5&5: Pop Quiz

We’re back for week two of the sitting fortnight, a lot happened.


Here's the 5&5.

 

BEST

  1. Parliament passes bill to strengthen super

  2. Parliamentary pop quiz

  3. Strength in our diversity

  4. Australia is standing with the people of Iran

  5. We’re a good country

WORST

  1. Vote Liberal and panic buy

  2. “Buggered”

  3. ‘Consistent’ leadership

  4. A bunch of Agrarian socialists

  5. The ‘bloke up there’

1. Labor built the superannuation system and will always protect it. This week, Parliament passed reforms to strengthen the system and give more super for 1.3 million Australians. There’s been a lot of work done on this by Jim Chalmers, Katy Gallagher and Daniel Mulino.

2. On Wednesday the Parliament briefly became a classroom when Sally Sitou gave the House a pop quiz on public education. If you didn’t study for the test, I can assure you the answers were easy. Question one: who is delivering full and fair funding for every public school? Answer: The Albanese Labor Government. Question two: who underfunded schools for a decade? The Coalition. Watch it here.

3. In Parliament and across Australia, our diversity is our strength. In commemoration of Harmony Day next week, Anne Aly gave a powerful statement to the house and shared her own migrant journey. Anne left us all with this important reminder: We will celebrate our diversity. But we will also defend it. We will honour difference. But we will reject division. We will back belonging with action. And we will continue the work of building an Australia where every person, from every background, can live with dignity, safety and respect. That is the kind of country Australians deserve. And that is the kind of country this Albanese Government is determined to continue to build.

4. My colleagues Jerome Laxale and Gabriel Ng gave some really important speeches in solidarity with the Iranian people. They are definitely worth the watch.

5. I don’t usually include my own portfolio however, this week I was proud to be able to tell members of the Iranian women's football team that they are welcome to stay in Australia, that they are safe here and they should feel at home here. Australia has welcomed these women in our hearts. I shared with the House just how sensitive this operation was and why moments like this make you remember why we’re a good country. 

1. Australia’s energy reserves are well-stocked despite the situation in the Middle East and there is no need to rush to the petrol pump. As Chris Bowen said this week, it’s simply irresponsible for those in high office to cause panic and make it harder for everyone: “It's incumbent on all honourable Members across the board to send that responsible message. I have seen that the South Australian Liberal Leader, whose name is Ashton Hurn, has been heard saying, 'If I could give you two bits of advice, number one would be "vote Liberal" and number two would be "fill up your tank sooner rather than later."' I think both of those bits of advice are bad, but the second one is dangerous and irresponsible.”

2. David Littleproud resigned as the Leader of the National Party this week, when asked about his sudden leave from the hot seat, he matter-of-factly said: “I’m buggered.” Kristy McBain didn’t miss the opportunity to tell the house: “Buggered is exactly what those opposite did when they stuffed the NBN, inland rail, the infrastructure investment pipeline, regional grants, the North Sydney "regional" pool—the list goes on. Unlike those opposite, we are energised, and we are excited to be delivering for regional Australia.”


3.Speaking of leadership, Angus Taylor has barely been in his new role for more than a week and there’s already rumours of the Coalition passing the torch. At some point it’s all a bit mad. Meryl Swanson asked the PM what we’ve all been wondering about the need for consistent leadership. The Prime Minister’s answer was great: “For those opposite, there'll be a different frontbench when we get back here tomorrow, maybe—who knows! Maybe by the time we come back in a week's time it'll be different again. But one thing will remain the same: same old Liberals, same old Nats, same old One Nation, just three right-wing parties not standing up for Australia.”

4. One of the best lines of the week came from Madeleine King in Question Time on Wednesday. Scanning across to the National’s side of the Chamber and spotting three former Nationals leaders sitting on the benches, Madeline asked the House: “Have you ever seen such entitlement from a bunch of agrarian socialists?”


5. The only constant in life is change - especially when it comes to the opposition's leadership. With Senator Canavan becoming Nationals Leader, we now have a Nationals Leader in the Senate and a Nationals Leader of the Senate and they’re not the same person. Confused? So am I. Despite that the PM made it clear no matter who leads the Nationals, they move further from the centre while chasing ‘the bloke up there’ Barnaby Joyce].

We’ll be back in a week's time for another sitting fortnight.

‘til then,

Tony


PS. The song of the week is one the Coalition won’t like for two reasons. One, it’s called ‘Don’t Panic’ and two, it's by a great Australian band Powderfinger.

Tony Burke