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Nationals are too little too late re Banking inquiry as another Nationals MP vows to cross floor
Nationals fear an election is looming SOON. They are politically manacled to the Coalition. Nats harbour a loathing of Labor. This is all about the possible annihilation of the Nationals and nothing to do with the victims. They had their chance to back Bill Shorten and cross the floor on a full blown Royal Commission a year ago and failed to raise a hand against Turnbull. The ONLY REASON that Turnbull is running the Nation is because of the Nationals. Nats have backed Turnbull and the Banks as their major political benefactor whilst two million families have been suffering from MORTGAGE FRAUD. BFCSA cannot in good conscience back this insane idea of the Katter Commission of Inquiry. Sco Mo has to fund it and he will make sure if pushed into an awkward situation he will hand out Two Bob’s worth of coin. But we d see the panic in the eyes of the Nationals. They will be annihilated at the next election and rightly blamed for not answering the call to cross the floor two years ago. Instead they chose to cover up for the Banks whilst pretending to help. The issue of a Royal Commission was always their choice. Despite claiming they want a limp lettuce underfunded Commission of Inquiry or PC, they have said NO to RC. They have steadfastly said no RC, during the past decade. They have pretended they want an RC but secretly will never back one against their paymasters.
Shame on each one of these MPs. First, the NATIONALS must SPLIT with the LIBs and had their chance to do so when David Murray's buddy Anthony Abbott took charge in 2013. Obeying Abbott and Turnbull to the detriment of their aggrieved constituents will ensure their own demise. Suggesting they now care and continue to say NO to RC....................is TOO LITTLE TOO LATE.
This hair brain idea cannot get this up before Christmas and so the NATS self righteous daft plan is to feed the victims more Propaganda:
HERE ARE TWO ITEMS OF PROPAGANDA:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/banking-inquiry-all-but-inevitable-after-another-nationals-mp-vows-to-cross-floor-20171127-gztm8l.html
A sweeping inquiry into Australia's banking and financial system appears inevitable, with a second Nationals MP confirming he will defy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and cross the floor to deliver the crucial final vote needed to establish the probe.
Nationals MP Llew O'Brien is set to join his Queensland Nationals colleague George Christensen and vote in the lower house for the banking commission of inquiry after the revolt was kick-started by Queensland senator Barry O'Sullivan. DAVID MURRAY IS STILL IN CONTROL OF THE CONVERSATION
But the head of the recent financial system inquiry, David Murray, warned a banking inquiry without safeguards could veer into "dangerous territory" while CLSA bank analyst Brian Johnson said it could affect the home loan market in the medium term.
Nationals sources said it was possible the party could, next Monday, decide to allow a free vote on the issue, and that if this happened more MPs could come forward and vote for the commission of inquiry.
Alternatively, the Nationals could split from the Liberals and formally switch position as a party to back the probe.
Having told Fairfax Media 10 days ago he was a 50-50 chance to cross the floor, Mr O'Brien locked in support for the inquiry after securing amendments to the bill proposed by Senator O'Sullivan that will broaden the terms of reference so insurance companies that have discriminated against people with mental health issues is examined.
Mr O'Brien's predecessor in the seat of Wide Bay, former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Warren Truss, told Fairfax Media that he did not support a banking inquiry as "it will cost $100 million or more, it will give people a chance to have their grievances heard, but it won't make out system better".
The growing likelihood of an inquiry comes amid Coalition infighting over the Queensland state election result, which saw the Liberal National Party bleed votes to One Nation and Mr Christensen blaming, in part, the federal government - and the Prime Minister - for the result. His Queensland LNP colleague Warren Entsch hit back at him for "always firing shots".
If the inquiry goes ahead with the support of the Parliament, thereby overriding the wishes of the government, it will be another damaging blow to Mr Turnbull's standing and authority in the Coalition.
Another Nationals MP, Victorian Andrew Broad, has also told Fairfax Media he could back the inquiry.
"I will listen to debate in the Nationals party room and then make a decision," he said, though he added some of the angst in his state had dissipated because the former Coalition state government had established farm debt mediation to deal with complaints about the banks.
Mr Christensen on Monday also launched a banking inquiry petition and website that outlined 10 reasons why an inquiry is needed.
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who has opposed an inquiry and who is currently campaigning to win back his seat of New England, signalled a broader shift from the junior Coalition partner was in prospect.
"You can take anything to the Nationals party room for consideration. We will discuss it [the inquiry] and come to a decision, we will have the discussion after the byelection," he said.
Senator O'Sullivan's bill, released last week, is set to sail through the Senate with the support of the Nationals, Greens, Labor and some on the crossbench.
But to be passed in the lower house, 76 votes are needed to suspend standing orders and debate the bill; Mr O'Brien and Mr Christensen's two votes - combined with 74 from Labor and the crossbench - would deliver the numbers.
A simple majority is then needed to pass the bill and set up the inquiry, which would report to the Parliament, not the executive, but have the same powers as a royal commission.
Senator O'Sullivan's wide-ranging inquiry would appoint three commissioners - a former judge, a financial expert and a community representative - and run for three years.
He suggested Mr Turnbull still had a chance to intervene, take charge of the process and order a royal commission
"Clearly an inquiry led by government would be superior to one that was forced on it by the numbers on the floor of two houses. I have been and remain open to that happening," Senator O'Sullivan said.
Mr Murray said he did not think a banking inquiry was necessary and that, for example, any recommendation to reduce the level of the banks' vertical integration would be bad for competition.
"And with the financial system and its effect on the economy, it's dangerous territory," he said.
Treasurer Scott Morrison is meanwhile working on a "last resort" compensation scheme for people who have been ripped off by banks and other financial institutions, in a last-ditch move to head off the Nationals push.
The details of that scheme could be announced as soon as this week.
Nationals MP Llew O'Brien says mental illness experience makes banking inquiry personal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-28/llew-obrien-throws-his-support-behind-banking-inquiry/9198922
It seems inevitable that a bill calling for a wide-ranging inquiry into banks, insurers and superannuation providers would pass the Federal Parliament, after another Nationals MP pledges support for it.
Llew O'Brien is one of the fresher faces in the 45th Parliament, but he has parachuted himself into the political spotlight by confirming he would back the proposal from Nationals Senator Barry O'Sullivan.
Mr O'Brien gave his support on the condition the inquiry investigate discrimination by financial institutions against people with mental health problems.
"When you have 45 per cent of Australians anticipated to have some sort of mental ill health throughout their life, and then you've got insurance companies discriminating in the way they do, that must have an effect on our country," Mr O'Brien told AM.
He said he had "no doubt" it was a problem and used an example of women being unable to claim income protection because they had suffered from post-natal depression.
"She might get over [the depression] and work her way through that with treatment very successfully, and look for income protection insurance," he explained.
"What is happening is that there are a large number of unreasonable exclusions she has never suffered from, or there is a blanket policy of not covering that person.
"That is clearly discriminatory and it does clearly play into adding to the stigma associated with these things and stopping people from getting the treatment they need to intervene early."
For Mr O'Brien, the issue is personal. He spent years working as a policeman, investigating fatal traffic accidents.
Countless tragedies took their toll on his own mental health, and he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
"That was an experience that is very valuable to me," he said.
The Federal Government has a policy against a banking royal commission and has not yet leant its support to Senator O'Sullivan's bill.
Asked what he would say to colleagues who saw his approach as an attempt to destabilise the Turnbull Government, Mr O'Brien said: "I'm in Parliament to serve both my constituents and the people of Australia, and they're the people I answer to."
Frontbenchers take conciliatory tone
Cabinet Minister and senior Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said the Coalition had already held inquiries into the banks, but he did not slap down the latest push from his colleagues.
"Of course, I'm willing to consider any viewpoint that's put to our party room, there's no point turning up to the party room if I'm not of that attitude," Senator Canavan said.
"If it does come up, I'm sure, given many of my colleagues have passionate views about this, of course we'll consider those viewpoints."
Another Government frontbencher, assistant minister to the Prime Minister, James McGrath, also took a conciliatory tone.
"If some of my National Party colleagues wish to support or set up a commission of inquiry into the banking and finance sector, well, they're exercising their decision making," Senator McGrath said.
"Let's see what happens next week in terms of where it ends up with my National Party colleagues.
"The Government's position is to oppose a royal commission and also to oppose a commission of inquiry into the banks.
"But if there are the numbers in the Parliament, well, my view is that's what parliament's there for."
Issue can drag into new year
Labor and the Greens previously supported a banking royal commission bill, meaning Senator O'Sullivan's version would likely pass the Upper House.
Provided it reached the Lower House, the bill would need the support of the crossbench, and two government MPs.
Nationals MP George Christensen, who has threatened several times to cross the floor on the issue but never followed through, has insisted he would vote for a commission of inquiry into the banks before the end of the year.
The Prime Minister has ensured the Senate is focussed on finishing debating same-sex marriage this week, but Mr O'Brien wants a banking bill dealt with in the Lower House as soon as possible.
"It could be next week. Who knows, who knows. It could've been this week but it vanished," he said.
There is every chance the issue of a banking commission of inquiry will drag into the new year.