Victorian Liberals on Moira Deeming’s behaviour: ‘a real problem’ if it continues

Back on ABC Radio RN Breakfast, the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, is saying he is “very concerned” over Moira Deeming’s tweets, where she said she did not condemn people involved in the anti-trans rights rallies where neo-Nazi’s attended and performed the Nazi salute on the steps of the Victorian parliament.

Pesutto told the media yesterday that Deeming had condemned people during the party room meeting. Deeming tweeted yesterday that she had not, reassuring some of the people involved “don’t worry” as she had “never” condemned them.

Pesutto told Patricia Karvelas that Deeming’s suspension is “not off to a good start” but that Deeming has nine months to prove herself to the party. But he can’t say whether or not she has already blown it.

Well, I’m not happy with those tweets, and they’re very great concern and will represent if that continues, it will obviously represent a real problem going forward for Moira to return the [party].

Key events

Both Adam Bandt and Chris Bowen have been on the media victory lap this morning over the safeguard mechanism.

The Greens say they didn’t get no new coal or gas, but that the hard cap on emissions they won will mean that projects will hit a pollution trigger, which they won’t be able to emissions trade their way out of.

Labor says it took amendments that were in the spirit of the legislation and will be able to put the scheme in place for the July 1 open trading deadline.

The Coalition doesn’t like any of it and is very upset at the outcome of the negotiations it was not part of at any stage because it made a decision to bow out at the starting blocks, even though the legislation was based on Abbott-era legislation, and business and industry were pleading with it to come on board because they wanted investment certainty.

Eden Gillespie

Eden Gillespie

Queensland to introduce rent increase limits

The Queensland government will limit rent increases to once a year under reforms set to be introduced on Tuesday.

The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, made the announcement on Twitter, saying the government was “taking action to give people who are renting a fairer go.”

Weekly rents are rapidly increasing – sometimes going up $200 or even $400. It’s not right. That’s why we’re proposing to limit rent increases to once a year, rather than every six months.

In Queensland, landlords can currently increase rents every six months. The measure would bring Queensland in line with Australian jurisdictions like Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales.

Queensland’s Make Renting Fair Campaign has been calling on the government to limit rent increases to 10% above CPI like the ACT government does.

The premier had said last week the government was “very seriously” considering a rent cap, drawing immediate backlash from the real estate sector. The deputy premier Steven Miles said such a cap could be tied to CPI, but the government appears to have since walked away from the idea.

It comes as the government is set to hold a housing roundtable with stakeholders on Tuesday, which is expected to have 30 to 40 participants.

Amy Remeikis

Amy Remeikis

Amy’s analysis on Moira Deeming

So the short version of that interview is: Moira Deeming is suspended and not a member of the Liberal party, so what she does for the next nine months is for her to answer for.

And in nine months’ time, the Liberal party room will review her conduct and decide whether she has met the spirit of the suspension terms.

But Pesutto ain’t spending any more time on that (to paraphrase Bob Katter).

Victorian Liberals: ‘we’ve dealt with’ the Deeming issue and are ‘moving on’

So what happens in nine months, when the suspension period ends?

Well, there’ll obviously be consideration by [the] party room about whether Moira has acted consistently with the outcome of the party room decision.

John Pesutto says it is up to Moira Deeming to prove to the party room that she has taken on board their concerns to see whether or not she will be coming back.

I don’t want to be spending time having to come back to these issues. We’ve dealt with it. We’ve dealt with it yesterday, and we’re moving on.

Is this what Pesutto wants to be spending his time on?

Do you think, Patricia, for one moment [that] I want to be speaking to you about this this morning and not about corruption or project blowouts?

… If I can make this point for all of your listeners, to offer them this assurance – I know these things are not what I want to be talking about, what your listeners want to be listening to. But this was important. I had to mark this turning point for the party. And to make it clear that going forward, we will always, as I said before, [be] being inclusive, welcoming and represent the diversity of our community and all its facets.

Pesutto gives no answer on if Deeming can continue to promote anti-trans views as part of Liberals

But John Pesutto also can’t answer whether Moira Deeming can continue to campaign against trans rights – a stance Deeming had before she was in the parliament and a key feature of her first speech to the Victorian parliament.

Look, what what I have always said from the very start, is that as leader of the Victorian Liberal party, I want public debate not just in the state but nationally, to be respectful and civil and courteous, and to be inclusive so that people can participate in discussions.

I am a supporter of free speech, but any connection of the Liberal party with people who share platforms with people who are extremely … people in hate speech is a concern to me and will never be acceptable in the party.

Victorian Liberals on Moira Deeming’s behaviour: ‘a real problem’ if it continues

Back on ABC Radio RN Breakfast, the Victorian Liberal leader, John Pesutto, is saying he is “very concerned” over Moira Deeming’s tweets, where she said she did not condemn people involved in the anti-trans rights rallies where neo-Nazi’s attended and performed the Nazi salute on the steps of the Victorian parliament.

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Pesutto told the media yesterday that Deeming had condemned people during the party room meeting. Deeming tweeted yesterday that she had not, reassuring some of the people involved “don’t worry” as she had “never” condemned them.

Pesutto told Patricia Karvelas that Deeming’s suspension is “not off to a good start” but that Deeming has nine months to prove herself to the party. But he can’t say whether or not she has already blown it.

Well, I’m not happy with those tweets, and they’re very great concern and will represent if that continues, it will obviously represent a real problem going forward for Moira to return the [party].

Pocock confirms he will support safeguard mechanism bill, meaning it will pass the Senate

David Pocock spoke to ABC Radio AM this morning and announced he would be voting for the safeguard mechanism:

As a result of the amendments we’ve seen, announced today by minister Bowen and Adam Bandt and then in subsequent conversations and and some further commitments from the government, I’ll be supporting the safeguard mechanism.

And that’s the last number the government needs – the legislation will pass the Senate.

Greens: housing future fund ‘doesn’t even touch the sides of the problem’

In some ways, it seems that coming to an agreement on the housing fund is harder than what we just saw on the safeguard mechanism.

Adam Bandt says the parties are not where they need to be to come to an agreement – he says, because Labor’s policy isn’t doing enough.

Labor’s put forward a policy that just does not address the scale of the crisis that we’re in. We’ve seen rents grow seven times faster than wages, people are unable to find an affordable place to live.

And there’s nothing in this proposal that’s going to help them, and … as almost every group has said … the size of Labor’s proposal doesn’t even touch the sides of the problem and in fact, at the end of Labor’s plan, the waiting list for social affordable housing is going to be longer than it is at the start.

So we are pushing them to address the scale of the rental crisis that we’re facing in this country and to step up and increase their offer.

Greens: ‘We’re a chunk of the way there’ on stopping new coal and gas

The Greens leader Adam Bandt says that any new coal or gas projects which open in Australia “is on Labor”.

He was asked about the share price for companies such as Woodside dropping at the news and tells ABC Radio RN Breakfast

Investors see the writing on the wall. They know that coal and gas is on its way out and understand that the hard cap negotiated by the Greens means there’s a limit on coal and gas expansion in this country from now on.

We just can’t keep expanding coal and gas and stay below the hard cap. That’s what we’ve what we’ve legislated.

I suspect that will mean … I know that you see lots of movements in the share market and who knows what will happen in the future, but I think they have clearly understood that the implication of this is that coal and gas can’t keep expanding because that is what the science demands … from now on.

Every new coal and gas project has to go through this pollution test, and the government’s got the power to stop it … I heard someone from the Australian Industry Group saying that it’s likely to mean that projects are less likely to go ahead.

And I think that’s right, because that is what we need to do to tackle the climate crisis. So we’re a chunk of the way there, and now we’ve got to get the rest of the way there. And … the only obstacle to stopping all new coal and gas mines from being opened is now Labor.

Bowen: Liberal concern over voice’s impact on fossil fuels and interest rates ‘cheap and pathetic attempt’ to derail referendum

The energy minister, Chris Bowen, is on ABC Radio RN Breakfast talking about the safeguard mechanism (the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, is up next).

It’s pretty much what we heard yesterday, but Bowen also addressed Julian Leeser’s attempt during question time to muddy the Indigenous voice to parliament. He was asked whether or not the voice would have impact on things like fossil fuel projects, as they often involve traditional lands.

The principle is … that we want the voice, when it’s established, to be able to advise government on matters that are important to Indigenous people.

Now, I saw the opposition yesterday trying to cause trouble, say [the voice would be able to] advise the Reserve Bank on interest rates, and you’re going to see more of this and the prime minister is rightly keeping the focus on where it should be, not on these attempts at distraction by the Liberals or anyone else to say, ‘Oh, look, this voice is more complicated’. I mean … what a cheap and pathetic attempt by the Liberals to try and derail the voice by saying it’s going to give advice on all these things.

It’s a very simple principle here – if it’s a policy decision which is directly relevant to our First Nations people … the voice will be able to interact with government on matters that they regard as important to Indigenous people.

And of course, as we’ve said many many times, the government then will … take into account that and any other representations we receive from others.

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

Indigenous children three times as likely to experience internet hate speech than national average

The federal minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, says “more work is needed” to address online harm in the leadup to the Voice referendum.

The eSafety Commissioner today released a report on the online experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It says that Indigenous children are much more likely to use the internet to make friends, connect with people from different backgrounds, play games and post their own music or video content than national averages. Indigenous children are also far more likely to engage in online civic engagement – such as discussing social and political problems – and reading news than other children their age.

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But the report also warned of negative experiences above the national average. Some 68% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children said they had been treated in a hurtful or nasty way, with 29% having had offensive things said to them, while 76% had been exposed to potentially harmful online material like violent images or sexual content.

The results came from a large online survey of parents and kids.

Burney said technology was a great tool being used to build connections and boost civic engagement among Aboriginal children, but that the government was looking to better help kids.

“Today’s research from the eSafety Commissioner is a reminder it also carries risks, with young Indigenous Australians more likely to be exposed to harmful content or hate speech attacks,” she said.

“As with so many other areas where disadvantage undermines health and wellbeing, more work is needed to ensure equal protections and access to the good things the internet can provide. This is especially so as we begin the referendum process to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice in the Australian Constitution.”

eSafety has also launched new resources in First Nations languages to better support kids online at its website.

The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, said “there is no place in Australia for hate.”

“eSafety can help when things go wrong online, and support victims of online abuse. I look forward to seeing how eSafety’s latest resources support First Nations people to stay safe online,” she said.

Moira Deeming suspension ‘not off to a good start’: Pesutto

Back in Victoria and last night the Liberal leader, John Pesutto, spoke to ABC 7.30 about the Moira Deeming suspension, while at the same time Deeming tweeted that she “never condemned” people Pesutto had told the media she had condemned.

Don’t worry, I never condemned you, or KD or KJ.

— Moira Deeming MP (@MoiraDeemingMP) March 27, 2023

It seems a little bit of a mess. Pesutto has responded that the suspension is “not off to a good start” so expect to see more fallout from that today.

John Pesutto tells ABC 7:30 ‘there will be consequences’ for Moira Deeming – if what she told the party room today is different to her true intentions.

Comments come following these tweets from Deeming this evening. Mr Pesutto says the party will now have to review the tweets. pic.twitter.com/7IctStFxjM

— Sharnelle Vella (@SharnelleVella) March 27, 2023

ACT bill to force government bidders to check slavery risks

Daniel Hurst

Daniel Hurst

Anyone bidding for government contracts worth more than $25,000 must show they are tackling modern slavery risks under new legislation to be introduced to the Australian Capital Territory’s parliament.

The would also require the ACT’s own government entities to consider and reduce the risk of modern slavery in their own supply chains.

Following legislation already in force in New South Wales, the ACT legislation would also create a new anti-slavery commissioner to provide advice and education about how to combat modern slavery.

Labor and the Greens – which together hold a majority in the ACT legislative assembly – agreed as part of their governing agreement to ensure territory legislation “can identify and effectively respond to modern day slavery”.

Jo Clay, the Greens member who proposed the bill, said the modern slavery category could include forced labour, forced marriage, sexual exploitation or human trafficking.

Clay said states and territories had “an essential role to play in addressing this issue both in their own borders and outside of them” because they had significant responsibility for service delivery. Clay said:

The ACT government need to lead by example in scrutinising their supply chains for modern slavery risk. We also need to ensure that our response is holistic and that we are looking at the local context.

I believe it is important that we take responsibility for what we buy and procure. Currently the commonwealth system only requires large companies with turnover of over $100m to consider these risks. Our changes will ensure that ACT government procurements above $25,000 consider the risk of modern slavery.

The move comes at a time when the federal government is reviewing national anti-slavery laws, with the option of tightening the reporting threshold and introducing penalties for breaches.

Good morning

Amy Remeikis

Amy Remeikis

Welcome to day six of the last parliament sitting before the budget is handed down.

Having secured much-needed support on the safeguard mechanism, Labor is turning its attention to its housing future fund. It needs the Greens and two crossbench MPs on that one – Lidia Thorpe has committed to voting with the Greens on climate issues, but makes her own decision on others – and so far, a compromise has not been reached.

The main issue is that no one seems to think 30,000 homes over five years is particularly impressive, or believes that the fund will work. Labor hasn’t been prepared to budge or go further, so the bill is languishing. Still, there’s three days of hardcore negotiating to go, so who knows what will happen.

The count continues in NSW, with Labor waiting to see if it will form majority government. Pre-poll and postal votes matter in quite a few seats, so it’s not a done deal just yet. Our NSW team will keep you updated on the count as it comes through, as well as any decisions on who will lead the NSW opposition.

Our Victoria and Queensland teams will also drop in anything you need to know about what’s going on there as well – other than Queensland being the greatest nation on earth, of course.

Back federally and we’ll see if Peter Dutton pops his head up today. He was unusually quiet yesterday, not holding a press conference even when the Greens struck a deal on the safeguard mechanism – he left that to Ted O’Brien, which is not a sentence you read often (for good reason, usually). And he didn’t ask any questions during QT.

Labor thinks it’s because of this Saturday’s Aston byelection – Dutton isn’t exactly popular in Victoria, so the government think he’s keeping a low profile. Dutton barely campaigned in NSW, but a loss in Aston would be both historic (governments don’t win byelections from opposition, as a general rule) and also throw his leadership into turmoil.

So far, any grumbles from the Liberal party room have been fairly muted. But at the same time, the “there’s no one else” reasoning is getting a little harsher. It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a great vibe in the joint party room meeting today, put it that way.

We’ll keep you across all the vibes and all the information as it comes to hand. It’s at least a three coffee morning.

Ready?




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