Australia politics live: Katter and Wilkie attack supermarket duopoly in pig costume; Thorpe to speak on cousin’s death in custody | Australia news

Katter and Wilkie cosplay as pigs to bring attention to supermarket bill (it is working)

Meanwhile, the independent MPs Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie have wandered through the parliament dressed as giant pigs to represent the supermarket duopoly. The pair want the government to support their bill to reduce the supermarket’s dominance and this is how they raised attention for it.

This year, Bob Katter chalks up half a century in parliament (if you count his time in state alongside his time in federal parliament). Generations of the good people of Kennedy just can not get enough of him, apparently.

The private health insurance lobby group, Private Healthcare Australia have also released a statement saying the Australian story about a ‘war of words’ between the health minister and private health insurance industry was “false”. From the statement:

“,”elementId”:”635d0ecc-2639-46f3-9d6d-6790aaf47228″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

The ‘health insurance row’ referred to in the report is a fiction and ‘six of the nation’s largest health funds’ have not commented publicly on the premium setting round as reported. Our industry has not accused the government of anything as suggested in the header.

\n

The Australian claims to have: “spoken to six of the nation’s largest funds who say it is the longest wait on a premiums call from a government in 15 years, and they do not have enough time to notify their customers of any price increases if Health Minister Mark Butler does not make a decision this week.”

\n

As the peak body representing 98% of the health insurance industry on membership, Private Healthcare Australia was advised by the six largest funds that this assertion is untrue.^*

\n

This story is a beat up which will do nothing more than create unnecessary fear among customers. It is an attempt to politicise a detailed financial and bureaucratic process.

\n

“,”elementId”:”21a0a4ff-a857-4ce9-bb22-d392525ec187″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709080669000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.37 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709080960000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.42 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709080804000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.40 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.40″,”title”:”Private health lobby group says story in the Australian about row between health minister and industry is ‘a fiction’”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de7dab8f083370743edf98″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Australia’s consumer prices rose 3.4% in January from a year ago, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has just said.

“,”elementId”:”3c14038e-d740-4457-90ef-b93524307c46″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

As noted in an earlier post. Economists had predicted CPI would come in at 3.6%, or higher than the 3.4% increase in December.

“,”elementId”:”406a5cc7-6e47-4da4-9dd1-41f6f0332579″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Monthly figures can bounce around, especially when the basket of goods and services the ABS uses get revised, as has just happened for the start of 2024.

“,”elementId”:”83e15ecc-37eb-41af-b197-4b7fcdb3da35″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

That makes for a few quirks to iron out. The Reserve Bank, though, will be weighing up today’s figures when its board next meets on 18-19 March, and what – if anything – the CPI means for interest projections.

“,”elementId”:”1b8bb994-7801-4570-87e3-98e847260032″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709079979000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.26 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709080995000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.43 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709080634000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.37 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.37″,”title”:”Australian CPI up 3.4% in January from a year ago”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Peter Hannam”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Peter_Hannam.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5645b13ac19b7cad16846f1f9990d442″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Peter_Hannam.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=79eac68f28963e85663c23ea15fa31de”}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de7ab48f082c159ec9b21e”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Mark Butler has started his press conference on the government changes to vaping regulations, surrounded as Josh has pointed out, by boxes of illegal vapes.

“,”elementId”:”d2d8eeea-31f7-40b3-a26f-fa2f115aad61″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

He says the government will be partnering with anti-vaping social media influencers (to the tune of $11m) to try and combat the popularity of vapes with younger people.

“,”elementId”:”e61a9e1c-7a52-4bfd-8483-1f0f14182ab5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Butler:

“,”elementId”:”859fa2e6-b6db-45a3-b002-7d43842c1c87″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Tragically, the only cohort in our community where cigarette smoking is on the rise is the youngest members of our community and we must always bear in mind at the end of the day, that was the object of this exercise from the perspective of big tobacco.

\n

The broader community and governments across the world were deceived by big tobacco, have no illusions about that, but the purpose of today’s launch is to recognise young Australians themselves are being overwhelmed with misleading messages and false information every single day from big tobacco. Messages that this is cool, messages [that] this is the healthy alternative for young people.

\n

I am advised Tiktok has 18 billion posts with the hashtag #vaped deliberately designed to promote vaping. I am advised Instagram has 18,000 vaping influences who there promoting messages in support of vaping behaviour.

\n

We need to fight back on this. We have an obligation as government to get better information out to young Australians about the health risks associated with this behaviour and these rights and that is why today I am launching an influencer-led youth vaping campaign ….

\n

“,”elementId”:”7ce39599-a4c4-497a-9e36-6924cc603313″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709079220000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”19.13 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709079629000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.20 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709079364000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”19.16 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”19.16″,”title”:”Health minister announces anti-vaping social media campaign”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de66e28f082c159ec9b154″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The federal government will wait months before announcing any reforms recommended in the Universities Accord, the education minister has flagged, with a staged approach to legislation.

“,”elementId”:”22e0a032-cb88-4a71-bf42-327763b02cd7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In his first major address following the release of the final report on Sunday, Jason Clare told a Universities Australia gala dinner on Tuesday night the accord was a “blueprint not for one budget, but for the next few decades”.

“,”elementId”:”cb9b06e6-c28e-4ec5-b513-7da64fd030c9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

Over the coming months the government will work through it in detail and determine what needs to be done first. There is a lot in it … we can’t do everything at once. We have got to stage this. This is a long-term plan, but we have got to start now. And that means prioritising what we think is most important.

\n

“,”elementId”:”6891bf33-6032-4a5b-8a38-a67b695873d4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Clare acknowledged the target in the accord for 80% of Australians to have a tertiary qualification was set for 2050, the equivalent of eight future elections and beyond the lifespan of many careers.

“,”elementId”:”2587e097-92ae-4773-8621-77b1f27283a5″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

None of us are here forever. Not even vice chancellors. But we have a chance in the next few years to start the work on something that will outlast us. To plant seeds in a garden we don’t get to see. The O’Kane reforms.

\n

“,”elementId”:”31f24f06-ba59-4996-8667-6f82695e8606″}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709074146000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”17.49 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709074660000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.57 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709074175000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.49 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.49″,”title”:”Jason Clare flags Universities Accord implementation will be staged over decades”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Caitlin Cassidy”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/04/21/Caitlin_Cassidy.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a7810efa6fe4dd2f5f1cd6126d06cc15″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/04/21/Caitlin_Cassidy,_L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4e50b2e4e7d1ea268f8a714d346ec620″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de5e188f082c159ec9b109″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Meanwhile, the independent MPs Bob Katter and Andrew Wilkie have wandered through the parliament dressed as giant pigs to represent the supermarket duopoly. The pair want the government to support their bill to reduce the supermarket’s dominance and this is how they raised attention for it.

“,”elementId”:”36b1f818-d014-4376-a244-25dfd74f11d2″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/5472.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1333″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”667″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”333″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”93″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”c92798cc-7c43-49e2-823b-474d7dc90998″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=198146c121a2e892a4149b13ad7b7a3a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4c87dced9baf26a5d4d866486198d850″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2d023cc4c51bc07bfbbded4837ca4a30″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=240fd5ab3e638c4d4da557e9f2ebc655″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c894f48be703f8178754eea6dd1e0314″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d48f5370d54c80404ae1273455e14769″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6b938d6596a3cd6364fe6a124e351f72″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3a9d1cf441eacf64f6dd16a101b1a6ff”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=83f9827a0386c54e5cf8ea560f47b499″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=483c592969ba733add41044022c57998″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=48634e3bb7cfc1a147d8b83b836cdded”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6921a0e3c967ef0e2e3980720a44b0f9″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5f2274d0c25c7fd4d5946a135a3602b2″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=73c04cc74f54ffdf9e62670e45e0c104″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=198146c121a2e892a4149b13ad7b7a3a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4c87dced9baf26a5d4d866486198d850″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2d023cc4c51bc07bfbbded4837ca4a30″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=240fd5ab3e638c4d4da557e9f2ebc655″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c894f48be703f8178754eea6dd1e0314″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d48f5370d54c80404ae1273455e14769″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d11c6ffc993ae64e84d0e5d74a7aecac”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f1b007d9b4d58f082db09fb34279d256″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=297cbcf395573db6a1a234ad65093b17″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b59f7ac4e6ee9361e88ecb17e84adfec”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=198146c121a2e892a4149b13ad7b7a3a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4c87dced9baf26a5d4d866486198d850″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2d023cc4c51bc07bfbbded4837ca4a30″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=240fd5ab3e638c4d4da557e9f2ebc655″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c894f48be703f8178754eea6dd1e0314″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d48f5370d54c80404ae1273455e14769″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=198146c121a2e892a4149b13ad7b7a3a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4c87dced9baf26a5d4d866486198d850″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2d023cc4c51bc07bfbbded4837ca4a30″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=240fd5ab3e638c4d4da557e9f2ebc655″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c894f48be703f8178754eea6dd1e0314″,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d48f5370d54c80404ae1273455e14769″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=86ffd521e83e2dd72ef4f95d420c90b7″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dafa9e6bb8921c01f0c6d16eb6ec0570″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4eabc8cff6bb10a5b84feade91dff7e0″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=926454647d2d181254943cd18495903c”,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bb409fecd20707bf3226dd68e741b5f7″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ff43f3d97f24b7a1f340a343e0726cd9″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1e3bced2258ea0ed3e47bf297f7396da”,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e767dd53781633d8ca4ccf79be34fb9f”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=487e55424f1be76ae1a588ad1302995e”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ec994d6668a137324c1a063bb24a3adc”,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e940a82c91e417cff975d93e83b4e383″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b3689bf9421d3ad81db32e1ac4ee7eb1″,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=490e9b7eec8ca07971d24a0e5d48ab33″,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d7b26f59977ff335ff55cd068a0ef5ae6488282c/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=32c7f6a2caf5d0570c17991337bb839a”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Independent MP’s Andrew Wilkie (right) and Bob Katter dressed in pig suits.”,”caption”:”Independent MP’s Andrew Wilkie (right) and Bob Katter dressed in pig suits.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

This year, Bob Katter chalks up half a century in parliament (if you count his time in state alongside his time in federal parliament). Generations of the good people of Kennedy just can not get enough of him, apparently.

“,”elementId”:”87da7d67-f8c3-446a-92eb-b83fd657bce4″},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/5472.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1333″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”667″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”333″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”93″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”92f77d34-4461-4f9d-8233-00a4b2b36006″,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e9af9d04010cb86165dfe41df44553f9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=01fb2918aeb6f2502de2434c5e3fd089″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98bc9ec957cb16a12df6c8442f686e4a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fcff7d0b33a616bc033bb52e211b16d7″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c2068ddb7efccd79310f2301cf97b8b”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe376fa1a58543ff3be579b2f216f7d2″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0db84a478e5a8265518ae9b07c87723b”,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fd8460729968f074106eee705180c1ff”,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5d698d963d0b3abb240ad4085373dcaa”,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=f79c1e392ec628c8f491ec45da6dd7b9″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=686903075cd3165f588195e9de20572d”,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=003ac35b6af4a567a08b7e4885f0efcb”,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e42920379042ef4e7a588e525bbe37a0″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=54fab418c740db03350a2735fe309793″,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e9af9d04010cb86165dfe41df44553f9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=01fb2918aeb6f2502de2434c5e3fd089″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98bc9ec957cb16a12df6c8442f686e4a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fcff7d0b33a616bc033bb52e211b16d7″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c2068ddb7efccd79310f2301cf97b8b”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe376fa1a58543ff3be579b2f216f7d2″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5064de7d79a93c6c36dd888f340673dd”,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fb9784ea0f1feb3219385cb8e5e6cba7″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ef2f74bd428dcd607f6d21ebf945cde9″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=32fbd06efcea08173f1987279e9d5760″,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e9af9d04010cb86165dfe41df44553f9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=01fb2918aeb6f2502de2434c5e3fd089″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98bc9ec957cb16a12df6c8442f686e4a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fcff7d0b33a616bc033bb52e211b16d7″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c2068ddb7efccd79310f2301cf97b8b”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe376fa1a58543ff3be579b2f216f7d2″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e9af9d04010cb86165dfe41df44553f9″,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=01fb2918aeb6f2502de2434c5e3fd089″,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=98bc9ec957cb16a12df6c8442f686e4a”,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fcff7d0b33a616bc033bb52e211b16d7″,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6c2068ddb7efccd79310f2301cf97b8b”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fe376fa1a58543ff3be579b2f216f7d2″,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c07f260f9fe96035c1b09cebe1d2b46f”,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=dd9b5ca557b9f9e861a4bde6723835da”,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4ba9cf8d506efe47248665bb0297b735″,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=b06c77eb8c85297eb59fbe86f0c45e45″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=83eca3144c4acc254b2abf50cfa01838″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=90eb944fd2412628b6f57ad11f4493d1″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c4568f3c8d9dede553b2ec97e029ebf2″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=3528cafa27b7f51172a7ab6cef9abeec”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0200d0564ebd87de94e8aec93305e82b”,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8f834b11a75a66df2951f5ccc3f5ed14″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8bdd4cf8fdae03a0d1dfe7dcb8669042″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=89a4b445acf31f94cd5a0fa315284e3b”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=dfcfb40a3818ca8ed856a2b41f75543e”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d5edbc5ddf01e0d907d099adce1647d8cbfc5104/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=186afee876cd096c74389c20c10a901f”,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Independent MP Bob Katter dressed in a pig suit,”,”caption”:”Bob Katter and his trademark scowl.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian”}},{“displayCredit”:true,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement”,”role”:”inline”,”media”:{“allImages”:[{“index”:0,”fields”:{“height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/5472.jpg”},{“index”:1,”fields”:{“isMaster”:”true”,”height”:”3648″,”width”:”5472″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg”},{“index”:2,”fields”:{“height”:”1333″,”width”:”2000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/2000.jpg”},{“index”:3,”fields”:{“height”:”667″,”width”:”1000″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/1000.jpg”},{“index”:4,”fields”:{“height”:”333″,”width”:”500″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/500.jpg”},{“index”:5,”fields”:{“height”:”93″,”width”:”140″},”mediaType”:”Image”,”mimeType”:”image/jpeg”,”url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/140.jpg”}]},”elementId”:”6a0e69c3-ca02-4539-838d-a1fccbc8a64d”,”imageSources”:[{“weighting”:”inline”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2e1e0a3ca3a58eb2e982c96fe734ac1a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ab4eeaea0fc03d3f5340522be4bbeecf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3653a57cc45d1b3750a325744d2eb0c4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a0f28059da65c5c4ad7f34056101a43b”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=35b0cc3e7adde5d302291e85cb1c144f”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0dd6579afbe1e8babb8edc9dc2a97d7e”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”thumbnail”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a35337600c279567446ab3b99161cab5″,”width”:140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d717283851e1510454a511332fbe2e00″,”width”:280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=82614d14e98935b0762436029df82be4″,”width”:120},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=57f3d8eaeeee9523678000ecee0dcd20″,”width”:240}]},{“weighting”:”supporting”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=32cf0c1f3d90f67037d976a3c53c66e5″,”width”:380},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=641c0cf89ac7af626a24bec809adb897″,”width”:760},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=db6e97ea41fd175ed8c93aa67cabf361″,”width”:300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=88854ae0e53f0b9b8521e2b63369dbbb”,”width”:600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2e1e0a3ca3a58eb2e982c96fe734ac1a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ab4eeaea0fc03d3f5340522be4bbeecf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3653a57cc45d1b3750a325744d2eb0c4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a0f28059da65c5c4ad7f34056101a43b”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=35b0cc3e7adde5d302291e85cb1c144f”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0dd6579afbe1e8babb8edc9dc2a97d7e”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”showcase”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=79fc8268a6c56fa9d7badae1eb824e12″,”width”:860},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=add4a5c488738536eafcc64748c1bd53″,”width”:1720},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=ab7aedf919eefca8ecf206d09a6e79d0″,”width”:780},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=16cc3e8a1009bfcf8b438c646a48690d”,”width”:1560},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2e1e0a3ca3a58eb2e982c96fe734ac1a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ab4eeaea0fc03d3f5340522be4bbeecf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3653a57cc45d1b3750a325744d2eb0c4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a0f28059da65c5c4ad7f34056101a43b”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=35b0cc3e7adde5d302291e85cb1c144f”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0dd6579afbe1e8babb8edc9dc2a97d7e”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”halfwidth”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2e1e0a3ca3a58eb2e982c96fe734ac1a”,”width”:620},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=ab4eeaea0fc03d3f5340522be4bbeecf”,”width”:1240},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3653a57cc45d1b3750a325744d2eb0c4″,”width”:605},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a0f28059da65c5c4ad7f34056101a43b”,”width”:1210},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=35b0cc3e7adde5d302291e85cb1c144f”,”width”:445},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0dd6579afbe1e8babb8edc9dc2a97d7e”,”width”:890}]},{“weighting”:”immersive”,”srcSet”:[{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6d762e860a1f07fadcad9cb2dd7edc86″,”width”:1900},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=26ff50309a9d836ec5dd936bca2b3ed1″,”width”:3800},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=87571ebde03b93693aaa34ea948ef9ed”,”width”:1300},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=904220990c7a4e7217209facf3025c29″,”width”:2600},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=50f0fbba3ed91da235fbdb00d31cbc52″,”width”:1140},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=d3371c5c198aab3037d722b5a5583ac7″,”width”:2280},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f2c6417e97ef9e4a651cda173187f5a4″,”width”:980},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e7b0f8d23ee56c3b019bd5ed5d579dcd”,”width”:1960},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=4a292f0d00e1a5d8ff5688538e66ae64″,”width”:740},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=7dacbd68ff85d50de093646778520543″,”width”:1480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3acee000b9d7aede43ce49610a6f6836″,”width”:660},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=4896fcdad5896093ddec2f1bac11e15c”,”width”:1320},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3b15e4a234916ea13b376a9438d6309a”,”width”:480},{“src”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/c346d9106d2d1baaa7db0f7fe95dbc2633aa2100/0_0_5472_3648/master/5472.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a6d20961f04ea07d3c1c0e6f995f9a64″,”width”:960}]}],”data”:{“alt”:”Two men dressed in pig suits by a TV of the prime minister”,”caption”:”Australian politics is very serious.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:true,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709071896000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”17.11 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709079006000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”19.10 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709072224000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.17 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.17″,”title”:”Katter and Wilkie cosplay as pigs to bring attention to supermarket bill (it is working)”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de592c8f08eb6809c245de”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Senator Thorpe wasn’t the only one asking what was happening – Liberal senator Maria Kovacic, who had waited over an hour to speak, was also asking for clarification over what was going on. By then, Labor senator Louise Pratt was the acting senate deputy president (they do a bit of musical chairs) and was trying to deal with the previous rulings, senator frustrations, more confusion and rising tensions from all sides.

“,”elementId”:”19867982-f0f9-45c7-a0f2-dd23a81bad46″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Because that is what happens when the senate president’s chair swaps over and over – not everything is communicated as well as it should be as the new chair tries to interpret what the previous chair had ruled.

“,”elementId”:”ecd5b1c2-c7d3-4bb2-83d9-fd5f36e89ea4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

That led to exchanges like this:

“,”elementId”:”6d28ac34-fd88-47bb-b5f0-430d23330f0e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Chair: Senators! It is a courtesy to the chamber— Senator Thorpe interjecting— Stop! Stop interjecting, Senator Thorpe, and I will tell you what the rules are.
Thorpe: Wake up, because you’ve been asleep in that chair, and I have a mother who lost a son to your system
Chair: Senator Thorpe, sit down now!

“,”elementId”:”dd3a2fe8-f6ec-4cce-94b4-f999d07b88b7″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

(Senator Thorpe interjects)

“,”elementId”:”8ba0ff6b-1546-4fed-9a51-e0460f5ba3a0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Chair: Senator Thorpe, you will come to order.
Thorpe: Wake up! Wake up!
Chair: Senator Thorpe, I’ve been listening intently to the speeches before me –
Thorpe: No, you have not –
Chair: – Senator Polley’s speech on dementia and the speech on concussion, which I note you were taking a deep interest in because of your parliamentary work.

“,”elementId”:”b73757d5-75c7-4c7b-b4de-2d351d9ccefa”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709070636000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.50 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709073617000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.40 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709071100000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.58 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.58″,”title”:”Lidia Thorpe accuses Senate chair of being ‘asleep’ amid Senate chaos”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de4eb48f08eb6809c24580″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

On the “broken promise” of changing the stage-three tax cuts (the latest Guardian Essential poll had Albanese falling in the trust stakes) the prime minister said:

“,”elementId”:”d7803240-4f2d-417c-a07d-4006d637cf1d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”

\n

We made not an easy decision. We made the right decision for all the right reasons. We know that families are under cost of living pressure.

\n

The idea that we could sit back and ignore the clear recommendations that this was the best way that we could have an impact on providing that assistance to middle Australia without putting upward pressure on inflation – we couldn’t ignore that.

\n

We have a responsibility to do the right thing, and that’s precisely what we have done.

\n

And the fact is – the Liberals, of course, said that they’d oppose it. Then they said that they’d roll it back. Then they said we should take it to an election. Then, they ended up voting for it.

\n

So they changed their position as well. Well, they can change the way that they vote, but they can’t change their values, which is why this morning, Senator [Jane] Hume has been out there saying that they’d start again with their tax proposals.

\n

We’ll wait and see what it is that they come up with. But this is a much fairer proposal and it was unanimously endorsed by the Senate last night.

\n

“,”elementId”:”6a6a006e-d257-4eb0-a169-cf9beacac67a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709067956000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.05 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709068845000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”16.20 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709068111000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.08 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.08″,”title”:”Albanese: tax cut changes ‘not an easy decision’ but ‘the right decision’”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de41538f08eb6809c2451d”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Happy hump day to those who still believe time has meaning.

“,”elementId”:”b181aac9-5d30-4971-92e8-1dbb9e6ae170″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Thank you to Martin Farrer for starting the blog off this morning. You have Amy Remeikis with you for the parliamentary day now.

“,”elementId”:”23c172c1-667d-41ba-b60f-61e2bfc6942e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

I hope you are taking care if you’re in the fire zone in Victoria – we are thinking of you on what must be a terrifying day.

“,”elementId”:”e159f221-fff0-4480-a008-bdea63664635″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In the parliament, it’s all about the Dunkley byelection. You can tell that the internal polls are telling both parties it’s close by just how ridiculous it is all getting: the Coalition are focussed on fuel efficiency standards ending Australia’s love affair with the current five-most popular cars (which apparently Australians are going to love forever and never want to change), while for the government it’s all about tax cuts.

“,”elementId”:”f32f05e6-06c4-4635-addf-cf285a3d7e37″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

As our Josh Butler said a little earlier, Anthony Albanese was SO keen to talk tax cuts he called a 8.30pm press conference – a time usually reserved for sudden events. After a small freak out, it was quickly confirmed it was over the tax cut legislation passing the Senate, which it was always going to do because the Coalition, after a pretty epic bitch-and-fold, supported them.

“,”elementId”:”7e735077-0ad3-44e2-b036-f435d7a696e2″},{“expired”:false,”assetId”:”Af6sAmCC-JQ”,”posterImage”:[{“url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a849224b8bad101bfd25fb328f7d65784dad5d7a/0_0_1920_1080/1000.jpg”,”width”:1000},{“url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a849224b8bad101bfd25fb328f7d65784dad5d7a/0_0_1920_1080/500.jpg”,”width”:500},{“url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a849224b8bad101bfd25fb328f7d65784dad5d7a/0_0_1920_1080/140.jpg”,”width”:140},{“url”:”https://media.guim.co.uk/a849224b8bad101bfd25fb328f7d65784dad5d7a/0_0_1920_1080/1920.jpg”,”width”:1920}],”id”:”0388afa0-7d07-4a9c-9ee4-46a909aae14f”,”elementId”:”656eee08-945f-4b86-994f-49d7770a8114″,”duration”:227,”_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.YoutubeBlockElement”,”mediaTitle”:”The bitch and fold: the political move practised by Albanese, perfected by Dutton – video”,”channelId”:”UCoWKwd06OC0Y0XpvAa8jfdw”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Such is the environment we find ourselves in.

“,”elementId”:”ae1be8dd-2750-46b0-8337-01219b8d2f36″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

You’ve got Paul Karp, Daniel Hurst, Sarah Basford Canales and Josh Butler to help you make sense of it all and Mike Bowers to take you there.

“,”elementId”:”8179e6e4-6fb6-4a9f-b1f0-2dd353eb7726″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Ready? I’m on to my second coffee. Not sure there’s enough today.

“,”elementId”:”8fb217f0-6faf-48e0-86e0-e8884f969fdb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Let’s get into it.

“,”elementId”:”3225a0ee-9e0b-4ca6-ad83-c63f0b91259e”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709064531000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”15.08 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709065851000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”15.30 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709065074000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”15.17 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”15.17″,”title”:”Good morning”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Amy Remeikis”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/09/08/Amy-Remeikis.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=36a05106945eaf53cd466cae96e7ad84″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/10/06/Amy_Remeikis_ng.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6a9bc1c610d7bd016d76ceca42cb1ed2″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65de1dba8f083370743edc27″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Victorians under threat from bushfires are facing their last chance to leave as catastrophic conditions descend on the state’s west, Australian Associated Press reports.

“,”elementId”:”58e30785-85c2-402b-88c5-f40f36fa52cb”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Bayindeen bushfire, north-west of Ballarat, is still raging this morning and authorities released a map showing the fire could rip through areas including Beaufort, Elmhurst, Amphitheatre, Lexton, Learmonth and Clunes.

“,”elementId”:”9332014c-047f-4335-bcfb-41b020c7804e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Forecast temperatures in the high 30s and wind gusts of up to 80kmh in the area were expected to fan the flames.

“,”elementId”:”92fdcfb0-2fc6-45b4-b425-c0dbbf5721d9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The fire had burned through more than 21,300 hectares as of Tuesday.

“,”elementId”:”a3d1b3aa-d7b4-4f09-96e4-cfda25c3d5e1″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Residents were warned to get out by this morning, while those in regions with extreme fire danger were also told to flee.

“,”elementId”:”cb60e040-a343-4daa-bccb-b8f6a5a2209b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The areas with an extreme fire danger rating on Wednesday were the Mallee, Northern Country, North Central, Central and South West regions.

“,”elementId”:”d6710230-a838-46a1-bf9c-df2fd82b2389″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Mildura was set to reach 44C and other areas were also expected to creep into the 40Cs before a cool change approached central parts of Victoria after 8pm.

“,”elementId”:”606c9324-49aa-48a3-98eb-09e8c339ec1d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Residents fleeing danger zones were urged to go to built-up areas such as Ballarat, Ararat and Maryborough.

“,”elementId”:”bd80fc9e-a687-44ab-a9ff-7734ba1d920c”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709062179000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709063906000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.58 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709063907000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.58 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.58″,”title”:”Victorians warned to evacuate as bushfire worsens”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65ddcb898f08ef837bca8f0b”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has used a late night press conference to blast the Coalition again for not full-throatedly backing Labor’s tax cut changes, claiming the opposition would “never stand up for low and middle income earners”.

“,”elementId”:”f09f779f-7284-4a36-9f87-8c1b49269b4d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Labor’s revamped stage three tax cuts passed through the Senate overnight, and will come into effect from 1 July for all taxpayers. They will see a greater benefit flow to those on lower and middle incomes than the Coalition-legislated original plan would have.

“,”elementId”:”9ba046d9-9910-4cc0-be72-de527ff72d0d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Just days out from the crucial Dunkley by-election, the government has painted the changes as cost of living relief, a point Albanese was keen to hammer home at a press conference called for 8.30pm last night.

“,”elementId”:”6bbd840b-195b-4ae8-80eb-100a73291be0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

It was a time he conceded was “unusual”, after most journalists in Parliament House had gone home for the evening, long past the 6pm TV news bulletins and newspaper print deadlines had passed.

“,”elementId”:”02a04fc3-e943-4ab4-b37e-5bc05dc06f70″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

To a room of only four journalists gathered to ask questions (including your correspondent), Albanese praised the passage of his government’s tax plan. He claimed there was a “great divide in Australian politics” between the government and opposition, alleging “Peter Dutton wants people to work longer for less”.

“,”elementId”:”060a85ec-5996-407a-ae19-ac979bc08af4″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Albanese and finance minister Katy Gallagher rolled out their usual stump speeches on how all taxpayers would benefit, and that most would get a higher benefit than before.

“,”elementId”:”eab38b18-58e8-40b8-9b95-3710c24fb804″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The lines they chose to front-load at the beginning of their remarks were of most interest – Albanese quickly moved to attack the Coalition’s shifting positions on the tax cuts, while Gallagher called it “a great result for Australian women”, on the same day the gender pay gap figures were released.

“,”elementId”:”5652574a-4f39-4db7-b189-a07b188c5e84″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Asked about Saturday’s Dunkley election, Albanese responded “we wanted every single taxpayer in Dunkley to get a tax cut”, before quickly moving to criticise Dutton again.

“,”elementId”:”f9275c9d-ef0e-4d9c-ab0b-0e17f7dc8e8b”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“But by-elections are always tough, so we’ll wait and see what happens,” he went on.

“,”elementId”:”272c3aa9-1a9a-481d-939d-285dc9b99f7d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

“I expect that in by-elections there’s normally swings away from the government.”

“,”elementId”:”bc837d55-6e81-4431-a1ce-5521d4816293″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Dunkley byelection: the bowlo boss and the charity worker going head-to-head as Labor faces critical test”,”elementId”:”c6df2f60-4dea-48d1-b031-57838b4d08ce”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/26/dunkley-byelection-meet-the-political-novices-vying-to-become-the-newest-federal-mp”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709062179000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709062883000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.41 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709062883000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.41 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.41″,”title”:”Albanese attacks Coalition for not embracing tax cuts”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Josh Butler”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Josh_Butler.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f6e36ddc89d1442611e6b4fe726302d0″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/07/01/Josh_Butler.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b99fc3ae31423d51324e5f82baea0af0″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”},{“id”:”65ddcb838f08ef837bca8f0a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the day in Canberra and beyond. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you the best overnight stories before Amy Remeikis takes over.

“,”elementId”:”2a46c58d-84ac-474c-b0d1-65a2924fa904″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Muslims across Australia are preparing to observe Ramadan from next Sunday but some community leaders have backed out of the traditional state premiers’ dinners in protest against government responses to the Israel-Gaza war. Two peak Muslim bodies rejected invitations to iftar dinners hosted by the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, reflecting broader community frustration.

“,”elementId”:”8a317ffc-9b8e-4fd6-b576-100425110d78″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Inflation data for January will be released later this morning that could give a hint about the next move in interest rates. The December rate was 3.4% (well down from 4.3% in November) but January’s is expected by a consensus of forecasters to be 3.6%, which means the Reserve Bank might not feel it can begin cutting rates.

“,”elementId”:”2c74edd2-fd00-440d-81e9-3c5b6bf1c1d0″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Anthony Albanese’s government will be hoping for better news as it campaigns hard to win the Dunkley byelection on Saturday, where cost of living is one of the main stump issues. Last night the prime minister held a press conference at the unusual time of 8.30pm to hail the passing of Labor’s tax cut changes – a move he hopes will garner votes and boost his party’s popularity. More details coming up.

“,”elementId”:”a331c08b-2cb5-4cbc-a833-f194295d6580″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

More than 30,000 Victorians have been urged to leave their homes before what authorities fear could be the worst fire day for the state in four years, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid 40s in some areas today. More coming up.

“,”elementId”:”84e0e523-12b3-412c-9a6f-dbad24935f6a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1709062179000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockLastUpdated”:1709061739000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”14.22 EST”,”blockFirstPublished”:1709062179000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”14.29 EST”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”14.29″,”title”:”Welcome”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 27 Feb 2024 19.48 EST”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 27 Feb 2024 14.29 EST”}],”filterKeyEvents”:false,”id”:”key-events-carousel-mobile”}” config=”{“renderingTarget”:”Web”,”darkModeAvailable”:false}”>

Key events

Caitlin Cassidy

Chief scientist of Australia, Dr Cathy Foley, says the Universities Accord is the “beginning of a conversation” rather than a blueprint for the coming decades, that risks placing undue pressure on the sector.

Speaking to the Universities Australia Solutions Summit, Foley questioned federal government framing that the report’s recommendations would define the sector to 2050.

It’s a starting point. What it’s got is flags, to say: ‘these are things that are important’. But I would urge universities to think – what is it you don’t do?

For too long, we keep thinking the universities will solve problems … keep adding on and expecting them to work miracles.

We haven’t had a focus on universities other than – we want you to do more – more teaching … coming up with new knowledge, winning Nobel prizes and starting businesses as well as educating for the future.”

She said it was “remarkable” universities were one of Australia’s biggest exports considering the strain the sector was under to deliver.

Having strong research is really important to a countries reputation – but also, to make sure the country is able to live to its ambitions.”

Caitlin Cassidy

Henderson also used her address to push back on a number of findings in the Universities Accord Final report, including targets to double higher education participation by 2050 by improving equity in the sector.

She warned plans to significantly boost enrolments of disadvantaged cohorts risked putting students on a “pathway to failure”.

The ANU’s higher education expert, Andrew Norton, estimates universities will need to enrol students with an ATAR as low as 45 to reach this number … and herein lies a big challenge for the higher education sector. You know you can’t just open your doors and hope for the best.

Pushing vulnerable students with poor grades into a university course risks alienating them from a trade or other more suitable work*, and putting them on a pathway to failure.”

Henderson was particularly critical of proposed needs-based funding that would provide a financial incentive for universities to graduate disadvantaged students, and account for the additional expenses of providing wraparound support.

It should not take a bonus payment to universities to ensure a student completes his or her degree. Surely that is core business – this is what universities are paid to do – by students and by the commonwealth … this is one recommendation that should not be supported.”

(*Um, sorry what? – Amy)

Caitlin Cassidy

Coalition says Labor ‘kite flying’ ideas on higher education

The Coalition has warned a major report into reforming the higher education sector is “kite flying” its key ideas in an address pushing back against “raised expectations” of financial reform.

Speaking at the Universities Australia Solutions summit on Wednesday, the shadow education minister, Senator Sarah Henderson, said the Coalition was considering the final report in detail, adding the “opportunities and challenges” for the sector were considerable.

She backed the announcement of an independent student ombudsman, slated to begin next year, and the government’s expansion of regional university centres, while questioning the merits of building centres in suburban areas. But she said it was “disappointing” the government’s response had “raised many more questions than answers”.

As the minister for education, Jason Clare, said last night – there is a lot in the accord’s reform agenda. And might I say a little bit of kite flying – with raised expectations of paid student placements for student nurses, teachers and carers to combat placement poverty, changes to HECs repayments and much greater support for students in need – those from low-SES families and the regions.

The government has not articulated any plan for universities or put forward a set of priorities – and that makes your job tough.”

Speaking at a Universities Australia gala dinner yesterday evening, Clare told attendees including vice chancellors and leading academics that Labor would consider the reforms for several months before making further announcements.

Australian CPI up 3.4% in January from a year ago

Peter Hannam

Australia’s consumer prices rose 3.4% in January from a year ago, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has just said.

As noted in an earlier post. Economists had predicted CPI would come in at 3.6%, or higher than the 3.4% increase in December.

Monthly figures can bounce around, especially when the basket of goods and services the ABS uses get revised, as has just happened for the start of 2024.

That makes for a few quirks to iron out. The Reserve Bank, though, will be weighing up today’s figures when its board next meets on 18-19 March, and what – if anything – the CPI means for interest projections.

Amy Remeikis

Labor’s help to buy bill will pass the House – but will the Greens sink it in the Senate?

The House of Representatives is going through the motions of the help to buy legislation debate (going through the motions because of course government legislation is going to pass the House, where the government has the numbers).

It’s the Senate where the big show is. The Greens are voting against it in the House, but reserving their position in the Senate while they negotiate with the government on changes to other housing policies – like grandfathering negative gearing.

So far, that’s a big NO from the government, but there is some time left in this debate.

Peter Hannam

What’s an extra day in February worth? About $6bn – to the economy

On the subject of quirks, 2024 as a leap year adds a day to the February quarter.

According to Brendan Rynne, KPMG’s chief economist, the December quarter GDP figures out next Wednesday might see growth close to or actually negative.

With weak momentum in the economy, it’s not out of the question the March quarter might also be close to zero or negative growth. Having the extra day in February – which Rynne says the ABS doesn’t adjust for – should add about $6bn to the quarter’s output.

Two quarters in a row of negative GDP growth would constitute a “technical recession”, which is a bit moot since in per-capita terms GDP has been going backwards since the start of 2023. Still, having an extra day in February might just come in handy later in the year.

Or as Rynne puts it:

This 1.1% kicker to quarterly GDP should be enough to ensure that the March quarter will not fall into negative territory thereby allowing Australia to skirt the possibility [of] falling into a technical recession … We aren’t called the ‘Lucky Country’ for nothing.”

Peter Hannam

CPI figures due in this week

We’ll get our first official look at how inflation is tracking in 2024 later this morning when the ABS releases the consumer price index numbers for January.

It’s well-known the monthly CPI figures can be a bit quirky because the ABS doesn’t review the whole basket of goods and services each month. That’s why the quarterly numbers are treated more seriously by the Reserve Bank when it considers if we’re still on the track to its 2%-3% target range (and hence when it can start cutting its key interest rate).

Still, the arrow of direction will be noteworthy. Economists predict the January CPI will be 3.6%, ticking higher for the first time in four months, from December’s 3.4%.

Perhaps wary of a dunking at Saturday’s byelection in Melbourne’s south-eastern seat of Dunkley, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has circulated prepared comments aimed at calming the horses should we see a rise in inflation.

The defensiveness might be unnecessary. Some goods’ prices are actually getting cheaper (thank China’s weak domestic demand for part of that) so CPI will probably remain around 3.5%. That’s lower than the 4.1% pace for the December quarter, for instance.