Australia politics live: tensions flare ahead of antisemitism debate as Penny Wong urges Senate to ‘stand together’

Spender formally puts forward motion on antisemitism

The house has now resolved to allow Allegra Spender to put forward her motion. It’s the same as Lambie’s motion in the Senate, which states:

That the house:

1. Deplores the appalling and unacceptable rise in antisemitism across Australia, including violent attacks on synagogues, schools, homes and childcare centres;

2. Unequivocally condemns antisemitism in all its forms, as we condemn all similar hatred directed to any groups in our community; and

3. Resolves that all parliamentarians will work constructively together to combat the scourge of antisemitism in Australia.

Spender says:

Australia has, for many years, offered a safe haven. Now, parents and grandparents are genuinely wondering if they can continue to build their lives here. It broke my heart last year when a mother told me that her preschool aged daughter was proudly taking part in a Hanukkah celebration and the only thing she could think of was she’s so happy to be Jewish. She has no idea how many people hate it.

Spender is also pushing for amendments to the government’s hate crimes bill.

Sukkar takes aim at PM for not showing leadership after Spender’s antisemitism motion

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Opposition senate leader Michaelia Cash is now speaking, following Penny Wong.

They’re speaking on a motion from independent senator Jacqui Lambie on antisemitism.

The motion states that the senate “deplores the appalling and unacceptable rise in antisemitism”, condemns antisemitism and urges parliamentarians to work together to combat antisemitism in Australia.

Cash says:

The Jews of Australia are currently living in fear. There are people who don’t want their children to go to school on a daily basis. There are people who wake up every morning and wonder, ‘is it going to be me when I leave my house today?’

Wong speaks on antisemitism in Australia

Over in the Senate, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, is making a statement on the rising number of attacks on Jewish communities.

This has been so distressing for so many Australians, because we are a nation that welcomes different races. We are a nation that welcomes different religions. We are a nation that welcomes different views.

… It is important and appropriate that today across the chamber, we stand together to unequivocally condemn antisemitism in all its forms, just as we should condemn hatred in all its forms directed at any group in our community.

Allegra Spender puts forward motion on antisemitism as Parliament begins

Greens to back Labor’s childcare plan, condemn Trump as ‘threat to Australia’

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Discretionary spending up for third month straight

Household spending rose by 0.4% in December, driven by new vehicle purchases, dining out, air travel and streaming services. That’s according to seasonally adjusted figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today, after a 0.8% rise in November and a 1% rise in October.

Robert Ewing, the ABS head of business statistics, said household spending on discretionary goods and services rose 0.6% – “the third straight monthly rise”.

The growth in December was driven by new vehicle purchases, dining out, air travel and streaming services. Continued strength in clothing and footwear, furnishings and household equipment and goods for recreation and culture also contributed to higher discretionary spending.

Consumers have capitalised on the end-of-year sales season, driving a sustained rise in spending to finish 2024.

Household spending grew in all states and territories. Household spending volumes were also 1.4% higher in the December 2024 quarter than the same time last year in original terms, the ABS said.

Furnishings and household equipment (+5.3%), miscellaneous goods and services (+3.9%) and transport (+3%) had the largest annual rises, while alcoholic beverages and tobacco fell 12.2%.

‘We don’t need to wait for a shooting bullet in 20 years’: Kean lashes Coalition nuclear plan

The Climate Change Authority chair and former NSW Liberal minister Matt Kean has condemned the Coalition’s nuclear energy plans during a panel at the Sydney summit today.

As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, Kean told the crowd Australia should remain focused on renewables and not become “distracted by unicorns”.

He said that renewables were the “only solution to meeting our energy needs” and anyone talking about other technologies is “arguing for higher prices and an economic damaging false information [sic]”:

The fact that it takes 492 days for a renewable project to see SSI approval, means that you see a blowout in time it takes to build that new capacity that we really need right now, in windfarms and solar farms of between two and four years. That’s increasing the cost of these projects by 25 times, and flows through to consumers.

We can remove a lot of that red tape and get that cheap, reliable and clean electricity into the system. Today, we don’t need to wait for a shooting bullet in 20 year’s time …

Kean said Australia was “in a race against time” to replace its ageing coal-fired power stations and extending them “doesn’t make them more reliable.”

Leaders provide update on far north Queensland floods

The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has been speaking to reporters in Townsville, alongside the federal emergency management minister, Jenny McAllister, about the flooding situation in far north Queensland.

McAllister said communities weren’t out of the woods yet and that “recovery isn’t something that starts tomorrow and then ends after a week”:

For many communities after a big event, it takes a lot to get that community back on its feet financially, psychologically, physically. We are here for the long haul …

In response to a request from Queensland, we have mobilised ADF support and, particularly, helicopter support that will be critical in resupplying those communities that remain isolated.

She added that the national aerial fleet has been positioned for a number of days, and hardship payments had been established.

We remain ready to work with the Queensland government if more information emerges about impact in different communities to deepen and extend that support.

Greens to put forward motion on Trump

There’s been plenty of discussion this morning on how “exposed” Australia is to trade tariffs being placed by the US, as Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China (though the Canada and Mexico tariffs are “‘on hold” after some last-minute negotiations).

The Greens will put a motion forward today to stop “Trump-style politics” coming to Australia. The motion states:

That the election of President Trump is a threat to Australia and the world, including his attacks on human rights, democracy and climate action, that the toxic influence of billionaires and corporations in political decision making must end, and that we must do everything we can to stop Trump-style politics coming to Australia.

Tax-free lunches cost how much?

There’s been plenty of back and forth this morning on the cost of the Coalition’s tax-free lunch policy, and no doubt the debate will continue throughout the week.

The government says it will cost $1.6bn, all the way up to $10bn if small businesses use that policy to the max, while the opposition has accused the government of politicising the treasury department to get those numbers.

For a full rundown of how this has played out, Josh Butler’s got you covered:

You can also see more of what Jim Chalmers had to say on it here:

If you’re wondering why parliament hasn’t yet started, normally on a Tuesday the parties hold caucus meetings, where they discuss policies, answer questions from members and get themselves into gear.

We saw the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, making his opening remarks before the Coalition caucus meeting a little earlier, where he attacked the government on the rise of antisemitism as well as the cost of living.

We’ll shortly get some more info on how a few of those caucus meetings went down this morning, and then the House and Senate will sit at midday.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of World Cancer Day

The Cancer Council is calling on the government for further support to prevent and treat cancer in Australia.

They say Australia’s been a leader in cancer care and over the past 25 years our public policies and healthcare sectors have helped to save more than 107,000 lives.

Research from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) predicts that there will be an estimated 209,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer in 2034. So they’re calling on the government to:

• Increase participation in the national bowel cancer screening program

• Reduce the financial burden of cancer through improved services and support

• Invest in skin cancer prevention campaigns

• Tackle the rise of obesity to reduce the incidence of 13 types of cancer

Mark Nevin, Cancer Council Australia’s CEO says:

As new research and evidence emerges, so does new methods of prevention, detection and treatment, as well as improved ways to support those affected. The Australian government can support the adoption of these advances now, to continue to improve cancer survival rates.

Business council pushes for a cabinet minister for deregulation

A group of 30 chief executives will meet with the treasurer Jim Chalmers and shadow treasurer Angus Taylor and push the Business Council of Australia’s election policy platform.

It’s pushing for a cabinet minister for deregulation and to focus on making environmental approvals and business licensing more efficient.

Chalmers was asked about it during his earlier news conference:

Every couple of months or so, we have a discussion, very frank discussion, with business leaders, and I welcome it. We don’t pretend that we have all the answers here in the cabinet room next door, and so we engage enthusiastically and in a genuine way with the business community. I’m grateful for the opportunity to do that regularly and I’ll be grateful for the opportunity to do that tomorrow night as well.

Chalmers also points to cabinet colleague Katy Gallagher, the finance minister, who he says is already working to “streamline regulation”.