a press conference, she said she had not been made aware of any new cases since last night.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.Credit:Kate Geraghty
“We can’t be complacent about it, we know that two can become 20 very quickly,” she said. “I expect the testing rates to go through the roof in eastern Sydney today.”
Responding to reports the first case, who transported international air crew, was not vaccinated, Ms Berejiklian said she was expecting to be updated on the matter later this morning.
“Suffice to say we pride ourselves on having a very good system and if there are any holes in that system we need to plug them,” she said.
Unrelated investigations are also continuing into a possible leak within a CBD quarantine hotel.
Queensland authorities closely monitoring Sydney outbreak
By Jocelyn Garcia
A reminder that anyone travelling to Queensland who has been to a COVID-19 exposure site in Sydney will be forced into quarantine after NSW recorded two cases of coronavirus.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says she is closely monitoring the situation.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young.Credit:Getty
“It’s important that anyone who has been to these venues in Sydney follow the advice of NSW Health and not travel,” she said.
“If you have been to any of these sites and are already in Queensland, you must immediately travel by private transport directly to your home or accommodation and quarantine.
“You also need to complete the Queensland Health online contact tracing self-assessment form, get tested as soon as possible tomorrow morning, and await advice from Queensland Health.”
Liberal leadership rumblings resurface in Victoria as Coalition closes gap on Labor
By Annika Smethurst, Paul Sakkal and Michael Fowler
Morrison government ministers have reignited a push to replace Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien as state Liberal MPs again consider plans for a spill just three months after a failed coup attempt.
Liberal MPs, both state and federal, and senior party figures discussed a plan to execute a spill at the party’s meeting of MPs next week, but this was abandoned due to uncertainty caused by indoor density limits and an inability by anti-O’Brien camps to unite on an agreed strategy.
Michael O’Brien gets his COVID vaccine in Melbourne this month.Credit:Jason South
Read the full story here.
Tensions rise over net zero target
By Nick Bonyhady
There’s tension within the Coalition this morning, with a senior Nationals minister warning the party have not agreed to any net zero emissions target.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he wants the nation to meet net zero by 2050 but that is not a legislated commitment. It has nonetheless won him praise in the United Kingdom.
Resources and Northern Australia Minister Keith Pitt.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
But on the ABC this morning, Resources Minister Keith Pitt made clear he does not support such a target, backing up a similar argument from one of his backbenchers, Bridget McKenzie, earlier in the week.
“The Nationals have not been asked” about net zero, Mr Pitt said. “There is no agreement.”
Mr Pitt stopped inches short of saying his party would campaign against a target if pushed by the Prime Minister but argued one would hurt country Australia.
“What I know is that it will absolutely cause damage into regional communities. They are very strongly reliant on our export sectors, whether it is for our local coal fired power stations, whether it’s export of coal, or other resources.”
‘The Drug Court is coming to Dubbo’: NSW Attorney-General
By Michaela Whitbourn
The NSW government has announced that the groundbreaking Drug Court will be expanded to the major regional city of Dubbo.
NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman told ABC local radio on Thursday that the court would be funded as part of the next state budget, to be unveiled on June 22.
NSW Drug Court Senior Judge Roger Dive.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
“It’s not a soft option. It’s an intensive program for offenders,” Mr Speakman said.
It won’t happen overnight. Mr Speakman said it would take about a year to set up the court.
The specialist Drug Court, an Australian-first when it was established in 1999, already sits in the Sydney CBD, Parramatta and the Hunter region.
It takes referrals from the Local and District courts of drug-dependent adults who plead guilty to offences, other than to serious crimes such as sexual assault, and enrols them in a 12-month program aimed at keeping them out of prison by breaking the cycle of drug dependency and crime via intensive health and social support. Sanctions including prison still apply for non-compliance.
Expanding the court to priority regional areas including Dubbo was a focus of recommendations made by the government’s special commission of inquiry into the drug ice.
You can read more about the work of the court and its popular Senior Judge Roger Dive here.
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2021-06-16 23:18:10Z
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