MARK DREYFUS MP

Three years since the original Freedom of Information (FOI) request was made, and thousands of taxpayer dollars later – George Brandis has finally handed over his diary.

Today's cabinet meeting will be a major test for Prime Minister Turnbull - does he have the backbone to stand up for protections against racial hate speech?

This week I will be visiting Community Legal Centres in three states to hear first-hand the devastating impact the government's 30 per cent funding cuts will have on these vital services.

It has been nearly three years since my office made a simple request for parts of Senator George Brandis's diary.

Labor welcomes the announcement today that Victoria and New South Wales will join a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse.

Federal Labor again calls on the Turnbull Government to secure an agreement with the state and territory governments and institutions for a national redress scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual ab

During a Senate hearing today, Attorney-General George Brandis repeatedly refused to say whether his office made an attempt to block the Australian Taxation Office from intervening in the Bell Group High Court case.

Federal Labor strongly encourages all states and institutions to sign up to a national redress scheme for survivors of child sexual abuse as soon as possible.

The Liberal Party's latest attempt to undermine Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, put forward by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, displays a continued ignorance of how the law actually operates.

Today's announcement is further proof that the ABC is being asked to do more with less in a challenging media environment.