12 August | Federal Sitting Period Review
Federal Parliament has just concluded its first sitting fortnight since the winter break. While this turned out to be a relatively quiet parliamentary session in terms of legislation, plenty happened during the break – namely the release of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme report, a win for the Coalition in the Fadden by-election and the publication of the official pamphlets from the Yes and No campaigns on the Voice to Parliament referendum.
Read below PremierNational's insights into these issues and more in our wrap-up of Parliament this fortnight.
Labor pre-empted the latest sitting fortnight by announcing its intention to reintroduce the Housing Australia Future Fund, despite lacking the necessary Senate votes to pass its legislation. Though the bill is not likely to be reintroduced until mid-October, Labor will subsequently gain the trigger for a double-dissolution election if the Coalition and the Greens continue to oppose the Bill.
“The way in which you rule out having a double-dissolution election is to not have triggers. That’s the way that you rule it out. I want this legislation to be passed. I can’t be more serious.”
Anthony Albanese, 28 July 2023
The Greens have indicated a willingness to hear Labor's proposals for any additional funding arrangements, particularly relating to rental assistance, and any funding above the $500 million annual investment already earmarked in the HAFF. The Greens are continuing to argue that the government should co-ordinate the states and territories in capping rent increases nationally.
Meanwhile, with National Cabinet fast approaching this week, the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers will look to strike a deal on renters' rights, despite the federal government's reticence to put a national freeze on rent.
With the Garma Festival taking place in the Northern Territory last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese headed to Arnhem Land where he renewed Labor's case for the much-anticipated referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. During his visit, Albanese stressed his belief that establishing the Voice would help to improve outcomes for life expectancy, health and other key indicators for First Nations people.
Meanwhile, the opening week of Parliament saw especially intense debate over the Voice during which Opposition Leader Peter Dutton persisted in questioning the Prime Minister over both the proposed Voice and a future treaty. On Thursday, 3 August, the Coalition again heavily scrutinised the government's commitment to the Uluru Statement from the Heart and treaty. Albanese insisted that a treaty would not be explored before the next election at least, and that matters relating to treaty are currently the responsibility of the states.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil announced a review into procurement contracts issued by the Department of Home Affairs related to offshore asylum seeker processing. This comes after revelations that contracts were granted to a company linked to the subject of a bribery investigation.
The Australian Federal Police said they had verbally briefed Peter Dutton in July 2018 that Mozammil Gulamabbas Bhojani and Radiance International were being investigated for foreign bribery. However, Radiance still won contracts from the Department of Home Affairs for accommodation in Nauru in August 2018.
Dutton has since said it was “complete nonsense” to suggest he had any role in the contracts, arguing he is caught in the “crossfire” between the Home Affairs Minister and her departmental secretary, Michael Pezzullo, in their disagreement on procurement for offshore detention.
Dutton argues he has no memory of the AFP briefing and regards the matter as a “complete stunt”, with Albanese saying in Parliament that the Government had acted "quickly and decisively" by ordering the review.
Climate change has remained on the agenda, with Independent Senator David Pocock introducing legislation to require government ministers to consider the relationships of coal, gas, and other major projects towards climate impacts on young people and future generations.
July was the world’s hottest month on record, setting the stage for Pocock’s first private member’s bill that calls for new conditions to be enshrined in Australia’s Climate Change Act.
The proposal would force the federal government to consider the sustainability of their policies when making decisions that facilitate or fund development of projects that increase greenhouse gas emissions.
