FEDERAL POLITICS: 2019 IN REVIEW

MEDEVAC VICTORY

The Morrison government endured a historic defeat in the House of Representatives prior to their historic election. In February, the Morrison Government lost the first substantive vote on the floor of the House of Representatives since 1929, after Labor and the crossbench voted to pass the medical evacuations bill. Despite the setback, Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, remained on the political offensive and stated the vote showed Labor had failed to learn the lessons from of the past.

BUDGET BACK IN THE BLACK

In March, Treasurer the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP confidently declared that the “budget is back in black and Australia is back on track”. The Budget, presented in April forecast a $4.2 billion deficit for the 2018-19 Financial Year, before return to a $7.1 billion surplus in 2019-20. Within the budget, taxpayers are projected to benefit from the Government bringing forward personal tax cuts. The Morrison Government promised billions in new expenditure for infrastructure, health care and small business.

2019 FEDERAL ELECTION

The 2019 Federal Election marked the first time since 2001 that a Federal government in Australia won a third consecutive term in office. In what is widely considered an upset victory, Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP retained government after a strong showing in Queensland and Tasmania, while holding key seats in other states.

2^nd MORRISON MINISTRY

Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP’s Second Ministry was sworn into office in May 2019. Cabinet remained largely unchanged and many previous Morrison Government ministers kept their roles including the Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon David Coleman MP and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Marise Payne.

Minister Payne, who is one of a record seven women in the new cabinet, also gained the role of Minister for Women in addition to her responsibilities as Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP was named Minister for Indigenous Australians, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to be appointed to Cabinet and to hold the portfolio.

NEW ERA FOR LABOR

After Labor’s unexpected election loss, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP announced his candidacy for the leadership. Mr Albanese had previously unsuccessfully ran for the leadership in 2013.

Several other Labor MPs including the Hon Chris Bowen MP, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP and Dr Jim Chalmers MP considered nominating for the leadership, although all other contenders eventually decided not to stand. Mr Albanese was the only person to have declared his candidacy and was formally appointed to the role by the Labor Party caucus.

NEW PARLIAMENT

The 46^th Parliament opened on 2 July 2019 with the Morrison Government moving swiftly to implement their legislative agenda. Two days later, the government passed its landmark tax cut legislation, flattening the tax rate to 30% for workers earning between $45,000 and $200,000. This effectively reduced the number of tax brackets from three down to one.

The Morrison Government also introduced legislation in the House of Representatives to begin the repeal of Medevac legislation passed by Labor and the Crossbench earlier in the year.

NEW CROSSBENCH

The 46th Parliament also resulted in some notable changes to the Crossbench in both houses. Independent’s Dr Helen Haines MP and Ms Zali Steggall OAM, MP were elected for the first time to the House of Representatives.

Senator Jacqui Lambie was returned by the people of Tasmania to her seat in the Senate. One Nation also saw it retain its numbers in the Senate with the return Senator Malcolm Roberts mitigating the loss of Senator Peter Georgiou in Western Australia. You can read our thoughts on engaging with the new Senate Crossbench here.

Subsequent to the election, Senator Cory Bernardi announced his plan to resign from the Senate, which will result in a Casual Vacancy and new Liberal Senator. To learn more about the process of the replacement of Senator Bernardi, Nexus has provided its in-depth analysis here.

MORRISON’S STATE VISIT

In September 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison became the second world leader to receive an official state dinner during US President, the Right Honourable Donald Trump’s presidency.

The Prime Minister said it was a “great honour and privilege” to be welcomed to the White House by the Trump administration to celebrate a century of close diplomatic ties.

Following the state dinner, Mr Morrison joined Mr Trump at various locations in the United States, and concluded his US trip in New York, by giving a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Australian’s across the continent have and continue to be impacted by significant natural events. Already this fire season, six Australians have died, and more than 1,000 homes have been lost across Australia.

Many Australians are suffering through a severe drought, with ongoing drought through the Murray Darling Basin now the worst on record according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

The NSW Legislative Council has held an urgent hearing into the state’s koala population and habitat after this season’s “unprecedented” bushfires destroyed millions of hectares of forest.

Meanwhile, the eruption of New Zealand’s White Island volcano has seen seven Australians have died from injuries sustained with a number more likely to be dead or missing.

MEDEVAC REPEAL

In December 2019, the Parliament went full circle with the Morrison Government repealing the Medevac legislation that it had passed in February 2019. The changes will see the refugee medical transfer rules restored to their previous state after striking a deal with Senator Jacqui Lambie.

The Coalition gained support from four of the six crossbenchers in the Senate to repeal the legislation by 37 to 35 votes, removing the changes that were introduced by the former Member for Wentworth, Dr Kerryn Phelps, prior to the 2019 Federal Election.