The SPEAKER ( Hon. Bronwyn Bishop ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
The most successful of my Government's reforms were the ones which were most strongly condemned at their inception, the ones which the Labor Party had to fight longest and hardest to muster first public and then parliamentary support.
Persistence, patience, perseverance—these are the watchwords for Australian reformers as they take up their daunting task.
The life given us, by nature is short; but the memory of a well-spent life is eternal.
In the assembly Hall I clearly remember the remark that "this would be my largest audience here deep in Bradfield". I didn't immediately understand it as I had little knowledge of the federal electorates at that stage. It certainly elicited a strong and humorous reaction from our parents and friends.
This week, we were saddened by the death of Gough Whitlam, a great Knox Old Boy who made many significant contributions to our country. Our flags were flown at half-mast in honour of Mr Whitlam.
The Australian people have been waiting a long time for a fair deal in housing. I hope you will forgive me if I recall some words I used 20 years ago, in my first speech in the national parliament. I said then: 'No one thinks that 20 years ago the people of Australia were adequately housed; and nobody thinks that they are adequately housed now.'
Twenty years later, those words are still true. It is shameful that in 1973, the people of Australia are still not adequately housed. It is shameful that in a nation with abundant space, considerable wealth, a modest population, and a general commitment to the ideals of social welfare, thousands of Australian families are badly housed and unable to afford this fundamental amenity of a decent life.
The Parthenon sculptures are unarguably among the world's most important surviving art works. The new Acropolis Museum gives the British Museum the opportunity of righting one of history's great wrongs.
In the areas of economic law reform, we will legislate for a nationwide Companies Act; a Securities and Exchange Commission; an effective Restrictive Trade Practices Act and a modern version of the Australian Industries Preservation Act.
The nation lost a great man and Ipswich lost a dear friend.
Everything about him was big; not just physically but the openness and generosity of his nature, the warm enthusiasm with which he could embrace new ideas and encourage others to pursue fresh thinking, the breadth and depth of his interests, the colourful range of singeing expletives he held in reserve for times of tension. But if you were doing your job he was no meddler.
To the extent I made any achievement in public life I owe a big debt to the lessons I learnt practically from Gough. A great Australian, a former colleague, now sadly departed.
We construct a philosophy of failure, which finds in defeat a form of justification and a proof of the purity of our principles. Certainly the impotent are pure.
… This Party was not conceived in failure, brought forth by failure or consecrated to failure … let us have none of this nonsense that defeat is in some way more moral than victory …
… I did not seek and do not want the leadership of Australia's largest pressure group. I propose to follow the traditions of those of our leaders who have seen the role of our Party as striving to achieve, and achieving the national government of Australia …
Good government is inclusive. It is about developing a sense of community so that every person in that community is able to benefit from the resources, wealth and services of the country. The Whitlam government sought to do this. It was a government that had vision—the vision to share the wealth of the country with all Australians, to create a just society where everyone in the community had an equal opportunity to succeed.
We talked in factories, in housing centres, on farms, in schools, at women's meetings, in dairies, in gaols, in universities—in short wherever women were. I was deluged with letters invariably beginning 'thank god, at last there is someone to whom I can talk to, someone who might listen and understand'.
He said to me one day, 'when Labor's opportunity comes, we'll make sure we will push for self governing and independence for Papua New Guinea'. And of course, it happened.
Gough Whitlam's Prime Ministership was almost synonymous with Papua New Guinea's transition to independence and the people of our nation express our gratitude.
Poverty is a national waste as well as individual waste. We are all diminished when any of us are denied proper education. The nation is the poorer—a poorer economy, a poorer civilisation, because of this human and national waste.
… an impediment to achieving the forces Australia needs. It is an alibi for failing to give proper conditions to regular soldiers … By abolishing it, Australia will achieve a better army, a better-paid army—and a better, united society.
Thanks to him, my sister was able to study medicine, my mother got a degree in psychology, I got my own degree, my son has been able to get medical attention from the day he was born due to a public healthcare system ... the list goes on.
Had we continued to live in America I wonder where we would be. When my parents came to Australia in 1971 and Gough came to power, they thought they had reached Nirvana!
Labor believes the polluter should pay, not future generations of Australians.
When government makes opportunities for any of the citizens, it makes them for all the citizens. We are all diminished as citizens when any of us are poor. … The nation is the poorer—a poorer economy, a poorer civilisation, because of this human and national waste
The decision we will make for our country on 2 December is a choice between … the habits and fears of the past, and the demands and opportunities of the future. There are moments in history when the whole fate and future of nations can be decided by a single decision. For Australia, this is such a time.
That business intervening before order of the day No. 8, Government Business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
While claims in this category are rare, the Australian public rightly expects that employees should take personal responsibility for their actions.
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (Direct Lending and Other Measures) Bill 2014
… Export Finance and Insurance Corporation … will be refocused to increase its capacity to finance small and medium sized businesses seeking to capitalise on global trade opportunities.
Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
Cognate debate.
Debate resumed on the motion:
That this bill be now read a second time.
… falls short of the mark. It does not improve or marginally improves market access and terms of trade for a number of sectors such as dairy, sugar, grains, pork and rice.
That all words after 'That' be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: 'whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading the House urges the government to:
(1) not agree to any inclusion of investor state dispute settlement provisions in the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement;
(2) enact policies to ensure that Australian workers benefit from jobs growth created under the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement; and
(3) utilise the review mechanisms in the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement to seek further market access gains, especially in agriculture.'
The second great international negotiation I was involved with in my first years as minister for trade was the creation of a trade treaty with Japan. The Japanese economy was discussed extensively with the trade department, between John Crawford, Alan Westerman and myself.
The circumstances that had made Britain and Australia such big customers for each other's products were being repeated with the Japanese. In addition, under the terms of the peace treaty following World War II, Australia was obliged to make some move in favour of trade with Japan. We decided to have a go at negotiating a trade treaty with Japan. The negotiations were complicated by our obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Mr Pyne, what is the point of you being a minister in the Federal government if you need to resort to change.org in order to exert an influence on a policy of your own making?
Will you use the same tactic when the university of South Australia increases the cost of a degree?
The Australian red meat and livestock sectors will benefit by $11 billion from the elimination of tariffs negotiated under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Few other initiatives pursued by the Australian Government could do more to improve supply chain returns than a true free trade agreement with China.
"That is not the greatest piece of footage I've seen … the Prime Minister would wish he hadn't made that exact statement."
The four years of surpluses I announce tonight …
… strengthen our bilateral engagement and provide further momentum for the resource industry to drive the Australian economy, create jobs and improve living standards.
The distrust between Rudd and Shorten was intense and enduring.
The distrust between Rudd and Shorten was intense and enduring. The Gillard camp was contemptuous of Shorten, considering him weak and duplicitous—
The distrust between Rudd and Shorten was intense and enduring. The Gillard camp was contemptuous of Shorten, considering him weak and duplicitous. Neither side trusted him and neither side revised its view.
The distrust between Shorten and Rudd was intense and enduring. The Gillard camp was contemptuous of Shorten, considering him weak and duplicitous. Neither side trusted him and neither side revised its view.
The evidence in relation to the CFMEU case studies indicate that a number of officials of the CFMEU seek to conduct their affairs with a deliberate and disturbing disregard for the rule of law.
That evidence is suggestive of the existence of a pervasive and unhealthy culture within the CFMEU under which:
(a) the law is to be deliberately avoided, and is to be regarded as an irrelevance, where it stands in the way of achieving the union's objectives …
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, Mr Clare and Mr Dreyfus be appointed members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for the purpose of the committee's inquiry into the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014.
The Abbott Government’s unfair Budget damaging Australia’s economy.
This Budget delivers even more debt, deficits, taxes and broken promises from a Government that can't be trusted.
The sharp fall in the Index is clearly indicating an unfavourable response to the recent Federal Budget.
Twas the night before the election, when all through this House
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stocking was empty, the cupboard was bare,
Because Labor had governed for six years without care.
…an instantaneous adrenaline charge in our economy.
People criticised Joe for going on holidays to Fiji. Now some of us are sorry he came back.
This stinking, rotting carcass around this government's neck.
Customs Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
These agreements are examples of positive, result-oriented trade action. Instead of closing markets at home, we've opened markets to U.S. products abroad, thus helping to create more American jobs. … Because, believe me, when Americans are competing on a level playing field, they can outproduce and outsell anyone, anywhere in the world.
It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy. … If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage.
We're negotiating with the Chinese but I don't anticipate any outcome of that process for some time…
…at least four sources have agreed that Mr Swan, with the backing of several other ministers, challenged the political saleability of trade reform.
Free trade agreements, I think frankly, are overrated in what they can achieve in terms of a relationship between Australia and China.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Customs Tariff Amendment (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a third time.
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 6) Bill 2014
It is an absolute principle of democracy that governments should not and must not say one thing before an election and do the opposite afterwards. Nothing could be more calculated to bring our democracy into disrepute and alienate the citizenry of Australia from their government than if governments were to establish by precedent that they could say one thing before an election and do the opposite afterwards.
A very clear message is going out from the Australian people to this government: there can be no tax collection without an election. If this government had any honesty, any decency, that is what we would have: an election now.
I say to this Prime Minister: there should be no new tax collection without an election.
The time for big-spending, big-taxing, big-fibbing government has gone.
What you'll get under us are tax cuts without new taxes.
What we’re asking is for everyone to contribute, including higher income people. Now, I’ll give you one example: the change to fuel excise, the people that actually pay the most are higher income people, with an increase in fuel excise and yet, the Labor Party and the Greens are opposing it. They say you’ve got to have wealthier people or middle-income people pay more. Well, change to the fuel excise does exactly that; the poorest people either don’t have cars or actually don’t drive very far in many cases. But, they are opposing what is meant to be, according to the Treasury, a progressive tax.
Requiring operators to pay back their extra fuel tax credits would only make sense if they could also claim back the extra fuel tax they paid.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014
Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014
The universal service regime also includes the digital data service obligation, which is the obligation to ensure that either:
(i) general digital data services; or
(ii) special digital data services;
are reasonably accessible to all people in Australia on an equitable basis, no matter where they live or conduct business.
Telstra is a carrier declared by the Government to fulfil the digital data service obligation throughout Australia.
Australia is a lucky country, with a bright future. But we have a problem – and its colour is red. Red tape, that is.
There’s too much of it … and we need to address the grip it has on our economy.
The cost of doing business in Australia is far too high and some of that is down to unnecessary laws and regulations.
… Kerr’s Hire’s concerns, because under the rules as they stand, many short-term leases have to be registered which means more form filling, more time wasting and more unnecessary expense.
… … …
… Red Tape Repeal Day will fix this, as it will tackle many other instances of redundant and unnecessary regulation.
… no one likes filling in forms. It costs time, it costs money and it costs jobs, and that’s why Red Tape repeal Day is so important.
(1) Schedule 5, page 83 (lines 1 to 13), omit the Schedule.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a third time.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill 2014
… the applicant has the capacity to meet the standards set by the Commission for the rehabilitation and occupational health and safety of its employees.
I dread the phone call that reports my son has thrown a chair across the classroom.
I dread the phone call reporting that my son has been suspended because he was so frustrated with the noise in the overcrowded classroom that he has had a meltdown.
This is my life at the moment. This is the life of so many parents of kids with disabilities.
This dread would be eased with the commitment of appropriate funding. Such resourcing would allow our kids to feel like they are part of society.
Proper resources would allow our kids to dream about their future, including attending university. Funding would ease the likelihood of a lifetime of welfare.
Our kids just want to know that they have a place in our community. Therefore, the government must accept that they need to do more in education. At the moment, they are devaluing students with disabilities.
… the offence does not include a fault element; it does not include a mental intention element; it does not require the person to be travelling with any kind of criminal or wrongful intent.
(1) Did any individuals or organisations contact his department expressing dissatisfaction that the Building Multicultural Communities Program had been cut; if so, (a) who are these organisations and individuals, and (b) can he provide a copy of their correspondence.
(2) In respect of the Deputy Secretary for Families and Communities stating in Senate Estimates on 5 June 2014 that a number of organisations contacted his department 'to seek a review' of the reasons for their funding being withdrawn, (a) what are the names of all such organisations, and can he provide a copy of their correspondence, (b) did his department reply to any organisations; if so, (i) on what date, and (ii) can he provide a copy of the reply, and (c) did his department meet with any of these organisations; if so, (i) which ones, and (ii) on what date(s).
(1) Please refer to the response to Question on Notice 585 from Additional Estimates hearings in February 2014, and Question on Notice 210 from Budget Estimates hearings in June 2014.
(2) (a)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(i)(ii) 29 Organisations sought a review of the decision to withdraw their grant funding. 25 Organisations received reimbursement for expenditure they had incurred. In four cases the decision to withdraw funding was upheld. Further information cannot be provided as the Organisations would expect to be consulted prior to the public release of the requested information. To do so would require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
(1) Can he explain the full process, from beginning to end, of executing a funding agreement (a) in his department, and (b) under the Building Multicultural Communities Program (BMCP), and how the process for the BMCP differs to the process used for other programs in his department.
(2) Upon receipt of applications for the BMCP, (a) what process did his department use to finalise the funding agreements, (b) how many staff worked on the finalisation of the funding agreements, (c) who was the decision maker on whether and when funding would be provided, (d) on average, what length of time did this process take, (e) what was the (i) longest, and (ii) shortest, processing time, (f) were there any delays; if so, why, and (g) did his department have sufficient resources to conduct this processing.
(1)(a) See response to Question on Notice 918 relating to Budget Estimates Hearings in June 2014.
(b) The process mirrors the process that applies in relation to other grant programmes.
(2)(a) See Question 1.
(b) See response to House of Representatives Question on Notice No 254 asked on 26 August 2014.
(c) The former Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, was the decision maker.
(d) to (g) Providing this level of detail would be too resource intensive.
(1) In respect of the decision to withdraw offers of funding for the Building Multicultural Communities Program (BMCP), how many representations has his department received 'expressing disappointment at this decision' (Freedom of Information request No. 13/14-078), and can he provide these documents.
(2) What are the names of the ten organisations that have 'expressly requested reconsideration of the decision' because they have been financially disadvantaged, and have any other organisations made such representations since then; if so, how many, and what are their names.
(3) What are the names of the six organisations that have provided evidence in support of their request for reconsideration, and
(a) what sum did they each request, and
(b) have these funds been provided.
(1) See the Department’s response to FOI 13/14-078.
(2) Please refer to the second part of the answer to Parliamentary QoN # 289.
(3) (a)(b) Please refer to the second part of the answer to Parliamentary QoN # 289.
In 2013-14, how many Commonwealth grants were approved by the Minister's Department, and at what total cost, and of these, how many recipients have
(a) signed funding agreements, and at what total cost, and
(b) received payment, and at what total cost.
The list of DSS grants can be accessed at: http://www.dss.gov.au/grants-funding/grants-funding. This list includes all grants approved by the Minister’s Department and total cost.
In 2013-14, how many Commonwealth grants were approved by the Minister’s department, and at what total cost, and of these, how many recipients have (a) signed funding agreements, and at what total cost, and (b) received payment, and at what total cost?
The full list of 2013-14 individual grants are published and publicly available on the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) website and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website.
www.immi.gov.au/about/reports/grants/index.htm
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/GrantsAwardedbytheAustralianCustomsandBorderProtectionService_000.pdf
How does expanding the live export trade value-add to Australia’s food exports?
Australian livestock exports (other than breeder livestock) are ultimately destined for food supply chains in the importing country, and contribute significantly to the value of Australia’s agriculture exports.
In 2013-14 the livestock export trade was worth approximately $1.2 billion. Since this government came to office in September 2013 the value of live animal exports has exceeded $1.4 billion and continues to grow.
The industry employs around 10 000 people, contributes significantly to the country’s economy, supports many rural and regional communities, and underpins economic returns through the farm gate by providing alternate markets for livestock and competition in the marketplace.
Demand for Australian live animals and meat is derived from the importing country’s need to supplement their own domestic cattle production with beef imports and live cattle imported for either direct slaughter or finishing in feedlots before slaughter.
In some of Australia’s major livestock export markets, Australian live animals and imported meat are not readily substitutable.
Additionally, the absence of Australian livestock in overseas markets does not necessarily directly translate into potential for increased meat imports from Australia. Many other countries supply meat less expensively and, for livestock, Australia has many competitors in Africa and Europe, none of which have the same standards of animal welfare for the export of livestock.