The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. Anna Burke ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
That the bill be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
On receiving information that persons are in distress at sea, the master of a ship, which is in a position to provide assistance, must proceed with all speed to their assistance.
This obligation applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found.
Where assistance has been provided to persons in distress in a state’s [search-and-rescue zone]—
that state has primary responsibility to ensure that coordination and cooperation occurs between governments, so that survivors are disembarked from the assisting ship and delivered to a place of safety.
As a matter of practice ‘a place of safety’ could be the nearest convenient port. This will not necessarily be a port in the territory of the state in whose [search-and-rescue zone] an incident occurs, nor in the territory of the state of the vessel rendering assistance.
Australia's long and vulnerable coastline provides opportunity for illicit goods to be trafficked into and out of the country via small vessels and light aircraft. As such, the aviation and maritime sectors are highly desirable environments for serious and organised criminal infiltration and exploitation.
The ACC has, for a number of successive years, been subject to very significant cost reduction strategies, particularly in the context of the agency’s supplier budget. These reductions adversely affect the ACC’s ability to respond to serious and organised crime.
Organised crime groups primarily exploit vulnerabilities in the maritime sector for the purposes of organised theft, the avoidance of duty on illicit goods, and as the primary gateway into Australia for illicit drug importation.
Australia has implied non-refoulement obligations under Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and under the Second Optional Protocol to the Covenant.
This comprises the obligation not to remove a person to a country where there is a real risk that the person would face the death penalty, arbitrary deprivation of life, torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Such a risk must be a necessary and foreseeable consequence of the person's removal.
Proposed section 72 of the Bill may engage Australia's non-refoulement obligations. Section 72(4) of the Bill provides that a maritime officer may detain a person and take the person, or cause the person to be taken to a place in or outside the migration zone, including a place outside Australia.
In circumstances where the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and or the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant apply, obligations of non-refoulement may be engaged and a person may be eligible to apply for a protection visa under section 36(2)(aa) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth ).
In such circumstances, in order to ensure that a maritime officer who has detained a person aboard a vessel acts in accordance with Australia's non-refoulement obligations, procedures relating to the consideration of refoulement risks would need to be in place.
From that kind of mindset, and naturally, it would be impossible and not advisable even to simply shift the nature of the challenge from one end of the continuum to the other.
… simply pushing boats back to where they came from would be a backward step.
The general concept of pushing boats back and forth would be an aberration to the general consensus that has been established since 2003.
We have clearly opposed pushbacks in the Italian case in the Mediterranean in the recent past before the Libyan crisis, and we think that that is clearly a violation in relation to the '51 Convention.
The Department strongly supports the above Bills which will simplify on water maritime enforcement operations and streamline training and doctrine development within Defence (Navy).
In our view there will also be less likelihood of a misapplication of power with more coherent and comprehensive legislation. In addition, any future amendments will be far less complex as there will be only one Department responsible for the legislation.
We are satisfied that the proposed changes are not going to cause operational disruption nor curtail the Authority's powers or ability to perform, in cooperation with other agencies …
As Australia's primary civil maritime law enforcement agency, Customs and Border Protection has been heavily involved in the development of both these Bills.
(a) "Smuggling of migrants" shall mean the procurement, in order to obtain, directly or indirectly, a financial or other material benefit, of the illegal entry—
of a person into a State Party of which the person is not a national or a permanent resident;
(b) "Illegal entry" shall mean crossing borders without complying with the necessary requirements for legal entry into the receiving State …
… that a maritime officer may detain a person and take the person, or cause the person to be taken to a place in or outside the migration zone, including a place outside Australia.
… in order to ensure that a maritime officer who has detained a person aboard a vessel acts in accordance with Australia's non-refoulement obligations, procedures relating to the consideration of refoulement risks would need to be in place.
The following principles for implementing turnbacks are based on international and domestic legal considerations, as well as diplomatic and operational considerations:
A State Party that has reasonable grounds to suspect that a vessel is engaged in the smuggling of migrants by sea and is without nationality or may be assimilated to a vessel without nationality may board and search the vessel. If evidence confirming the suspicion is found, that State Party shall take appropriate measures in accordance with relevant domestic and international law.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That orders of the day Nos 4 and 5, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
… CEO Kate Hough said the industry was shocked to learn that the high-profile budget announcement of a $50 million redirection for the next financial year resulted in a real reduction in funding of over $500 million.
Modelling by providers has consistently shown that subsidy income will be substantially reduced—a cut of between five and 10 per cent for every provider.
As a result of this new model, residents with exactly the same care needs in the same facility could be entitled to different levels of funding.
Someone needs to speak up for the Aged and the Facilities that provide these people with the love, care and attention they both need and deserve.
This impacts on us not only by the new charges for electricity, gas, rising insurance costs, the new EBA which is being negotiated at present, carbon tax etc but there will be such a differential between Residents that are in our facility now versus the ones that will come in after the July 1st.
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House that:
We therefore ask the House to:
Amend the National Employment Standards in the Fair Work Act to include:
1. An additional public holiday (not a substitute day) on the following Monday and/or Tuesday whenever Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day fall on a weekend.
2. Easter Sunday as a public holiday.
That further statements by indulgence on Vietnam Veterans Day be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
We are trying to absorb the costs as much as we can but it's a real slap in the face and it's making things much harder for us.
I'll 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.
That the House take note of the following document:
National Health and Medical Research Council—Review of the implementation of the strategic plan for 2010-12.
That Mr Secker be discharged from the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories and that, in his place, Mrs Griggs be appointed a member of the committee.
A committee concerning which a complaint of unauthorised disclosure or publication has been made must consider whether the matter has caused substantial interference with its work …
In considering complaints in this area and notwithstanding the provisions of standing order 51, the Speaker should not allow precedence to a motion on such a matter unless, in the light of the information presented to the Speaker, he or she is of the opinion:
(i) that there is sufficient evidence that will enable the Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests to ascertain the source or sources of the disclosure(s);
The negative impact on trade should also not be underestimated bearing in mind that timber products commonly have long and complex chains of supply with mixed sources from different locations and different kinds of timber.
It is for this reason that the GOI has recommended the deferral of the legislation until 2015 to provide time to ensure the legislation will not have unintended consequences that will unnecessarily harm the mutual trade between our two nations. Furthermore, the three years of adjournment will provide time for proper consultation between both countries including detail clarification as well as period of adjustment for the Indonesian producers/exporters to comply with the regulation.
It is for this reason that the GOI (Government of Indonesia) has recommended the deferral of the legislation until 2015 to provide time to ensure the legislation will not have unintended consequences that will unnecessarily harm the mutual trade between our two nations.
The Coalition will legislate to make it an offence to import any timber product which has not been verified as being legally harvested.
We will require Australian timber importers and domestic processing mills to undertake a process of due diligence to verify the legal origins of the timber product and to disclose species, country of harvest and any certification … A transition period of two years will be provided to allow industry to adapt to these new measures.
(a) the person imports a thing; and
(b) the thing is, is made from, or includes, illegally logged timber; and
(c) the thing is not prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.
The implementation of the Bill is also likely to undermine the development of trade between Indonesia and Australia based on our respective mutual interests. In this respect, reference is made to the recent efforts of the Government of Indonesia to accommodate and resolve the problem faced by Australia during the self-imposed ban on beef exports to Indonesia.
The implementation of the Bill is also likely to undermine the development of trade between Indonesia and Australia based on our respective mutual interests.
The implementation of the Bill is also likely to undermine the development of trade between Indonesia and Australia based on our respective mutual interests. In this respect, reference is made to the recent efforts of the Government of Indonesia to accommodate and resolve the problem faced by Australia during the self-imposed ban on beef exports to Indonesia.
The implementation of the Bill is…likely to undermine the development of trade between Indonesia and Australia based on our respective mutual interests.
… that the objective of the Bill is laudable, Malaysia would like to see that the implementation of the Bill will not in any way hamper the good bilateral trade relationship particularly in timber products.
The House divided. [16:23]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms AE Burke)
The House divided. [16:30]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms AE Burke)
The proposed values—that the APS is committed to service, is ethical, respectful, accountable and impartial—are more succinct and memorable, easy to understand, and will help the service to create an ethical, high-performance culture.
ii. the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet be the approving authority for the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for leave, including long service leave;
iii. for any period that the Special Adviser performs the duties of that office on a full-time basis (40 hours per week), the remuneration and other terms and conditions of employment for the Special Adviser be the same as those that apply to the person who holds the position of Secretary of the Department of the Treasury at the relevant time;
iv. the Prime Minister may agree that the duties of the Special Adviser are to be performed on a part-time basis; and
v. for any period that the Special Adviser performs the duties on a part-time basis, the remuneration referred to in clause (c)(iii) above be payable, and other entitlements accrue, on a pro-rata basis.
The proposed values—that the APS is committed to service, is ethical, respectful, accountable and impartial—are more succinct and memorable, easy to understand, and will help the service to create an ethical, high-performance culture.
… forge a stronger relationship with citizens through better delivery of services and greater involvement of citizens in their government …
… strengthen the capacity of the public service to provide strategic, big-picture policy and delivery advice addressing the most difficult policy challenges of the day …
… invest in the capability of the public service workforce through improved recruitment and training processes, greater mobility and alignment of working conditions across agencies, and a new, more consistent approach to employee performance …
In a number of areas, reform would require an up-front investment. For example, a new funding model would be required to support the APSC’s additional responsibilities, including the coordination of workforce planning and agency capability reviews. Similarly the citizen-centred reforms, such as developing and establishing an APS-wide citizen survey, would require some resourcing early on.
Over the long term, however, it is anticipated that the reforms (when implemented as a package), would deliver efficiencies and a return on investment. By building capacity and improving effectiveness, several reforms will drive effectiveness and efficiency gains across the APS such as reducing the burden of internal red tape.
We are committed to building an Australian Public Service with a culture of independence, excellence and innovation—in policy advice and service delivery.
… the expectations imposed on employees by the APS Values must be clear. In view of the potential seriousness of allegations of failure to uphold the Values, which could result in termination of employment in the APS, it is vital that they be easily interpreted.
That this House:
(1) recognises the important role played by the Australian Public Service in upholding and promoting our democracy and its key role in ensuring stable government;
(2) commends the Australian Public Service on continuing to be one of the most efficient and effective public services in the world; and
(3) condemns plans by the Opposition to make 12,000 public servants redundant.
I think the critical thing to ensure is that Government delivers its services efficiently at every level but you’ve just got to be smart about it.
The Coalition’s desire to reduce the size and cost of the Australian Public Service taps into ‘small government’ movements that have been prevalent here and in other western countries since at least the 1970s. The values, visions and policies of these movements are currently expressed by the Tea Party in the United States and ‘Big Society’ in the United Kingdom.
They deliver welfare payments and health benefits, identify labour market opportunities, issue passports, scrutinise tax returns and decide on migration visas. They administer grants and award contracts. Every day they make decisions that affect the hopes of citizens.
(1) Schedule 1, heading to Part 10, page 31 (line 1), omit "Temporary", substitute "Non-ongoing".
(2) Schedule 1, items 57 to 60, page 31 (lines 3 to 15), omit the items.
(3) Schedule 1, item 61, page 31 (lines 16 to 24), omit the item, substitute:
61 Subsection 22(4)
Omit "limit", substitute "prescribe".
(4) Schedule 1, item 62, page 31 (line 28), omit "temporary", substitute "non-ongoing".
(5) Schedule 1, item 63, page 32 (line 2), omit "temporary", substitute "non-ongoing".
(6) Schedule 1, item 70, page 35 (line 19), omit "his or her".
(7) Schedule 1, item 70, page 35 (line 20), omit "his or her".
(8) Schedule 1, item 70, page 36 (line 4), omit "with:", insert "with, the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, under this Act or the regulations.".
(9) Schedule 1, item 70, page 36 (lines 5 to 10), omit paragraphs 72A(3)(a) and (b).
(10) Schedule 1, item 70, page 37 (line 7), omit "his or her".
(11) Schedule 1, item 70, page 37 (line 8), omit "his or her".
(12) Schedule 1, item 70, page 37 (line 31), omit "his or her".
(13) Schedule 1, item 70, page 37 (line 32), omit "his or her".
(14) Schedule 1, item 70, page 38 (line 12), omit "with:", insert "with, the performance of functions or duties, or the exercise of powers, under this Act or the regulations.".
(15) Schedule 1, item 70, page 38 (lines 13 to 18), omit paragraphs 72B(3)(a) and (b).
(16) Schedule 1, item 70, page 39 (line 18), omit "his or her".
(17) Schedule 1, item 70, page 39 (line 19), omit "his or her".
(18) Schedule 1, item 72, page 44 (line 17), after "the person in", insert "connection with".
(19) Schedule 1, item 72, page 45 (line 6), after "the person in", insert "connection with".
(20) Schedule 3, item 8, page 53 (lines 16 and 17), omit the item.
(21) Schedule 3, items 10 and 11, page 53 (lines 20 to 26), omit the items.
(22) Schedule 4, heading to Part 9, page 75 (line 1), omit "Temporary", substitute "Non-ongoing".
(23) Schedule 4, items 32 and 33, page 75 (line 2) to page 76 (line 7), omit the items.
(24) Schedule 4, item 34, page 76 (lines 8 to 31), omit the item, substitute:
34 Saving—circumstances for engagement of non-ongoing APS employees
(1) This item applies in relation to a person if: (a) the person had been engaged before the commencement time as mentioned in paragraph 22(2)(b) or (c) of the old Public Service Act; and (b) the engagement: (i) was in effect immediately before the commencement time and was to continue in effect after that time; or (ii) was to take effect after the commencement time.
(2) Despite the amendment made by item 61 of Schedule 1 to this Act, subsection 22(4) of the old Public Service Act (and the regulations in force for the purposes of that subsection) continue to apply, at and after the commencement time, in relation to the person's engagement.
(25) Schedule 4, item 35, page 77 (line 7), omit "the amendments made by items 62 and 63", substitute "the amendment made by item 62".
(26) Schedule 4, item 36, page 77 (line 11), omit "temporary", substitute "non-ongoing".
(27) Schedule 4, item 36, page 77 (line 15), omit "temporary", substitute "non-ongoing".
(28) Schedule 4, item 36, page 77 (lines 17 to 19), omit subitem (2).
(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 5), omit “, 59 and 60”, substitute “and 59”.
(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 6 (lines 13 to 27), omit section 60.
(3) Schedule 4, item 6, page 59 (lines 13 to 21), omit the item.
That this bill be now read a third time.
That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“the House declines to consider this bill until such time as the Government introduces legislation to index military superannuation pensions for Defence Forces Retirement Benefit (DFRB) Scheme members and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) Scheme members aged 55 and over in the same manner as aged and service pensions are currently indexed.”
It has long been to me and my colleagues in the Coalition, verging on the scandalous that defence retirees do not enjoy the same indexation arrangements as other people who have retired.
Significantly, many people genuinely believe that prior to the 2007 election, the ALP had committed to determining a "fairer" method of indexation, and a 'review' would provide the direction …
It is entirely appropriate, fair and consistent with our election commitment that the introduction of this improved indexation arrangement should coincide with that for pensions and benefits as announced by Minister Macklin.
… great care should be exercised when using fiscal balance figures for decision-making purposes, particularly in the area of unfunded superannuation arrangements.
You can turn this into a huge figure. In any one year, it is bearable and we should bear it.
It is ridiculous to expect people to accept a 0.1 per cent increase. That is unviable, given the cost of living. It is too meagre and it needs to change. The current situation is unsustainable. It's become exacerbated by a series of fairly low CPI rises ... the Government needs to look at this again.
In a long-running campaign, current and former... defence force personnel have been pushing to ensure their superannuation pensions are indexed fairly and appropriately. It is a campaign the Australian Greens support wholeheartedly.
At the outset I should say that fair indexation is consistent with the Australian Greens policy at the last election.
I am the only MP of the Central Coast who is prepared to support them—there are two others who won't.
The ALP should be condemned for not doing something about it since its election in 2007.
Defence Force retirees in particular, would be better cared for if the unsatisfactory indexing of defence pensions were overturned in favour of a system that at least keeps up with the cost of living.
… there are many in the community who are aggrieved and their concerns deserve to be heard in this House. There are many who are frustrated that government, report after report, seems to get the concerns about a lack of purchasing power within the current military superannuation scheme, yet, when it comes to actually doing something about it, the arguments of cost and difficulty in making those changes seem to be directed towards those who have done military service.
I want it be recognised that Defence service is unique within the Public Service.
… … …
… the uniqueness of Defence service lies in defending the nation, our sovereignty and our freedoms.
I would hope it is generally recognised that CPI is not a good indicator for cost-of-living measures and for purchasing power.
… … …
In my view the alternatives that are worthy of consideration are in the form of the age and welfare pensions, which are indexed by the new living cost index, to reflect the failings of CPI in the pensioner and beneficiary living cost index, or the male total average weekly earnings, whichever is the greater.
What measures will he take, and when, to address the ongoing concerns within the veteran community that (a) the indexation of military superannuation pensions against the Consumer Price Index is not an accurate measure of the cost of living, and (b) inequality exists between the indexing of military superannuation pensions and other pensions such as age and welfare; and will he consider introducing a fairer indexation method for military superannuation pensions in line with that used to calculate age and welfare pensions.
It is not acceptable to the ex-service community, to have both sides procrastinate over this very serious issue. It is even more important than other current issues.
… we are not going to let this matter rest.
I believe that our argument is unassailable as far as its fairness and logic goes.
The coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as age and service pensions. All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the inaugural international parliamentary conference on ‘Parliaments, minorities and Indigenous peoples: effective participation in politics’ was held in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico from 31 October to 3 November 2010;
(b) the conference was organised jointly by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Mexican Congress of the Union and Government of the State of Chiapas, in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Independent Expert on minority issues and the Minority Rights Group International;
(c) the conference heard that many situations around the world demonstrate that an adequate representation of minorities and Indigenous peoples in policy and decision-making is instrumental in breaking the cycle of discrimination and exclusion suffered by members of these groups, and their ensuing disproportionate levels of poverty and related impediments to the full enjoyment of many civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and yet, minorities and Indigenous peoples often remain excluded from effective participation in decision-making, including at the level of the national parliament;
(d) the conference adopted the Chiapas Declaration, which urges every parliament, within the next two years, to inter alia, hold a special debate on the situation of minorities and Indigenous peoples in their country, recognise the diversity in society, and adopt a ‘plan of action’ to make the right to equal participation and non-discrimination a reality;
(e) the Chiapas Declaration recommended that at a minimum the following elements are contained in the ‘plans of action’:
(i) ensure that the right to free, prior and informed consent is observed in every step leading to the adoption of legislative and administrative measures affecting minorities and Indigenous peoples, and hold government to account for the implementation of such measures;
(ii) require of government that all submissions to parliament of draft legislation and the national budget include an assessment of their impact on minorities and Indigenous peoples;
(iii) make regular use of plenary sessions in parliament and other parliamentary fora to discuss minority/Indigenous matters in order to raise awareness and combat prejudice in society, organise awareness-raising sessions for all parliamentarians so as to increase their knowledge of minorities and Indigenous peoples and the particular problems they face, and ensure that minority and Indigenous issues are mainstreamed into parliamentary work, especially at the committee level;
(iv) allocate sufficient resources to the task of establishing dialogue between minority/Indigenous peoples and public institutions and to parliamentary committees to allow them to carry out effective outreach activities such as public hearings with minority and Indigenous peoples; and
(v) increase parliaments’ familiarity with work being done within the United Nations system so as to equip them better to hold governments to account for their international commitments, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, urge ratification of International Labour Organisation Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, hold debates in parliament on the conclusions and recommendations made by the United Nations human rights treaty bodies and special mechanisms with regard to minority and Indigenous peoples' rights;
(f) the Chiapas Declaration also affirmed the responsibility of political parties to promote the effective participation of minorities and Indigenous peoples, and address their concerns in their party programs; and
(g) the IPU will facilitate networking among parliaments on this issue, monitor the implementation of the Chiapas Declaration and convene a follow-up meeting within two years to discuss progress and set targets for future action;
(2) urges the Government, parliamentarians, and political parties to familiarise themselves with the Chiapas Declaration; and
(3) calls upon the Government to facilitate a roundtable discussion with representatives of Australian Indigenous communities on issues arising from the Chiapas Declaration.
When ATSIC was finally abolished, there wasn’t one Aboriginal person in parliament.
I don't think indigenous or minority issues should be just a matter for indigenous or minority groups.
They concern us all, they affect the quality of our democracy, the inclusiveness of our democracy …
For a shared future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia all aspects of life are to be considered equally. It is important that we focus on parliamentary representation as every culture has a background and beliefs that should be appreciated on a federal level.
Indigenous Australians bring unique and valuable perspective to parliament and political debates. This culture should have opportunities to work side by side with other Australian political leaders to shape our future together.
The community—
has a responsibility to determine the nature of that control. There needs to be flexibility in arrangements to ensure that each community is able to have the services which best meet their needs within a broader accreditation process.
On November 18, 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court announced its Goodridge opinion, declaring that it was unconstitutional not to allow same-sex "marriage."
Six months later, despite public outrage, homosexual "weddings" began to take place.
By the following year it was in elementary school curricula—with hostility towards parents who disagreed.
When … the parent of a kindergartener … calmly refused to leave a school meeting unless officials agreed to notify him when discussing homosexuality or transgenderism with his son, the school had him arrested and jailed overnight.
The carbon tax is going to cost people their jobs and hurt them in the hip pocket. We'll absorb as much as we can but we can't possibly absorb 100 per cent of the cost of the carbon tax.
The carbon tax is already having a clear impact on costs for our business. Refrigerant gas has been hit hard with the carbon tax. Prior to 1st July, our most common type of refrigerant gas was $31.40 per kilo. After the 1st of July, it is $112.82 per kilo, directly due to the impact of the carbon tax. This is more than a 350 per cent rise in the cost for what is a key factor in our business.
People know they will be hit hard with the carbon tax, and many people just aren't spending money. Local businesses are the ones who ultimately lose out.
More businesses are closing now than with the GFC. For small business the killer is that customers are not spending money because they are frightened to get their electricity bills.
There is little doubt that the recently introduced carbon tax will increase the costs of all businesses. With consumer and business confidence low, there is a great deal of uncertainty about how much of those costs can be passed on. This means that businesses that have been doing it tough already may be squeezed even further.
I believe our MPs should understand the day to day cost of living pressures in our area.
There is still a nationalization debate ... the whole South African issue is still looking at distribution and redistribution rather than looking at the hard business of building value and profitability.
It took a significant and conscious effort by a small group of residents to fight this battle and it seems like, because of power and money, these corporations have made it very difficult. When the DAP refused the proposal, we thought great! Then a few months later we find they are appealing. It has been largely the good will of a select few that have made this fight so far, but we have not had the resources and if we had we would have appointed a QC to really help us with this. But we haven't been able to do so.
Ever since I started Dick Smith Foods, the Murdoch press has attacked me when I call for a fair balance of Australian ownership in our food industry ...
I've wondered why some Murdoch journalists get so angry when I explain how important it is to support Aussie-owned businesses, so the profits and jobs stay in Australia …
Could it be that they are embarrassed by the fact that the Murdoch press, which controls about 70 per cent of our print media, is American owned and each year sends substantial profits out of Australia?'
From the start of his career in 1950s Australia, Murdoch manipulated politicians and broke rules and promises to accumulate money and power.
As head of the company he shaped its culture. While he depicted phone hacking as an anomaly, something set apart from an otherwise virtuous organization, seasoned Murdoch-watchers identified the wrongdoing as part of a pattern—the greatest manifestation of a win-at-all-costs diktat which bent and broke all the rules at will'.
… what is most revealing is not that his newspaper company was breaking the law at will and paying off police and officials, but how it responded when it was caught. At all times until very recently—and then arguably only under the pressing need to avoid its directors being jailed—News Corp acted to cover up rather than uncover its past.'
In the end, this story is about corruption by power. Some of Murdoch's enforcers departed from the company line (it's all about business) and pursued personal agendas and vendettas, even against minor politicians. Their arrogance was so stratospheric they discussed their crimes even though they knew they were being recorded. They thought they could destroy the evidence, threaten and cover up. They thought they were cleverer than everyone else; they thought they were untouchable. From the criminal underworld to the headquarters of London's police force, from the decks of yachts in the Mediterranean to farmhouses in the Cotswolds and the deep-carpeted rooms of Downing Street, they had spun an invisible web of connections and corruption. They had privileged access to government ministers, state secrets, tax, health and vehicle data, to the records of phone companies and banks, to the intimate personal information of members of the public. They listened to voice messages, of course, but they also blagged, bribed, spied and bullied, and imposed their will through blackmail, corruption and intimidation. The names of their agents spoke of the darkness: Silent Shadow, Shadowmenuk. Rupert Murdoch was not running a normal business, but a shadow state. Now exposed to the daylight, it has been publicly humbled, its apparatus partially dismantled and its executives in retreat, at least for the moment. It stands shaken and ostensibly apologetic but it is still there, and Rupert Murdoch is still in charge.
Having to implement the new National Regulations and Frameworks has certainly brought forward my decision sooner rather than later.
Our worry in the Coalition is that many good people will be forced out of the industry as a result of the new qualifications requirements.
This is one area where the NQF clearly could have done better in automatic recognition of the skills and experience of these carers.
The seemingly perpetual invocation of this human rights mantra contributes no moral value to the size and quality of Chinese achievement.
… the Chinese buy commodities from Australia not because they like our policies, but because they have to.
Our commodities tend to be around a third cheaper than other competitors—for example, Brazil—because of our location. The Chinese simply have no choice. I mean, getting access to raw materials is fundamental to the economic growth. They cannot jeopardise that for domestic reasons.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Hon. Bruce Scott ) took the chair at 10:30.
… with election day approaching, voters should remember a few of the abysmal fiascos perpetrated by the current NT Labor Government. Removing open speed limits on our highways. The result an inconvenience to road users, with no reduction in road accidents.
... not sufficient to achieve the degree of accountability desirable in a democracy.
… have those roles in respect of news and current affairs coverage on all platforms, that is, print, online, radio and television. It will thus explicitly cover online news for the first time, and will involve transferring ACMA functions for standards and complaints concerning news and current affairs. It will replace the voluntary APC with a statutory entity.
The News Media Council should have secure funding from government and its decisions made binding, but beyond that government should have no role.
The establishment of a council is not about increasing the power of government or about imposing some form of censorship.
It is worth noting that the segment of the media which is most criticised for bias and inaccuracy—
is in fact commercial radio which is already subject to regulation by ACMA. Mr Finkelstein is critical of ACMA in its media regulation role, but if media outlets unregulated by Government (such as metropolitan newspapers) have a better track record for balance and accuracy than commercial radio (which is regulated), doesn’t that make an equally valid case for reducing rather than increasing the regulation of the media?
The struggle for free speech has been long and painfully achieved and I wouldn't want to go back on it.
Without a doubt, the Carbon Tax will impact heavily on the Fishing industry.
… the Co-op has a significant Power usage Bill as a result of the Cold Storage & Ice Production equipment, most of the plant is either new or built in a way to reduce power load, it's just energy intensive.
Our estimated increase in Power alone under the Carbon Tax is $24,000 pa, this will ultimately either lead to the end of the Co-Operative or increased costs to the fishers.
The majority of the 3500 to 4000 tonne of product landed here at Lefcol leaves via Road Freight, so we expect this to increase as costs further up the chain are passed all the way down to the fishers.
Fishers are in a poor position with increased costs as they are price takers, we don't set prices, our product sells for what it sells on any given day, we don't have the luxury to pass the costs onto consumers.
For example, if Lefcol, as a result of increased costs, say to fishers that our charges are being increased by 10c a kilogram, they have two decisions to make—either walk away from Lefcol as they can no longer afford it or wear the costs as they can say that their fish are worth 10c more per kilo on the market. In the market system we operate, prices of fish are driven by demand and set in a market auction system.
As I mentioned, the fishing industry is poorly placed under the carbon tax as they can't pass on cost increases like many other products can.
The advice we have received would indicate that there is little to no impact on households on Norfolk Island. The major reported impact for mainlanders is the increase in electricity prices due to coal fired power stations, estimated to be approximately $9 for every $100 in electricity charges. As Norfolk Island's electricity is generated by a combination of solar and diesel, and the diesel does not come from Australia, there is no impact on electricity prices.
… the carbon price will have a disproportionate impact on small businesses, regional industries, and regional communities …
That further proceedings be conducted in the House.
A common factor of contemporary slavery and trafficking—from forced labour and forced marriage to organ trafficking—is the misuse and abuse of power. And such an abuse has no place here in Australia.
The victims of such offences are often vulnerable, with limited English language skills and anxiety over their migration status which is often uncertain. They fear the perpetrators, the criminal justice system and deportation. Anecdotal evidence also suggests that victims of forced marriage may also be subject to further exploitation as they may be used to sponsor a person to come into Australia.
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person is a party to a marriage (within the meaning of section 270.7A); and
(b) the marriage is a forced marriage; and
(c) the person is not a victim of the forced marriage.
A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4).
Those who are victims of labour-trafficking and slavery are largely invisible, tend to work in isolation, often have limited proficiency in English and limited interaction with the general populace and are thus usually voiceless and vulnerable. If the purpose of the criminal law is taken to be not only to punish moral wrongs; but also to preserve and encourage social welfare, then forced labour, slavery and debt bondage for both sexual as well as other services should be subject to investigation and prosecution.
… the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.
… sexual exploitation was noted as by far the most commonly identified form of human trafficking (79%) followed by forced labour (18%). This may be the result of statistical bias.
By and large, the exploitation of women tends to be visible, in city centres or along highways. Because it is more frequently reported, sexual exploitation has become the most documented type of trafficking, in aggregate statistics. In comparison, other forms of exploitation are under-reported: forced or bonded labour; domestic servitude and forced marriage; organ removal; and the exploitation of children in begging, the sex trade and warfare.
This is a landmark moment for Tasmanians with a disability, their families and the organisations that work so hard to support them.
Support for this age group is essential, as they're at a critical point in their lives where they're likely to leave secondary education to move on to further education, vocational training or employment.
By targeting this age bracket, we are helping them make that transition or, alternatively, receive the supports they need to keep them engaged in their communities.
… National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a once-in-a-generation landmark reform that has the potential to deliver better quality of life outcomes for Australians with disabilities;
Parties at both levels of government should recognize that this is a long-term reform which requires support from both sides of politics. To deliver the NDIS in full, political opponents across successive parliaments both federally and in the states are going to be required to work together for the greater good.
I ran a shocker. I'm history. I'm out of the team. All I had to do was win even in a slow time and I think I would have been off to Munich. I felt a lot older than 30 today.
In the 1960s, Charlie led “freedom rides” into the north-west of New South Wales, where “nigger hunts” were still not uncommon. Abused and spat at, he stood at the turnstiles of local swimming pools and sports fields and demanded that a race bar be lifted.
Much of the restructuring of government school funding seems to have been extremely underhanded.
Essentially, whereas the EMA was paid half to the parent and half to the school, next year the total EMA payment will be made to the eligible parent directly. It will be the responsibility of the eligible parent to forward this money to the school to pay for subject materials et cetera.
Audits of both Note Printing Australia and Securency took place well before the Age first raised its allegations in May 2009. Neither the board of Securency nor the Reserve Bank was aware of those allegations until that time.
The leadership of the Reserve Bank failed to alert police after the bank received damning evidence in 2007 that its subsidiary Note Printing Australia was implicated in the bribery of foreign officials.
The implication the Age seems to be drawing is that people in the company and the bank had information indicating illegality but did not act appropriately on that information.
The apparent inference contained in the questions is unwarranted.
Allegations had been made by one of the staff members that the agents had said certain things. The agents denied those.
If you are asking whether the person in question wrote a letter or something to the bank, I do not think that he did, no.
I have been reminded while we have been talking that, in fact, the deputy governor invited that person to put that in writing, which he did, and give it to the deputy governor. That written statement on the matter was available to the Freehills people that did the investigation in 2007. So, whereas I said I thought that we were aware of it but that it was not documentary, in fact it was invited to be put in documentary form, which it was.
The state government did this behind our backs. There was no forewarning given to us. It was a real shock to see this sudden increase in our bill; it wasn't something we were prepared for. We feel betrayed by the state government. This was a price rise we didn't need and shouldn't have to pay. The whole thing just feels very unfair.
Everybody has strengths and weaknesses but everybody can make a difference. You just have to focus on what you can do, not what you can't do. Think about how it can be done and not how it can't be done.
In every community there is work to be done and in every heart there is the power to do it, because everyone has a heart and everyone has the ability to make a difference. You just need to focus on what you can do and not what you can't do.
To ensure Australian cities are globally competitive, productive, sustainable, liveable and socially inclusive and are well placed to meet future challenges and growth.
With the electric trains you get a quieter, cleaner, more reliable and much cheaper train which benefits passengers and it also benefits the taxpayers because it's much cheaper to keep an electric railway going.
'It's on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking,' …
'This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines.'
In respect of government grants provided to Terrain Natural Resource Management, (a) how many have been provided, and (b) for each grant (i) what was the dollar value, (ii) on what date was it approved, (iii) under what program was it provided, (iv) under what terms was it provided, and (v) what was the purpose.
Since 2008, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided 18 grants to Terrain Natural Resource Management for a range of purposes. Grants have been provided under the Caring for our Country Initiative for outcomes such as improving the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, protecting threatened species and enhancing habitat condition and connectivity, and undertaking environmental recovery works to address immediate impacts from floods and cyclones.
All Caring for our Country grants are subject to standard contracts and their terms and conditions.
The full details of each grant including the dollar value, date approved, the purpose and the program under which it was provided is below.
* Denotes the grant funding is provided to Terrain Natural Resource Management via the Queensland State Government.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 700 (House Hansard , 8 May 2012, page 51) how many premises of the first release sites of (a) Scottsdale, (b) Midway Point, (c) Smithton, (c) Brunswick, (d) Townsville, (e) Kiama, (f) Armidale, and (g) Willunga, were connected (i) overhead, and (ii) underground.
The first release sites for the NBN were chosen and designed to test the variety of locations and operational conditions likely to be encountered in the overall rollout of the NBN.
The pattern of connection methodologies employed was varied to enable an assessment of performance in these trials. The lessons from these trials are now being incorporated in the design of the volume rollout. Accordingly, the particular characteristics of these trials cannot be considered indicative of the likely experience in the rollout overall.
The total expenses for overseas travel for departmental staff for the years asked are as follows:
2008/09 $505 066
2009/10 $513 079
2010/11 $406 524
2011/12 $402 408
For (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, and (d) 2011-12, what was the total cost of overseas travel for departmental staff.
Please refer to the table below.
For (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11, and (d) 2011-12, what was the total cost of overseas travel for departmental staff.
The Minister for Social Inclusion is supported by staff of the Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet. Please refer to HOR response 1082 for details on overseas travel expenditure by departmental staff.