The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. John Hog g) took the chair at 10:00, read prayers and made an acknowledgement of country.
That the Community Affairs Legislation Committee be authorised to hold public meetings during the sittings of the Senate today and on Tuesday, 10 December 2013 from 4 pm to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013.
We have managed to get the Coalition to agree with us on the question of debt ...
Because of the Greens agreement, the public will now be able to see whether the government is incurring good debt to invest in our future, or bad debt to cover up a shortfall in revenue.
We made ourselves a pillar,
We just used it as a crutch.
Well, nothing ever went
Quite exactly as we planned.
Our ideas held no water
But we used them like a dam.
… retaining a dedicated section on the environment including climate change and the effect of these policies and their impact on the Australian economy and the Commonwealth budget.
I will consult with the Australian Greens on the scope of what could be included within the section.
Above all else: Keep taxes low.
Protect state employees from politics.
Costello's first budget involved no lasting sacrifice. Labor had reduced the size of the national government from 27.3 per cent of GDP in 1984-85, to 22.7 per cent at the top of the previous boom in 1989-90. Half of those gains were lost in the session, and jobless recovery and federal spending were at 25.5 per cent of GDP by 1995-96. The coalition returned to the benchmark of 23.1 per cent of GDP by 1999-2000.
Every voter that cried 'cost of living' was given a wad of cash to quieten them down.
Then the next voter wanted the same. The competition for handouts infected the government itself—
The competition for handouts infected the government itself. Howard and Costello argued repeatedly over the quantity and content of the largess—
but it was the Howard government, not the Howard-Costello government. The Prime Minister always prevailed, because the Treasurer did not want to take the fight to the public, even though, as Paul Keating demonstrated through the eighties, the deputy with the calculator can often pull rank on the leader with the chequebook.
The committee divided. [12:38]
(The Chairman—Senator Parry)
The Committee divided. [12:44]
(The Chairman—Senator Parry)
That the report of the committee now be adopted.
The Senate divided. [12:53]
(The President—Senator Hogg)
… to accelerate Australia's transformation towards a more competitive economy in a carbon constrained world, by acting as a catalyst to increase private sector investment in emissions reduction.
Firstly, governments cannot sufficiently finance low-carbon alternatives to meet a two-degree outcome and private capital is needed. Secondly, the low-carbon investment market is relatively young and so deal flow needs to be supported. Thirdly, capacity in the finance sector must be increased through the experience of financing investments. Fourthly, financial participants welcome investment opportunities presented in a new market by an objective third party, even more than by investment banks. Lastly, co-financing organisations can actually earn financial returns for governments, delivering abatement at negative costs—and we think this is appealing and makes sense to all parties.
Given the government's infrastructure agenda, we think that dismissing co-financing as a useful policy instrument may be premature.
… a lot of investment in energy efficiency, probably more than we’d have expected in a short period of time, and we’re also seeing it really catalyse changes in the finance sector.
… whether the finance sector will continue to evolve and invest heavily in energy efficiency and clean energy after the CEFC is repealed.
I don’t think you have to make a grant to get that emissions reduction. Our experience is you’re better to make an investment to get the emissions reduction.
You just want to get on with what you think is in the public good, which is positioning Australia for a low carbon world.
Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
An ecosystem approach to fisheries strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic, abiotic and human components of ecosystems.
Over the past year, the CEFC has achieved real success in addressing its challenging objective of funding transactions with a public policy objective, applying a commercial filter, and achieving financial self-sufficiency and a return on capital.
The role of the CEFC is pivotal in enabling renewable energy projects, particularly solar PV, to reach financial close so that more are built and the market in Australia matures at a faster rate. In our own experience, the CEFC has not been providing concessional loan finance that undercut the market but rather debt that fairly reflects project quality on market terms from a perspective and in a way that does not crowd out the local banking community.
It is set to be abolished along with the carbon tax and the government has budgeted a saving of $760 million over four years from its demise. But because the CEFC is making money, the combined blow to the budget from its abolition could be as high as $1.5 billion.
Since the announcement of the RSPT—
and MRRT in 2010, Australia’s reputation has been tarnished and industry confidence has floundered.
The repeal will go a long way to restoring confidence and much needed investment back into the mining industry.
… minimum total set-up costs in the first year of smaller iron ore and coal miners and junior exploration companies, excluding large miners, was estimated to be over $20 million and ongoing administration and compliance costs in excess of $2 million.
We have spent the best part of $2m in compliance to find that we are not paying the tax …
I think it's about making sure we use the benefits of the boom wisely. And I think the Government's approach with the mining tax and making sure the benefits of that flow through to families, particularly low and middle income families through the School Kids Bonus, where people get assistance for kids' education costs does that.
… agriculture remains a heavily affected sector due to the flow on costs allocated to electricity and transport, and by the pass through costs from agricultural processors.
… were not only competing against heavily subsidised farmers from around the world, but also farmers in overseas countries without a carbon tax.
When in Government the Labor Party claimed ‘electricity prices are too high by global standards’. We know. We are the ones paying the bills which have doubled.
The prices we receive for our products have certainly not doubled during that period.
Farmers are price takers who operate on low margins. A small increase in fixed costs can have a drastic impact on their profitability.
… we want to look at boosting the Commonwealth presence in regional areas, not reducing the Commonwealth presence in regional areas.
In a group of rooms where some, but not all rooms, have five lights and all of the rooms have more lights, if the number of lights does not affect the method to determine the maximum amount of accommodation payment, then the description of rooms in the group need not mention the number of lights.
In a group of rooms, the floors are covered with different coloured carpets and the carpeted rooms are valued above another group of rooms with vinyl floors, the same maximum amount of accommodation payment will be set for each and every room in the group. The description of the group may state that the rooms having "carpeted floors" and need not specify that the rooms have "red carpet or blue carpet". Alternatively, if the carpets did not affect the method for setting the accommodation payment for the rooms in the group, the provider may choose to omit carpet from the description.
… direct recognition by the new government of the need to eliminate excessive red tape which burdens our providers.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs (Senator Ronaldson) to questions without notice asked by Senators Wong, Carr and Singh today relating to the automotive industry and the transfer of Department of Human Services positions from Hobart, Tasmania.
Holden has made the decision to pull out of Australia as early as 2016, according to senior Government ministers.
Ministers continue to give anonymous briefings to journalists to say Holden has decided to leave.
Christopher Pyne was personally given a letter by Tony Abbott that embodied the ERC's deliberations. He was given a tough job but he mishandled it, causing deep agitation within the PM's office.
No it's not possible that we're bringing in the carbon tax, that is a hysterically inaccurate claim being made by the Coalition.
It is all well and good to say that you want to terminate the carbon tax, the relatively high price on carbon immediately. On that we agree.
We do need to acknowledge the fact that Tony Abbott won the election and we lost, and we need to face that reality and questions of mandate are issues that we need to consider and where I completely agree with Nick Champion is that we do need to be choosing our battles very carefully when we are in opposition.
I think we should abstain in the Senate, allow the Abbott Government to implement its policies in their entirety in terms of carbon, that is Direct Action and the repeal of the carbon price and that would basically make him responsible for climate policy in Australia.
The Coalition Government has been clear since day one. We will take a careful and methodical approach to considering the future of the Australian automotive industry, and that response will be based on the Productivity Commission review of the sector.
The only way to give this industry and its future the detailed consideration it deserves is to put the politics aside. This is still my—
intention. It's up to Premier Weatherill—
to decide if it's his intention also.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Ludlam today relating to an incident at the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory.
That the Senate records its deep regret at the death on 5 December 2013 of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela AC, former President of the Republic of South Africa, places on record its acknowledgement of his role in the development of the modern South African nation and tenders its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.
For service to Australian-South African relations and his outstanding leadership to bring multiracial democracy to South Africa.
During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
… concrete measures are the only way to fulfil our moral obligation as liberal democracies serious about the values of individual liberty and democratic rights. Apartheid is universally deplored but repugnance alone is not sufficient for its elimination. Vocal opposition without tangible measures is hollow.
Make no mistake, change will come about one day in South Africa and it is a question of vital importance how it comes.
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.
He was a great human being who raised the standard of humanity. He stood for human rights and equality and he made us all understand that we can change the world.
What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.
I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, my lord, if needs be it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.
Can you imagine what would have happened to us had Mandela emerged from prison in 1990 bristling with resentment at the gross miscarriage of justice that had occurred in the Rivonia Trial? Can you imagine where South Africa would be today had he been consumed by a lust for revenge, to want to pay back for all the humiliations and all the agony that he and his people had suffered at the hands of their white oppressors?
Instead, the world was amazed, indeed awed, by the unexpectedly peaceful transition of 1994, followed not by … revenge and retribution but by the wonder of forgiveness and reconciliation epitomized in the processes of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
A sustainable future for humankind depends on a caring partnership with nature as much as anything else.
Without the involvement of the youth, the future cannot be secured.
That the Education and Employment Legislation Committee be authorised to hold a public meeting during the sitting of the Senate today from 7.30 pm to take evidence for the committee's inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013.
That the following matters be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 27 March 2014:
(a) the prevalence of different types of speech, language and communication disorders and swallowing difficulties in Australia;
(b) the incidence of these disorders by demographic group (paediatric, Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, people with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities);
(c) the availability and adequacy of speech pathology services provided by the Commonwealth, state and local governments across health, aged care, education, disability and correctional services;
(d) the provision and adequacy of private speech pathology services in Australia;
(e) evidence of the social and economic cost of failing to treat communication and swallowing disorders; and
(f) the projected demand for speech pathology services in Australia.
That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 September 2014:
Grandparents who take on the primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren when parents are unable or unwilling to do so, through a formal or informal care arrangement, including:
(a) the practical challenges facing grandparents raising their grandchildren, and their support needs;
(b) the role and contribution of grandparents raising their grandchildren, and how this should be recognised;
(c) other challenges that grandparents raising their grandchildren face in undertaking their role, including in circumstances complicated by family conflict, mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, child abuse or neglect, or family violence;
(d) the barriers that grandparents raising their grandchildren face in acquiring legal recognition of their family arrangements, including Legal Aid entitlements for grandparents seeking to formalise their custodial arrangements through the Family Law Courts;
(e) the practical measures that can be implemented by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the community sector to better support grandparents raising their grandchildren, including key priorities for action;
(f) the specific needs of particular groups within the caring population, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander grandparent carers, grandparents caring for grandchildren with disability, grandparents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, grandparents with mental health needs and grandparents with an informal care arrangement for their grandchildren; and
(g) other related matters.
That the Senate—
(a) acknowledges the success of the Wage Connect program in helping long term unemployed back into the workforce;
(b) expresses concern that this program has been suspended due to a high level of demand for this service; and
(c) calls on the Government to re-commence the scheme and increase the number of places available through it, particularly for older workers who face significant discrimination in the labour market.
That the Senate calls on the Minister assisting the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (Senator Cash) to:
(a) provide a statement to the Senate on the United Nations High Commission for Refugees report into the conditions in the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres by Wednesday, 11 December 2013; and
(b) explain to the Senate how the Government intends to respond and action the recommendations made by the reports respectively.
The Senate divided. [16:21]
(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)
That the Senate—
(a) notes the public comment period has started for Bight Petroleum’s referral (reference number 2013/6770) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act), which sets out its intention to do seismic testing in Commonwealth waters, to the west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia;
(b) recognises the economic, ecological and social importance of the Kangaroo Island marine environment, first and foremost for the Kangaroo Island community, but also for South Australia as a whole; and
(c) calls on the Minister for the Environment to use his powers under the Act to decide against the proposed action.
The Senate divided. [16:26]
(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)
That the Senate—
(a) notes that
(i) the Attorney General and the Prime Minister have made repeated reference to a regime of parliamentary oversight comprising the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security when commenting on recent scandals pertaining to the surveillance activities of Australia's security and intelligence agencies, and
(ii) the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security has not been re established by the Government; and
(b) calls on the Government to immediately establish the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The Senate divided. [16:34]
(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)
That the following matter be referred to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 25 March 2014:
The form of a referendum on an amendment to the Constitution confirming that all powers pertaining to making laws for marriage rest with the Commonwealth and that those powers may only be used to confirm marriage to be the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life, with particular reference to:
(a) what question should be put to the electors;
(b) any effect of the alteration on the Parliament's powers under section 51(xxi) of the Constitution;
(c) the level of state and territory support;
(d) the potential ramifications for states and territories if such an amendment was made; and
(e) any other matters that the committee considers may be relevant to a decision on whether to conduct a referendum, and the timing of any referendum.
That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to provide Australian landholders the right to refuse the undertaking of gas and coal mining activities on their land without prior written authorisation, and for related purposes. Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2013.
That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Landholders' Right to Refuse (Gas and Coal) Bill 2013 will provide landholders with the right to refuse gas and coal mining activities on food producing land.
The intent of this bill is to allow farmers to say no to gas and coal mining on their land. When Australia has so little good quality agricultural land, we must protect it from all other inconsistent land uses.
There is rightly considerable concern within our community about the impacts coal and gas mining activities are likely to have on Australia's food security. Queensland farmers in the Darling Downs, for example, rely on the aquifers of the Great Artesian Basin for their water source. Without detailed understanding of the connections between underground aquifers in the Great Artesian Basin, coal seam gas activities risk a drop in the groundwater table from dewatering of coal seams to allow gas extraction, or contamination of aquifers with hydraulic fracturing fluid or naturally occurring BTEX carcinogens mobilised by fracking. Farmers in the Liverpool Plains and up in the Galilee Basin equally have their livelihoods, and their ability to continue contributing to Australia's long term food security, threatened by the rapid expansion of water-intensive coal mining in their regions. And yet across Australia landholders have little to no right to rights under state laws to say no when these destructive industries seek to exploit coal and gas on their land. This is simply not right.
The surface and amenity impacts of coal and gas mining can have extensive impacts on farming operations, and pose significant risks to their surface and groundwater resources. Land farmed by families for generations are at risk of being lost by the myopic coal tunnel vision of current governments at both state and federal levels if the inadequate current regulation of these industries is not strengthened.
Farmers must be given the legal right to decide that they would prefer to be able to keep farming on their land, and for their children to have that option, rather than be forced to negotiate merely the price of entry with big coal and gas companies. Without the right to say no, this David and Goliath situation forced upon farming families across Australia is even more weighted in favor of big coal and gas.
This bill facilitates the right of landholders to decide whether or not they want coal and /or gas mining activities to take place on their land. It does this by requiring gas and coal corporations to secure the written authorisation of relevant landholders before they can enter their land. That written authorisation must contain an independent assessment of the current and future risks associated with the proposed mining activities on, or affecting, the land and any associated ground water systems. The landholders must also be informed that they should seek independent advice and that they may refuse to give written authorisation if they choose to.
If the corporation unlawfully enters the land, they commit an offence for which a significant penalty accrues daily. Landholders can also seek an injunction from the Federal Court to restrain the entry where relevant authorisations are not in place, and the corporation must pay the costs of that application irrespective of the outcome.
This bill applies to all land that has produced food at any time in the 10 years prior to the first proposed gas or coal activity on the land, from commercial primary production through to urban vegetable gardens. The bill applies to all persons with an ownership interest in the land, which is broadly defined to include all persons with a legal or equitable interest in or right to occupy the land. This would include native title holders or those with native title rights and interests. A corporation must obtain prior written authorisation from all persons with an ownership interest in the land before they may commence coal seam gas activities.
Importantly, this bill does not alter the ownership of the resources, which remain vested in the States. If the federal or state government decide that those resources are so needed, they may seek to compulsorily acquire the land, paying compensation on just terms or in accordance with state acquisition of land statutes. Those existing laws are a sufficient safeguard against a landholder 'unreasonably' refusing access authorisation, so this bill does not seek to address that issue.
The bill will only apply to gas and coal activities which begin after the bill's commencement.
Given the enormous threat climate change poses to all that Australia holds dear – our land and water, our environment, health, livelihoods and food security – the Greens believe it's high time that the fossil fuel age be rapidly brought to a close. Unlike the old parties the Greens do not support ongoing encouragement of these destructive industries across our landscape. The case against the expansion of these climate destroying industries is only compounded by the localised impacts these industries have on our water resources, our communities, and fragile marine ecosystems impacted by ever increasing pressures from industrial ports. The Great Barrier Reef is at risk of being listed as World Heritage in Danger due to the rapid expansion of coal and gas ports along its coastline being facilitated by enormous dredging of fragile inner Reef regions, and dumping of dredge spoil within the Reef's waters. The Greens are working to reign in the many impacts of these destructive industries.
This Bill seeks to address one of these critical aspects by giving Australian landholders the right to say no to coal and gas mining on their land.
I commend this bill to the Senate.
That the following bill be introduced: That the following bill be introduced: A Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes. Migration Amendment (Visa Maximum Numbers Determinations) Bill 2013.
That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
In a time when global asylum applications are at their highest in more than a decade this Government has decided to put a freeze on protection visa grants. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that there are more refugees and more people who have been forcibly displaced today than there have been since 1994.1 Rather than shutting the door on vulnerable asylum seekers, Australia should be offering sanctuary to those who have been determined to be in genuine need of protection.
The implications of this freeze are devastating. Refugees, including women and children who are being detained in immigration detention, some for more than four years, those who are currently living on bridging visas with the right to work and those who are subject to community detention will never be granted permanent protection in Australia. The freeze will condemn these refugees to a life of fear and uncertainty.
The directive from the government has come in response to the Senate disallowing the reintroduction of Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs). The Australian Greens oppose the use of temporary protection visas and believe that those who are determined to be in genuine need of protection should be granted permanent protection in our country.
We know that in 1999, when John Howard introduced TPVs, they had no deterrence impact on boat arrivals. In fact, they had the reverse effect, with more refugees arriving by boat in the two years following the introduction of TPVs then in the two years prior.
What is evident is that rather than deterring people from seeking asylum in Australia by boat, the introduction of TPVs changed the demographics of boat arrivals from single men to women and children. Because TPV holders were excluded from being able to bring their family members to join them, desperate families opted to travel together in search of safety in Australia. It was in this context that the SIEV X tragedy occurred, with the loss of 353 people including many women and children. By taking away family reunion, the Government creates a greater incentive for people smugglers services which in turn results in increased deaths at sea.
There are currently over 30,000 asylum seekers who will be affected by the Minister's decision to freeze protection visa grants. The freeze is retrospective and therefore the cap of 1650 Protection Visas issued for this financial year has already been reached, leaving those who have already been determined to be refugees in a state of limbo and prolonged uncertainty.
By definition, refugees are people who have fled war, torture and persecution. The very nature of TPVs leaves open the possibility of returning vulnerable refugees to the dangers they fled from. This constant state of uncertainty and long term separation from ones family causes increased stress and anxiety which leads to severe mental health conditions for those enduring the policy. This is the worst possible situation for those wishing to build a new and secure life in Australia.
Australia is a caring nation and we should uphold our reputation by offering permanent protection to refugees who we have been assessed to be in genuine need. Favouring ongoing punishment over protection should not be the Australian way. These people deserve the permanent protection of our borders not a life of uncertainty and oppression.
The Bill
Migration Amendment (Visa Maximum Numbers Determinations) Bill 2013 amends the Migration Act 1958 to allow Section 85 (Limit on Visas), to be disallowable.
Currently, under section 85 of the Migration Act 1958 (The Act), the Minister may determine the maximum number of visas that can be granted in a particular subclass in any specified program year. While all ministers have discretionary powers within their portfolios to make decisions without the need to put something before Parliament, any decision that would place indeterminate freeze on a person's livelihood, is hardly something that can be left to the Minister of the day. The Greens believe that the setting of visa limits should be accountable to the Parliament and therefore seek to amend the Act to allow instruments made under Section 85 of the Act to be disallowed.
The amendments proposed by this Bill seeks to override the determination made by the government on December 2nd that places a cap on the number of protection visas for the 2013-1014 financial year.
Conclusion
The amendments proposed by this Bill quite simply seek to ensure that decisions made by the Minister on visa limits are accountable to the Parliament, rather than at the discretion of the Minister.
I commend this Bill to the Senate
______________
.1 http://www.unhcr.org/51c071816.html
That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 20 March 2014:
Australia's overseas aid and development assistance program in light of the Government's $4.5 billion cut to international development assistance, with particular reference to:
(a) Australia's ability to deliver aid against stated policy objectives and international commitments;
(b) Australia's ability to maintain its international development priorities, including sectoral, regional, bilateral and multilateral international relationships;
(c) the integration of AusAID into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the freeze in international development assistance funding;
(d) any unintended consequences of these changes; and
(e) any other related matters.
Before paragraph (a), insert:
(a) Australia’s deteriorating budget situation caused by the former Labor Government’s economic mismanagement;
That the Senate—
(a) supports the Tasmanian Government's Climate Smart strategy which aims to achieve 100 per cent renewable production and a 35 per cent cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2020; and
(b) condemns the Abbott Government's attempts to repeal the carbon price, which will remove up to $70 million per year from Hydro Tasmania and dividend payments to the Tasmanian budget.
The Senate divided. [16:49]
(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)
The Senate divided. [16:53]
(The Deputy President—Senator Parry)
Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion:
"The Coalition's failure to support investment and jobs in the automotive sector".
The ABC can now reveal an internal brawl was sparked in the early weeks of the new Government when, in an interview with News Corp, Mr Macfarlane flagged "arm wrestling" the Treasurer over more money for the industry.
"I've won a few, I've lost a few. Let's have that arm wrestle, I'm happy to do it. I'm sure Joe (Hockey) will be clean," …
… outraged cabinet colleagues who said he had turned the heat off Holden and back on the Government.
A senior Liberal source with close links to the industry, said he understood the $300 million figure was correct, and would keep Holden, Toyota and more than 160 parts suppliers in Australia.
If the government wanted to secure the industry until 2025, it would need to restore the $500 million it cut from the assistance fund and commit to $300 million a year from 2016, the source said.
HOLDEN car workers will spend the weeks before Christmas worrying about losing their jobs as the economic argument about the car industry's future in Australia turns political.
This is not a test of who has the most testosterone. It is about the livelihood of many thousands of Australians. Unlike cars, these workers should not be switched on and off at the whim of those responsible for the industry.
If Mr Abbott wants people to think of him as being in the driving seat as Prime Minister, he needs to be more assertive than just wishing Holden would clarify its intentions.
Mr Abbott is no longer an opposition leader and needs to stop acting like one. Get both hands on the wheel, Mr Abbott.
Unfortunately the—
Fund was abolished, leaving international company executives wondering just what they had to do to get a consistent government policy commitment in Australia.
… I think the message that we’re getting from Holden is that they’re in two minds—
… the … government had confidential documents that show it would cost less than $150 million extra a year to keep Holden in Australia until 2025.
Every day the federal government fails to commit assistance is another day of growing uncertainty for international investors, South Australian business, South Australian workers and South Australian families.
On behalf of the people of South Australia I urge you to commit the federal government to reasonable and justifiable support for the automotive industry now.
That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees in accordance with the document circulated in the chamber, as follows:
Community Affairs Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Economics Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Education and Employment Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Electoral Matters—Joint Standing Committee—
Appointed—Participating members: Senator Bilyk, Bishop, Brown, Cameron, Carr, Collins, Conroy, Dastyari, Farrell, Furner, Gallacher, Lines, Ludwig, Lundy, Madigan, Marshall, McEwen, McLucas, Moore, O’Neill, Peris, Polley, Pratt, Singh, Stephens, Sterle, Thorp, Urquhart and Wong
Environment and Communications Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee—
Appointed—
Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Substitute member: Senator Siewert to replace Senator Rhiannon for the committees inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013
Finance and Public Administration References Committee—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill
National Broadband Network—Select Committee—
Appointed—Substitute member: Senator O’Neill to replace Senator Lundy from 13 December to 19 December 2013
National Capital and External Territories—Joint Standing Committee—
Discharged—Senator Peris
Appointed—Senator Brown
Northern Australia—Joint Select Committee—
Appointed—
Senators McLucas and O’Neill
Participating members: Senator Bilyk, Bishop, Brown, Cameron, Carr, Collins, Conroy, Dastyari, Farrell, Faulkner, Furner, Gallacher, Lines, Ludwig, Lundy, Madigan, Marshall, McEwen, Moore, Peris, Polley, Pratt, Singh, Stephens, Sterle, Thorp, Tillem, Urquhart and Wong
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation and References Committees—
Appointed—Participating member: Senator O’Neill.
… a body making loans on commercial terms to help new, ambitious renewable projects get a foothold—projects like the Macarthur wind farm, the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere.
Not only has the CEFC been a screaming success, making a positive return on taxpayers' funds, with virtually no exposure to concessional loans, its very existence only once again highlights the flaws in the Coalition's alternative Direct Action plan.
Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased.
It is virtually certain that there will be more frequent hot and fewer cold temperature extremes over most land areas on daily and seasonal timescales … It is very likely that heat waves will occur with a higher frequency and duration.
… the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass, glaciers have continued to shrink almost worldwide, and Arctic sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have continued to decrease in extent …
Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reductions in snow and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in some climate extremes. This evidence for human influence has grown … It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.
Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
We have always been focussed on energy efficiency because we use one million kilowatt hours of electricity per month and use around 2000 tonne of coal per month.
The (biogas technology) investment is a good way to modernise and will dramatically reduce our emissions.
It will mean that we will reduce our emissions to the point where we will no longer be a big polluter any more.
Our mission is 'to accelerate Australia's transformation towards a more competitive economy in a carbon constrained world, by acting as a catalyst to increase private sector investment in emissions reduction'. The Board—
has pursued this mission with the goal of minimising the cost to Government.
At the time of writing, the future of the CEFC is in doubt, with the Australian Government preparing legislation for the repeal of the CEFC Act, making this possibly my first and last report as Chair.
Accelerate Australia's transformation towards a more competitive economy in a carbon constrained world…
Retailers face competitive market pressures due to changes to consumer habits and online commerce, as well as rising energy costs.
The CEFC is working with co-finance partners and strategic alliance partners to encourage retailers to access the benefits of clean technology sooner and has found that bundled expertise and finance is proving attractive to small business owners.
The CEFC has been an effective catalyst for the public and private sector to overcome current market failures in financing carbon reducing investment at scale.
… emissions trading is the cheapest and most flexible path to reducing emissions.
The fund's board told the inquiry that for every dollar invested, the private sector had spent three, for a total of $2.2 billion. Chief executive and former Macquarie Banker Oliver Yates said the CEFC would approach $1 billion in investments this financial year.
The debate about whether Australia should have a carbon price is partly redundant. Banks and financiers now factor in carbon risk on most long-term energy investment. It's virtually impossible to build a coal-fired power station in Australia because no one will finance one.
… … …
The Coalition is entitled to be sceptical about the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). It could become a financial black hole for risky investments. But—
at its best, it could unlock billions of dollars of private capital, spread risk across a range of investments, underwrite carbon risk and facilitate a market-driven, lowest-cost investment path for cleaner energy and supporting infrastructure.
Not only is the Federal Government’s clean energy legislation one step closer to becoming law, the appointment of Jillian Broadbent—
as Chair of the CEFC brings closer a key institution needed to help deliver the transformation of Australia’s energy sector.
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Our industry is ready to take Australia’s energy sector into the next age of energy development.
The carbon price is a once-in-a-generation reform that will signal a new era of policy stability for the entire electricity sector, unlocking the billions of dollars in investment capital required to transform the way we generate, deliver and consume electricity over the coming decades.
Clean energy is a race in which Australia is fortunate enough to have a winged keel, but we haven't done nearly enough to harness our abundant renewable energy resources. The CEFC will go a long way towards addressing a generation of underinvestment in this area.
By providing finance for renewable energy projects through commercial loans, concessional loans, loan guarantees and equity, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation will provide a much needed boost to the renewable energy sector by incentivising investment and employment growth. The establishment of the CEFC represents an exceptional commitment to the future of renewable energy in Australia.
Innovative, independent institutions like the CEFC and ARENA, together with the Renewable Energy Target, are needed to drive investment in clean energy research, development, demonstration and commercialisation. The Australian Solar Energy Society also calls—
Mr Barnett has demonstrated a capacity to make decisions and follow them through. Not all those decisions have been universally popular … Mr Barnett and his Government took positions they believed to be in the best interests of the State and stuck with them.
He has also been a formidable advocate for WA at a Federal level. This has led to frosty relations with the Federal Labor Government, especially in Julia Gillard's time as Prime Minister. But Mr Barnett has been vociferous in putting the interest of WA first and that is what West Australians expect of their premier.
Mr Rudd has waged a relentless scare campaign about Tony Abbott's suitability to be prime minister … But the Tony Abbott we have seen in this campaign reflects little of the Labor caricature of an ill-disciplined moral crusader. He has run a controlled campaign and presented as a measured, mature politician heading a stable frontbench with proved experience in government.
A clear mandate for an Abbott government is the best outcome as a circuit-breaker for the political cynicism of the past three years. Mr Abbott deserves a chance to govern and get the country back on track.
Mr Hunt indicated the Coalition would make defending Australia's Southern Ocean interests an election issue, promising to restore regular patrols and also to deploy a Customs vessel to monitor Japanese whaling.
Should the whaling season continue, the Coalition commits to sending a Customs vessel to the Southern Ocean. It is important that Australia has a Southern Ocean presence given the ongoing risk of confrontation between whalers and protestors.
Reports of the slaughter of whales in Australian waters are deeply disturbing. The Government must make a statement immediately, have whales been slaughtered in Australian waters, if so what are they going to do about it. We've got blood in the water and a blind eye in Canberra, it's completely unacceptable. These are Australian waters that should be protected. Whaling should never be occurring but for it to occur in Australian waters is an utter failure in Canberra.