Australian politics live: Mark Dreyfus defends watered-down hate speech bill as Michaelia Cash says Coalition ‘will look at these laws carefully’

Follow today’s news liveHate crimes bill: LGBTQ+ and Jewish groups disappointed Labor has dropped plan to outlaw vilificationGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHelen Haines condemns ‘stitch up’ over Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission billIndependent MP Helen Haines is furious at what she calls a “stitch up” between Labor and the Coalition that “weakens the transparency of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission”.The bill as currently drafted means serious findings could be made about an MP, but they could face no sanction and the public could never know.I want to see more transparency around this process.The government made two last-minute changes to its own legislation that would reinforce the major party duopoly, ensuring no member of the crossbench can be deputy chair of the parliamentary standards oversight committee. What a stitch up!”We’re going to have the same people on the joint select committee as on the privileges committee,

WORLD Sep 12, 2024 0 5 Add to Reading List

Australian politics live: Mark Dreyfus defends watered-down hate speech bill as Michaelia Cash says Coalition ‘will look at these laws carefully’

Follow today’s news live

Helen Haines condemns ‘stitch up’ over Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission bill

Independent MP Helen Haines is furious at what she calls a “stitch up” between Labor and the Coalition that “weakens the transparency of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission”.

The bill as currently drafted means serious findings could be made about an MP, but they could face no sanction and the public could never know.

I want to see more transparency around this process.

The government made two last-minute changes to its own legislation that would reinforce the major party duopoly, ensuring no member of the crossbench can be deputy chair of the parliamentary standards oversight committee. What a stitch up!”

We’re going to have the same people on the joint select committee as on the privileges committee, meaning the people who are meant to make sure the whole system is working are the same people who are part of it.

I’m really staggered by this, and it isn’t right.

We’re taking a stand against the unchecked greed that’s fuelling the cost-of-living crisis, and we’re urging the parliament to support this critical reform.

Our bill will put an end to corporate price gouging by making it illegal for corporations with substantial market power to charge excessive prices for goods and services. Continue reading...