5&5: Shoot the ants

The House has been sitting now for six of the past nine weeks. For the record, I say that’s not enough — but I suspect that’s just me.


Here's the 5&5.

 

BEST

  1. Cost relief from the fuel crisis

  2. New fuel purchasing powers

  3. Securing Australia's future fuel supply and critical minerals strategic reserve

  4. A huge win for young workers

  5. A rare alignment of holy days

WORST

  1. Wasting no time to waste our time

  2. Everything everywhere all at once

  3. Taking it personally

  4. Is that really your priority?

  5. A rip off

1. The Albanese Labor Government is acting fast to help bring down fuel prices. We have halved the fuel excise for the next 3 months, which took effect this Wednesday. We’re also cutting the heavy-vehicle road user charge to zero for the same amount of time, helping truck drivers and crucial workers do their jobs under the best circumstances possible during this global crisis. Watch the Prime Minister deliver the good news here.

2. This week we changed the law to make sure it’s easier for the Government to bring fuel to Australia. These important changes help secure  Australia’s energy supply chain now and into the future. Chris Bowen summed it best on Tuesday: “This gives Export Finance Australia the capacity to finance and work to ensure that those spot cargoes, which are available but are very expensive and very risky, come to Australia for Australian use.”

3. Because of this same bill, critical minerals are back in the spotlight this week — with the House passing the Albanese Government’s plan for a $1.2 billion Strategic Reserve. As Madeline King told the chamber on Tuesday: “ Just yesterday our $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve passed this House of Representatives, and we will begin delivery on that almost immediately, once it passes through the other place”...‘This government is delivering for the critical minerals industry and for resources sector workers right across the country. Because we understand the resources sector, we back it in every single time’

4. On Tuesday the Fair Work Commission announced a landmark decision to abolish junior rates for 18–20-year-olds which will deliver a pay rise for thousands of young workers  in retail, fast food and pharmacy sectors. Matt Gregg asked Amanda Rishworth about this decision in QT on Tuesday and she explained it best in QT on Tuesday: ‘Young adults face unique challenges in getting a start in life, keeping up with the cost of living and building economic security. I would like to recognise the SDA union in particular for pursuing this issue in the commission and their advocacy for young workers. While those on the other side might dismiss young workers, it's only a Labor government that will stick up for workers.” Former Woolies check-out worker Cassandra Fernando also had a brilliant speech on why this matters for young people.

5. On Monday, Ash Ambihaipar moved a motion noting a rare occurrence that hasn't happened since the 19th Century. February and March has seen Ramadan, Lent and Lunar New Year aligning, alongside Holi and Passover. It was beautiful to also hear from Claire Clutterham, Alice Jordan Baird, Julie-Ann Campbell. in support of this motion - a reminder of what modern Australia is all about.

1. On Monday the Coalition wasted no time to waste everybody’s time. At 10:01am – one minute after the re-commencement of Parliament – Senator Michaelia Cash interrupted the business of the day in the Senate to claim that the Government wasn’t doing anything about the fuel crisis. Put another way, Senator Cash interrupted the passing of fuel relief bills to rant about not passing fuel relief bills. In a time of global crisis, and when Australians need measures passed quickly, this was plain disappointing.

2. Meanwhile in the House on Monday, Dan Tehan used a motion intended to bring on the fuel relief bills to lodge two complaints at once — that the Government rushed its reforms, and also wasn’t quick enough on fuel. Too early. Too late. It seems the Coalition are still workshopping what they actually think. Bizarre.


3. There’s a rule in Parliament where you can make an explanation if you think you’ve been personally misrepresented. Emphasis on personally. The Opposition have been making claims more and more often to correct what they think is a misrepresentation of party position – and that’s just not what the rule is for. After Question Time on Tuesday, Angus Taylor tried to bend that rule, but we were on to it. Watch the full exchange here.

4. With all the issues that have been going on in the nation and the world, Angus Taylor decided to ask whether there should be 150 people in the chamber or more. Extraordinary. The PM gave a great response on this: Let me make this as clear as I possibly can. I am more than satisfied with both the number of members of the House of Representatives and their composition.

Talk about mishearing the question — I thought Barnaby Joyce had asked me about firearms and stood up ready to go. I then discovered it was about fire ants. Luckily, one of my first briefings in 2007, as a brand new Minister for Agriculture, had been about the red imported fire ant. It was a radical pivot, but I got through. I will advise though: firearms are not an efficient way to eradicate fire ants.


One of the great things about Australia is that we can all respect and join in the celebration of each other’s traditions. So whether this weekend holds religious significance or whether it’s just a fantastic long weekend — enjoy it and keep safe.

Parliament returns for budget week on 12 May.

‘til then,

Tony


PS. For obvious reasons, the song of the week has to be Antmusic by Adam & The Ants.

Tony Burke