Australia politics live: question time under way; Israeli ambassador defends investigation into Zomi Frankcom’s death

Question time begins with Taylor querying confidence in PMAngus Taylor asks how Australians can have confidence in the prime minister when he changes his position (after the government decided to cut the fuel excise when they’d said it wasn’t a measure being considered just days before).Anthony Albanese says the government has been consistent in acknowledging that Australians are feeling “stretched and under pressure” from the impact of the war in the Middle East.He defends the government’s response to the crisis and says the measures taken – including the excise cut – have been responsible. double quotation markThere are challenges ahead of us. It is also a fact that because prices have increased right around the world, we sought to have a responsible plan to make a difference as well to people’s cost of living issues as we always do. ShareUpdated at 05.29 CESTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureTaylor pushes Albanese to rule out expansion of parliamentAngus Taylor has another go, and asks point blank, will the prime minister rule out expanding the size of parliament?He gets a lot of “good question” shouts of support from his MPs, but Albanese is critical of the question, to say the least. double quotation markThis is extraordinary. At a time when there is a war in the Middle East, when there are significant economic impacts … Dan Tehan immediately gets up to make a point of order on relevance, which Milton Dick shuts down, saying the PM has only said about 20 words and used 30 seconds of his answer. But he does tell Albanese to answer the question.View image in fullscreenOpposition leader Angus Taylor. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPAlbanese continues: double quotation markOne, I am satisfied with the current number of seats in the House of Representatives, that is 150 MPs, with 12 senators from each state. Point two is I’m satisfied with the composition of the current parliament. Very satisfied with the current composition. And point three, I have been very privileged to have the best campaign director I have ever seen … Paul Erickson. If I was to say to him we have 94 seats but how about we throw it all up in the air and see how it lands? I reckon Paul Erickson would have a pretty clear response. There are a few very confused expressions from the opposition on that third point.Two quick notes here: Albanese didn’t actually, firmly rule out changes, and he didn’t mention the number of territory senators (which have been pushing to increase their numbers of senators from just two).ShareUpdated at 05.39 CESTAlbanese dismisses claim government will increase Parliament sizeAngus Taylor is back at the dispatch box and asks if the government will spend $600m to expand parliament and increase the number of representatives.(For more context, see here)Anthony Albanese’s not entertaining the question, and gives a very short answer. This is the whole thing: double quotation markLet me make this as clear as I possibly can. I am more than satisfied with both the number of members of the House of Representatives and their composition. ShareSpender calls for government to streamline skills assessments for migrantsOver to the crossbench, Allegra Spender asks the treasurer what the government will do to lower the number of permanent migrants in Australia working below their skill level, to make upskilling “fairer, faster and more affordable”.She says: double quotation markThis includes 20,000 teachers, 50,000 engineers, 16,000 nurses and 1,300 electricians who are unable to teach, care and build to their full capacity because of slow and costly skills recognitions pathways. View image in fullscreenIndependent MP Allegra Spender. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPJim Chalmers says it’s a good question, and an issue that’s been raised with him by his colleagues.He says the government has made some moves to figure out how to address that skill gap – but that there’s more to do.Chalmers adds that funding has been provided to streamline skills assessments for migrants, which has particularly benefited workers in the construction industry. double quotation markWe know there is more work to do in this regard and that is why last November I agreed with my state and territory counterparts to prioritise work on recognising skills particularly in areas of acute demand like construction, health and emerging industries, and we have a number of ways we are going about this important work. He basically says “watch this space” for more.ShareUpdated at 05.35 CESTMore than 100 service stations across Australia without fuelHow many service stations are empty, asks Dan Tehan.Like last week, Chris Bowen gives us the latest figures: NSW: 247 without diesel, 61 with no stock, out of 2,400 service stations. QLD: 77 without diesel, 39 with no unleaded, out of 1,800 service stations. VIC: 82 without diesel, 40 with no stock, out of 1,627 service stations. WA: 18 without diesel, 14 with no unleaded out of 771 service stations. TAS: 8 without diesel, 15 with one or more fuels unavailable, out of 294 service stations. NT: 5 without diesel, 4 with no unleaded out of 180 service stations ACT: 5 without diesel, 2 with no unleaded Bowen adds that in the ACT the service stations are normally filled within the same day, and shortages in the NT are also due to flooding.View image in fullscreenFuel pumps are empty at a petrol station in Sydney. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 05.28 CESTQuestion time begins with Taylor querying confidence in PMAngus Taylor asks how Australians can have confidence in the prime minister when he changes his position (after the government decided to cut the fuel excise when they’d said it wasn’t a measure being considered just days before).Anthony Albanese says the government has been consistent in acknowledging that Australians are feeling “stretched and under pressure” from the impact of the war in the Middle East.He defends the government’s response to the crisis and says the measures taken – including the excise cut – have been responsible. double quotation markThere are challenges ahead of us. It is also a fact that because prices have increased right around the world, we sought to have a responsible plan to make a difference as well to people’s cost of living issues as we always do. ShareUpdated at 05.29 CEST‘Buy wonky fruit’: farm wastage pitch enough to earn ‘PM for a day’ nodBefore question time, the PM gives a shoutout to Jett Jarvis who has won the Squiz kid “PM for a day”.His pitch to the PM is to encourage more Australians to buy wonky fruit, to avoid wastage on farms.Anthony Albanese has some wonky words to go with the shout out (in what I think is a little diss to those sitting across the chamber)! double quotation markI know some bananas that aren’t bent the right way, sometimes aren’t rejected … Cue some chuckles across the House.Jarvis is from the seat of Maranoa, and his representative, David Littleproud also jokes, and says: double quotation markIt’s great to see someone from Maranoa at the top. View image in fullscreenA wonky avocado. Photograph: Victor De Jesus/UNP/PAShareUpdated at 05.20 CESTABC offers extra 0.5% pay rise for staffAmanda MeadeThe ABC has offered staff an additional 0.5% pay rise and some improved conditions after “very challenging negotiations” in the Fair Work Commission on Monday, unions have told ABC staff.After a strike last week the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), and the non-journalists’ Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents staff in technology and control systems, sat down with management.The offer of a 10% pay rise over three years was increased to 10.5% with a 4% rise in the first year backdated to October.People and culture director, Deena Amorelli, told staff: double quotation markI’m pleased to provide you with an update on the Enterprise Agreement (EA). Following discussion at the Fair Work Commission (FWC) conciliation yesterday, we have agreed a position that is endorsed by all bargaining representatives, including union delegates from both the CPSU and MEAA. The MEAA has asked staff to decide whether to accept the offer. They told members the walkout was a success because “we now have above inflation pay for year 1 on the table, real pathways for band progression, and improved reward for hard work”.“This will benefit us and our future colleagues for years to come, and we should all be extremely proud,” the union said.View image in fullscreenABC journalists and staff walk out of offices during a strike last week while demanding better pay and protections. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty ImagesShareUpdated at 05.12 CESTIsraeli ambassador defends investigation into Australian aid worker’s deathIsrael’s ambassador to Australia says he is not aware that the investigation into the Israeli drone strike that killed Zomi Frankcom and six aid workers in Gaza has been shelved or that there will be no prosecution.At the National Press Club, Hillel Newman defends the Israeli government’s actions and says Australian investigator, Mark Binskin, who was sent by the Albanese government, delivered a report that found “the attack was not intentional”.Binskin’s review, handed to the government, found the IDF strike on the World Central Kitchen volunteers was the result of “serious failures to follow procedures”.Newman says: double quotation markYou say it’s been shelved, I don’t know what basis, I have not … I have never heard it’s been shelved. It could be I have not been updated, I will check. As far as I know they have not come to final conclusions not because they delay, there are legal cases in Israel that go on for years … as far as I know it [has] not come to that conclusion yet but I will check again. Newman says Binskin was “given full access at the time to what they had available and he drew up the conclusions together”. But Binskin has said he was never shown the drone audio during the investigation.Journalist Anna Henderson pushes Newman on why the drone audio was not shown to Binskin and whether he will commit to it being released.He won’t make the commitment.View image in fullscreenThe Israeli ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, at the National Press Club in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP double quotation mark[It] could be intelligence. I was not there … I would have to check [why] it is not possible to release that video information. Last month, prime minister Anthony Albanese told Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, Australia wanted to see transparency over the investigation and “any appropriate criminal charges”.ShareUpdated at 05.05 CESTCoalition is ‘only party fixated on’ increasing size of parliament, Farrell saysDon Farrell has refuted claims the government is working on increasing the size of parliament while the fuel crisis across the country worsens.The opposition held a press conference earlier today, accusing Farrell of “belling the cat” on the issue, after he told National Press Club yesterday he hadn’t given up on increasing the number of representatives.In a statement, Farrell says he is awaiting the findings of the joint standing committee on electoral matters, which holds a post election review every term. He will “show the committee the respect it deserves of not pre-empting their important work.” double quotation markThe only party fixated on this enough to have done costings is the Coalition. The government is focused on fuel security and cost of living relief for Australians. This is clearly not about the policy or issues; it’s about the internal audition for attention in the Coalition. View image in fullscreenTrade minister Don Farrell. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShareUpdated at 04.23 CEST‘Israel and Australia stand in the same camp’: Israeli ambassadorIsrael’s ambassador to Australia says the two nations are “close allies”, with the relationship “deeply rooted in history”.Hillel Newman is speaking to the National Press Club, his first address since taking on the role earlier this year.The diplomatic relationship between the two nations has faced some strain over the last two years, including Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticising the Australian prime minister for recognising Palestinian statehood last year, and accused Albanese of “betraying” Israel.Newman says: double quotation markIsrael and Australia stand in the same camp. Of moderates, modern democracies that value human rights and uphold democratic concerns. That has long characterised the relationship between our two countries. Our connection is deeply rooted in history and founded on shared values. It is only natural, for Australia and Israel to be close allies. We share the same values, we share the same threats, we must stand together and defend our values. View image in fullscreenIsraeli ambassador Hillel Newman speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShareUpdated at 04.07 CEST

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