The SPEAKER (Hon. Peter Slipper) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of bills introduced 8 February 2012:
1. The committee met in private session on 8 February 2012.
2. The committee determined that the following referrals of bills be made:
Standing Committee on Economics:
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012; and
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Fadden speaking in reply to the ministerial statement for a period not exceeding five minutes.
That Main Committee, private Members’ business, orders of the day No. 1 relating to Meals on Wheels, No. 3 relating to the Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grants program, No. 4 relating to White Ribbon Day, No. 5 relating to Tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea, No. 8 relating to Surf Lifesavers and No. 23 relating to Organ donation in Australia be returned to the House for further consideration.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following orders of the day, private Members' business, being called on, and considered immediately in the following order:
Meals on Wheels;
White Ribbon Day;
Surf Lifesavers;
Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grants program;
Organ donation in Australia; and
Tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.
That the motion be amended to read—That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) in the 2011 Budget, the Labor Government announced the extension of the Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grants program as part of its drought assistance measures;
(b) less than 6 weeks after the program was announced even after being boosted to $14 million, the Government announced that funds had run out;
(c) this Exit Grant was often the only means by which some farmers could exit their farms with sufficient support to transition to a new livelihood;
(d) some farmers who applied and were pre-assessed as eligible for the grant, proceeded to put their farms on the market, and had sold their farms through exchange of contracts, prior to the announcement that the funds had now run out; and
(e) some farmers, on the basis of the possibility of the Exit Grant support, have made financial commitments to buy alternative accommodation so they can transition to their new locality and employment; and
(2) calls on the Government to now provide payments through the Act of Grace process to farmers who had sold their farms through exchange of contracts by 10 August 2011.
That paragraph 3 be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
(3) notes both the Federal and Queensland governments have indicated they will terminate the tuberculosis clinics on Saibai and Boigu islands which currently provide vital tuberculosis surveillance and clinical care for Papua New Guinea nationals, and reduce the risk of the emergence of drug resistant strains of tuberculosis;
That the report be agreed to.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Hockey speaking in reply to the ministerial statement for a period not exceeding 12 minutes.
Financial market sentiment, though remaining skittish, has generally improved since early December. Share markets have risen and term funding markets have re-opened, including for Australian banks …
That this bill be now read a second time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Both my Shadow Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, and I have made clear on many occasions this year that Federal Labor is committed to retaining the existing private health insurance rebates, including the 30 per cent general rebate and the 35 and 40 per cent rebates for older Australians.
Federal Labor will also maintain Lifetime Health Cover and the Medicare levy surcharge. Labor will maintain the existing framework for regulating private health insurance, including the process for approval of premium increases. Zero per cent premium adjustment is not Labor policy.
I understand Nicola Roxon's office has also confirmed with you that Federal Labor has no plans to require private health insurance funds to make equivalent payments to public hospitals for patients who elect to be treated as private patients.
I trust this allays your concerns.
Federal Labor values its relationship with the private health insurance sector and we look forward to this continuing regardless of the election outcome.
On many occasions for many months, Federal Labor has made it crystal clear that we are committed to retaining all of the existing private health insurance rebates … The Liberals continue to try to scare people into thinking Labor will take away the rebates. This is absolutely untrue
The government is firmly committed to retaining the existing private health insurance rebates.
Federal Labor has made it crystal clear that we are committed to retaining all the existing Private Health Insurance rebates ...
That business intervening before order of the day No. 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
… structural changes are necessary to ensure that bargaining at the enterprise level occurs. At present, it does not. Pattern bargaining in this industry should be prohibited by statute.
… mechanisms should be in place to ensure that any participant in the industry causing loss to other participants as a result of unlawful industrial action is held responsible for that loss.
… mechanisms must be in place to ensure that where disputes occur within the industry, such disputes are resolved in accordance with legislated or agreed dispute resolution mechanisms rather than by the application of industrial and commercial pressure. The 'rule of law' must replace industrial might.
… there needs to be an independent body, free of the pressures on the participants in the industry, which will ensure that participants comply with industrial, civil and criminal laws applicable to all Australians, and thus operating on building and construction sites, as well as industry specific laws applicable to this industry only.
One of the most important Howard Government policies has been the introduction of Australian Workplace Agreements.
… there has been an insufficient determination on the part of government to establish structures which will enable the industry to operate fairly and productively and in a manner respecting the rights of individuals. There has been an inadequate structure to enforce the law and usual standards applicable in other industries.
The Parliament cannot ignore such court findings and convictions and should not agree to any watering down of the current powers.
… the ABCC has been effective in removing the worst instances. Removing the ABCC or emasculating its powers will see increased inappropriate behaviour and this will lead to the costs of projects blowing out and delays in construction.
… provided with powers to enforce workplace laws, to address the problems that the building and construction industry encounters.
… Its key objective is to ensure that workplace relations laws are enforced in building and construction industry workplaces.
… the manner in which the ABCC carries out its activities seems to have led to the exclusion of workers in the building and construction industry from the protection that the labour inspection system ought to secure for these workers under the applicable laws, the Committee urges the Government to ensure that the priorities of the ABCC (or the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate) are effectively reoriented …
The Howard Government's industrial legislation, it was good for wages, it was good for jobs, and it was good for workers.
The carbon tax is based on the very flawed assumption that our competitors are going to have similar carbon or energy policies.
I will give Labor a pat on the back and say they have spent more in their four or five years on the Bruce Highway than we did before.
Tony Hodges, who was the one trawling the Press Gallery yesterday afternoon trying to sheet home blame for the ugly scenes to the Opposition Leader ...
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Manager of Opposition Business from moving the following motion forthwith:
That the Prime Minister is called on by the House to make a statement immediately to reconcile her:
(1) statement that Fair Work Australia ‘will be independent of unions, business and government...Labor will remove all perceptions of bias’ with the fact that Fair Work Australia’s investigation of the Member for Dobell is now in its fourth year with seemingly no end in sight and may not even be released to the public; and
(2) assertions that there has been no political interference in the Fair Work Australia investigation of the Member for Dobell with the fact that her Chief of Staff contacted Fair Work Australia at the beginning of its investigation, one of the staff of the then Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations colluded with Fair Work Australia over the media management of statements to the press and she is unable to rule out that the Member for Dobell has been in communication with her or her office over the investigation.
You have to do things expeditiously. That is the basic good service you have to give when you are using taxpayers' money.
Why has it taken so long? Why are we still waiting for answers? And why are we in this position? We need this to end.
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!
The House divided. [15:38]
(The Speaker—Hon. Peter Slipper)
That this bill be now read a third time.
That, from 17 February 2012, Mr Coulton be discharged from the Selection Committee and that, in his place, Mr Neville be appointed a member of the committee.
That the House take note of the following documents:
Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity—Parliamentary Joint Committee—Inquiry into the operation of the Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006—
Interim report—Government response.
Final report—Government response.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade—Joint Standing Committee—Human rights in the Asia-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities—Government response.
Treaties—Joint Standing Committee—Report 110: Treaties tabled on 18, 25 (2) and 26 November 2009 and 2 (2) February2010—Government response
The failure of the Government to ease financial pressures on Australian families.
KELLY:
In terms of the positives though, the Government positively forecast half a million new jobs over the next few years to be created. Given the zero jobs growth last year, are you still confident that that figure holds, that it can be achieved?
TREASURER:
Well, certainly we will do less than that ...
These are powerful, economy-wide transformations, perhaps best thought of as 'growing pains'.
'Grazing is a crucial, if oft forgotten, component of the ACT’s hazard reduction program …
… … …
'Strategic grazing serves to not only remove bushfire fuel, but it also ensures the remaining fuels are compacted.
… … …
'This year we intend to graze more than 7000 hectares across 76 separate sites.
The land ranges from high alpine peaks to low river flats and mid-range country. Management of such a diverse area cannot be a one size fits all. People who live around the edge of this massive park know a lot about management. They talk about it all the time. Every summer, they live and work with the reality of fire. The problem is that decisions of management are influenced by people with other agendas, and those people do not have to live within the park.
… … …
Minister Burke saw an opportunity and took up the issue for political gain for his government. The minister began using the same words as the conservation movement and the Greens, showing that he was working in tandem with them. The minister said a lot of outrageous things that were untrue about the cattlemen and the trials. … The very good name and reputation of the cattlemen has been trashed for political advantage.
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition of Australian citizens draws to the attention of the House the Federal and Victorian Governments funding of $150 million toward a new polluting coal-fired power station in Victoria, called HRL. At a time when Australia is taking historic steps to act on climate change, this coal-fired power station will pump millions of tonnes of greenhouse pollution into our atmosphere each year. We believe in a clean, renewable energy future for Victoria not new polluting coal. We the undersigned call on the House to withdraw all federal funding for this project and invest in a clean, renewable energy future for Victoria instead.
The message we are getting from government is that to compete in the global supply chain, local industry has to be innovative and focus on high tech and niche market segments. While this makes sense in going forward, it will be a major challenge for most SME's … Nevertheless we have a resilient industry as the Hunter has demonstrated particularly over the last two decades, and our skills and innovative processes have developed significantly over this time.
So let's accept the challenges to meet the new paradigm. HunterNet is determined to continue to work with members to facilitate this process, so that together in our 20th year since incorporation we can ensure that we look forward to the next twenty years as a time of even greater progress and growth.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Vamvakinou) took the chair at 09:30.
Rural women want to know if there is a future for their families in communities like Coleambally that were established specifically for the purpose of irrigation.
… … …
To maintain these facilities, community population needs to be maintained. Less water in the CIA—
would mean less jobs and less people. Critical mass would be lost.
I rang the government phone line about the change over and as I have a digital TV sort of working on an indoor antenna not very well, they cannot help us unless we owned our own house and that we will have to talk to housing commission.
All we need is an outdoor digital antenna.
We went to see the housing commission and was told that they cannot help us as we are in a house and not units and that we will have to pay for it ourselves.
We live just on the old age pension and pay 25 per cent of that to housing. We have a car to run as we can't hop in and out of busses—
a monthly telephone, electricity and thanks to the government, this keeps going up.
It seems to us that the governments of today are treating us worse than they would treat a leper. It will cost about $300 to $350 to supply and install a digital TV antenna.
This is more than I get a week.
As well as bills and rent, we have to buy food. On food, I spend $50 a week and a little more when we can afford it.
I cannot buy one and put in myself as I have arthritis in both knees, both hips and right shoulder.
My wife is disabled with 60% of use gone in her left leg so she cannot do it and in any case we just cannot afford it.
After the TV is turned off in June, we will not have television except for Channel 9 and only this when the weather is good.
I don't usually complain about things but enough is enough!
It's a big joke, isn't it?
I'm a proud Australian and I'm worried about what is happening to my country.
The bill creates new offences for specific conduct that is prohibited by the convention.
This includes:
The offences will not be limited to conduct by Australians and in Australia, but will apply in a broad range of situations where the convention requires states parties to assert jurisdiction.
Success will depend on balancing the near and long term objectives. Repeated tactical success will not of itself assure us of strategic victory. We must extend the rule of law; address the ideological challenge; harness and not be harmed by technology; and preserve our borders in what will surely remain a period of instability.
If current approaches toward eliminating the threat are not replaced with a sense of urgency and resolve, the question will become not if but when, and on what scale, the first act of nuclear terrorism occurs.
Iran probably has the capability to produce some biological warfare agents … for offensive purposes, if it made the decision to do so.
My position was necessarily that nuclear power was wrong, partly for the pollution and nuclear waste reasons but primarily because of the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons. My change of mind wasn’t sudden, but gradual over the past four years. But the key moment when I thought that we needed to be extremely serious was when it was reported that the permafrost in Siberia was melting massively, giving up methane, which is a very serious problem for the world. It was kind of like a religious conversion. Being anti-nuclear was an essential part of being an environmentalist for a long time but now that I’m talking to a number of environmentalists about this, it’s actually quite widespread this view that nuclear power is not ideal but it’s better than climate change.
This report focuses on those areas where Iran has not fully implemented its binding obligations, as the full implementation of these obligations is needed to establish international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Your intentions and your plans were deadly serious. It was to kill as many personnel that could be found on the army base at Holsworthy in the time prior to yourselves being killed as martyrs …
… despite being given the opportunity, none of the trio had recanted their extremist views.
The fact that Australia nurtured you and your families is something that should cause you all to hang your heads in shame, that this was the way you planned to show your thanks for that support.
Your views about Australia and Australians, and your attitude towards the country's armed forces, its civilians and its government were clear. Your plans were evil.
... Of the 38 people recently prosecuted for terrorism-related offences in Australia, 37 were Australian citizens and 34 were either born here or lived here since childhood.
… it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013 …
Just one nuclear weapon exploded in a city—be it New York or Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris—could kill hundreds of thousands of people.
A senior Al-Qaeda commander claimed that the terrorist group has hidden a nuclear bomb in Europe which will be detonated if Bin-Laden is ever caught or assassinated. The US authorities uncovered numerous attempts by Al-Qaeda to obtain nuclear materials and fear that terrorists have already bought uranium. Sheikh Mohammed told interrogators that Al-Qaeda would unleash a "nuclear hellstorm".
Terrorists also plotted major chemical and biological attacks against this country.
It is worth reading the sentencing statements of the Australian judges to get an idea of the seriousness with which they viewed the offences—and the likely consequences had they been successful.
ASIO continues to conduct several hundred counter-terrorism investigations and inquiries ranging from Australians in contact with terrorists off-shore, including al-Qa’ida, to possible threats to Australian interests or Australian lives from extremist activity, either on or off-shore.
Within the Australian environment, we are seeing a worrying trend of “home grown terrorism”. This is not an abstract or an offshore threat; it is real and it is amongst us—
we are continuing to see a number of Australians seeking to travel overseas for participation in—or facilitation of—terrorism-related activities. My concern is that such people may target innocent people overseas, assist those who would do harm to our nation, or might return to Australia with a greater knowledge, training and intent to carry out an act of terrorism back home.
... implement the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism 2005 (the Convention) by creating new offences for criminal conduct relating to nuclear material and other radioactive substances or devices prohibited by the Convention.
The Bill also amends the Extradition Act 1988 to ensure the new offences will not be regarded as political offences for the purposes of extradition.
... contribute to international efforts aimed at countering terrorism involving the use of radioactive material. It will ensure that persons who commit such acts can be brought to justice irrespective of the territory in which they are found and whether or not extradition agreements are in place.
That business intervening before order of the day No. 4, committee and delegation reports, be postponed until a later hour this day.
The only explanation I can get for the increase is that management costs have risen. In recent years the Lakes co-op—
has participated in a three year co management trial with AFMA in a bid to reduce the costs of management. This effort and the results seem to have been largely ignored and brushed aside. If these increases were to continue at this rate it would make it extremely hard to run a profitable business as we are unable to pass the costs on. The increase also impacts the income of our crew as their wages are based on a percentage of the catch. It seems as if AFMA are unable to run to their allocated budgets and the industry is being forced to cover the shortfall.
At the heart of our plan for a stronger economy is getting government spending down …
Current projections for spending growth have an average of 1.5 per cent.
… you don’t put into the economic equation a global recession which took more than $140 billion from the tax revenue—
The BER never funded a Queensland coastal hotel which boasted gaming and strippers, but a 2005 Senate inquiry was told—
(1) Can the Minister confirm that a retailer wishing to offer a voice only service will be required to pay NBN Co Limited's entry level wholesale price of $24 per month?
(1) The Australian Government is committed to the continued availability of a voice-only service for those who need it. The government's retail price control framework provides a range of protections for consumers, including those on low-incomes.
In conducting its review into arrangements for retail price controls, the government sought views on how low-income users should be provided with equitable access to affordable basic telecommunications services. The government is considering the submissions received in response to the review.
Will the satellite services that will be offered by NBN Co. Ltd have the capacity to provide video conferencing and interactive distance learning applications.
The Long Term Satellite Service will provide service improvements and support video conferencing and large file transfers. It will have the capacity to support a range of consumer and business grade services, including interactive distance learning services such as School of the Air. As outlined in NBN Co's Corporate Plan, the Long Term Satellite Service will be engineered to deliver high-speed broadband services by using Ka-band satellites to deliver peak download speeds of 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 Mbps. It is expected these services will provide a broadband experience equivalent to, or better than, what many people now experience on ADSL.
Further, NBN Co is also investigating the introduction of higher upload speeds of 2 Mbps with a roadmap of 4 Mbps to support business services.
Attachment A which can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office provides an NBN Co information paper regarding e-health Services in Indigenous Communities and further details the expected capabilities and benefits of the Long Term Satellite Solution. This paper notes that the final long term satellite product feature set and network capabilities will be determined once vendor selection and contracts have been finalised.
Will the satellite services that will be offered by NBN Co. Ltd have the capacity to deliver the applications that are currently delivered over satellite for interactive distance learning at the School of the Air and the Northern Territory Open Education Centre in the Northern Territory; if so, will these interactive distance learning services continue to receive government funding.
Mr Jim Hassell, Head of Product Development and Sales at NBN Co, advised in response to a Joint Committee on the NBN hearing on 27 July 2011 that the Interim Satellite Service would not affect the satellite network currently used by the Northern Territory School of the Air. Mr Hassell stated that:
What they've already got in place, as I understand it anyway, is that they have the separate School of the Air network... It's not run over a standard network, it's a separate piece of infrastructure, it's a separate satellite dish that people have in their own homes and it's a completely separate service which is actually been designed to deliver remote education.
With our interim solution we had to take internet capacity which is currently available in the market and use that. But when we launch our own we have greatly increased the capacity and we build on that our business grade services which is a whole range of kind of different service level commitment which allows you to give that kind of service.
(www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-01/school-of-the-air-faces-long-wait-for-nbn-benefits/2818784).
The Long Term Satellite Service will provide service improvements and support videoconferencing and large file transfers. It will have the capacity to support a range of consumer and business grade services, including interactive distance learning services such as School of the Air. As outlined in NBN Co's Corporate Plan, the Long Term Satellite Service will be engineered to deliver high-speed broadband services by using Ka-band satellites to deliver peak download speeds of 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 1 Mbps. It is expected these services will provide a broadband experience equivalent to, or better than, what many people now experience on ADSL.
Further, NBN Co is also investigating the introduction of higher upload speeds of 2 Mbps with a roadmap of 4 Mbps to support business services.
Attachment A can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office provides an NBN Co information paper regarding e-health Services in Indigenous Communities and further details the expected capabilities and benefits of the Long Term Satellite Solution. This paper notes that the final long term satellite product feature set and network capabilities will be determined once vendor selection and contracts have been finalised.
Funding for School of the Air is a responsibility of State and Territory Governments.
For each month since July 2007, how many calls have been made to healthdirect Australia.
The most appropriate healthdirect Australia call volume category to assess the number of calls made to healthdirect Australia is 'Calls Received'.
A total of 2,706,687 calls were received by healthdirect Australia from 1 July 2007 until 30 November 2011.
Calls received by healthdirect Australia for each month since July 2007 until November 2011 are identified in the table below.
Calls received
(1) On what date did the Pentagon release its report into the deaths of Private Tim Aplin, Private Benjamin Chuck and Private Scott Palmer, following a United States Blackhawk helicopter crash in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan on 21 June 2010.
(2) To whom within
(a) his department, and
(b) the Australian Army, did the Pentagon release its report.
(3) On what date did the office of the Chief of Army receive the report, and from whom.
(4) On what date did the
(a) Minister's office receive the report, and from whom, and
(b) Minister receive the report.
(5) Is he able to indicate the reason for the delay in providing to the families of the three dead soldiers, a copy of the Pentagon's report.
A classified copy of a United States (US) Report into the helicopter crash on 21 June 2010 was available to the Australian Inquiry Officer who conducted the Australian Inquiry into the circumstances of the deaths of Private Tim Aplin, Private Benjamin Chuck and Private Scott Palmer. A copy of this classified US report was included in the evidence supporting the Australian Inquiry, which was completed in late 2010. This US report was provided to the Australian Inquiry Officer during the course of his Inquiry. It was not subject to a formal release process and not authorised for release at that time. Subsequently, the US Report has been provided to the families of Private Aplin, Private Chuck and Private Palmer.
This US report focussed on the cause of the accident in the context of the death of the US soldier who was also killed in the incident. The Australian Inquiry Officer drew from it in preparing his report. Accordingly, in preparing to release the Australian report, both to the families of Private Aplin, Private Chuck and Private Palmer and to the public, Defence needed to ensure that classified US information was not included in the material being released. Staff level liaison with US Defence personnel to ascertain the ability to release the US material included in the Australian report commenced at the beginning of December 2010.
I am advised that in January 2011, the US Army provided an unclassified copy of the US report to the next-of-kin of the US soldier who was killed in the crash. A copy of this unclassified version of the US report was not received by Australian Defence personnel until the beginning of April 2011. At that time, Australian Defence staff in Washington were advised by their US Army counterparts who provided that US report that the US Army considered the briefing of the report to the next-of-kin as public release. A copy of the unclassified US report was received by the Chief of the Defence Force's Commissions of Inquiry Directorate in Australia in mid-April 2011.
The delay in obtaining the unclassified version of the US report is acknowledged. This was the first instance in which Defence has had to conduct a combat death Inquiry in conjunction with another country. There were no established protocols for this.
The US report mentioned above is one of two conducted by the US. The other was focussed on air safety. An Australian Officer attended this second investigation as an observer, and a substantial body of material from that investigation was also provided to Australia. My Office received a copy of the Australian Inquiry Officer's report on 8 August 2011, under cover of a submission seeking my approval for release of the Australian report.
The Chief of the Defence Force has acknowledged that the Australian report should have moved through the Department much more quickly than this.
After appropriate consideration of the advice of the Chief of the Defence Force and the content of the report, I approved disclosure of the Australian Inquiry Officer's report to the families in late September. Given the potential sensitivities involved with release of the Australian report, I also discussed its release with US Defence Secretary Panetta when I met with him in Brussels at the beginning of October 2011.
Following my discussion with Secretary Panetta, an Australian Army representative met with the families of Privates Aplin, Chuck and Palmer on 12 and 13 October 2011 to provide them with a copy of the Australian report. In relation to the US report, a copy of the unclassified US report that is the focus of this Question on Notice was provided to the families of Privates Aplin, Chuck and Palmer by the Australian Defence Force on 20 October 2011. It was appropriate that the Australian Defence Force used the Australian Inquiry report as the basis for informing the Australian families.
So far as the delay in release of the Inquiry report is concerned, the Australian Inquiry Officer report into the Blackhawk crash was managed by a small number of staff who support the Chief of the Defence Force directly on all operational and administrative issues with regard to the deaths of Australian Defence Force members. This Directorate was not staffed with sufficient suitably qualified personnel to manage concurrent inquiries into the 10 Australians killed in action during the period June to August 2011.
The Chief of the Defence Force has effected remedial actions to minimise delays to the release of inquiry reports on combat deaths in the future.
These measures include:
While it may provide little comfort to the families, the Chief of the Defence Force has written to the families to apologise for the delay. I have apologised publicly and do so again.
Further to the Minister's answer to question in writing No. 587 ( Hansard , 3 November 2011, page 109), based on what specific program objectives did the Minister conclude that each of the 18 programs failed.
Reports such as the 'Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Communications Outlook 2007' indicated that Australia continued to fall behind other OECD nations on broadband take-up, quality and price during the Coalition's 11 and a half years in government.
(1) In (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, and (c) 2010-11, what total sum did Tourism Australia contribute towards joint marketing campaigns with (a) Qantas, (b) Virgin, (c) Jetstar, and (d) other airlines, including campaign costs borne by Tourism Australia, and costs to airlines in money or in kind.
(2) What total sum is Tourism Australia projected to contribute in 2011-12 towards joint marketing campaigns with (a) Qantas, (b) Virgin, (c) Jetstar, and (d) other airlines, including campaign costs borne by Tourism Australia, and costs to airlines in money or in kind.
(1) Each year Tourism Australia engages the support of industry partners and airlines in international cooperative marketing programs to ensure maximum leveraged state and territory government and private sector investment. Airline partnerships help to convert consumers' desire to travel to Australia into travel bookings through a combination of destination messaging in price point marketing. Tourism Australia currently has three global Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) in place, including two long-standing MoUs with Qantas, Singapore Airlines and a recently ratified agreement with Jetstar announced in October 2011. Tourism Australia's airline MoUs outline a long term spirit of cooperation and investment in international markets with each airline, usually at three-year intervals.
In 2008-09, Tourism Australia directly invested $7.4 million AUD in international airline partnerships, resulting in a total of $18.5 million AUD worth of cooperative airline/destination marketing for Australia. Australia partnered with 16 airlines in 36 markets in a total of 60 campaigns.
In 2009-10, Tourism Australia directly invested $17 million AUD in international airline partnerships, resulting in a total of $34.6 million AUD worth of cooperative airline/destination marketing for Australia. Australia partnered with 17 airlines in 32 markets in a total of 87 campaigns.
In 2010-11, Tourism Australia directly invested $12.8 million AUD in international airline partnerships, resulting in a total of $23.3 million AUD worth of cooperative airline/destination marketing for Australia. Australia partnered with 14 airlines in 23 markets in a total of 50 campaigns.
Note: Tourism Australia's contractual agreements with airlines prevent public disclosure of annual airline investments. The values listed above do not include Tourism Australia's cooperative investment in international media hosting or other trade and business events.
(2) In 2011-12, Tourism Australia's planned investment in international airline partnerships is $16.5 million AUD with a projected total investment value of $34 million AUD.
In October 2011, Tourism Australia signed a $9.6 million marketing deal with Jetstar aimed at boosting Japanese inbound tourism and further expanding brand Australia's presence in the Asia Pacific. The three year agreement runs to mid 2014 and will see Tourism Australia and Jetstar each contribute at least $1.6 million per year on a range of joint marketing, digital and social media activities.
Note: Tourism Australia's contractual agreements with airlines prevent public disclosure of annual airline investments. The values listed above do not include Tourism Australia's cooperative investment in international media hosting, or other trade and business events.
In (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, and (c) 2010-11, what sum was spent on travel by his office, his department, and Tourism Australia, including the total sum per airline.
Minister's Office
Information about destinations and the cost of travel undertaken by Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries is tabled in the Parliament every six months in the report Parliamentarians' Expenditure on Entitlements paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance). The report also includes car transport costs as advised by other departments in respect of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. The reports and supporting information are published on the Finance website.
Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia does not maintain records of travel costs by airline. Under Tourism Australia's travel policy, all carriers should be considered when booking air travel. As a general principle, air travel must be at best value subject to business purpose, security, safety and effectiveness of the individual. It is expected that all employees will take advantage of any advance purchase discounts offered by the airlines.
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
(1) How many modern awards has Fair Work Australia approved since it was established, and what is the name of each award. (2) What is the name of each superannuation fund contained in the clause of each modern award in part (1) that imposes an obligation on the employer to pay superannuation contributions into the employee's superannuation fund.
(1) One hundred and twenty-two modern awards were made by the tribunal during the award modernisation process in 2008-09. The modern awards commenced operation on 1 January 2010. The awards are listed below:
(2) The following extracts from a Full Bench statement in September 2008 and Full Bench decisions in December 2008 and September 2009 dealt with superannuation in modern awards:
12 September 2008 – [2008] AIRCFB 717
" [29] We do not think it is appropriate that the Commission conduct an independent appraisal of the investment performance of particular funds. Performance will vary from time to time and even long term historical averages may not be a reliable indicator of future performance. We are prepared to accept a fund or funds agreed by the parties, provided of course that the fund meets the relevant legislative requirements."
19 December 2008 – [2008] AIRCFB 1000:
" [90] The terms of the exposure draft concerning the default fund provision were the cause of a number of submissions from employer and employee interests, from superannuation funds and the superannuation industry. We have decided to allow as a default fund any fund to which the employer was making contributions for the benefit of employees on 12 September 2008. This approach is likely to minimise inconvenience for employers. While funds other than those provided for will not qualify as default funds employees may still exercise their right to choose in favour of these funds."
2 September 2009 – [2009] AIRCFB 800
" [66] In our view the nomination of default funds should be made on some readily ascertainable basis and one which does not lead to any disruption. For that reason it was decided to provide for named default funds as the primary basis. The secondary basis was any fund to which the employer was making contributions before 12 September 2008. That date was chosen because it was the date on which the exposure drafts of the priority modern awards were published.
[67] A number of funds have since made applications to be included as named default funds on the basis that the fund was nominated as a default fund in an award-based transitional instrument relevant to the coverage of the modern award or on the basis that the representatives of the main parties covered by the award consent. In our view either basis would constitute a good reason for the fund being specified as a default fund in a modern award. Where such grounds exist an appropriate application could be made. We do not intend to deal with such applications, however, in this decision.
[68] Returning now to the proposal that we should change the relevant date from 12 September 2008 to 1 January 2010, and assuming the proposal could be characterised as a transitional provision, we doubt whether such a variation would go the heart of the matter. Most funds voicing objection to the default fund provision did so on the basis that they are fundamentally opposed to any limitation on the ability of an employer to choose the default fund. Simply substituting one date for another would not remedy that complaint. Indeed, it might create a deal of disruption in the industry between the publication of this decision and 1 January 2010.
[69] The relevant legislation provides for default funds to be included in awards. Our present view is that we should continue to provide for default funds where there is a history of award regulation of superannuation in the industry or occupation the modern award covers. It should be emphasised, however, that, self-evidently, the default fund provision only operates where the employee does not nominate a fund. The superannuation legislation enshrines the right of an employee to choose the fund into which the employer should make contributions. Consistently with the legislation the award provision does not limit an employee's right to nominate a fund. Nor does it limit the ability of superannuation funds which are not default funds to market their products to employees and employers. We have decided, on the basis of what has been put in the proceedings, not to alter the date of 12 September 2008." [emphasis added]
114 of the 122 modern awards contain a standard clause in relation to Superannuation. The provision is reproduced below: As outlined in the Full Bench decision [[2009] AIRCFB 800] highlighted in paragraph 69 above, the provisions makes it clear that the award only nominates a default fund to be used if the employee does not choose to nominate an alternate fund. Furthermore the obligation to pay superannuation is derived from Superannuation legislation listed below, not from the modern award.
1. Superannuation (Standard clause)
1.1 Superannuation legislation
(a)Superannuation legislation, including the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), theSuperannuation Guarantee Charge Act 1992 (Cth), theSuperannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and theSuperannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), deals with the superannuation rights and obligations of employers and employees. Under superannuation legislation individual employees generally have the opportunity to choose their own superannuation fund. If an employee does not choose a superannuation fund, any superannuation fund nominated in the award covering the employee applies.
(b)The rights and obligations in these clauses supplement those in superannuation legislation.
1.2 Employer contributions
An employer must make such superannuation contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of an employee as will avoid the employer being required to pay the superannuation guarantee charge under superannuation legislation with respect to that employee.
1.3 Voluntary employee contributions
(a)Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, an employee may, in writing, authorise their employer to pay on behalf of the employee a specified amount from the post-taxation wages of the employee into the same superannuation fund as the employer makes the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 0.
(b)An employee may adjust the amount the employee has authorised their employer to pay from the wages of the employee from the first of the month following the giving of three months' written notice to their employer.
(c)The employer must pay the amount authorised under clauses 0 or 0 no later than 28 days after the end of the month in which the deduction authorised under clauses 0 or 0 was made.
1.4 Superannuation fund
Unless, to comply with superannuation legislation, the employer is required to make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 0 to another superannuation fund that is chosen by the employee, the employer must make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 0 and pay the amount authorised under clauses 0 or 0 to one of the following superannuation funds or its successor:
(a) Name(s) of default fund ; or
(b)any superannuation fund to which the employer was making superannuation contributions for the benefit of its employees before 12 September 2008, provided the superannuation fund is an eligible choice fund.
The list below outlines the default superannuation fund(s) listed in each modern award:
Why does the Operating Report of the Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union for the year ended 31 March 2010 filed with Fair Work Australia under section 254 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 not disclose that Mr Bernard Riordan was a director of Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme Pty Ltd, the trustee of the Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme Pty Ltd.
Each reporting unit within a registered organisation is required to keep proper financial records with respect to its transactions and financial position.
Sections 253 and 254 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 require a reporting unit to prepare general purpose financial reports and operating reports. In particular, under subsection 254 (2) (d), the operating report must give details (including details of the position held) of any officer or member of the reporting unit who is a trustee, or is a director of a company that is a trustee, of a superannuation entity or an exempt public sector superannuation scheme but only where eligibility for the officer or member being a trustee or director prescribes that the officer or member is an officer or member of a registered organisation.
Failure to comply with this section can attract civil penalties.
Fair Work Australia has made an inquiry under section 330 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 of the Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia as to whether subsection 254(d) has been complied with and is awaiting a response.
In respect of Centrelink concession cards, (a) why do they not contain photo identification, and (b) has she received reports of (i) cards being used by family and friends, (ii) cards being used when scanned or photocopied, (iii) cards being used after they have expired, and (iv) multiple cards, and/or addresses, and/or names being connected to one person; if so, what actions have been or are being taken to prevent such card misuse.
(a) The main reason concession cards do not have photo identification is cost. Costs would be incurred in several ways. There are more than five million existing card holders. Of these, a minimum of 22 per cent would be subject to renewal during a year. This figure excludes new grants and replacement cards. Cards are also commonly reissued when a customer changes address, name or payment types.
(b) Yes, reports have been received of alleged misuse.
The following arrangements are in place to mitigate against misuse:
(1) What sum was the Australian Government's total gross debt (a) when the 2007-08 Budget was delivered, and (b) on 17 November 2011.
(2) What is the percentage of growth in gross Government debt between the two periods in part (1), and can the Minister indicate how this percentage compares to that of OECD countries including Germany, France, Italy, the United States, Spain, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Israel and Chile.
(3) In which financial year does the Government estimate it will reach the new Commonwealth debt ceiling of $250 billion.
(4) Is the Government considering increasing the debt ceiling beyond $250 billion.
(5) Between the two periods in part (1), what total sum of interest has the Commonwealth paid on its total borrowings.
(6) What is the latest estimate for the (a) Government retiring all Commonwealth net debt, and (b) Federal Budget's 'structural deficit'; and as a percentage of GDP, how does this compare with other OECD countries.
(1) In the 2007-08 Budget, the market value of Commonwealth Government Securities (CGS) on issue as at 30 June 2008 was estimated to be $59.3 billion. The market value of CGS is not available on a daily basis. In the 2011-12 MYEFO, the market value of CGS on issue as at 30 June 2012 was estimated to be $253.5 billion.
(2) In the 2007-08 Budget, the market value of CGS on issue as at 30 June 2008 as a percentage of GDP was estimated to be 5.0 per cent ($59.3 billion). In the 2011-12 MYEFO, the market value of CGS on issue as at 30 June 2012 as a percentage of GDP was estimated to be 17.0 per cent ($253.5 billion). The percentage point change in CGS between 2007-08 and 2011-12 is 12.0 per cent.
According to IMF data and estimates, between 2007 and 2011 general government gross debt in select OECD countries changed by the following:
General government gross debt (as % of GDP)
*IMF estimate.
#Note: Australian data is for the Australian Government general government sector, is sourced from the Budget papers and refers to financial years 2007-08 and 2011-12. Data for all other economies is for the total government sector and refer to calendar years beginning 2007 and 2011.
Source: IMF Fiscal Monitor September 2011, 2007-08 Budget and 2011-12 MYEFO.
(3) and (4) Information on the end-of-year market value of CGS on issue for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15 is published in Table B2 of the 2011-12 MYEFO. The face value of CGS on issue for the equivalent end of year period is expected to be lower than the market value for the years 2011-12 to 2014-15. The Government does not have any plans to amend the legislative limit and will continue to monitor the size of the CGS market.
(5) The interest expense on CGS for the years 2007-08 to 2010-11 is published in Note 10 of the Final Budget Outcome for those years. The estimated interest expense on CGS for 2011-12 is reported in Note 10 of the 2011-12 MYEFO.
(6). (a) The updated medium term budget projections included in the 2011-12 MYEFO show that the budget position is projected to improve over the medium term with net debt projected to return to zero in 2020-21.
(b) Treasury's latest estimates of the Australian Federal structural budget balance, as well as detailed descriptions of the underlying methodology and assumptions, were published in the October 2010 Treasury Roundup article.
For international comparisons, the IMF and OECD produce estimates of structural budget balances (including Australia's) across all levels of government in their Fiscal Monitor andEconomic Outlook publications.
(1) Is she aware that approximately 300,000 Australians at risk of severe and disabling stroke would benefit greatly from the listing of the medicine dabigatran (Pradaxa®) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS); if so, why is she deferring the listing of Pradaxa on the PBS.
(2) Why has she called for another inquiry into the efficacy of Pradaxa when similar work has already been performed and the drug approved for listing by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
(3) Will she provide a detailed breakdown for the basis of her claim in her press release from 30 September 2011 that listing Pradaxa on the PBS 'will cost the budget up to $1 billion over the forward estimates.'
(1) and (2) Dabigatran (Pradaxa®) is currently listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip or knee replacements.
At its March 2011 meeting, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended extending the current PBS listing of Pradaxa to include the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (a condition associated with an abnormal heart rhythm).
However, in recommending the listing of PRADAXA on the PBS for patients at risk of stroke because they have atrial fibrillation, the PBAC noted the following:
The Government has not deferred the extension to the listing of Pradaxa, but based on the PBAC's advice, the Government has decided to seek more information about how Pradaxa would fit into the current treatment options of Australian patients at risk of stroke.
Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO, the former Chair of the PBAC, has been commissioned to review options for improving the health outcomes of patients treated with anticoagulation therapies.
This review will consider how current treatments are used and what should be the role of newer therapies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, such as Pradaxa.
Unlike warfarin, where bleeding associated with the use of the drug can be quickly reversed with vitamin K, this solution is not available to treat bleeding associated with Pradaxa, and so it is more difficult to manage.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has already issued two safety advisory alerts regarding Pradaxa based on the increase in bleeding-related adverse events reports and new requirements for kidney function monitoring. The review being undertaken by Professor Sansom will take all these issues into account to ensure anticoagulant therapy in Australia delivers optimal health outcomes for all patients.
Terms of Reference for the review are available on the Department's website at pbs.gov.au.
(3) Details of the Minister for Health and Ageing's Submission to the Cabinet in relation to the proposed extension to the listing of this medicine on the PBS are Cabinet-In-Confidence.
In addition, the detailed costing of the proposed extension to the PBS listing of Pradaxa contains Commercial-in-Confidence information.
(1) Is it a fact that Warfarin is the most common cause of drug-related hospitalisation.
(2) For 2010-11, can she provide data on the number and cost of Warfarin hospitalisations, and the proportion of Warfarin prescriptions that were subsidised for pensioners and for veterans.
(1) This data is not available.
(2) This data is also not available. However, in 2010-11 over 2.4 million Warfarin prescriptions were subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and over 232,000 prescriptions were subsidised through the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, for a range of conditions. This does not include any prescriptions that were dispensed to general patients, as the cost of the drug is under the general co payment of $34.20.
(1) For 2010-11, can she provide data on (a) the number of strokes that occurred as a result of the condition atrial fibrillation, and (b) the proportion of atrial fibrillation patients who (i) took Warfarin, (ii) took Aspirin, and (iii) sought no treatment.
(2) Does she know the common reason(s) why many atrial fibrillation patients seek no treatment; if so, can she indicate the reason(s).
(1) These data are not currently available. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, How we manage stroke in Australia 2006 provides an overview of the associated risk factors and treatment of patients who have suffered a stroke. The Institute's report is available at www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442467815
(2) The management of atrial fibrillation is a complex and evolving medical area. The use of anticoagulants is one of a number of treatment options available and is clinically appropriate for some but not all patients with atrial fibrillation. The decision to use an anticoagulant is based on clinical judgement and individual patient factors such as (but not limited to) the risk of stroke, risk of bleeding, other medical conditions (co morbidities) and a patient's lifestyle factors such as risk of trauma from falls and compliance to treatments.
The Government has recently commissioned a review of oral anticoagulation therapies in the management of atrial fibrillation to be conducted by Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom who will be supported by an expert Reference Group. The terms of reference for this review are:
(a) To report on current and future options for improving the health outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulants.
(b) To report on modes of health system delivery which may be used to optimise the use of currently available anticoagulants.
(c) To report to what extent optimisation of the use of currently available anticoagulant treatments used in patients with atrial fibrillation would improve health outcomes and at what cost.
(d) To examine the future role of newer anticoagulant therapies for atrial fibrillation.
(e) To report on any other matter relevant to items a to d above and on any other matters referred to it by the Minister.
The report from the review will incorporate the most recent literature, feedback from stakeholder consultation and advice from clinical experts and consumers currently involved in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation and associated stroke. It is anticipated that the report will be completed in 2012.
For 2010-11, can she provide the cost to the Government of each stroke in Australia, and the proportion of this cost that was paid by the (a) Commonwealth, and (b) each State and Territory.
The direct cost to Government for each stroke in Australia during 2010-11 is currently not available. However, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report: How we manage stroke in Australia 2006 contains an estimate of the financial impact of stroke in Australia, and explains the limitations and complexity in determining the cost of caring for patients with stroke. The Institute’s report is available at www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442467815
(1) How many applications for a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) were made in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10, (e) 2010-11, and (f) 2011-12 (to date), and in which posts were these applications made.
(2) By post, how many of the applications in part (1) were (a) approved with visas granted, and (b) made by people under the age of 18 years, in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09, (iv) 2009-10, (v) 2010-11, and (vi) 2011-12 (to date).
(1) The number of Prospective Marriage Visa applications lodged is as follows.
(a) n 2006/7, 6876 applications
(b) in 2007/8, 6907 applications
(c) in 2008/9, 7794 applications
(d) in 2009/10, 7365 applications
(e) in 2010/11, 7257 applications
(f) in 2011/12, 2180 were lodged as at 31 October 2011
The table below shows the posts where these applications were lodged:
1 The posts referred to in 'other' are Rangoon, Vientiane, Nuku' Alofa, Nicosia, Honiara, Buenos Aires and Beijing. This also includes 3 applications processed onshore.
The table below shows the number of Prospective Marriage visas which were applied for over the last five years which have been granted, by post location. Some applications are yet to be finalised.
2 The posts referred to in 'other' are Rangoon, Vientiane, Nuku' Alofa, Nicosia, Honiara, Buenos Aires and Beijing. This also includes 3 applications processed onshore.
(2) The table below shows the number for the last 5 years of Prospective Marriage visa applications, by post, which were lodged by applicants under the age of 18 and resulted in visa grant.
Was any fraud detected in any applications for a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11, and (e) 2011-12 (to date); if so, can he indicate the nature of the fraud in each case, what happened to the perpetrators, and how many visas were cancelled or refused as a result of the fraud.
(1) When fraud is detected during processing of a Prospective Marriage visa application, it is recorded on file and in electronic case notes. This information however, is not recorded in a fashion which allows for statistical reporting. The Department is therefore unable to report on the number of Prospective Marriage visa applications refused on the basis of having provided bogus documents or incorrect information. Legislation allows for a visa to be cancelled if it is found that incorrect information or bogus documents were provided as part of the visa application.
Since 2006, no Prospective Marriage visas have been cancelled on these grounds.
(1) In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11, and (e) 2011-12 (to date), how many of the applicants for a Prospective Marriage Visa (subclass 300) who were under the age of 18 years arrived in Australia and subsequently married the proposer.
(2) How many of those applicants (a) failed to marry their proposer then returned to their country of residence, and (b) arrived and subsequently applied for some other visa, and which type of visa did each apply for.
(3) How many applicants in part (2) have applied for protection visas, and how many have made an application, or been granted permanent residency, under the domestic violence provisions of the Migration Act 1958 .
(1) and (2) (a) The table below shows the number of Prospective Marriage visa holders who were under the age of 18 when they were granted the visa (1) who married their sponsor and lodged a Partner visa application onshore, (2) who did not marry their sponsor, did not enter Australia or departed Australia without lodging a Partner visa application, (3) who have not yet lodged a Partner visa and still lawfully hold a Prospective Marriage visa, and (4) who applied for other visas1.
* Includes the 3 Family Violence claim cases referred to in (3b). Family Violence claims may only be made once the Prospective Marriage visa holder has married their sponsor and are assessed in the context of a Partner visa application.
(2) (b) and (3) (a) Records indicate that since 2007, no Prospective Marriage visa holders in the under 18 category applied for a visa other than a Partner visa, including Protection visas.
(3) (b) Three Prospective Marriage visa holders who were granted their visa when they were under the age of 18 applied for permanent residency under family violence provisions after they arrived in Australia.
Of those three, one applicant met the family violence provisions for the grant of the Subclass 801 permanent visa. Another applicant was found not to meet the family violence provisions for the grant of the Subclass 801 visa. A decision has not yet been made in relation to the third case.
________________
1 The ‘year’ column refers to the year in which the visa holder applied for a partner visa in Australia or departed Australia, not the year the Prospective marriage visa was granted or the applicant entered Australia.
(1) In respect of applicants being granted partner visas on the basis of being in a de-facto relationship with an Australian citizen, how many applications has his department received from people using documentation from relationship registry authorities throughout the States or Territories for same sex couples as a way of meeting the co-habitation or other 'genuineness' criteria.
(2) Is it possible to use such registration provided by State and Territory governments to circumvent existing migration criteria; if so, what is the Government doing to close this loophole.
(3) How many applications have been received by over-stayers or other visa holders to support protection visa applications; what are the countries of origin of those applicants; and how many protection visas have been granted to applicants using such registration as proof that they are in a same sex relationship.
(1) and (2) Although evidence of registration will be held on file and recorded in case notes, the information cannot be recorded in a way which allows Departmental systems to report on the number of Partner visa applicants who have registered their relationship under a relevant law of a State or Territory on the basis of a same-sex relationship.
Under Regulation 2.03A of the Migration Regulations 1994, couples who register their de facto relationship are not required to satisfy the twelve month relationship requirement that applies to other de facto relationships. The provision to allow de facto couples to register their relationship was introduced on 1 July 2009 as part of a package of measures to remove discrimination against same sex couples and their children. This provision does not undermine the integrity of the Partner visa program because visa applicants must still be assessed as being in a genuine relationship against the definition of de facto as per Section 5CB of the Migration Act 1958.
(3) The table below shows the number of (non irregular maritime arrivals (IMA)) Protection visa applications received by the Department between 2006 and 2011 and their source countries. Most applicants arrived holding a valid visa. In 2010-11, only 27 raised a protection claim after arriving at an Australian airport without documentation.
Protection visa application lodged by top 20 countries of citizenship (non-IMA)
If it were provided, evidence of registration of a relationship would be held on file and recorded in case notes. The information could not be recorded in a way which allows Departmental systems to report on the number of Protection visa applicants who have registered their relationship under a relevant law of a State or Territory on the basis of a same-sex relationship.
In respect of the GP Super Clinic at Redcliffe, what total sum has been paid in penalties or break costs to the builders of this clinic, following the failure to pay them as a result of lack of funds.
The information requested relates to the business affairs of the Redcliffe Hospital Foundation (the organisation) and its provision as a response to the question would be likely to damage the commercial interests of individuals or the organisation.
In respect of the proposed GP Super Clinic in Darwin, (a) what sum was originally allocated for this clinic, (b) when did her department realize no operator could be found to build the clinic, and (c) has this money been reallocated within the GP Super Clinic Program or elsewhere within her department's budget.
(a) $5 million (GST exclusive) was allocated as part of the 2010 Australian Government election commitment.
(b) A competitive Invitation to Apply round closed 20 July 2011 with no applications being received.
(c) No.
In respect of a speech he made in the House ( Hansard , 21 November 2011, page 167) about the Government approving $5 Billion worth of defence capability projects,
(a) what are these projects,
(b) when was each project approved,
(c) were the approvals for these projects first or second pass, and
(d) what is the value of each of these projects.
(a), (b), (c) and (d) Government Approvals 1 January 2011 – 20 November 2011.
Note *—Summary includes 'other' project approvals such as studies, project re-scoping, real cost increases, Capability Technology Demonstrator and Project Development Funding
First Pass Approvals
Second Pass Approvals
Other Approvals
(1) What meetings and other consultations has she or her department had with the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) or with members of the NAAA.
(2) Has she been involved in any functions organised by the NAAA; if so, will she provide the details.
(3) In (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, and (d) 2011-12 (to date), what projects has she or her department funded on the potential health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and who determines what research projects her department will undertake.
(4) What grants were made to members of the NAAA, or their individual office holders in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11, and (e) 2011-12 (to date).
(1) and (2) The former Minister for Health and Ageing attended one meeting with the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) in November 2010, and attended one briefing event held by the NAAA in July 2011. The current Minister for Health has not had any meetings with the NAAA.
(3) (a) to (d) The Department does not commission specific research in relation to risks or benefits of alcohol consumption.
Research on alcohol and other drugs is supported by the Department's funding to three National Drug Strategy Research Centres of Excellence who negotiate work plans and research directions with the Department on a triennial basis. The Centres work within the priorities of the National Drug Strategy 2010-2015, and provide and disseminate high-quality, rigorous research that contributes to evidence informed practice by health, law enforcement and education services. The Centres undertake work in a number of key priority areas including emerging trends, treatment, prevention, drug use and young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and workforce development. The Centres also provide expert advice to Departmental officials, and officials of the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs, and its Standing Committees and Working Groups.
(4) (a) to (e) Grants made to member organisations are set out in the attached table. The following points are relevant:
(i) While many of the organisations are broad based public health organisations, only alcohol related grants have been identified;
(ii) Where individual grants/projects focused solely on alcohol cannot be identified, total funding for the organisation is included; and
(iii) Funding is allocated against each funded organisation rather than by any individual applicant, such as office bearers.
* amount advised is core funding and covers both licit and illicit drug related activities.
(1) Is it a fact that the inaugural chair of the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA), Professor Mike Daube, has been appointed to many Commonwealth bodies; if so, which ones.
(2) In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, (d) 2010-11, and (e) 2011-12 (to date), what positions has Professor Daube held within her portfolio, and what remuneration did he receive.
(3) Is Professor Daube her department’s principal external adviser on alcohol policy; if not, can she indicate (a) who is, and since 1 January 2008, (b) what Commonwealth bodies they have been appointed to, and (c) what remuneration they have received from the Commonwealth; if so, what is his role in the allocation of research funding in the area of alcohol policy.
(1) and (2) Professor Mike Daube has been appointed to the following Commonwealth bodies:
Membership of Commonwealth bodies is remunerated according to Remuneration Tribunal determinations.
(3) No.
(a) (b) and (c) There is no principal external adviser on alcohol policy to the Department of Health and Ageing.
(1) Can she explain why Australia needs the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA), and what functions the ANPHA will fulfill that were not being undertaken previously.
(2) What are the roles of people involved in the National Preventative Taskforce who are now involved with the ANPHA.
(3) What is the background of each of the appointees to the (a) Board, and (b) Advisory Board, of the ANPHA.
(4) What (a) number, and (b) proportion, of staff appointed to the ANPHA have experience working in the food industry.
(1) The Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) was established to address the increasingly complex challenges associated with preventing chronic disease. It was established in response to the recommendations of the Health and Hospitals Reform Commission and the Preventative Health Taskforce, and with the support of the States and Territories through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH).
The recommendations of the Commission, the Taskforce and the decision of Governments under the NPAPH was that an agency solely focused on prevention and health promotion would play a valuable role, given the rapidly rising costs resulting from the growing burden of disease related to obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol consumption.
ANPHA has been established to bring national leadership and coordination to the efforts already underway throughout Australia, to forge strategic partnerships, and look at comprehensive approaches to disease prevention and health promotion, working across the lifespan (from early years to old age) and across sectors.
ANPHA is fulfilling a range of functions that were not being given a specific focus previously, in particular:
These functions are in addition to the transfer of specific functions previously conducted by the Department of Health and Ageing to ANPHA and given a specific focus, in particular conducting social marketing campaigns relating to preventive health and the management of the National Binge Drinking Strategy.
(2) Three members of the ANPHA Advisory Council were also members of the nine-member National Preventative Health Taskforce. Professor Rob Moodie chaired the Taskforce, Professor Mike Daube was deputy chair and Dr Lyn Roberts AM was a member of the Taskforce.
(3) ANPHA does not have an Advisory Board. Biographical details for each of the members of the ANPHA Advisory Council may be found on ANPHA's website: www.anpha.gov.au
(4) As at 3 November 2011, 13 staff of ANPHA have had experience working in the food industry (consisting of food handling, manufacture or retail sale). This comprised 39 per cent of ANPHA's 33 staff.
(1) What sum has been allocated to the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) for 2011-12.
(2) What is the research budget of the ANPHA for the forward estimates, and how will this research funding be allocated.
(3) Who recommended and appointed the advisers who recommend how the research funding is to be allocated, and do any of these advisers have experience working in industry; if so, what relevant experience does each adviser have.
(1) The Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) has been allocated both Departmental and Administered funds for 2011-12 as represented in the table below.
(2) ANPHA's research budget is represented in the table below.
Research funding will be allocated consistent with the research strategy.
(3) ANPHA's Research Committee was appointed by the ANPHA Chief Executive Officer, consistent with section 42 of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010 . The committee has been appointed for its academic expertise in relevant fields.
(1) What meetings and other consultations has the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) had with the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) or with members of the NAAA.
(2) What work is the ANPHA doing on the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, and is it working with the NAAA on any such projects.
(1) The National Alliance for Action on Alcohol has more than 60 organisational members encompassing a broad range of non-government organisations, academic groups, health care providers, professional representative groups and alcohol and drug treatment centres. ANPHA has not had any meetings with NAAA as a stand-alone entity. ANPHA has however met on many occasions with many groups that are members of the NAAA on a range of public-health related issues, some alcohol-related, some not.
(2) ANPHA is not doing any specific work on the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Key result area 2.4 of ANPHA's strategic plan is to "reduce the harmful consumption of alcohol" and states that the Agency will work to "promote and support evidence-based approaches to address harmful alcohol consumption through strong polices and programs".
ANPHA is not working with NAAA on any such projects.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(a) Total cost of all transactions made on corporate credit cards in 2007-08 was $1.809 million. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) issued 138 credit cards in 2007-08 due to staff movements. As at 30 June 2008 PM&C had 277 active credit cards issued to departmental staff.
(b) Total cost of all transactions made on corporate credit cards in 2008-09 was $2.014 million. PM&C issued 109 credit cards in 2007-08 due to staff movements. This number does not include cards issued as a result of the change in the Department's credit card provider. As at 30 June PM&C had 286 active credit cards issued to departmental staff.
(c) Total cost of all transactions made on corporate credit cards in 2009-10 was $1.966 million. PM&C issued 102 credit cards in 2007-08 due to staff movements. As at 30 June 2010 PM&C had 266 active credit cards issued to departmental staff.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(a) 2007-08:
(i) 107.
(ii) $1,181,799.
(b) 2008-09:
(i) 105.
(ii) $1,206,197.
(c) 2009-10:
(i) 182.
(ii) $2,364,612.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(1) How many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(a) In 2007-08 Defence including Defence Materiel Organisation had 63,700 corporate credit cards; with a total spend value of $464 million.
(b) In 2008-09 Defence including Defence Materiel Organisation had 67,000 corporate credit cards; with a total spend value of $551 million.
(c) In 2009-10 Defence including Defence Materiel Organisation had 68,550 corporate credit cards; with a total spend value of $548 million.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
Corporate credit cards are issued to departmental staff to facilitate effective and timely payment of supplier invoices. These can be issued to departmental staff on behalf of either the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) or the Director National Parks (DNP).
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
The number of corporate credit cards on issue to departmental staff was 257 in 2007-08, 262 in 2008-09 and 279 in 2009-10. The total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credits cards was $1,473,592.72 in 2007-08, $1,586,429.52 in 2008-09 and $1,566,580.40 in 2009-10.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and(ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
In a) 2007-08, b) 2008-09, and c) 2009-10: (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(a) The Department of Climate Change was created on 3 December 2007. All financial services for 2007-08 were provided by the then Department of the Environment, Heritage, Water and the Arts. The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has been unable to obtain the information.
(b) (i) 41 corporate credit cards.
(ii) Total expenditure was $520,236.
(c) (i) 62 corporate credit cards.
(ii) Total expenditure was $558,740.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, and (d) 2010-11, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
The number of corporate credit cards issued to departmental staff in Australia and the total value of transactions are as follows:
(a) 2007-08: 212 cards and transactions of $3,418,187
(b) 2008-09: 233 cards and transactions of $3,827,420
(c) 2009-10: 263 cards and transactions of $4,035,134
(d) 2010-11: 525 cards and transactions of $6,041,072*
* The increase in cards issued and transactions in 2010-11 compared to 2009-10 is primarily due to a change in departmental policy on use of credit cards allowing certain travel expenses to be charged to the corporate card.
Prior to receiving a departmental credit card staff are required to sign an undertaking that they understand the conditions governing the use of the card. The credit card payment process includes a third party review of all credit card transactions.
Information on credit cards issued by the department's overseas offices is not maintained centrally. It would entail a significant diversion of resources to collate this information and, in these circumstances, I do not consider the additional work can be justified.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10, and (d) 2010-11, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(i) The number of corporate credit cards issued for each financial year as at 30 June is listed in the table below:
(ii) The total expenditure for each financial year on corporate credit cards for the Department is listed below:
In respect of the Zone Tax Offset, in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, and (c) 2010-11; (i) how many people received the offset; (ii) what was the total cost of all claims made for the offset; (iii) how many people received the offset under Zone A, Zone B, and the Special Area category; and (iv) what was the total cost of all claims made for the offset under Zone A, Zone B, and the Special Area category.
(i) and (ii) The total number of people claiming zone1 or overseas forces2 tax offsets on their returns and the estimated total cost to revenue of the offsets are:
Total cost to revenue is the estimated amount of the zone or overseas forces tax offsets used to reduce tax payable. Data for the 2010-11 income year is not yet available as the lodgement period is still open. It is not possible to distinguish between the different zone or overseas forces tax offset categories, as all such offsets are claimed under the one category.
(iii) and (iv) As per response to (i) and (ii).
____________
1 Broadly speaking, a zone tax offset is for people who live or work in certain remote or isolated areas. These remote areas are called zone A and zone B. There are also special areas within these zones.
2 An overseas forces tax offset is for people who:
(1) Since 1 July 2010, what (a) number, and (b) proportion (as a percentage), of times have Defence (i) civilians, and (ii) Australian Defence Force members, not chosen the lowest practical fare for domestic and international travel in accordance with the Whole-of-Government arrangement exemption reporting codes.
(2) Since 1 July 2010, what (a) number, and (b) proportion (as a percentage), of flights were booked by Defence (i) civilians, and (ii) Australian Defence force members, on all applicable airlines, and at what cost.
(3) Has his department made any savings under the Whole-of -Government arrangements; if so, what sum since 1 July 2010.
(1) Defence does not categorise civilians and Australian Defence Force members differently when booking travel and is therefore unable to provide a breakdown of these categories. The proportion of exemption reporting codes used between 1 July 2010 and 31 October 2011 are as follows (based on a total of 378,472 tickets - 353,240 domestic and 25,232 international).
(2) Defence does not categorise civilians and Australian Defence Force members differently when booking travel and is therefore unable to provide a breakdown of these categories. The table below outlines the number and proportion (as a percentage) of flights booked with domestic (total 675,543 flights) and international (total 72,753 flights) airlines.
(3) Under Whole-of-Australian Government arrangements all domestic and international airlines were invited to provide pricing on the basis of providing services to Whole-of-Australian Government. Accordingly there is no way of identifying what price Defence would have achieved if we had contracted separately, and in turn identify what savings have come as a direct result of the Whole-of-Australian Government arrangements. However, data is showing that Defence travellers are adopting different travel practices, such as the use of more restricted fares, therefore lower unit costs for travel are being incurred.
In respect of a recent media report ALP ups spending on focus groups by Tom Dusevic ( The Australian , 14 November 2011) on the Australian Labor Party increasing spending on focus groups, specifically the $5 million spent on a survey of domestic and international tourists: (a) what is the purpose of the report referred to in the article; (b) did the report make any recommendations to the Government, if so, (i) what were they, and (ii) has the Government adopted any; (c) what research methodology was employed by the agency; (d) on what grounds (i) was the cost of the consultancy justified, and (ii) did ORC Australia win the right to undertake the survey; (e) on what date did his department commission the report; (f) what length of time did the research take to complete; and (g) will the full report be made public, if so, when.
Note: The response below assumes that this question is referring to payments totalling $4.96 million paid to ORC Australia Pty Ltd in 2010-11 to undertake survey work for Tourism Research Australia's International and National Visitor surveys (refer to The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism Annual Report 2010-11, Appendix 4, page 210, Table 23 Advertising and Market Research).
(a) The International Visitor Survey represents the most comprehensive source of information on international visitors to Australia. It has been operating since the early 1970s and is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.
The National Visitor Survey (NVS) is Australia's primary measure of domestic tourism activity, being the major source of information on the characteristics and travel patterns of domestic tourists. It has been operating since 1999 when it replaced the then Domestic Tourism Monitor (DTM). It is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.
(b) The reports are published quarterly and posted on Tourism Research Australia's (TRA) website; they provide statistics on travel patterns and behaviour, there are no direct recommendations made in the reports.
(c) The International Visitor Survey samples 40,000 departing, short-term international travellers over the age of 15 years who have been visiting Australia. The survey is conducted by Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) in the departure lounges of the eight major international airports; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin and the Gold Coast.
The National Visitor Survey is conducted with approximately 120,000 Australian residents aged 15 years and over on an annual basis. Respondents are interviewed in their homes using random digit dialling and a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing system.
(d) (i) The IVS and NVS are the most comprehensive national tourism surveys and measure the economic value of tourism to the economy through the collection of expenditure data. The surveys also provide detailed data on other variables including travel patterns and social and demographics as well as other characteristics of visitation in Australia. The surveys provide information to government, industry, academic institutions and the public. The surveys are jointly funded by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments.
(ii) Opinion Research (ORC) has been engaged to undertake this survey work through a merit based tender process. ORC won the right to undertake the foreign language field work component of the International Visitor Survey in 2004. In 2005, ORC successfully tendered for the right to conduct all field work components of the IVS. In 2006, ORC won the right to conduct the field work components of the NVS.
(e) The reports are published quarterly and posted on the TRA website. The most recent international report titled "International Visitors in Australia – September 2011" was released on the 7th of December 2011. The most recent domestic travel report titled "Travel by Australian – September 2011" was released on the 14th of December 2011.
(f) The surveys are ongoing with interviews conducted daily, with the results compiled and published quarterly.
(g) The full reports are made public each quarter, the most recent international report was released on the 7th of December 2011 and the most recent domestic report on the 14th of December 2011.
In respect of the AJ Wyllie Bridge upgrade on Gympie Road in Queensland, (a) what total sum will it cost to build the bridge; (b) what total sum has the Australian Government allocated to the bridge construction, and has this contribution been paid to the Queensland State Government; if so, on what date; if not, what sum has been paid to date; (c) when will the tender process be finalised; (d) when is construction expected to be completed, and the bridge open to traffic; (e) is the Minister aware of reports that local businesses have suffered up to a 30 per cent downturn in business, and traffic is severely congested, as a result of the traffic restrictions in place on the current bridge; (f) what measures are in place to assist local businesses and the community until construction is completed; and (g) will the Minister consider fast-tracking the construction of the bridge.
(a) Advice from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority is that the construction of the northbound section of the A J Wyllie Bridge will cost $20.35 million.
(b) Under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, the Australian Government will contribute up to 75 per cent to the recovery and reconstruction costs associated with the floods of summer 2010-11. Advance payments totalling $2.26 billion were made to Queensland in the 2010-11 financial year with further advance payments of $0.5 billion and $1.4 billion in the 2011-12 financial year. By the end of 2011-12, the Australian Government will have made advance payments of $4.16 billion to Queensland. Prioritising reconstruction projects is the responsibility of the Queensland Government.
Advice from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority is that:
(c) The tender went to market on 28 October 2011. The contract is expected to be awarded in February 2012.
(d) Construction is due to be completed in late 2012 and the new bridge open to two lanes of traffic. Currently the southbound bridge is open with one lane of traffic in each direction.
(e) The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) is working with the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) to respond to concerns raised by businesses. DEEDI runs workshops and programs for businesses affected by natural disasters. DTMR is also working to ensure efficient traffic flow whilst maintaining a safe environment for motorists and pedestrians with a number of measures including variable message signs, changed timings of traffic signals and installing closed circuit television cameras.
(f) Pedestrian and cyclist access across the northbound bridge will be maintained until demolition, with a temporary pedestrian and cycling bridge mounted onto the downstream side of the southbound bridge. To ensure safety, pedestrian signals will be installed south of Leis Parade. At the northern end, pedestrians will be able to cross at the existing traffic signal at the Wyllie Park access. Local businesses and the community can subscribe for SMS updates about A J Wyllie Bridge by visiting www.northpinebridgesms.com.au.
(g) The construction timeframe of one year is reasonable considering works will involve demolition of the existing northbound bridge, construction of the new bridge and a number of complementary activities including the relocation of services such as major sewer pipes and water mains.
In respect of chronic disease management (CDM) in the 19 GP Super Clinics, without identifying individual medical practices, in total how many (a) CDM items have been paid by Medicare, (b) GP management plans have been prepared, (c) team care arrangements have been coordinated, and (d) Medicare funded CDM allied health items have been delivered.
The GP Super Clinic Program does not collect this data.
In (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, and (c) 2009-10, (i) how many corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff, and (ii) what was the total cost of all transactions made on these corporate credit cards.
(a) At 30 June 2008, 958 corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff. The total value of payments made on corporate credit card in 2007-08 was $7,235,479.25.
(b) At 30 June 2009, 962 corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff. The total value of payments made on corporate credit card in 2008-09 was $6,994,877.54.
(c) At 30 June 2010, 928 corporate credit cards were issued to departmental staff. The total value of payments made on corporate credit card in 2009-10 was $5,842,883.91.