The SPEAKER (Mr Harry Jenkins) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
There are two broad possible policy responses to the problems created by a two-speed economy: slow down the speeding sector; or reduce the impediments to the movement of capital and people from the lagging sectors to the leading sectors.
Slowing down the development of Australia’s mining and energy resource industries would be a scandalous wasted opportunity to lock in future prosperity and achieve social and environmental goals such as supporting school students in disadvantaged communities, Australians with disabilities, those with mental illnesses and others who are too sick to work, and preserving Australia’s unique biological diversity.
Easing the constraints on our mining and energy resource industries is by far the better way to go.
The proposition that transfer policies promote the welfare of targeted groups is generally accepted. Taxes, transfers, and regulatory policies are perceived to be adjustment levers available to fine-tune the economic machine that grinds out goods and services. If we do not like the allocation of economic benefits, corrective action can be undertaken by moving the levers via the political process.
Taxpayers and transfer recipients are human beings—
not sheep who can be shorn at will, their wool automatically growing back for the next shearing season. People—
will adjust their actions for individual advantage, in response to governmental changes in the rules of the game. Similarly, since the political process, like the market, results from individual choices, it may or may not yield its stated goals. Thus, it is not obvious that income transfers emanating from the political process will promote economic equality or even help the targeted groups.
... in terms of distribution of costs and benefits, the MRRT is like the carbon tax in reverse: the carbon tax imposes a hidden slug on the many to benefit a handful of Greens and a gaggle of their cronies; the MRRT taxes the few to finance highly visible giveaways to the many. For a government addicted to raising taxes, that is as good as it gets.
… the MRRT is a tax on precisely the kind of entrepreneurship that has underpinned Australia's high living standards: the entrepreneurship involved in pioneering new uses of our natural resources.
The impact of transfers on economic equality and poverty is far more complex than most people realize. It is not obvious that the political process will yield egalitarian transfers. And, even when it does, the net egalitarian impact may well be quite modest. Since annual income is a highly imperfect measure of economic status …
Predictably, market adjustments will erode some of the redistributive effects of egalitarian transfers. An expansion in transfers of any variety will encourage rent seeking and higher marginal taxes, both of which will retard aggregate output.
We have not cut a corporate tax cheque to date, no.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has put that argument in perspective in its submission to the House of Representatives economics committee on superannuation. The boost to superannuation, the chamber points out, will be paid by employers through the superannuation guarantee levy, which will rise from 9 per cent to 12 per cent between 2013-14 and 2019-20. The chamber expects the Superannuation Levy Bill will ultimately cost employers about $20 billion a year.
But employers fear that the 1 per cent cut in the corporate tax rate will fall well short of the costs of the higher superannuation levy.
A rent-based tax would, over time, earn for the community a greater return from the use of its resources while still attracting private investment.
… it comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don't get on the wrong track or try to do too much … it's only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.
That the bill be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration.
… if people feel that the mining industry is under-taxed, there's nothing to stop the states increasing royalties.
This is a visionary policy. It's visionary for Australia's retirement outcomes and it's visionary for the Australian economy.
Twelve per cent superannuation we think sees more than half of the Australian population have an adequate retirement, and that's the difference between heavily relying on the pension and having part pension or no pension.
The immediate test of whether a party is fit to govern is the minerals resources rent tax (MRRT). In economic terms, it's a no-brainer—
Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
This is a policy where the long-term benefit is that it becomes self-funding to the Budget.
… the shadow assistant Treasurer … had told a group of superannuation executives a Coalition government would unwind any increases to the superannuation guarantee it inherited.
Senator Cormann confirmed this to the Herald , saying increasing compulsory super would erode people's take-home pay.
… in Australia's under-resourced aged care sector, women make up more than 90 per cent of the workforce. The increase in superannuation is welcome news, delivering greater financial security for these workers and others across the entire nursing workforce. The ANF, on behalf of our growing membership, commends Minister Shorten on these reforms to the country's superannuation laws.
That all the words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"the House is of the opinion that:
(1) 20 per cent of all revenue from the mining tax be put into a Regional Mining and Infrastructure Fund to be used to facilitate further mining and other development in regional areas from which they have been taken and surrounding regions where necessary; and
(2) this arrangement would be administered by a separate authority and the funding would come on top of normal funding and financial allocations from State and Federal Governments".
It is simply wrong to suggest that the Treasury modelling of the government's Clean Energy Future program depends on the United States putting a price on carbon by 2016.
The modelling assumes comparable carbon pricing in other major economies from 2015-16 …
A point of order regarding relevance may be taken only once in respect of each answer.
You have to look at the fact that Japan, Canada and Russia have said that they won't be in a second commitment period … That covers maybe 15 to 17 per cent at most of global greenhouse emissions of the second commitment period of Kyoto.
It is on the protection of small business that the growth of general business and employment largely depends.
… a scheme where countries make the same emission reductions as each other relative to their 'business as usual' path. So the analysis is that OPEC would reduce its emissions relative to its business as usual path by the same amount as Australia.
This has my absolute support.
And this bill abolishes the superannuation guarantee age limit.
And this Government will abolish the Superannuation Guarantee age limit—
We've got a bill which currently says that up to the age of 75 now you can get paid and, in my speech, when I was proposing that in the parliament, we have actually said we're going to amend it and just abolish it …
If you're working, you're entitled to super—simple as that … I agree. Well done.
That the House take note of the following documents:
Anti-People Trafficking Interdepartmental Committee—Trafficking in persons: The Australian Government response—Report for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.
Commonwealth Ombudsman—Activities under Part V of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979—Report for 2010-11.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011—Supplementary explanatory memorandum.
The urgent need for the government to release the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook for parliamentary scrutiny.
No, no one’s treating that seriously, Laurie. Both the International Monetary Fund, which the Government is fond of quoting, and the Reserve Bank, which the Government is fond of quoting, both said it will be a slow recovery and yet in the budget papers they are projecting not only a trend growth but above trend growth and not just for two years but their assumptions of getting out of deficit and debt is based on seven years, an unprecedented growth period in Australia’s history.
But it’s Treasury that produces the figures saying that we’ll be growing at the 4.5 per cent again within a couple of years. Are you saying Treasury is wrong or have they been leaned on?
Well we’ll be very interested. We’ll ask a lot of questions about this because Treasury’s assumptions are not in accordance with what the Reserve Bank or the IMF are saying.
... when you have a sensible, credible fiscal strategy, you give the Reserve Bank the room to move on interest rates.
The turmoil in Europe is largely a function of governments consistently living beyond their means …
Australia now faces a crisis mini-budget because the government has ignored these disciplines.
… Australia’s recent fiscal performance has been scarcely better than that of others facing much worse circumstances.
commended the authorities’ commitment to consolidation to increase fiscal space and support monetary policy. The planned consolidation is faster than in many other advanced economies and is more ambitious than earlier envisaged …
The situation in the various economies of Europe vindicates the Coalition’s consistent critique of the Rudd/Gillard government’s polices.
On the face of this comparative performance, Australia has serious bragging rights. Compared to most developed countries, our economic circumstances are enviable.
The $70 billion is an estimate of the sort of challenge that we will have.
Well this $70 billion figure is a fanciful figure. It’s plucked from the air by government ministers.
No, it's not a furphy. We came out with the figure, right?
He used to tell me proudly he learned all his economics at the feet of Bob Santamaria. I was horrified.
Suppose someone sits down where you are sitting right now and announces to me that he is Napoleon Bonaparte. The last thing I want to do with him is to get involved in a technical discussion of cavalry tactics at the Battle of Austerlitz. If I do that, I’m getting tacitly drawn into the game that he is Napoleon Bonaparte.
Never one to be held back by the financial consequences of decisions, he had grandiose plans for public expenditure. At one point when we were in government he asked for funding to pay for telephone and electricity wires to be put underground throughout the whole of his Northern Sydney electorate to improve the amenity of the area. He also wanted the Commonwealth to take over the building of local roads and bridges in his electorate.
Tony is genuinely innumerate. He has no interest in economics and he has no feeling for it.
Australia's economy is one of the strongest in the developed world.
Australia's economy is booming … Even during the GFC, Australia, unlike many Western economies, registered modest growth.
On the face of this comparative performance, Australia has serious bragging rights. Compared to most developed countries, our economic circumstances are enviable.
Compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted by government on the Australian people.
The ... miners protested, petitioned, complained—it was of no use; the government held its ground, and went on collecting the tax. And not by pleasant methods ...
By and by there was a result; and I think it may be called the finest thing in Australasian history. It was a revolution—small in size; but great politically; it was a strike for liberty, a struggle for a principle, a stand against injustice and oppression ... It is another instance of a victory won by a lost battle. It adds an honorable page to history; the people know it and are proud of it.
Export earnings from both commodities combined in 2010-11 were around $91.7 billion—more than one in every three export dollars earned by Australia, up from around one in 10 a decade ago.
The minerals industry … accounts for around 7% of GDP, upwards of 20% of national investment and more than 50% of Australia’s exports of goods and services.
The Gillard mining tax is divisive, complex, unfair, fiscally irresponsible and reduces our international competitiveness ... It gives an unfair competitive advantage to the three largest miners and makes federal budget outcomes hostage to decisions about royalties by state and territory governments.
Ultimately, the additional impost of the MRRT will mean less revenue will be available to fund projects, repay debt and provide a return and refund to investors and this may be a real point of difference between funding a project in Australia versus one outside Australia that is not subject to an MRRT equivalent.
''There are some worries from the Chinese mining enterprises regarding newly released MRRT [minerals resource rent tax] bill,'' he said.
The government's approach to consultation and policy design in respect of the new resource tax arrangements during the course of 2010 can only be described as abysmal ... If there was an international prize for the best worst policy consultation process in a sophisticated open market economy, Australia's efforts during the course of 2010 would win hands down.
We contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
Expert independent modelling by the University of Western Australia highlights the unfair and discriminatory nature of the MRRT regime, and shows there will be a significant difference in the level of the total taxation between a mature mine and a new or emerging miner.
If it is what it appears to be, a significant tax increase, that's another competitive advantage for Canada.
The proposed minerals resource rent tax on coal and iron ore operations, along with the extension of the petroleum resource rent tax, are justified on both equity and efficiency grounds.
… sees more than half of the Australian population have an adequate retirement and that's the difference between heavily relying on the pension and having part pension or no pension.
Those are my principles and, if you don't like them ... well, I have others.
That this bill be now read a second time.
(1) Clause 10-1, page7 (line 12), omit "A", insert "substitute "Subject to section 10-30, a".
(2) Page 9 (after line 17), at the end of Division 10, add:
10-30 No liability unless mature miner pays tax
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a miner other than a *mature miner has no liability to pay *MRRT for any *MRRT year that commences before the *MRRT year in which a *mature miner has its first *MRRT liability.
(2) A mature miner is a miner whose*group production of taxable resources for an MRRT year has exceeded 40 million tonnes.
(4) Clause 300-1, page 261 (after line 27), after the definition of general interest charge , insert:
group production of taxable resources has the meaning given by section 175-15.
(6) Clause 300-1, page 263 (after line 8), after the definition of market value , insert:
mature miner has the meaning given by subsection 10-30(2).
That the amendments (Mr Crook's) be agreed to.
(3) Page 16 (after line 4), at the end of Division 20, add:
(5) Clause 300-1, page 263 (after line 6), after the definition of long term bond rate , insert:
magnetite ore has the meaning given by subsection 20-5(5).
(1) Clause 2-1, page 3 (line 25), omit "$50 million", substitute "$75 million".
(2) Clause 2-1, page 3 (line 27), omit "$50 million and $100 million", substitute "$75 million and $125 million".
(3) Division 45, clauses 45-1 to 45-10, page 43 (line 2) to page 45 (line 14), omit the Division, substitute:
Division 45—Low profit offsets
Guide to Division 45
45-1 What this Division is about
A miner is entitled to an offset for an MRRT year if the miner's group mining profit for the year is less than $125 million.
If that profit is less than or equal to $75 million, an offset reduces the amount of MRRT the miner must pay for the year to nil.
An offset phases out between profits of $75 million and $125 million, so that the miner is not immediately subjected to a full MRRT liability when the miner's group profit exceeds $75 million.
Table of sections
Operative provisions
45-5 Low profit offset—profits not greater than $75 million
45-10 Low profit offset—profits greater than $75 million and less than $125 million
Operative provisions
45-5 Low profit offset—profits not greater than $75 million
(1) A miner has an offset for an *MRRT year if the sum of the *mining profits (the miner's group mining profit) for the year of each mining project interest of the following *entities is less than or equal to $75 million:
(a) the miner;
(b) an entity *connected with the miner;
(c) an *affiliate of the miner;
(d) an entity of which the miner is an affiliate;
(e) an affiliate of an entity covered by paragraph (b);
(f) an entity connected with an entity covered by paragraph (b), (c) or (d).
Note 1: An offset under this section reduces the amount of MRRT that a miner must pay for an MRRT year: see section 10-15.
Note 2: If the MRRT year is not a 12-month period, the miner's group mining profit is affected by section 190-20 (substituted accounting periods).
(2) The amount of the miner's offset for the *MRRT year is the sum of the miner's *MRRT liabilities for each of the miner's mining project interests for the year.
45-10 Low profit offset—profits greater than $75 million and less than $125 million
A miner with a group mining profit greater than $75 million and less than $125 million for an *MRRT year has an offset for that year if the amount worked out using the following formula is greater than zero:
where:
miner's group MRRT allowances is the sum of the *MRRT allowances for each mining project interest for the year that an *entity mentioned in subsection 45-5(1) has.
miner's share of group mining profit is the sum of the miner's *mining profit for each of its mining project interests for the year, divided by the miner's group mining profit for the year.
taper amount is the difference between the miner's group mining profit for the year and $50 million.
Note 1: An offset under this section reduces the amount of MRRT that a miner must pay for an MRRT year: see section 10-15.
Note 2: If the MRRT year is not a 12-month period, the miner's group MRRT allowances and the miner's share of group mining profit are affected by section 190-20 (substituted accounting periods).
(2) The amount of the miner's offset for the *MRRT year is the amount worked out using the formula in subsection (1), multiplied by the *MRRT rate.
Example: For the 2013-14 MRRT year, Pinder Mines Ltd has a total mining profit of $80 million, a group mining profit of $100 million, group MRRT allowances of $10 million and a taper amount of $50 million ($100 million—$50 million). The amount worked out using the formula in subsection (1) is $18 million: (($75 million—$50 million)—$10 million) × 4/5 × 3/2. Multiplying this amount by the MRRT rate gives Pinder Mines Ltd an offset for the year of $4.05 million.
(4) Clause 190-20, page 210 (lines 1 to 4), omit the example, substitute:
Example: A miner with a mining profit of $45 million for a transitional accounting period of 120 days will not have a low profit offset under section 45-5 or 45-10, because that profit is adjusted by multiplying it by 365/120, making the profit $136.88 million.
(5) Clause 190-20, page 210 (lines 12 to 22), omit the example, substitute:
Example: A miner has a mining profit of $30 million, and MRRT allowances of $5 million, for a transitional accounting period of 120 days. The miner has no connected entities, or affiliates, that are miners.
Under subsection (1), the mining profit is adjusted to $91.25 million, and the MRRT allowances are adjusted to $15.2 million. Under subsection 45-10(1), the amount of the miner's offset would be $6.26 million (which would exceed the miner's MRRT liability of $5.63 million, so MRRT would not be payable).
However, under subsection (2) of this section, that amount is multiplied by 120/365, making the offset $2.06 million (which would reduce the miner's MRRT liability to $3.57 million).
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Melbourne from moving amendments to the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Bill 2011 which would extend the scope of a charge to the bill to include gold and uranium.
That the bill, as amended, be agreed to.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
(1) Clause 2, page 3 (at the end of the table), add:
(2) Page 20 (after line 6), at the end of the Bill, add:
Schedule 5—Deduction of employer contributions to superannuation funds
Income Tax Assessment Act 1997
1 Subsection 290-80(1)
Omit ", either".
2 At the end of subsection 290-80(1)
Add:
; or (c) the contribution must reduce your charge percentage under section 22 or 23 of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 in respect of the employee.
3 After subsection 290-80(2)
Insert:
(2A) If only paragraph (1)(c) applies, you can deduct only the amount of the contribution that reduces your charge percentage under section 22 or 23 of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 in respect of the employee.
(2B) If both paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) apply and paragraph (1)(a) does not apply, you can deduct only the greater of the following amounts (or only one of them if they are equal):
(a) the amount of the contribution that is required by the industrial award, determination or notional agreement preserving State awards;
(b) the amount of the contribution that reduces your charge percentage under section 22 or 23 of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 in respect of the employee.
Note: If paragraph (1)(a) applies, you can deduct the whole of the contribution (whether or not paragraph (1)(b) or (1)(c) also applies).
4 Application this
The amendments made by this Schedule apply to contributions made on or after the commencement of this Schedule.
Schedule 1, item 4, page 3 (lines 17 and 18), omit the item, substitute:
4 Paragraph 27(1)(a)
Repeal the paragraph.
On the right for older Australians to have equal access to superannuation, this Government has put their money where their mouth is.
That the bill, as amended, be agreed to.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
(1) Clause 4, page 2 (line 9), omit "Extraction factor", substitute "(extraction factor + emerging miner factor)".
(3) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 10), before the definition of extraction factor , insert:
emerging miner factor is: (a) where the group production of taxable resources for the miner for a year is less than 10 million tonnes—75%; or (b) otherwise—nil.
(4) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), after the definition of extraction factor , insert:
group production of taxable resources has the meaning given by section 175-15 of theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 .
(2) Clause 4, page 2 (line 8), before "The", insert "(1)".
(5) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), at the end of the clause, add:
(2) However, notwithstanding subsection (1), the MRRT rate for an MRRT year (as defined by the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) for each taxable resource (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) shall not exceed a benchmark rate, which shall for each *MRRT year be a rate that is calculated by reference to a formula or formulas, to be prescribed by regulations, to be applied to a mature miner (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) having the highest *MRRT liability (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 )for each taxable resource in the *MRRT yearso that the relevant formulas determine abenchmark ratefor each taxable resource as a percentage, in the *MRRT year, that that miner's MRRT liabilityin that year bears to that miner's mining tax profit (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ).
That this bill be now read a third time.
(1) Clause 4, page 2 (line 9), omit "Extraction factor", substitute "(extraction factor + emerging miner factor)".
(3) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 10), before the definition of extraction factor , insert:
emerging miner factor is:
(a) where the group production of taxable resources for the miner for a year is less than 10 million tonnes—75%; or
(b) otherwise—nil.
(4) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), after the definition of extraction factor , insert:
group production of taxable resources has the meaning given by section 175-15 of theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 .
(2) Clause 4, page 2 (line 8), before "The", insert "(1)".
(5) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), at the end of the clause, add:
(2) However, notwithstanding subsection (1), the MRRT rate for an MRRT year (as defined by the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) for each taxable resource (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) shall not exceed a benchmark rate, which shall for each *MRRT year be a rate that is calculated by reference to a formula or formulas, to be prescribed by regulations, to be applied to a mature miner (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) having the highest *MRRT liability (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 )for each taxable resource in the *MRRT yearso that the relevant formulas determine abenchmark ratefor each taxable resource as a percentage, in the *MRRT year, that that miner's MRRT liabilityin that year bears to that miner's mining tax profit (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ).
That this bill be now read a third time.
(1) Clause 4, page 2 (line 9), omit "Extraction factor", substitute "(extraction factor + emerging miner factor)".
(3) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 10), before the definition of extraction factor , insert:
emerging miner factor is:
(a) where the group production of taxable resources for the miner for a year is less than 10 million tonnes—75%; or
(b) otherwise—nil.
(4) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), after the definition of extraction factor , insert:
group production of taxable resources has the meaning given by section 175-15 of theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 .
(2) Clause 4, page 2 (line 8), before "The", insert "(1)".
(5) Clause 4, page 2 (after line 11), at the end of the clause, add:
(2) However, notwithstanding subsection (1), the MRRT rate for an MRRT year (as defined by the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) for each taxable resource (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) shall not exceed a benchmark rate, which shall for each *MRRT year be a rate that is calculated by reference to a formula or formulas, to be prescribed by regulations, to be applied to a mature miner (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ) having the highest *MRRT liability (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 )for each taxable resource in the *MRRT yearso that the relevant formulas determine abenchmark ratefor each taxable resource as a percentage, in the *MRRT year, that that miner's MRRT liabilityin that year bears to that miner's mining tax profit (as defined by theMinerals Resource Rent Tax Act 2011 ).
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That the House do now adjourn.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D'Ath) took the chair at 16:00.
I felt immensely proud of what I achieved as a Girl Guide with the community and know that we did make a difference. It taught me many skills; not only communication, project management, and logistics, but also the need to say thank-you to every knitter for their wonderful contribution.
The safety implications of not having a reliable communication service are obvious. Only a couple of months back an overseer on a nearby property had a near fatal accident on a four wheeler and had to be airlifted to hospital. If this had have happened in the past few days, when there was no phone service available, he may not have survived. There is also the major concern in our area of bushfires. The need for a reliable communication service is obvious.
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
1. allocate spectrum to the highest value use or uses
2. enable and encourage spectrum to move to its highest value use or uses—
3. use the least cost and least restrictive approach to achieving policy objectives
4. the extent possible, promote both certainty and flexibility
5. balance the cost of interference and the benefits of greater spectrum utilisation.
(a) that part of the radiofrequency spectrum that is designated under subsection 31(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 as being primarily for broadcasting purposes; and
(b) that part of the radiofrequency spectrum that is designated under subsection 31(1A) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 as being partly for the purpose of digital radio broadcasting services and restricted datacasting services.
Spectrum is a scarce national resource. It represents a key platform for the delivery of media content and communications. How this spectrum is planned and managed by government will have an impact on the achievement of the objectives reflected in the principles for the convergent communications environment.
The Commission is making a concerted effort to make sure that mobile broadband operators have enough spectrum to support the increasing number of smartphones and tablets coming online. This is not something that anyone anticipated, planned for or predicted several years ago but it is a very significant issue, particularly in large densely populated markets with smartphone and tablet penetration. We need to tackle the looming spectrum crunch by dramatically increasing the amount of spectrum.
If you pick up your cordless phone while you’re using your Internet, your line can drop out. If you use your microwave, your line will drop out.
People in regional and rural areas deserve every bit as good a service as those in the big cities. Our fibre-optic-to-the-node plan will offer high-speed broadband to 98 per cent of Australians regardless of where they live. When you look at some of the technical deficiencies in wireless and problems in terms of being able to access speeds of 12 megabits per second using wireless then we believe we have hit upon the right technology.
1. Citizens and organisations should be able to communicate freely, and where regulation is required, it should be the minimum needed to achieve a clear public purpose.
2. Australians should have access to and opportunities for participation in a diverse mix of services, voices, views and information.
3. The communications and media market should be innovative and competitive—
6. Australians should have access to news and information of relevance to their local communities, including locally generated content.
That this bill be now read a second time.
… it would be impracticable for the cost of the leave to be made the full financial responsibility of the individual employers … During their working lives, many employees have changed from one employer to another, and it would be inequitable to place the cost of all such employment solely upon present day employers. Some collieries are not financially capable of meeting the additional cost involved by the leave. Many employees have been employed in the past by colliery companies that are no longer in existence. Moreover, employers would be reluctant to employ men with previous employment in the industry because of the additional liability for long service leave that their employment would involve. This would tend to make labour less mobile than is desirable within the industry, and could result in a loss of skilled labour …
Broadly, the scheme now placed before the House in this interdependent set of three measures is that an excise of 6d. a ton will be placed upon coal produced by those employees in the coal-mining industry who will receive the benefit of long service leave. The proceeds of this excise will be placed in the Commonwealth trust fund and from this fund the Treasurer of the Commonwealth will be empowered to make grants to the States.
The Commonwealth considers NOPSEMA, as the regulator for the offshore petroleum industry, the most appropriate body to determine whether a significant offshore petroleum incident has occurred and whether a direction is required. As the day-to-day regulator for the safety and environmental matters, and also for structural integrity of facilities and wells, NOPSEMA will have expertise in understanding potential risks to environment and human health and safety that may result from an incident, and actions that may be required to prevent, as far as possible, significant impacts from such an incident.
I would also note that there are provisions in the OPGGS Act that establish accountability of NOPSEMA to the responsible Commonwealth Minister.
… very difficult and sometimes—seeming to be as slow as, again, watching grass grow or paint dry. But nonetheless—progress.
I believe that we—
are making a difference in stemming the flow of terrorism into Australia, and I want my children to be able to live as everyone does now without fear of getting onto a bus and having it blow up.
The September 13 raid on the American Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul—in which Haqqani insurgents besieged the compound with guns and rocket-propelled grenades, killing at least 16 people—had shocked the Joint Chiefs. … the American Ambassador in Afghanistan, "had to spend 18 hours in a bunker to keep himself alive," this source said. "Imagine what would have happened if he had been killed."
Most of the world … is very anxious about the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, and for good reason: Pakistan is an unstable and violent country located at the epicenter of global jihadism and it has been the foremost supplier of nuclear technology to such rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. It is perfectly sensible to believe that Pakistan may not be the safest place on Earth—
to warehouse 100 or more nuclear weapons. These weapons are stored on bases and in facilities spread across the country (possibly including one within several miles of Abbottabad, a city that, in addition to having hosted Osama bin Laden, is the home to many partisans of the jihadist group Harakat-ul-Mujahideen.) Western leaders have stated that a paramount goal of their counterterrorism efforts to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of jihadists.
… instead of moving nuclear material in armored, well-defended convoys—
prefers to move material by subterfuge—
in civilian-style vehicles without noticeable defenses, in the regular flow of traffic. According to both Pakistani and American sources, vans with a modest security profile are sometimes the preferred conveyance. And according to a senior U.S. intelligence official, the Pakistanis have begun using this low-security method to transfer not merely the “de-mated” component nuclear parts—
but “mated” nuclear weapons.
What this means, in essence, is this: In a country that is home to the harshest variants of Muslim fundamentalism, and to the headquarters of the organizations that espouse these extremist ideologies, including al-Qaeda, the Haqqani network, and Lashkar-e-Taiba (which conducted the devastating terror attacks on Mumbai three years ago that killed nearly 200 civilians)—
nuclear bombs capable of destroying entire cities are transported in delivery vans on congested and dangerous roads … In other words, the Pakistani government is willing to make nuclear weapons more vulnerable to theft by jihadists simply to hide them from the United States …
The best exit strategy is to win.
… I am naturally disposed to want to see the Australian armed forces usefully deployed in places where they can make a difference.
… the important thing is that we do not put you in harm’s way without a good purpose and a reasonable chance of success.
Now, obviously, deploying our military to difficult parts of the world in concert with our major allies is a form of being effective of itself. If we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with those who matter in the world that is in and of itself a good thing. But we don’t want to be here just because our allies are here. We want to be here because we are doing good work on the ground: that the Afghan soldiers that we are mentoring are becoming more effective, that the Afghan police that we are mentoring are becoming fair-minded and conscious of the ordinary rules of a civil society. We want all of that to be happening because if that’s not happening we’re exposing you to deadly peril without necessarily getting the return that we would like.
Several factors will play critical roles in determining whether the Soviet Union succeeds in … neutralising the Afghans. These include the policies adopted by Pakistan towards the insurgents, the extent of external support … ability to establish a government in Kabul that commands a large armed force and has a wide base of support …
They always try to meet and know the parents well, because it helps them to forgive the children.
Well, that is not the case here at St. Joe's, because at St Joe's they have a wonderful parent body who are committed to giving their children the best possible start.
Hugs and kisses at drop off time in the morning. I see a lot of those. Check the lunch boxes. Are students' basic needs being met at St Joe's? Absolutely! Is the school uniform clean and showing pride? A big tick here at St Joe's. Are parents hearing their children read at home and helping with homework? Yes! Do the parents support and help the school? Absolutely!
Are the children smiling?
Russell, I need you to go back and let the people on Capital Hill know that the teachers at St Joe's are among the best you will find. Good teaching is more about who you are than what you teach. Good teachers teach from the heart more than from the head. Good teachers explain complexity, but gifted teachers, like the ones we have here at St Joe's, not only explain complexity they reveal simplicity. We know that when a student fails so too have we!
Russell, please go back to Canberra and let your colleagues know that the teachers at St Joe's are lovers of life and lovers of learning, but most importantly they know and love each and every individual student here at St Joseph's. We have high expectations for who they are and who they will be. These 'buds', these beautiful little people, are the reason we love teaching, specifically teaching here at St Josephs at Korumburra!
Russell, I would like to discuss the greatest yielding component of this investment the government of the day is putting into our school—the real gold—and it is sitting here before us: the children of St Joseph's at Korumburra, the children of Australia and the future of Australia.
I believe that these enforced price differentials, especially for online downloads, are baseless and exploitative of the average Australian consumer, who will not complain about the price for the sake of convenience and minimal hassle.
In respect of the Computers in Schools program, in the electorates of Dawson and Capricornia, what (a) total number of computers have been delivered, and (b) is the computer to student ratio (broken down by school).
(a) The total number of computers that had been installed at schools in the electorate of Dawson as at 30 June 2011 was 2,971.
The total number of computers that had been installed at schools in the electorate of Capricornia as at 30 June 2011 was 4,029.
(b) Based on a 2008 Preliminary Survey conducted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and progress reports received to date from government and non-government education authorities, all eligible schools in Australia are now at a computer to student ratio of 1:2 or better. This includes schools with students in Years 9 to 12 in the electorates of Dawson and Capricornia.
As outlined in the most recent progress report on 15 July 2011, government and non-government education authorities have advised that schools are on track to move from a ratio of 1:2 to a ratio of 1:1 by the end of 2011.
1 How many staff are employed by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), including employees of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).
2. Of the total number of staff employed by the ASC and AIS, how many are employed in
(a) administrative roles,
(b) coaching roles,
(c) executive roles,
(d) full-time positions,
(e) permanent part-time positions, and
(f) casual positions.
3. How many ASC and AIS staff are located in
(a) each Australian State and Territory, and
(b) overseas.
4. How many staff are employed by the ASC in relation to the Active After School Communities program.
5. Do the ASC and AIS engage contractors to provide services in addition to services provided by employees of the ASC and AIS; if so, how many contractors were engaged by the ASC and AIS in 2010-11, and for what total sum.
1. At 31 August 2011 the ASC had 754.2 full time equivalent (FTE) positions (excluding casual employment).
2. The workforce comprised:
(a) Administrative roles 705.6 FTE
(b) Coaching roles 43.6 FTE
(c) Executive roles 5.0 FTE
(d) Full-time positions 735.4 FTE
(e) Permanent part-time positions 15.2 permanent
(f) Casual positions 34.4 year to date
An additional 3.6 fixed term part time staff are included in the total FTE count at question 1.
3. (a) ACT 510 FTE positions
NT 8 FTE positions
NSW 61 FTE positions
QLD 49 FTE positions
SA 31 FTE positions
TAS 6 FTE positions
VIC 54 FTE positions
WA 28 FTE positions
(b) Overseas 7 FTE positions
4. 197.5 FTE positions.
5. 16 contractors. The total sum expended in relation to these during 2010-11 was $1,324,534.
On what basis does the Australian Institute of Sport determine how many athlete scholarships will be awarded in each particular sport in a given year?
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), in collaboration with each respective national sporting organisation, determines the number of athlete scholarships to be awarded based on agreed strategy, performance standards and available budget.
What National Sporting Organisations were funded through the Australian Sports Commission to implement High Performance Plans.
Information on all National Sporting Organisations and National Sporting Organisations for people with Disability who have received funding from the Australian Sports Commission can be viewed at:
http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/funding/system_partners/national_sporting_organisations
In respect of the Australian Sports Commission, including the Australian Institute of Sport, what total sum was spent in 2010-11 on (a) travel, and what was the breakdown of airfares for (i) international economy class, (ii) international business class, (iii) international first class, (iv) domestic business class, and (v) domestic economy class, (b) advertising, and (c) hospitality and entertainment.
(a) (i) $1,516,007
(ii) $66,668
(iii) $ Nil
(iv) $61,996
(v) $2,259,448
In addition the Australian Sports Commission, including the Australian Institute of Sport, spent $24,297 on travel airfares for mixed domestic business and economy travel airfares during 2010-11.
(b) $281,778
(c) $30,857
Are Australian Government Sports Training Grants means tested; if not, why not?
Yes. It should be noted that the Australian Government Sports Training Grant is now known as Direct Athlete Support.