Nationals MP Darren Chester got ejected from the Australian parliament today, marking the most removals this week. Speaker Milton Dick reprimanded the opposition for shouting during question time. Meanwhile, MP Kate Chaney questioned refinery subsidies, and the Prime Minister said he takes the issue of AI-generated deepfakes very seriously.
Key events
Chaney asks why taxpayers are subsiding refineries
Independent MP Kate Chaney brings things back to the cost of living.
She asks:
double quotation markWhen fuel prices spiked this year, Australians were told it was because of the war, but Australia’s two refineries are making super profits … Taxpayers subsidise these refineries, why shouldn’t they get a share of the windfall when refineries profit from a crisis?
The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, says: “We do think it’s appropriate to ensure that while government will ensure the refineries remain open – that when there are increased profits, the taxpayer can share in that. That is a conversation that we will have with the industry between now and the end of the year.”
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Updated at 00.24 EDT
Speaker reprimands opposition leader: ‘This yelling is completely unacceptable’
As the prime minister attempts to reference Australia’s credit rating, members of the opposition begin shouting across the aisle.
The speaker, Milton Dick, tells opposition leader to stop yelling:
double quotation markYou’re going to stop yelling at me … this yelling is completely unacceptable.
No leader of the opposition behaves like that … the prime minister can assist by lowering the temperature, as well, with the language being used.
The speaker reminds his colleagues “it is not business as usual”.
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Updated at 00.30 EDT
Second MP booted from question time
The Nationals MP Darren Chester has become the second member booted from the chamber, meaning today’s question time has clocked the most ejections of the week so far.
The speaker, Milton Dick, chides the member for Gippsland on the way out:
double quotation markPeople are passionate about issues – I understand that, but it’s not the way to handle yourself in the house.
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Updated at 01.09 EDT
PM says he takes issue of AI-generated deepfakes ‘very seriously’
Crossbench MP Zali Steggall asks whether the government will make it illegal to create and disseminate AI-generated deepfakes.
She said a recent AI-generated deepfake video, targeting senator Jacqui Lambie, spread false statements in her name, resulting in increased threats to her.
The prime minister acknowledged the impact on the senator and responded:
double quotation markIt’s not just about politicians, of course. It’s people right across the board, seeing these deepfakes, and it’s hard, there’s videos of people standing outside Parliament House, making statements that aren’t them.
That distorts fact from fiction and that is a huge issue.
I take these issues very seriously, and so does the government. The digital duty of care is in part aimed at addressing these issues.
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Updated at 23.57 EDT
Speaker warns against a ‘war of tabling’
The manager of opposition business in the house, Dan Tehan, has continued hammering on the golf club, attempting to table a long list of government announcements, Hansard references, interview transcripts and more relating to the grant.
But the speaker, Milton Dick, steps in:
double quotation markDon’t abuse question time by trying to do these tricks and stunts.
I’m over it, and everyone’s over it.
I don’t want this war of tabling to continue on … If people want to table documents, they’ve got the right to do that – but just be reasonable and responsible.
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Updated at 23.49 EDT
Marrickville golf club grant continues to haunt Labor
The $6m grant to the Marrickville golf club continues to follow Labor as the Liberal MP for Monash, Mary Aldred, asks why the infrastructure department had confirmed the funding was not for addressing sewerage flows when the minister had previously said it was.
The infrastructure minister, Catherine King, answered:
double quotation markThe decision brief for this project, which we’ve released for transparency, shows that funding for this project was assessed by my department against the criteria publicly available and found to be value for money.
Unlike those opposite, we are delivering our election commitments in a transparent way.
The prime minister on Tuesday admitted he got it wrong after telling parliament the grant was to stop “raw sewage” going into the nearby river.
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Updated at 00.00 EDT
Coalition attacks on PM continue in question time
Nationals MP Kevin Hogan returns to cost-of-living pressures in his question to the prime minister as he asks: “Why do Australians always pay the price because a prime minister can’t ever admit he’s made a mistake?”
As Anthony Albanese attempts to point to the conflict in the Middle East, interjections pour in from the Coalition and he issues a reminder:
double quotation markWe should turn the temperature down, and maybe people could stop interjecting.
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Updated at 23.32 EDT
Coalition MP ejected from question time after swearing at PM
Notions of respectful and civil debate appear to have gone out the window in today’s first QT ejection.
The prime minister is asked about “getting rid of the climate change department” and as he affirms climate change is real, parliament’s typical argy bargy returns and the MP for Wide Bay, Llew O’Brien, is ejected.
As O’Brien leaves to serve a three-hour ban from the chamber the speaker, Milton Dick, says:
double quotation markSwearing in the parliament is completely unacceptable and he [O’Brien] will leave the chamber for three hours.
Honestly, we will not allow this parliament to have that language. None of us will accept that. I won’t accept it. Australia won’t accept it.
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Updated at 01.07 EDT
Chalmers says global oil prices are behind inflation
After another question on inflation, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, points to the impact of conflict in the Middle East.
double quotation markOne of the reasons why the shadow treasurer and the leader of the opposition don’t have any credibility, is because they refuse to acknowledge the impact of higher global oil prices on inflation – not just in Australia, but, indeed, around the world.
If you look at the inflation numbers today, the biggest driver was petrol prices … those opposite might want to pretend that that’s not happening, but that’s a factor.
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Updated at 23.17 EDT
PM urges parliament to unite on proposed social media reforms
After the government’s digital duty of care bill passed the House of Representatives today, Anthony Albanese answers a dixer on the issue:
double quotation markWe know that the algorithms drive people towards more extreme positions and we know this is having an impact on our society.
The deliberate design of social media algorithms are designed to push people further and further down these rabbit holes, and to change society for the worst.
You see, the impact and harm of social media right across our society Australians are sick of it.