The SPEAKER (Mr Harry Jenkins) took the chair at 13:30, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That unless otherwise ordered, so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Question Time commencing immediately and being followed by:
(1) presentation of documents;
(2) the discussion of a matter of public importance;
(3) ministerial statements; and
(4) government business until 9:30 p.m.
There is misquotes and misinformation on it. We had talked to three senior ministers. I had no expectation to talk to the Prime Minister. I knew that she was tied up in CHOGM. We had talked to the appropriate ministers …
Information about the Australian economy suggests moderate growth overall. The terms of trade have now peaked and will decline somewhat in the near term, but they remain very high.
In response, investment in the resources sector is picking up very strongly, with much more to come. Some related service sectors are enjoying better-than-average conditions. In other sectors, cautious behaviour by households and the high exchange rate have had a noticeable dampening effect. The unemployment rate has increased a little over recent months, though it remains close to 5%.
Mr Abbott, at what time on Saturday were you or your office informed about the action that Qantas was going to take?
TONY ABBOTT:
My understanding is that my office was first informed at about quarter past four and I heard about it just before five o'clock.
The failure of the Government to act to avoid the grounding of the Qantas fleet.
Asked if the fleet would have been grounded if the government had used section 431 of the act, a Qantas spokesman said: "No."
"If a declaration had been made under section 431 of the Fair Work Act, Qantas would have been prevented from issuing a lockout notice to these employees covered by the three unions," the spokesman told AAP.
… parties to an industrial dispute should make their own arrangements … without any government involvement.
If they can't do that, it makes you wonder why we elected a government. This is exactly the sort of situation where they should be actively searching or forcing a solution.
THE action I announced on Saturday was the only option available to Qantas to cut short the destructive industrial campaign that has devastated the airline over recent months.
Under the Fair Work Act, no other choice was viably open to us.
(1) FWA may make an order suspending or terminating protected industrial action for a proposed enterprise agreement that is being engaged in if the requirements set out in this section are met.
Requirement—significant economic harm
(2) If the protected industrial action is employee claim action, FWA must be satisfied that the action is causing, or is threatening to cause, significant economic harm to:
(a) the employer, or any of the employers, that will be covered by the agreement; and
(b) any of the employees who will be covered by the agreement.
FWA may make the order:
(a) on its own initiative; or
(b) on application by any of the following:
(i) a bargaining representative for the agreement—
(ii) the Minister;
(iii) a person prescribed by the regulations.
Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Online Games) Bill 2011
That the following bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration:
Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011; and
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Online Games) Bill 2011.
That leave of absence for the remainder of the current period of sittings be given to Mr K. J. Thomson on the ground of parliamentary business overseas.
Territories Self-Government Legislation Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment of Laws) Bill 2011
(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (lines 4 and 5), omit the item, substitute:
1 At the end of subsection 35(2)
Add "if the enactment is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth. Without limiting the application of this subsection, the Assembly may not enact any law that is inconsistent with the Marriage Act 1961 ".
(2) Schedule 2, item 1, page 3 (lines 4 and 5), omit the item, substitute:
1 At the end of subsection 9(1)
Add "if the law or the part of the law is inconsistent with a law of the Commonwealth. Without limiting the application of this subsection, the Assembly may not enact any law that is inconsistent with the Marriage Act 1961 ".
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Bill 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011
Many of the Nordic countries have taken more direct action by introducing electricity tax incentives for most users to use less electricity and extensive subsidies for public transport.
The European Union is for the first time clearly questioning whether it should press ahead with long-term plans to cut greenhouse-gas emissions if other countries don't follow suit …
'If coordinated action on climate among the main global players fails to strengthen in the next few years, the question arises how far the EU should continue with an energy-system transition oriented to decarbonization,' the commission says in a draft of its Energy Roadmap 2050.
The EU's doubts come ahead of a climate-change summit in Durban, South Africa, which is thought to be unlikely to deliver a significant global climate-change deal.
'It has to be seen clearly that there are risks associated to unilateral EU action,' the commission says in its draft. 'There is a trade-off between climate-change policies and competitiveness. Europe cannot act alone in an effort to achieve global decarbonization,' the paper says.
Deterring People Smuggling Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Contracting States shall not impose penalties, on account of their illegal entry or presence, on refugees who, coming directly from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, enter or are present in their territory without authorization, provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Bill 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011
… real enough for us to make changes and sacrifices, to that we do not live at the expense of future generations.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Bill 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011
That the bills be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration.
National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011
CHF welcomes the establishment of the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, as we anticipate that it should result in the introduction of improved transparency and efficiency in the pricing of hospital services.
On the balance of probabilities (it is more likely than not), this fire was a direct result of the installation of ceiling insulation. Queensland Fire and Rescue cannot make a more conclusive determination.
There is a lack of funding for MS research so I would like to undertake as much fundraising as possible to help bring researchers closer to finding a cure.
This will be an exciting event that will bring people together from across Darebin to raise funds for a significant cause.
The advice the company had from the NBN was that a minimum requirement for a compliant connection was one data point for the internet and one phone point with quality cabling known as category six. The Housing Industry Association also advises that new dwellings should use this cabling.'
The advice received from the NBN is that NBN cannot be connected unless wiring is in place inside the house.
Ms Ostle said the Barossa Estate was the first estate that would be connected to the NBN and future stages in the firm's other greenfield developments 'will have the same requirements'.
But NBN Co spokesman Andrew Sholl said the Nurioopta estate was 'not an NBN development', meaning 'we are not installing nor have been asked to install the fibre there'…
'… in new developments, as in existing premises, people don't need additional internal wiring to be NBN compliant. We simply require access to a power point so that the (network termination device) power supply unit can be plugged in.'
Then Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech's servants had seized. And he said, You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that they may be my witness that I have dug this well. Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.
It was the bravest, most awe inspiring sight I have ever witnessed, and they were ... yelling, swearing and shouting. There were more than 500 Aussie horsemen. .. As they thundered past my hair stood on end. The boys were wild-eyed and yelling their heads off.
I feel strongly about this because the organization AMCS has not done the necessary investigations before proposing the bans … Recreational fisherman are the eyes on the water particularly here in the NT where there is such a small population and lack of resources to police these types of areas … Living in the NT fishing is a dominant part of our lifestyle and we do it responsibly, adhering the strict bag limits.
I am appalled at the unnecessary and unwanted intrusion on the Territory way of life by the AMCS in seeking to close the vast areas of the territory fishing areas.
We fishermen of the NT have always led the pack in terms of fisheries management and we will continue to. … Fisherman of the NT will happily look at fishing reform when the science supports it but we will not stand by and accept no-go zones especially when the available science does not support it
I cannot imagine anything more likely to kill off the NT hallowed lifestyle. The AMCS's call to the federal government to establish non fishing zones in the top end waters is the mark of abject ignorance of what makes the Territory so special to all who value it. Our boating and fishing is almost sacred. No truer word has been said.
This reflects a four-fold increase in the number of working days lost to industrial disputes involving a lockout during the second half decade …
Employer lockouts, not strikes by unions, were responsible for most of the long disputes in the second half-decade of enterprise bargaining.
No one area is any different than another, it is only a problem when residents and owners of their assets do not take the precautions to firstly secure their homes and secondly do not leave their car keys laying around on bench tops etc, making life easy for these low lives. In relation to their electrical items such as laptops, iPods etc, they should record the serial numbers, mark their property and advertise the fact by joining Neighbourhood Watch and putting the stickers on their widows stating 'All property has been marked for Police Identification'.