Labor senator dismisses Coalition housing policy as ‘road to nowhere’
Sarah Basford Canales
The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, appeared on ABC’s Insiders program earlier this morning where he dismissed the opposition’s new housing policy as “pretty much exactly the same” as Labor’s.
On Saturday, Peter Dutton announced a $5bn housing plan to kickstart greenfield housing developments across the country on a “use it or lose it” basis.
The funding, in the form of grants and concessional loans, will go to industry and local and state governments to enabling infrastructure like water, power, sewerage – a role usually left to state and territory governments.
Dutton also announced a 10-year freeze to building code changes, if elected. The opposition claims up to 500,000 houses could be built as a result of the plan.
Similarly, the Albanese government’s housing support program has offered $500m to state, territory and local governments until mid-2025 as part of its pledge to build 1.2m homes by the end of the decade.
Watt said on Sunday:
It’s pretty revealing that after all of this time, the only plan that Peter Dutton has put forward is pretty much exactly the same plan that we’ve had operating for months … what [Dutton]’s talking about is a road to nowhere. He’ll provide the infrastructure works – the same works that we are providing – but he won’t be providing the housing, which we’re providing, at the end of those roads.
Key events
Teal independent claims Liberal heartland seat of Pittwater in NSW byelection
A Climate 200-backed independent is on track to secure a comfortable victory in the latest contest between the Liberal party and teal candidates.
The Liberals were defending three heartland seats in northern Sydney byelections on Saturday, and were on track to easily hold two of those as votes were counted on Saturday night.
The independent Jacqui Scruby, a Climate 200-backed former adviser to federal MPs Zali Steggall and Sophie Scamps, opened up a large lead over Liberal opponent Georgia Ryburn in Pittwater.
Late in the evening the NSW electoral commission reported Scruby was ahead with 55% of the two-party preferred count.
While the rising cost of living played a role in the campaign, much of it whittled down to who was from the area known as the “insular peninsula”.
For more on this story, read the full report:
Investigators give all-clear after bomb threat on Wellington to Sydney flight
Australian federal police have given the all-clear after a bomb threat on board a plane stuck on the tarmac at Sydney airport.
A member of staff raised the alarm after a safety issue was detected on a plane carrying 150 passengers from Wellington at 5.40pm on Saturday.
An AFP spokesperson said the plane was “isolated” at the end of the tarmac while an investigation took place.
About 4.50pm yesterday, AFP members at Sydney Airport responded to reports of an incident on board a flight enroute to the airport.
Upon landing, the aircraft was isolated at the end of a runway away from the airport’s terminals.
A thorough search of the aircraft, as well as the luggage and all passengers on board, was undertaken and nothing suspicious was found.
Investigations are continuing. The AFP will provide updates at the appropriate time.
Sarah Basford Canales
Murray Watt repeats government’s stance ruling out changing tax concessions for investment properties
Murray Watt was also pressed on ABC’s Insiders this morning about the Albanese government’s appetite to change tax concessions for residential property investors.
The housing debate has revolved around whether changes to capital gains tax (CGT) discounts and negative gearing could help get more Australians into home ownership.
It was Labor’s policy between 2016 and 2021 to halve CGT discounts from 50% to 25% and to limit negative gearing to newly built homes only. It was dumped after former leader Bill Shorten took the proposal to two federal elections and lost.
The topic reared its head again this week after some federal Labor MPs suggested reducing CGT discounts could help win back voters after backlash against Anthony Albanese’s decision to buy a $4.3m waterfront home on the NSW Central Coast in the middle of a housing crisis.
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, appeared to definitively rule out negative gearing on Thursday but other frontbenchers have been more cautious on their phrasing.
Still, Watt wasn’t willing to budge on Sunday, despite repeated attempts by the show’s host, David Speers.
Watt said it was “not part of our plan”.
I haven’t received any [department] advice to my knowledge that [CGT or negative gearing changes] will make a substantial difference to housing supply.
Asked whether he personally supported keeping the generous tax concessions, Watt said:
I haven’t put that case within government … as the owner of one home that is heavily mortgaged to the bank, [benefiting from negative gearing and CGT concessions is] not something that I’m planning to do any time soon. And as I say, I haven’t put that view forward to my colleagues, and I’m not aware of my other colleagues having decided to do that either.
Labor senator dismisses Coalition housing policy as ‘road to nowhere’
Sarah Basford Canales
The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, appeared on ABC’s Insiders program earlier this morning where he dismissed the opposition’s new housing policy as “pretty much exactly the same” as Labor’s.
On Saturday, Peter Dutton announced a $5bn housing plan to kickstart greenfield housing developments across the country on a “use it or lose it” basis.
The funding, in the form of grants and concessional loans, will go to industry and local and state governments to enabling infrastructure like water, power, sewerage – a role usually left to state and territory governments.
Dutton also announced a 10-year freeze to building code changes, if elected. The opposition claims up to 500,000 houses could be built as a result of the plan.
Similarly, the Albanese government’s housing support program has offered $500m to state, territory and local governments until mid-2025 as part of its pledge to build 1.2m homes by the end of the decade.
Watt said on Sunday:
It’s pretty revealing that after all of this time, the only plan that Peter Dutton has put forward is pretty much exactly the same plan that we’ve had operating for months … what [Dutton]’s talking about is a road to nowhere. He’ll provide the infrastructure works – the same works that we are providing – but he won’t be providing the housing, which we’re providing, at the end of those roads.
How the king’s visit to NSW parliament unfolded
Several hundred people lined Macquarie Street to watch King Charles’s arrival at NSW state parliament. He stepped out of his black car wearing a beige suit and a pale pink pocket square, and was greeted at the entrance by the NSW governor, Margaret Beazley, and state parliament dignitaries.
He was visiting to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the NSW upper house.
First, he was led by the legislative council president, Ben Franklin, to a new painting in the parliament’s lobby by Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung artist Kim Healey, which was commissioned to mark the legislative council’s bicentenary. It features the Southern Cross, to guide both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It’s the first Indigenous artwork in parliament.
The king asked whether it was painted; Franklin answered in the affirmative.
He then moved to the dining room, where the premier, Chris Minns, the chief justice, Andrew Bell, and parliamentarians were waiting.
Police trumpeters played as he walked into the room. He was introduced as the King of Australia, and as someone shouted, “hooray”, one of the guests laughed. Many of the parliamentarians held up their phones to photograph him as he walked to the lectern. He spoke to a few as he walked into the room.
King Charles was introduced by Franklin, who described the monarch’s visit as a privilege.
The king then addressed the gathering.
After departing, he stopped for a moment to greet people in the crowd, shook hands with several of them and thanked them for their good wishes.
– Jordan Baker, pool reporter
Caitlin Cassidy
King Charles said democracy had an “extraordinary capacity for innovation, compromise and adaptability, as well as stability”.
The king first visited Australia six decades ago, and he said it had continued to uphold “strong representative tradition”.
In the spirit of marking the “passage of time”, he presented an hourglass speech timer to the parliament, to “bear witness” on parliament’s next chapter.
King Charles: ‘Democratic systems must evolve to remain fit for purpose’
King Charles continued to reflect on how original council members were “squeezed into the old government house” and moved into borrowed rooms in the current building.
From that vantage point, regardless of their optimism, it was no doubt impossible to imagine what is now the vast and vibrant state of New South Wales, which has grown and evolved alongside this legislature, to reflect on the story of this institution and this state is to see the promise and power of representative democracy.
Generations of voices have been brought together throughout discussion and debate, grappling with each day’s challenges and opportunities, holding power to account and driving meaningful change. Democratic systems must evolve, of course, to remain fit for purpose, but they are nevertheless essentially sound systems.
King Charles praises democracy and legacy of governmental process in speech to NSW parliament
Caitlin Cassidy
King Charles wasted no time at NSW parliament today, arriving at the bicentenary luncheon and departing in less than 10 minutes.
The guests stood for his arrival and departure and were instructed to remain seated throughout proceedings, with many eagerly filming the event on their iPhones and iPads (yes, someone brought their iPad).
His speech celebrated democracy and the legacy of Australia’s governmental process, with some reminiscing on his previous trips to the nation before he became sovereign.
Having been with you for your 150th anniversary, I am delighted and proud to be able to return to the parliament of New South Wales in order to celebrate the occasion of your bicentenary.
It is fascinating, I think, to reflect back to 200 years ago, and thinking about those times makes me wonder what that inaugural handful of members of the New South Wales legislative council would make of this parliament today, and of how this great state has progressed.
King Charles gifts speech timer hourglass to NSW parliament
King Charles has given a short address to the New South Wales parliament where he presented a gift to the chamber.
It is, in fact, an hourglass. A speech timer …
[laughter]
… to sit in the chamber and bear witness to the legislative council’s next chapter.
So with the sands of time encouraging brevity …
[laughter]
… it just remains for me to say what a great joy it is to come to Australia for the first time as sovereign and to renew a love of this country and its people which I have cherished for so long.
Crowds queue for glimpse of royals at Sydney church
As the king and queen left the church, they were greeted by hundreds of cheering people, all hoping to catch a glimpse or snap a photo.
Among them were Helen Hetrelezis and her brothers, who arrived at the church at 7.45am – almost three hours before the church service. Their efforts paid off and Hetrelezis was granted a few moments with Camilla after church.
We spoke about her visit, I asked the queen about her stay, she said she was enjoying Sydney very much.
In an unplanned moment, the king and queen went to greet the crowds on the other side of the church, with police scrambling to ensure they were protected.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel said it was a “delight” to have the royal couple attend the local service.
It has been a great pleasure and privilege. It was lovely for this local church to welcome the sovereign King Charles and Queen Camilla.
As the royal couple were whisked away in their motorcade, their staff carried dozens of flowers and gifts, while crowds cheered.
