5&5: Back to 2004
We’re back for another busy week of Parliament.
Here’s the 5&5.
BEST
Diversity is our greatest strength
Robodebt class action outcome
You care, Labor cares, Medicare
Improving the health of regional Australians
A multicultural Australia
WORST
To not build a home
Gotcha not
If you’re going to chirp, chirp up
Sink or swim
Smoking jackets and slippers
1. After the ugly rallies over the weekend, Member for Swan, Zaneta Mascarenhas reminded the House that diversity is our greatest strength. “I was born and bred in the Goldfields, and people may be surprised to find out how multicultural Kambalda was. We attracted skills not just from across Australia but from across the globe, and the truth is that, out there, people didn't care about the colour of your skin…This multiculturalism is something that I see in Swan. We have Vietnamese bakeries in Bentley; Indian, Turkish, Lebanese and Somali businesses in Cannington; and Italian, Japanese, Bhutanese, Malaysian, Chinese and Nepalese restaurants in Victoria Park. We are the self-proclaimed restaurant capital of Western Australia. We have Christian, Catholic and Islamic colleges achieving excellence alongside each other.”
2. On Thursday Michelle Rowland informed the House that the Albanese Government reached an historic settlement, resulting in $475 million in compensation for the victims of Robodebt. This is the largest class action settlement in Australian history. Michelle went on to say “Today's settlement demonstrates this government's commitment to addressing the harms caused to so many Australians by the former Liberal government through their disastrous and illegal Robodebt scheme. When the unfairness, the illegality and the cruelty of Robodebt became apparent, the approach of those opposite was to double down, to go on the attack against those who complained and to maintain the falsehood that in fact the system had not changed at all. But, when this government came to office, we established a royal commission which heard tragic stories of people being hounded by their own government to repay debts they did not even owe.”
3. A a paediatrician, a former NBL player and a proud Victorian MP walk into the Chamber…It may sound like the start of a bad joke but on Tuesday, Member for Macarthur Dr Mike Freelander, Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith and Member for Macnamara, Josh Burns all explained how important Medicare is to them and their communities. They are absolutely worth a watch.
4. Any music reference automatically gets you into the 5&5 email and on Tuesday Kristy McBain had a good one responding to a question from the new Member for Whitlam, Carol Berry about what we’re doing to improve the health of regional Australians. “We understand that regional development isn't just about investing in roads and bridges, although they are incredibly important; it's also about cheaper medicine, which, thanks to the Labor government, will come down to $25 on 1 January 2026. The last time they were this cheap was in 2004. In 2004, I was still at university and working in pharmacy. The No. 1 song on the Billboard charts was Usher's song 'Yeah!', and we'll take that as an agreement of this policy, and the word of the year was 'blog'. This year's word of the year is 'delulu', and those opposite are still delulu. This is a huge deal for people in regional Australia, because it will help improve lives.”
5. On Thursday, Anne Aly answered a question from Chief Government Whip, Joanne Ryan on why multicultural Australia and social cohesion is so important. “When the immigration of Lebanese Australians was described as a mistake, that was wrong. When the African Australian community were unfairly stereotyped, that was wrong. When the Chinese Australian community were accused of being spies, that was wrong. And the scapegoating of Indian communities, designed to undermine their sense of safety and belonging, is wrong. Every member of this Labor government stands by the communities that they represent, and we will always call out attempts to divide us because it is by calling them out that we will strengthen our social cohesion.”
1. On Wednesday Clare O'Neil reminded the House that during the almost decade that the Liberals and Nationals were in government, they barely delivered any new homes for Australians. “Our government is delivering 55,000 social and affordable homes in five years. The coalition, in nine long years, delivered 373 homes for the country. What an absolute disgrace. We are getting it done. In the member for Hasluck's electorate, there are 537 new social and affordable homes; in the member for Fraser's electorate, 795 new homes; in Jagajaga, 711 new homes; and, in Adelaide, 680 new homes. Do you know how many new homes the coalition delivered in all these electorates together? Absolutely zero. It is no wonder we have so many housing challenges, and we are getting on with the job of addressing the housing concerns that Australians so clearly have.”
2. On Monday, the Manager of Opposition Business thought he had a ‘gotcha’ moment…he was very wrong. Chris Bowen was reminding the house of the time in 2021 when Keith Pitt had been elevated to cabinet under a deal between then Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce. Alex Hawke was quick on his feet to demand a point of order that Bowen refer to Keith with his ‘correct title’, Ambassador to the Holy See. The PM interjected, whilst looking across the aisle, “and he’s not the only one who’s approached us for a job” left many opposite looking sheepish.
3. On Wednesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was sharing with the house the news that our economy is gathering pace and momentum. There were multiple members of the opposition who were interjecting with their disagreement. Jim had the perfect response, “I can hear them chirping away. They should chirp up and say that, when we came to office, real wages were falling, living standards were falling, per person incomes were falling, inflation was rising and interest rates were already going up, and we have been turning all of that around.”
4. Chris Bowen drew attention to all the things that have been done by the Government to improve the cost of living in Fowler, and had in his hand an attempt by Dai Le to complain to the NSW Government, about charges at a local pool. Only problem was she’d forgotten that those charges were determined by Fairfield City Council, of which she continues to be Deputy Mayor. Take a look.
5. On Thursday, Richard Marles gave the House an update on the important uplift that the Albanese Labor Government has made to defence spending. Richard reminded the House as to why it was so desperately needed, “That stands in such stark contrast to the lost decade that we saw from those opposite. When the Liberals were sitting around in their smoking jackets and slippers— working out what they were going to put in their press releases and what songs were going to accompany their announcements, the fact of the matter is that Australian defence industry suffered. Well, all of that has now changed because this government is not about talking; it is about doing. And, in the process, we are building Australian jobs and we are keeping Australians safe.”
That’s all for this week. The House will be back in session at the start of October, while the Senate will be in Supplementary Budget Estimates.
‘til then,
Tony
PS. In honour of PBS medicines to soon be locked in at 2004 prices - here’s one for all the Coalition backbench members whispering under their breath every time their own Shadow Treasurer, Ted O’Brien takes to the microphone - from 2004 here’s The Black Eyed Peas with Shut Up.
