It is impossible to tell, amidst this headless monster that the government has become on matters of tax policy, exactly who is driving the bus and who is in charge. But one thing is very clear: this government has no interest whatsoever in housing affordability.
The Australian Greens support the Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2015 for much the same reasons that Senator Gallagher has just outlined. In fact, the Greens had agreed to let this bill go through in non-contro so it is interesting to see at sneaking into government business. Nonetheless, it is a sensible bill. It is housekeeping but it does underline the importance of digital radio broadcasts in the Australian market.
My question is to the Minister for Finance, representing whoever is in charge of developing the coalition's tax policies today. Minister, there are 44,000 young people and children who are homeless in this country today. Last night it was reported that there are children as young as two weeks old sleeping rough on Perth's city streets and there are more than 200,000 people on the social housing waiting list.
When Prime Minister Turnbull had rolled Mr Abbott out of the Prime Minister's office, his pitch to his own party room and to the people of Australia was really twofold. It was, 'We're doing very badly in the polls, and I will improve your standing in the news polls. Prime Minister Abbott cannot sell the economic message and that is something I will do.'
I have a certain sympathy the Senator Fifield, as the rest of the chamber lined up to say that this bill was largely innocuous and was largely housekeeping measure. He is correct about that, but this is some unfinished business and some unfinished housekeeping which we should not be needing to deal with today.
Australian Greens sexuality spokesperson Senator Robert Simms is calling on the government to expedite removing the barriers preventing people from accessing HIV prevention medication, PrEP, following news that a decision on the drug won't be made until May.
