Canavan and Joyce attend anti-abortion rally and back controversial bill – as it happened

This blog is now closedLabor pledges opt-out register for online gambling ads akin to Do Not Call register for spam callsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHume says housing the ‘best indicator of economic security’ in retirement over superThe deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume says the Coalition will reconsider whether Australians should be able to access more of their superannuation balance early after Pauline Hanson called on Sunday for super rules to be “lightened up a bit” and allow workers to their money in times of crisis.It’s something that we will obviously consider as part of our normal processes, that’s not a policy that’s come to our shadow cabinet yet, but of course, it’s something that we would consider.I do think that superannuation is highly valued by Australians, it’s not something that you need in your working life, it’s something you need in your retired life.If you put the Productivity Commission report into any pub across Australia, people read it from cover to cover, [they] all say the system currently is unfair. We’re paying more for it than we were told it would cost. We’re using scarce income tax dollars to prop up a state that doesn’t need it.This is a deal that doesn’t make any other state worse off, makes sure that there’s the right incentives to deliver productivity and economic growth. And also helps the federal budget bottom line by making sure that we can continue to deliver the royalties and the company tax in particular.WA has a significant resources sector and we need the ability to be able to develop those resources because they lead to national economic growth but also are the national bottom line.We have a pretty significant resource state here in New South Wales too, as does Queensland, as does South Australia. And if the logic that WA is arguing for is to apply across the board, then every other state that’s either developing those resources or looking to are entitled to the same benefit. Continue reading...