Hot topics and bun fights: bills headed for defeat in your Model Parliament? (Sat 1 Aug 2015)
SATURDAY 1 AUGUST 2015 | NATIONAL POLITICS | CITIZENS’ PRESS
July ended with lots of interesting topics to get involved with. Find out more below.
This week the House of Representatives passed three bills that had lapsed under the previous government. The High Court establishment bill got through uncontroversially (Judges apply now: see Jobs Board below) and the Marriage Equality bill passed despite opposition from the Australian Catholic Party. These bills are now languishing before the Senate but should emerge next week. The Electoral Streamlining bill was the only one to pass both houses, and only at the last minute. All three will become Acts of law once royal assent is recommended and granted. The Opposition made a mid‑week splash by tabling its Renewable Energy Target (see below).
BILL WATCH
A Bill Watch chart has been added to the sidebar. It shows how many relative days each house is taking to pass legislation.
More drafts have been foreshadowed by the government and opposition, but some ministers are yet to announce their first bill policies.
ECONOMICS: UP IN THE AIR
A interesting and tactical start to the week in the Senate. The government’s opening speech was endorsed without any comments or alternatives from the Opposition. But then the government helped change Senate rules so that the opposition could use its numbers to have government criticisms handled as matters of urgency and public importance in parliament. After this passed, an opposition attack on the government was put forward for parliament...but was never presented in the chamber. Instead, the Labor Herald magazine published an opinion piece, taking the Greens to task with accusations of sidelining the economy. The Treasurer, the Honourable u/agsports MP, flagged that the Greens party room is considering a budget response but did not elaborate publicly. Voters see this as a traditional weakness for the Greens and it has been reinforced by the week’s events. The government and opposition are expected to continue their responses in the House of Representatives next week.
More: Opinion: Opposition condemns Green Government's sidelining of economics
MARRIAGE EQUALITY: FACING CHALLENGES
A public forum about ending marriage discrimination was held by independent NSW Senator u/surreptitiouswalk (see also previous consultation). The law passed the House of Representatives last Monday with dissent from Tasmanian MP u/voisinat, leader of the Australian Catholic Party. It’s now struggling on its first journey through the Senate with little or no debate supporting it, and merely scraping by its first stage of voting. It’s now stalled, but will be back on the agenda next week and amendments could be announced. The model US Congress is currently debating a similar proposal.
More: [Public Forum] Surreptitiouswalk - on marriage equality
RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET: MULTIPLE PROPOSALS
The Opposition Coalition (Labor and Progressives) held a public forum and introduced legislation into the Senate to boost the “yearly target for the RET, culminating in a 150 TWh (150,000 GWh) target in 2035. This will be about 50% of expected energy needs in that year”. In response, a Government member linked to a Clean Energy Roadmap and hinted its own RET Amendment is in the works, but failed to provide any timeframe for it. Next week could reveal whether the parliament will vote for immediate action, or amend the proposal, or block it and wait for an energy boost from the government.
More: Press Release: Introduction of the Renewable Energy Target Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: NO AGREEMENT
The government began consultation on a referendum to amend Australia’s Constitution to deal with its racial discrimination clauses. This has proved controversial, with a range of options being presented and strident differences arising in the debate. Opinions are as diverse as vetoing indigenous recognition and native title, through to seeding a national bill of rights. Check out the options or make your own: speak now to shape the proposals.
More: Recognition of indigenous Australians / constitutional reform on racial discrimination
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Yesterday, the Honourable u/MadCreek3 MP (Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade & Defence) announced our first diplomatic appointment. His Excellency u/H_R_Pufnstuf is now High Commissioner to the Republic of Singapore, a fellow member of the Commonwealth of Nations: press conference. The model world is gradually expanding with the Asia-Pacific governments of Singapore and New Zealand getting rolling (IRL heads of mission). Fellow APEC members Canada and the United States of America are already in full swing.
The issue of our relationship with Indonesia, Nauru and asylum seeker boat turnbacks remains unresolved as these governments are uncontactable.
More: [Press Conference] Promotion of Australia Abroad in Singapore
NATIONAL INTEGRITY COMMISSION
Fighting corruption in parliament and government departments. This one’s been flying under the radar, with some activity in the Senate but no public announcements from the government. Read Senator the Honourable u/Team_Sprocket’s parliamentary speech online. The new Speaker of the House, Western Australian MP u/3fun, revealed his statement of integrity in a public forum. The Senate waived its opportunity to pass the NIC bill to the House this week, instead letting the matter linger quietly. It is expected to go to committee next week and could see amendments made.
More: The Australian Progressives have just reintroduced the National Integrity Commission Bill 2013
WAR ON TERROR: IRAQ AND SYRIA
The first public forum since the election of Socialist Alternative was held this week. The discussion turned immediately to middle-east conflicts. But neither the government nor opposition participated in the issue. The Minister for Defence has not commented yet. He could face scrutiny in question time next week. Check out the chat between other MPs and add your own comments on any topic in the public forum.
More: [Public Forum] Lurker281, Member for Melbourne Surrounds. July 28, 2015
PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
Progress setting up the 2nd parliament is nearly complete, but lower house committees are yet to be appointed. The government has not made any announcements despite repeated requests for action. The Prime Minister could face scrutiny in question time next week.
REDDIPOLL
ReddiPoll is on Sunday tomorrow, please vote and remind yourself each week. Please encourage your party too...some MPs/Senators aren’t even voting for themselves yet!
You’ll get to vote on whether you support the government or not, and it will be the first public survey of new laws.
REDUX: BILLS, AUSTRALIAN MEDIA LANDSCAPE, JOBS: APPLY NOW
Check our previous edition for items outstanding, including the ABC and Model Parliament Press:
Your Model Parliament: Government and opposition agree to SPEND, SPEND, SPEND (Thu 23 July 2015)
Posted Jul 31, 2015, 11:51 PM UTC