Mon 1 Sep
This blog is now closed.
And on that note, we will call it a day. Not because the parliament has stopped – it hasn’t – but because we can not go on.
Here is how Mike Bowers saw some of the day:
We will be back tomorrow bright and early for another day of parliament/punishment – hope to see you there? Until then, take care of you Ax
Larissa Waters is next up on the ABC and she is asked about the weekend rallies and says:
I share the concerns of so many people who watched the tenor of those rallies on the weekend. It was quite frightening. The footage of black-clad men stomping around on camp sovereignty in Melbourne was really scary. So, I think many of those folk attending have serious questions to answer. Our concern is that the government is not addressing the housing or cost of living crises that’s leading to people blaming migrants for their legitimate financial issues. For the actual Neo-Nazis I’m not sure we can reason with them, but for other people, the system is not working for them, it’s not working for them, it’s not the fault of migrants, it’s a government that is prioritising the needs of big business and billionaires over ordinary people. That bit the government can fix. The Neo-Nazism, it’s a growing trend of far-right extremism and we’ve seen the government crack down on what they say is anti-Semitism, when merely there’s support for a free Palestine, and do a bit less on far-right extremism.
Q: You say, yes, there were Neo-Nazis there. It’s indisputable, they had a platform. But do you think other people who attended the rallies were all racists? Or do you think they were expressing, you know, fair enough grievances about levels of immigration?
Waters:
Look, I just don’t think it’s the fault of migrants that financial problems that people are legitimately facing. But the people that were there…
Q: Do you – do you think some of them were there for legitimate reasons?
Waters:
I can’t speculate how many people were there, there weren’t that many there compared to the weekend before in support of ending the genocide in Palestine, I may add, but the government needs to address the legitimate cost of living and housing issues. They’ve been quite selective in how they have tackled extremism. What they should do, is take an anti-racist framework across the board.
There is a back and forth about the Nauru deal, but there is no real outcome to it.
Q: For how long they get $70 million a year. It’s an arrangement between the Australian government and the Nauruan government.
Albanese:
There’s complexities and detail here, including the number of people who go, there’s a range of provisions as part of it.
Q: So, do they get the $400 million even if they take no asylum seekers?
Albanese:
There are arrangements in place, we have an arrangement between our government and the Nauruan government.
And so forth.
Q: Let me ask you about this – yesterday Julian Leeser said there was a direct line between your government’s voting record and the arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue. ASIO says that Iran is responsible. Julian Leeser says you have de-legitimised Jewish people through that voting record and actions. Are Jewish people de-legitimised?
Albanese:
I think they’re unfortunate comments from Julian Leeser. I understand this has been a difficult time for Jewish people, as well as it’s been a difficult time for people with relatives in Gaza, or the West Bank as well. We have been very clear and unequivocal about our opposition to the events of October 7. The contradiction in what Julian says of course, perhaps the best one, I will make two points – one, there are hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who have demonstrated on the streets against actions of the Israeli government. They’re not questioning the legitimacy of Israel. They are speaking out about legitimate concerns.
The two tap incident that occurred on – at the hospital, at Khan Younis that led to the death of journalists, the death of medical workers, it is legitimate to express a view about that, ot being acceptable. And…
Q: You don’t accept were you too slow in taking action to support Jews? That’s the argument they make?
Albanese:
I have called out – I have called out anti-Semitism on each and every occasion. And it seems to me that I find it unfortunate that the argument which is put there somehow provides for the Iranian regime that was responsible for commencing through people, the criminal elements to commit these crimes, they need to be given agency for what they have done, and not seek to transfer that agency to someone else.
Q: Do you think there’s growing resentment towards migration and does it worry you?
Albanese:
There has always been elements – I ran for president of the Sydney uni SRC, against a leader of national action, about anti-Asians being kept out… It’s always been with us, it’s rising again.
Q: Does that worry you?
Albanese:
What we need to do is to be vigilant about it. What has occurred now, it’s much easier to organise through social media, through platforms, and easier as well for people who have their views reinforced. Often are which based upon things that aren’t just fact, like our net overseas migration is falling.
It fell substantially in 2024. Of course there were going to be an increase number after the lockdown of our entire continent that occurred during COVID.
Q: Is your message to these people, we’re getting the numbers down?
Albanese:
Well, we are getting the numbers down, but migration is also important and multiculturalism is a part of who we are as a modern nation, and I just say to people – I have no doubt there would’ve been good people who went along, heard about a rally, concerned… I have seen them talk about long housing queues for rentals. They’re concerned about their access to housing. Of course. You should have a look at who you’re with on Sunday, I think, and the motivation they have, which isn’t actually about housing or our economy or anything else, it’s about sowing division. And Neo-Nazis have, you know, no role. The fact that people are openly…
Q: What did you think of what they did to camp sovereignty in Melbourne?
Albanese:
Well, it’s just – exactly. Here you have people who are saying they’re against migration, well… The first Australians were here before any migrant or descendant of migrants, and that just has no place. That sort of violence has no place.
Q: Do you think it’s based on economic grievance?
Anthony Albanese:
The numbers we saw, they weren’t big numbers in the scheme of things, in a nation of almost 27 million people, let’s be clear here.
…There has always been an element of people who would appeal to anti-immigration as a platform, but migration has of course brought a great deal of benefit to our nation.
With the exception of First Nations people, we’re all either migrants or the descendants of migrants. This is an interview between someone called Karvelas and something called Albanese, not Smith or Jones, left alone First Nations names.
So we have in this country, three great traditions, of course First Nations people, the great privilege we have, we have then the arrival of the British colony and when they brought, the Westminster system, a lot of those British-based traditions, and then, throughout our history as well, we have had waves of migrants coming in, enriching our nation through their contribution to Australia.
Q: Do you think there were good people with legitimate concerns at these anti-immigration rallies this weekend?
Albanese:
There’s always good people who will turn up to their demonstrate their views about particular issues. What we have here is Neo-Nazis being given a platform. That’s what we saw on the weekend and the tone of course of much of the rallies was unfortunate, the best way you can put it, but hateful in some of the extreme examples. And the idea that an open Neo-Nazi was able to give a speech from the steps of the Victorian Parliament is something that isn’t Australian
Q: Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says she wants to congratulate the marchers and the vast majority were people who love this country. Is that how you saw her comments?
Albanese:
They don’t reflect my view of the rallies. We need to cherish who we are and social cohesion. And as public office holders, we have an important role to play in promoting national unity, and modern Australia is different, as I said in Question Time today, from the days of the White Australia Policy.
We’re a modern nation that’s benefited from our multiculturalism, that overwhelmingly people live in harmony, of different ethnicities, different religions, different backgrounds, and we’re enriched by the diversity in this country.
We need to show respect for each other, and there will always be people who seek to say, look, your lot in life could be better and it’s because of people who don’t look like you.”
Now, a whole range of people, think it’s legitimate of course to have a debate.
Over in the senate, the Greens put up a motion condemning the weekend rallies, which were supported by neo-Nazis.
Of course the Coalition tried to alter it so it also condemned the anti-genocide marches, which they are desperately trying to claim is the same thing. The Coalition are treating it as two sides of the one coin, instead of anti-genocide protesters calling for the literal liberation of a people who are currently being exterminated by an occupying force and for the government to follow international law obligations and a group of white supremacists wanting to impose a hierarchy based on race in a democratic nation, by violence if necessary. And the Palestinian protests have been PEACEFUL.
Conflating the two is not just irresponsible, it is part of the reason the Coalition is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
Michaelia Cash put out this statement:
The Albanese Government has today blocked a clear and reasonable motion from the Coalition which sought to condemn extremism in all its forms.
The Coalition’s motion reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to free speech and lawful assembly, while condemning extremist activity that undermines public safety and social cohesion. Specifically, it:
Despite the clarity of this motion, the Albanese Government voted against it.
Shadow Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash said the Government’s decision was weak and indefensible.
“The Coalition made a simple and consistent point – we oppose extremism whether it comes from neo-Nazis, pro-Iranian regime supporters, or those who glorify terrorism. Yet Labor could not bring itself to agree,” Senator Cash said.
“This is about moral clarity. Labor had a chance to stand up against hate and intimidation. Instead, his Government blocked the motion.”
The Coalition moved its amendment in response to a motion brought forward by Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, which sought to target only one side of the extremist spectrum while ignoring others.
Senator Cash said this revealed extraordinary hypocrisy.
“Senator Faruqi wanted the Senate to condemn extremist elements on the far right, but at the same time she has been silent when pro-Iranian regime groups and supporters of terrorist organisations like Hamas and Hezbollah have marched on our streets waving flags and chanting hateful slogans. That is double standards of the worst kind,” Senator Cash said.
“The Coalition believes extremism should be condemned consistently – whether it comes dressed in black shirts or cloaked in the banners of terrorist groups. But instead of supporting that balanced approach, the Albanese Government joined the Greens in blocking it.”
The Coalition motion made clear that it is possible to defend the right of Australians to protest peacefully while also rejecting those who cross the line into intimidation, hate, or glorification of terrorism.
Senator Cash said Australians deserve to know why the Albanese Government refuses to apply one standard.
“Why is it so difficult for Anthony Albanese and his ministers to simply say that neo-Nazis are wrong, pro-Iranian extremists are wrong, and those who support terrorist organisations are wrong? It should not be hard,” she said.
The Coalition will continue to call for strong enforcement of existing laws against extremism and will not allow double standards to go unchallenged.
“The Prime Minister’s weakness on this issue is dangerous. The community is looking for leadership and consistency. Instead, they are getting division and hypocrisy from a Government too afraid to upset the Greens,” Senator Cash said.
Amendment to Senator Faruqi’s motion regarding social cohesion moved by Senator Cash
I move — That the motion be amended as follows:
Omit all words after “That the Senate”, substitute:
“(a) reaffirms Australia’s commitment to free speech and lawful assembly, and condemns all forms of extremism, intimidation, and violence, regardless of the cause;
(b) condemns the recent disruption of public rallies by Neo-Nazis, pro-Iranian Government extremists and those supporting terrorist organisations; and
(c) condemns the public display of symbols, slogans, or imagery that glorify or support proscribed terrorist organisations and urges the strict enforcement of existing laws against the glorification of terrorism and incitement to violence”.
Well, the Coalition, in line with the Greens and independents, has found an issue with legs – the wait for aged care packages.
Is this entirely Labor’s fault? No. Is it something it could have addressed before now? Absolutely.
Is there actual policy points the Coalition can make on social issues – yes. So much yes. And it has taken them months (and most of the last term if you really want to get down to it) but it seems that they have found an issue that meets the needs of needing further examination, is something the community expects more from the government from, and crossbench support.
Let’s see how long that lasts.
Independent MP for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie also asks about aged care:
My question is to the Minister for Aged Care and seniors. The department informed the Senate 120,000 older Australians are waiting tore assessed for aged care, some as long as 12 months. This is in addition to the estimated 100,000 waiting for up to 12 months for their approved package to materialise. Is the government deliberately slowing the aged care process so the reality of approximately 200,000 older Australians waiting up to two years for care isn’t revealed?
Sam Rae:
The Albanese Labor government is delivering very ambitious reforms to the in home aged care system to make sure every older person can get the care they need in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible. Recommendation 28 of the Aged Care Royal Commission called for one single assessment process and that’s what the government is currently delivering we’re rolling out a new aged care assessment system, one will will be quicker, reduce wait times and improve the experience for older people and their loved ones, rather than needing separate assessments as their needs changed it’s designed to make them easier to access the care they need.
We acknowledge that wait times for aged care assessment are longer than we would like and we’re working on that. A record level of Australians are seeking home care services. Last year alone over 521,000 home support and assessments were completed. This is an incredibly complex system and the waitlist contains those seeking lower level care along with cover over and duplication of numbers on the NPS. The systems can’t be jammed together to create a bigger example. For example 99 per cent of home waiting for a home care package at their approved level are receiving a care at a level level or are approved for service was and maybe and may already be receiving a level of care.
These matters we have discussed today are why we’re reforming this system from the ground up. Big reforms don’t happen overnight. But we’re working hand in hand with the assessment organisations including the states and territories who provide the majority of assessments to ensure a smooth transition to minimise impact older Australians and importantly to get them the very best care that we can as quickly as possible.