D-Day for parliament: Labor races to pass 36 major bills as electoral reforms crumble
It’s D-Day for legislators in Canberra as the government tries to ram through 36 major bills before the end of term, including a controversial social media ban for under-16s, new migration laws and reforms to the Reserve Bank of Australia.
“If people want to sit through the night, we are prepared to do that,” Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC’s Radio National breakfast. “It’s going to be a bit of a ride.”
Ms Gallagher defended the last-minute rush as a natural build-up towards the end of the year, but also blamed opposition leader Peter Dutton’s Coalition for a sustained strategy of “blocking and frustrating” key legislation.
The government may resort to the so-called “guillotine” technique to fast-track their priorities – a term used to describe closing the floor for debate in order to go straight to a vote. The move allows for votes on amendments but without prior debate.
Ms Gallagher confirmed a law to block teens from accessing social media platforms and a sweep of new migration bills – which include powers to pay third countries to receive non-citizens – are among Thursday’s top priorities.
Although controversial, the bills are likely to succeed with strong backing from the Coalition.
However, Ms Gallagher confirmed the government had abandoned hopes of passing its electoral reforms bill today after negotiations broke down with the Coalition at the last gasp.
The proposal, which would have changed how political campaigns are funded, with limits on what can be donated and what can be spent, will be reintroduced during the February parliamentary sitting, she said.
“We were not able to land it,” Ms Gallagher admitted, adding that her colleague, Special Minister of State Don Farrell, would spend the summer trying to reach a deal on the bill, which Independent MPs have criticised as unduly favouring major parties.
New legislation on production tax cuts, and the stalled Nature Positive laws were among other “important bills” that will also be punted to February, she revealed, despite ongoing speculation that this could be the last parliamentary session before the Federal election.
Government plans to reform the Reserve Bank still hang in the balance today, pending delicate negotiations with the Greens, who have demanded an interest rate cut in exchange for their support.
The Coalition has indicated it will vote against the bill, which would create a specialist monetary policy board at the Reserve Bank.
The bill aims to update and improve Australia’s central bank in its efforts to use monetary policy, including its control of interest rates, to fight inflation and support employment.
Asked about the shock suspension of independent senator Lidia Thorpe, Ms Gallagher said the rare move was in response to her “aggressive behaviour” in the chamber.
“Nobody enjoyed what happened yesterday. Senator Hanson, whether you agree with her or not, should not be aggressively approached in the chamber with paper thrown in her face,” she said.
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