The Abbott government is facing widespread condemnation for siphoning funds from the Royal Commission into institutional sexual abuse while its budget continues to divide as the parliamentary week draws on. Follow the news from Canberra live...
3.58pm AEST
Talk to the back of my hand.
3.56pm AEST
Talk to both hands.
3.52pm AEST
3.45pm AEST
Barnaby Joyce is asked about budget cuts to the ABC which may affect regional Australia and whether he is worried about Peppa Pig's future.
Sometimes I know I have lived a sheltered life. I...don't...quite understand Peppa Pig. What is that? Last time I had Peppa Pig it was number 23 at my local Thai restaurant.
(The ABC) provides a vital start to the day and I hope our capacity to provide a local regional service remains in place and I am sure it will . Sometimes these things are hoist up the flag pole and I don't really believe they have a strong intent to start cutting regional news services as one of the biggest rating items in regional Australia. Why would you cut ...one of the highest rating programs?
3.37pm AEST
3.31pm AEST
Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce has approved health protocols to open live trade of sheep to Iran and Iran has also signed off on the deal.
Australian importers want to get their hands on Australian stock.
3.20pm AEST
Ellis says the changes to government's higher education changes - deregulation of fees and increased proportion of fees to be repaid - will mean students are judged:
not on the number of brain cells but the weight of their wallet.
3.18pm AEST
Shorten makes a personal explanation regarding Abbott's claims that as education minister he presided over cuts to science.
Shorten says the science budget under Labor increased from $675m to $775m in science - a 12% increase.
3.15pm AEST
Industry minister Ian Macfarlane is asked about training support loans.
He says apprentices will be able to get interest free loans of $20,000 over four years to be repaid once they earn over $51,000.
We're not whinging willies on this side.
3.12pm AEST
A question on small business for Bruce Billson and then a final question on job skill programs to Abbott.
We have not run away from the difficult decisions as the members opposite did for six years...We have said to the young people of Australia, don't waste your life.
3.08pm AEST
Labor asks Abbott about the $1bn cut by ending the tools for trade program.
We have replaced one program with a better one, says Abbott.
3.03pm AEST
Plibersek interjects and says you should talk about the kids who won't get vaccines because of your aid cuts.
Bishop is quoting former foreign minister Bob Carr. We are just trying to track down the article.
3.01pm AEST
Julie Bishop is asked about responsible foreign aid budget.
Foreign aid is being focussed on the region, says Bishop, increasing humanitarian and emergency programs.
This is the emergency fund that was raided by Labor to plug the whole in asylum program.
2.59pm AEST
At least those students will be going into it with eyes open. What about the debt that Labor saddled every Australian with?
Abbott says Shorten is crying crocodile tears.
2.57pm AEST
We believe prospective students are more than capable of making decisions on the basis that is best for them, Abbott says.
There is no dollar that won't be covered by fee-help loans. The loans system is being extended to other institutions that deliver diplomas.
2.55pm AEST
Assistant employment minister Luke Hartsuyker is asked to outline the work for the dole program.
Bill Shorten to Abbott: Will you guarantee that young Australians won't be forced to choose between university and owning their own home "as a result of his lies"?
2.51pm AEST
Plibersek asks Abbott whether higher education changes will hit women harder because they take time out of careers to have children. This is as a result of the debt continuing to tick over.
Abbott quotes Labor's assistant shadow treasurer Andrew Leigh who in his book said market based fees will help to make universities more responsive to students.
I can understand why no one wants to sit next to him. He has a communicable disease. It's common sense.
2.47pm AEST
Health minister Peter Dutton says he will make sure the Medicare co-payment will hit those who can pay.
Dutton says modern Labor is not a patch on former Labor greats like Bob Hawke, Brian Howe and ... wait for it:
I don't think I am interested in hearing about sexist remarks, Speaker Bishop says.
2.43pm AEST
It's the Malcolm show, telling the parliament he has taken down Stephen Conroy's maps which show how the NBN is rolling out with "green blotches". It was a fiction, he says.
Education shadow Kate Ellis asks about the rise of a cost of a nursing degree. Abbott says institutions are not "stupid".
We will give them the freedom to be as good as they can be, says the prime minister.
2.35pm AEST
Shorten to Abbott: Cost of a science degree will go from $34,000 to an estimated $100,000. Will he guarantee students won't have a $100,000.
I don't accept the Education Union analysis as gospel. I am not going to give a guarantee that the leader of the opposition wants but I can guarantee that no sensible education institution will price itself out of the market.
2.32pm AEST
Education minister Christopher Pyne is lauding The Guardian website!!
Abbott is asked by Labor about Dennis Jensen's comments on cuts to the science budget. He says Labor had been responsible for cuts to science.
People can see jelly in the back of a government when they see it.
2.27pm AEST
Liberal MP Andrew Nikolic asks the speaker if it is appropriate for Bill Shorten's advisor to be "gesticulating wildly" and taking part in chamber debate. Speaker Bishop asks staffers to desist and Labor's Rob Mitchell says Nikolic should not inflame the situation.
Withdraw or shut up, says Speaker Bishop.
2.18pm AEST
Social services minister Kevin Andrews is up again today on scare-mongering on aged pensions.
Pensions will continue to go up. They went up in March, they will go up in September. The pension supplement will continue to be paid.
2.14pm AEST
"Winston" Hockey says $700m a month is being sent to people overseas to pay interest on the debt Labor left behind. He calls the opposition "hypocrites".
The Speaker - unprompted - asks Hockey to withdraw the word "hypocrite" as it is unparliamentary, which he does.
Assuming I am in my current job - and I make no assumptions about my political longevity - I will be in the top tax bracket.
2.07pm AEST
Second (government) question on Labor's debt.
Shorten to Abbott: Australians have rejected the divisive changes on the Racial Discrimination Act. Will the prime minister listen to the Australian people?
Racism has no place in our society and neither do unreasonable restrictions on free speech. We are considering the submissions we have received and will respond.
2.03pm AEST
Question time folks.
Shorten to Abbott: why is there $14m being cut from the royal commission on child sexual abuse?
It will be the best-funded royal commission and it should be.
1.52pm AEST
You remember yesterday the prime minister told Labor to stop having "the vapours" about the possibility of a taxpayer-funded information campaign on the budget as there was no such thing.
Here is deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek getting ready for question time.
Just preparing for #qt by loosening my corset. I wouldn't want to get another attack of the #vapours.
1.27pm AEST
Before we head to question time, here is the story so far:
1.03pm AEST
Senator Macdonald:
Is there a means test on ministers, such as multi-millionaires, for legal assistance?
12.59pm AEST
Labor Senator Kim Carr asks for royal Commission numbers.
Institutional responses to child sexual abuse: 186.
12.51pm AEST
It's all happening here. Bridie Jabour reports from the ABC senate hearing.
Mark Scott has confirmed there will be redundancies in ABC newsrooms, both locally and abroad, as a result of the axing of the Australia Network.
12.46pm AEST
Secretary of the attorney general's department Roger Wilkins is trying to clarify the funding diversion from the royal commission into child sexual abuse.
The amount allocated for the child sexual abuse inquiry was $82.7m this year, of which $57.5m spent has been spent.
This didn't impact on other witnesses, says Wilkins.
12.33pm AEST
George Brandis, who seems to be starring today, is answering senate estimates on the Asio raids he approved on the offices of Bernard Collaery, an Australian lawyer working for Timor-Leste in the case regarding allegations of Australia spying on their neighbour.
Kim Carr:
How do you respond to the charge that your actions have not only damaged our relationship with East Timor but have also seriously embarrassed Australia internationally?
My response to that is that it's arrant nonsense. For an attorney general to appropriately exercise powers invested in him under the Asio Act on the application of Asio, on a clear case to protect Australia's national interest is not only what the attorney-general should do but what any competent attorney general would do.
12.08pm AEST
The temporary deficit levy has passed the lower house. Cathy McGowan's amendment to extend the levy was supported only by the seconder Andrew Wilkie, Greens MP Adam Bandt and Bob Katter. Labor did not support it.
12.02pm AEST
11.48am AEST
ABC head Mark Scott is before the senate estimates committee at the mo. The first question is on the ABC's apology to Australian columnist Chris Kenny. Why did it take so long? Because of the timeline of the internal review, says Scott.
Senator John Williams is asking about the Labor in Power series coming up. Mark Scott jokes that the next series on the National Party.
Now that is one that will be worth watching.
11.17am AEST
Back to Indi independent Cathy McGowan who appears to be making her mark on this parliament, even without a minority government.
She has put forward an amendment to extend the temporary deficit levy on people with incomes over $180,000 for another four years - taking it up to 2020-21. Denison independent Andrew Wilkie has seconded the amendment. McGowan is doing it because after talking to hundreds of her constituents, she says the budget burden falls too heavily on low and middle income earners.
From 2017, average Australians will be doing more to repair the budget deficit than high income earners. If the Government truly believes, as many of my constituents do, that government debt and deficit in Australia is so serious they should support this amendment to spread the debt and deficit burden more fairly amongst all Australians.
10.57am AEST
There is a rally going on right now outside parliament house against Australia signing up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. This is a free trade agreement between 12 Pacific nations include the US. There are several concerns voiced by opponents, including whether it will include the right of global companies to sue the Australian government over laws that harm their businesses. Several people are speaking to the crowd, including Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson and ANU academic Matthew Rimmer. A petition has been signed by 200,000 people.
10.43am AEST
Indi independent Cathy McGowan has made a formal apology to the stolen generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who live, or have lived in her electorate. Former Liberal Indi member Sophie Mirabella boycotted the apology. This is how McGowan explained it:
During the campaign I made a commitment to come to this place, the Parliament of all Australians and make a formal apology on behalf of the people of Indi, as sadly the people of Indi were not represented in this parliament in 2008 when former Prime Minister Rudd made the national apology.
I apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. I apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, I am sorry. To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, I am sorry. And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, I am sorry.
10.29am AEST
Now onto senate budget negotiations and my earlier post about senator John Madigan. The ABC's Alexandra Kirk interviewed crossbencher Democratic Labour Party senator John Madigan this morn and here is the key quote.
I won't be bludgeoned into a position by anybody. And when people say, 'Oh, you know, we're going to end up in a double dissolution', well, bludgeoning people doesn't make for good decision making. I think it's a good way to get people offside.
The Government is entitled to put forward their Budget, but the Senate is entitled to do its job. And its job is, is a check and balance. It is there as a house of review. And it is not for the Government to bludgeon the Senate.
10.13am AEST
On Tuesday, we had the Battle of the Bowens. Today we have Battle of the Tonys.
We know Tony Windsor has not been a fan of Tony Abbott, having passed over him to support Julia Gillard. Windsor was never most animated than when he got up in parliament to describe their private negotiations for the minority parliament. This included that famous Abbott comment, I would do anything other than sell my arse...
One issue that over 90 percent of Australians agreed on was JG s decision re Royal Com into child abuse -the grave robbers have arrived
George Pell is a disgrace to Christian faith . I am beyond trying to understand TA s faith but it's certainly not about protecting children
9.59am AEST
The assistant employment minister Luke Hartsuyker announced the areas where Work for the Dole will be rolled out. From his announcement:
From 1 July 2014, job seekers aged 18 to 30 years in the targetted areas who have been unemployed for 12 months or more and receiving Newstart and/or Youth Allowance (other) will be required to do Work for the Dole for about 15 hours per week for six months.
The Australian Government believes that all Australians who are capable of working should be working ideally for a wage but, if not, for the dole, Hartsuyker said.
9.45am AEST
Arts minister George Brandis is being grilled by the senate legal and constitutional affairs estimates committee about $30m worth of cuts over four years to the Australia Council.
He said in finding his savings, he had a few priorities, the foundational one being that audiences were rarely prioritised in past arts policy.
conservative or even Liberal democratic.
9.25am AEST
Now to Liberal MP Dennis Jensen who has given a speech overnight about the science cuts. Jensen is a former research scientist and he has nailed what I think is the most confusing message of this budget. We have been told constantly that painful budget cuts are required to fix the budget deficit, cuts that we know from NATSEM modelling that hit the poor harder than the rich and cuts that dig into other science researchers. But then much of the money goes to a $20bn medical research fund rather than fixing the budget.
As Jensen said:
How is this coherent policy when we have significant cuts to CSIRO, DSTO, ANSTO, the Australian Research Council and the Australian Institute of Marine Science? One of the advisers even suggested that a physicist working at CSIRO who lost their job could get one in medical research. I know that some people think that "physicists" and "physicians" sound similar, but...
9.05am AEST
Good morning children,
Now that the adults are in charge, let's survey the political landscape on this fine Canberra morning.
The revelation corrects a statement by Senator Brandis to a Senate committee in February, when he was asked if there had been any offsets from other inquiries to fund the home insulation scheme royal commission and replied: ''No.''
Senator Brandis took the question on notice after saying it was his understanding that ''no money has been taken away from anywhere else''.
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