2 hours ago
PM: Australia’s position on Gaza unchanged in wake of Trump comments
We’ve moved away from health, and Anthony Albanese is immediately asked about Donald Trump’s statement that the US would take over and own the Gaza Strip.
Albanese says he doesn’t do “running commentary” and continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year and it was 10 years ago and it was under the Howard government.
Another reporter tries to draw him out further on Trump’s comments but Albanese doesn’t want to bite.
He also asks whether the government is considering mandatory minimum sentences for terrorism offences. Albanese says:
On the issue of antisemitism, we have a very clear position. I want to see people who are perpetrators of … [these] crimes hunted down, put in the clink and dealt with. We will provide the authorities all of the resources to do so.
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has gone straight to the long lunches, in answering a dixer on the cost of living.
The other side of the house is focused on long lunches and cuts and conflict and culture wars, the side of the house has maintained a focus on the cost of living and because of that focus, inflation is down, wages are up and unemployment is low.
There’s plenty of shouts of support on the government side, before the opposition stands up saying Chalmers isn’t being relevant.
When Chalmers gets back up to speak you can barely here him in the chamber, at first, from the shouting on both sides.
Government watching ‘concerning’ 3G shutdown closely – Rowland
The first crossbench question goes to the independent member for Indi, Helen Haines, who asks about the 3G shutdown. Haines says some in her electorate in regional Victoria have lost the ability to make calls in some areas.
Does the minister recognise some people are worse off after the 3G shutdown and what will the government do to fix it?
Communications minister Michelle Rowland says the Haines has mentioned are “concerning”. She says she met with industry regulators, mobile carriers and consumer groups in December, and is monitoring the situation “closely”.
It is true that there are multiple complaints from customers, particularly in regional areas, who have seen gratuitous coverage diminish and who have seen their services overall being challenged. The question is how can I be improved? I’m happy to inform the member that while obviously it is concerning to hear those reports happening in regional areas, I am monitoring this very closely. I’ve made it clear to service providers the expectation that the 3G switchover will deliver on these benefits.
Labor ‘determined to be a reliable partner’ on hospital funding – Butler
The next dixer goes to Mark Butler on Medicare. So far there are two key themes to this question time.
Butler talks again about the additional funding commitment with the states and territories.
In terms of public hospital funding, wage and activity pressure for hospitals means that right now the commonwealth share of hospital budgets is declining. It is going to fall well below 40% if we don’t do something. We are determined to be a reliable partner.
He then goes into other “approaches”, where he talks about Peter Dutton’s health record, and also gives a nod to the tax-free lunch policy.
Coalition playing ‘political games’ over Dural caravan – PM
Albanese gets up again, still in response to Sussan Ley’s question, and accuses the opposition of playing “political games” on the issue.
The priority of those opposite is to play political games. I met with, I engaged regularly with leaders in the Jewish community and what they are interested in is keeping their community safe and you know what, that is what my priority is too. The way you keep them safe is by having confidence in our national security agencies.
PM asked about Sydney caravan carrying explosives
Deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley is up next, and asks Albanese again when he was first informed of the caravan in Sydney carrying explosives.
Albanese says:
I refer to my previous answer. I note the characterisation of the deputy leader of the opposition. I am happy to provide a brief through the security agencies if requested by the deputy leader of the opposition...
That’s followed by some back and forth on whether the prime minister is being relevant and should be directed to provide the house with the exact date and time.
Speaker Milton Dick says that on relevance, as long as Albanese is remaining directly relevant to the topic, he’s on solid ground.
I do not have the powers under the standing order to direct the prime minister to give you the answer you wish.
Albanese says Medicare boost will ‘save lives’
The first dixer goes to the PM on Medicare, which he and health minister Mark Butler just made a new announcement on.
Albanese is spruiking the $1.7bn one-year funding announcement for the states and territories.
That is our priority, not long lunches – helping people with the health care they need. This funding will help to cut waiting lists. It will reduce waiting times in emergency rooms and it will manage ramping. This will save lives and all of the states and territories that we have engaged with over recent days have welcomed this announcement.
Like yesterday, the government uses the dixer to also question Peter Dutton on his record as health minister.
Question time begins
We’re now into questions. The opposition starts, asking Albanese when he knew of the van carrying explosives in Dural.
It’s a question that’s been thrown at the PM by the Coalition for a few days.
Albanese says the national security agencies need to be “allowed to do their work”.
The government has two priorities, the first is keeping Australians safe, the second is making sure that the ongoing investigation, which is ongoing, prioritises not just capturing those people who have been involved – and there are at least two people who are in custody publicly – but in order to ascertain who is behind this, it is absolutely critical that the AFP, that the state police agencies, the Asio and the intelligence agencies be allowed to do their work, and the federal government will provide every support for them.
PM offers condolences over woman, 82, killed in Queensland floods
The prime minister has also offered his condolences at the second loss of life in the north Queensland floods.
I want to, on behalf of the house, express our sincere condolences at the second loss of life that we have seen in this floods, an 82-year-old woman who was found outside Ingham and we express our condolences to her family and her friends in their bereavement.
Dutton follows, extending his condolences to the friends and family of the woman and those impacted by the floods.
Leaders pay tribute to the late Liberal Anthony Messner, a ‘person of conviction’
Before questions begin, the leaders are paying tribute to former Liberal senator Anthony Messner, who died on 11 October last year.
Anthony Albanese says Messner was respected by “all in the house”.
From the moment he was elected as a senator for South Australia in the double dissolution election of 1975, Tony Messner was regarded as a person of conviction.
We honour his contribution to our parliament and to our nation and we offer our sympathies to his loved ones, friends and colleagues. May he rest in peace.
Peter Dutton stands up next and says Messner “championed” small business.
Not only did the former banker and chartered accountant understand small business but the new senator saw it as his duty to champion small business.
The politicians are quickly walking into the house and Senate now for question time. Let’s see how many times lunch is mentioned today.
Queensland government working to secure supplies for flood-hit areas – minister
Emergency management minister Jenny McAllister did a press conference a little earlier from north Queensland with an update on the floods.
She said she was working with the state, emergency services and volunteers supporting the region.
The government has announced financial support for families in impacted regions, but there are also concerns around ensuring residents stuck in flood waters or around them are able to get access to food and essential supplies. McAllister said:
Today our government is convening a meeting of the key private sector in the food supply chain so we can start exploring with them steps that need to be taken to secure supplies into Queensland and far north Queensland.
Australia ‘will be consistent’ on Gaza – PM
Albanese is asked again on Trump’s comments, and whether Australia would be prepared to send Australian defence personnel into Gaza.
The prime minister reiterates Australia’s diplomatic position hasn’t changed.
When it comes to our position, we have not received any request regarding the rebuilding of Gaza. What we have said, though – clearly, we’ve supported a ceasefire. We’ve supported hostages being released. And we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza. There is a need to do that, and Australia is willing to assist getting aid into Gaza to provide that support. We have done so. That is consistent with what Australian governments have always done, which is to provide support.
There are more questions here on whether the government should be calling out Trump’s statement. Albanese says the government will be consistent.
We will be consistent, as we are. I’ve also said that I’m not going to, as Australia’s prime minister, give a daily commentary on statements by the US president. My job is to support Australia’s position.
PM: Australia’s position on Gaza unchanged in wake of Trump comments
We’ve moved away from health, and Anthony Albanese is immediately asked about Donald Trump’s statement that the US would take over and own the Gaza Strip.
Albanese says he doesn’t do “running commentary” and continues to support a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year and it was 10 years ago and it was under the Howard government.
Another reporter tries to draw him out further on Trump’s comments but Albanese doesn’t want to bite.
He also asks whether the government is considering mandatory minimum sentences for terrorism offences. Albanese says:
On the issue of antisemitism, we have a very clear position. I want to see people who are perpetrators of … [these] crimes hunted down, put in the clink and dealt with. We will provide the authorities all of the resources to do so.
