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4.15pm on May 31, 2018
The end
By
We'll wrap up the blog right there.
Today has seen:
more institutions opt into the national redress scheme for child sexual abuse survivors
the defection of a former Labor senator to the Liberal Party
One Nation splitting over the government's company tax cuts
Michaelia Cash pushing back against Labor's attacks over her involvement in the AWU raids controversy
attention on Greg Hunt's "expletive-laden tirade" at an elderly NT mayor
And that's it for this sitting week. Parliament – and, therefore, our live blog – will return on June 18.
Until then, you can find me on Facebook here and Twitter here. And thanks to Alex Ellinghausen and Dominic Lorrimer for the photos today. You can find them on Twitter here and here.
And, as always, your hot tips and feedback are welcome at fergus.hunter@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
It seems the government pulled its bill applying tougher rules on the live sheep trade because Liberal MP Sussan Ley, who has been pushing to ban the trade, signalled she would cross the floor and vote for a Labor amendment to phase out the industry.
From the Guardian story:
"Government sources have told Guardian Australia Ley told government colleagues on Thursday morning she intended to vote for the Labor amendment if the bill reached the floor, given the alternative would have meant voting down her own bill.
"The bill was pulled on Thursday morning. It is understood the government was worried about numbers on the floor with several absences this week.
"Four government MPs are absent, as is Bob Katter, the Queensland crossbencher."
3.27pm on May 31, 2018
QT in pictures
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Here's Question Time as Alex Ellinghausen and Dominic Lorrimer saw it.
The PM during QT.Alex EllinghausenHunt in Labor's sights.Alex EllinghausenBill Shorten.Dominic LorrimerTurnbull getting fired up.Dominic Lorrimer
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3.15pm on May 31, 2018
End of QT
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Question from Nationals MP Llew O'Brien to Social Services Minister Dan Tehan.
O'Brien asks about support for survivors of child sexual abuse.
Tehan says all states and territories except WA have signed up for the national redress scheme. He says he is confident WA will opt in.
He sats the redress scheme entitles survivors to a payment, psychological counselling and an apology from the relevant institution.
Jenny Macklin stands up to express Labor's support for the scheme.
And Question Time ends.
3.12pm on May 31, 2018
Q22
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Question from Catherine King to Greg Hunt.
King asks Hunt to provide assurances that he has not been involved in any other instances of inappropriate language or behaviour towards stakeholders, public servants or staff.
Hunt says he is not aware of any complaints made by his staff and there hasn't been any mediation or settlement with staff.
He says there was a complaint involving former secretary of the Department of Health after a "strong discussion" over the National Cancer Screening Register.
The PM became involved in that matter.
Hunt says he takes responsibility for the incident but also argues it was a life and death matter and resulted in the "right outcome", with the program continuing.
3.03pm on May 31, 2018
Q21 - Dixer
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Question from Liberal MP Trevor Evans to Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher.
Evans asks about investment in transport infrastructure.
Fletcher goes through investments being made in Brisbane transport projects.
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3.01pm on May 31, 2018
Q20
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Question from Labor MP Graham Perrett to Malcolm Turnbull.
Perrett asks why the government isn't supporting Labor's alternative income tax cuts, which carry larger benefits for low and middle-income earners, and pursuing company tax cuts.
Turnbull refers to some taxpayers who would pay more tax under Labor's policy and the government wants comprehensive reform.
He says people should keep more of the money they earn.
"It's their money, they've earned it," Turnbull says.
2.58pm on May 31, 2018
Q19 - Dixer
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Question from Nationals MP Kevin Hogan to Aged Care and Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt.
Hogan asks about support for older people, especially those in rural and regional Australia.
Wyatt says funding is up for aged care, with a focus on in-home care and additional investment in regional areas.
He says Labor (through its dividend imputation policy) wants to take retirees' savings away.
2.55pm on May 31, 2018
Q18
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Question from shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus to Malcolm Turnbull.
Dreyfus then asks about the penalties for executives government's Banking Executive Accountability Regime, cheekily referencing Turnbull's connection the collapse of insurance giant HIH.
Scott Morrison takes the question and thanks Dreyfus for the chance to talk about BEAR.
"What we have done is put into place it up a set of accountability rules for banking executives that have ever existed in this country," he says.
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2.51pm on May 31, 2018
Q17 - Dixer
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Questiom from Liberal MP Andrew Wallace to Small Business Minister Craig Laundy.
Wallace asks small business growth.
Laundy rattles off some figures showing growth in the sector and then pivots to Labor's links with the CFMMEU.