The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of private Members' business.
1. The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 24 November 2015.
2. The committee determined the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of private Members' business on Monday, 30 November 2015, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR KATTER: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 , and for related purposes. (Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Amendment (Strategic Assets) Bill 2015 ). (Notice given 24 November 2015. )
Time allotted—10 minutes .
Speech time limits—
Mr Katter — 10 minutes.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 10 mins]
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41.
2 MRS WICKS: To move:
That this House recognises:
(1) the importance of the events that took place on 3 December 1854 on Eureka Hill at Ballarat;
(2) the significance of these events in Australia's history;
(3) the impact of Eureka on our discussions surrounding free market, individual enterprise and representative democracy; and
(4) that Australians have interpreted the events in numerous ways that impact and inspire our economic and social frameworks.
( Notice given 24 November 2015. )
Speech time limits—
Mrs Wicks — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
3 MR CHRISTENSEN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the threat of violent extremism to Australian society;
(2) further notes the:
(a) acts of terrorism committed by violent extremists within Australia against Australians;
(b) specific terrorism incidents:
(i) the attack on police officers at Endeavour Hills Police Station in 2014;
(ii) the seige at Sydney' Martin Place which resulted in the death of two Australians; and
(iii) most recently the murder of Mr Curtis Cheng at Parramatta Police Station; and
(c) significant number of ISIL recruits coming from Australia;
(3) commends the Australian police forces for their efforts in countering terrorism;
(4) notes the numerous acts of terror which have been prevented because of police efforts, in particular the:
(a) attempt by the 'Sydney Five' to commit acts of terrorism in the city of Sydney in 2005;
(b) Benbrika Group's planned bombing of various sporting events in 2005 and 2006 as well as a plot to assassinate former Prime Minister the Hon. John Howard; and
(c) 2009 plot to storm the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney;
(5) praises the Prime Minister for his statement in response to the recent terrorism incident in Parramatta, that it is not compulsory to live in Australia and if one finds Australian values unpalatable then 'there's a big wide world out there and people have got freedom of movement'; and
(6) calls for continued action in countering violent extremism and in particular, radical Islam within Australia in order to prevent further acts of terrorism within our borders.
( Notice given 9 November 2015. )
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Speech time limits—
Mr Christensen — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
4 MS BUTLER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) 1 December marks World AIDS Day, which is held every year to raise awareness about the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS, and is a day for people to show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died; and
(b) the theme for World AIDS Day this year is 'Getting to zero: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths';
(2) acknowledges the roles played by people living with HIV and their friends, family, supporters, AIDS activists and researchers, past and present, in making HIV a disease people can live with; and
(3) affirms its commitment to support actions which will reduce stigma, prevent new HIV transmissions, and work towards a cure.
( Notice given 24 November 2015. )
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Speech time limits—
Ms T. M. Butler — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
5 MS RYAN: To move:
That this House acknowledges the work of:
(1) community legal centres in tackling domestic violence;
(2) the United Nations and its 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign to end domestic violence;
(3) journalist Ms Sarah Ferguson for her ongoing efforts to educate the public on the key driver behind domestic violence—control;
(4) the Leader of the Opposition for appointing a Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Child Safety and Prevention of Family Violence; and
(5) the Victorian Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, for her work on Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence.
( Notice given 24 November 2015. )
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits—
Ms Ryan—5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS VAMVAKINOU: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) 29 November is International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People as observed by the United Nations (resolution 23/40 B);
(b) following the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was established to carry out direct relief and works programs for Palestinian refugees who had fled to West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria;
(c) UNRWA services are available to all those living in its areas of operations—West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria—who are registered and who need assistance;
(d) Palestinians registered with the UNRWA are unable to register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and additionally cannot be referred for resettlement by the UNHCR;
(e) Palestinian refugees from Syria are a vulnerable minority, who are currently fleeing for the same reasons as other genuine refugees and persecuted minorities; and
(f) whilst not a legislative requirement, the UNHCR registration is a determining factor in the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection's consideration of refugee and humanitarian visa applications; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) recognise that the Palestinian refugees from Syria who are registered with the UNWRA are unable to register with the UNHCR irrespective of meeting the criteria for refugee status in the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention; and
(b) work with the UNHCR to consider Palestinians fleeing Syria and registered with the UNWRA as eligible to apply for the Government's recently announced intake of 12,000 refugees from the Syrian conflict.
( Notice given 23 November 2015. )
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Ms Vamvakinou — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
2 MR BUCHHOLZ: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that National Adoption Awareness Week was recently celebrated, a week dedicated to raising awareness around the challenges faced by families and children navigating complex inter country and domestic adoption processes in Australia;
(2) is made aware of the fact that the rate of adoption in Australia is the lowest in the developed world, with only 317 children adopted in 2013-14;
(3) recognises that 15,000 children in Australia have been in out of home care for over two years and over 12 million children are officially registered overseas awaiting adoption;
(4) acknowledges the need for continued adoption reform, especially in the area of local adoption;
(5) notes that:
(a) children who experience abuse and neglect in the home, followed by instability in out of home care, are much more likely to experience poor life outcomes;
(b) in adolescence, out of home carers are unable to maintain the necessary level of care for children with complex needs and they are often placed in residential care; and
(c) on an average day in 2013-14 there were 1,157 children in residential care and on 30 June 2014 there were 2,258 children in residential care; and
(6) calls on the Government to present this issue to the COAG in order to create a national strategy that will dramatically increase the rate of local adoption in Australia.
( Notice given 24 November 2015. )
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Mr Buchholz — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
3 Ms Claydon: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) three diseases—HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria—still account for the deaths of more than 2.7 million people each year;
(b) since 2000, increased action by national governments and international donors on prevention and detection of and treatment for these diseases has led to significant reductions in cases of and deaths from each disease;
(c) the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) has played a significant role in this progress, and has supported programs with the following outcomes:
(i) increasing the number of people with HIV with access to antiretroviral therapy to 8.1 million;
(ii) making available testing and treatment for tuberculosis to 13.2 million people; and
(iii) supporting the distribution of 548 million insecticide treated bed nets to prevent malaria; and
(d) the Global Fund contributes more than $US4 billion to combat the three diseases each year, and accounts for more than 20 per cent of international funding for HIV, half of international funding for malaria and three quarters of funding for tuberculosis;
(2) recognises:
(a) the proposed Sustainable Development Goals include a target to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria by 2030;
(b) achieving this target will require increased investment by national governments, national aid agencies and multilateral agencies such as the Global Fund; and
(c) increased investment in addressing these diseases now will reduce the risk of much greater costs, especially from drug resistance, in the future; and
(3) calls on the Government to continue and consider increasing its support for the Global Fund for the next replenishment period, 2017 to 2019.
( Notice given 10 November 2015. )
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Ms Claydon — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
4 Mrs McNamara: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the drug Ice is at epidemic proportions and having a huge impact on our communities;
(2) acknowledges the Government has:
(a) identified the ferocity of the Ice epidemic across Australia;
(b) put in place the National Ice Taskforce (NIT) to begin implementing positive programs and changes to help stop the scourge of Ice; and
(c) announced $1 million in funding has been made available to Crime Stoppers to roll out a national Dob in a Dealer campaign to help combat Australia's Ice scourge; and
(3) notes that the NIT final report was recently delivered to the Government with identified actions on how local, state and federal governments can work with communities to take a systematic, comprehensive and coordinated approach to Australia's Ice scourge.
( Notice given 11 November 2015. )
{DPS, "PFStart", "n"}
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Mrs McNamara — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
5 Mr Perrett: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that 14 November is World Diabetes Day;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) there are 1.1 million diagnosed cases of diabetes in Australia and they are rising by 100,000 a year;
(b) Diabetes Australia estimates that:
(i) diabetes currently costs the Australian economy around $14.6 billion per annum; and
(ii) the cost of diabetes to the Australian economy is forecast to increase to $30 billion by 2025;
(c) Australia needs a stronger response to the challenge of diabetes;
(d) there is evidence that:
(i) the onset of type 2 diabetes can be successfully prevented; and
(ii) serious complications and hospitalisations from diabetes can be prevented; and
(3) commits to working towards reducing the impact of diabetes on the lives of Australians.
( Notice given 12 November 2015. )
Time allotted—20 minutes .
Mr Perrett — 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
6 Syria and Iraq crisis: Resumption of debate (from 23 November 2015) on the motion of Ms Plibersek—That this House calls on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to support a parliamentary debate during the current sitting on the Australian Government's strategy in response to the crisis in Syria and Iraq.:
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
All Members speaking—5 minutes.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
THE HON A. D. H. SMITH MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
25 November 2015
That this Western Australian Legislative Assembly calls on the Federal Government to abandon the proposed plebiscite on marriage equality and urgently calls on all members of the Federal Parliament to have a free vote on a bill to amend the Marriage Act 1961, regarding marriage equality.
Aged Care Amendment (Red Tape Reduction in Places Management) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
Many of the operators currently operating under the Australian General Register would likely re-flag their vessels in order to compete with the foreign operators who enjoy the benefit of comparatively lower wage rates. Australian seafarer jobs would be adversely affected as Australian operators re-flag from the Australian General Register.
Ship operators are likely to replace Australian seafarers (paid under EA rates) with foreign seafarers (paid under ITF rates).
… Australian reliance on foreign shipping services is likely to grow in the coming years as ships continue to leave the Australian fleet due to retirement or reflagging overseas to pursue more favourable taxation and employment environments.
Should a less regulated coastal shipping regulatory system be implemented, it is likely that some operators of Australian ships will seek to move to the lower cost model and flag their ships overseas. This would allow operators to offer all workers on the now foreign flagged ships internationally competitive wages and conditions.
The MV Portland has operated for 28 successful years between Portland VIC and Kwinana/Bunbury WA, in that time the Portland has trained a number of Deck and Engineering Officers as well as countless TIR/PIR Trainees to become professional seafaring IR's as it was the first purpose build ship for the MIDC concept, Which de manned vessels to keep trade routes open so Australian seafaring could be cost effective for the longevity of our industry.
Now that we have been given notice we are battling each day with the hardships of families, uncertain futures and financial commitments. After 28 years of operating, the crews moral on board is at an all time low with each crew member is dealing not only with their personal hardships and struggles but also worried for the Australian seafaring future in this industry.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Amendment (Inter-State Voyages) Bill 2015
Many of the operators currently operating under the Australian General Register would likely re-flag their vessels in order to compete with the foreign operators who enjoy the benefit of comparatively lower wage rates. Australian seafarer jobs would be adversely affected as Australian operators re-flag from the Australian General Register.
Ship operators are likely to replace Australian seafarers (paid under EA rates) with foreign seafarers (paid under ITF rates).
… Australian reliance on foreign shipping services is likely to grow in the coming years as ships continue to leave the Australian fleet due to retirement or reflagging overseas to more favourable taxation and employment environments.
Should a less regulated coastal shipping regulatory system be implemented, it is likely that some operators of Australian ships will seek to move to the lower cost model and flag their ships overseas. This will allow operators to pay all workers on the now foreign flagged ships internationally competitive wages and conditions.
We assume four vessels will register under a foreign register to reduce operating costs.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Tax Laws Amendment (Gifts) Bill 2015
… in many areas progress has been far too slow. It is profoundly disappointing that most Closing the Gap targets are not on track to be met.
To be blunt, whoever the future government of Australia happens to be, we want to keep the bastards honest. We want to ensure the necessary data is collected to measure our success or failure in bridging the intergenerational gap of entrenched Indigenous disadvantage. This mission must continue beyond the passing seasons that we call politics.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 5) Bill 2015
Health Insurance Amendment (Safety Net) Bill 2015
The new Medicare safety net arrangements, together with the ongoing freeze of Medicare patient rebates, mean that growing out-of-pocket costs will become a reality for all Australian families, including the most vulnerable patients in our community.
… coupled with the indexation freeze, the legislation will actually increase the cost of care to vulnerable groups. Safety net thresholds will increase by CPI annually while rebates are frozen.
I and my colleagues are very concerned about the impact the new Safety Net proposals will have on patients who need long-term ongoing mental health treatment as many of these patients will find their health care with a psychiatrist unaffordable.
… woefully inadequate to support the increased numbers of people who will have difficulty meeting their healthcare expenses.
… they will have to pay more of the high out of pocket costs than they do now.
… the sickest and most disadvantaged Australians will be hit hardest …
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people comprise 27 per cent of all sentenced prisoners, and 29 per cent of people awaiting sentencing. They are 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than their non-Indigenous peers. The imprisonment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is rising …
If the new Safety Net is legislated a significant group of high need patients ... are poor and unable to work as a consequence of illness, and the intensive psychiatric help that they urgently need to re-build their lives will be lost under the new Safety Net.
The House divided. [12:52]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Kelly)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Defence Legislation Amendment (First Principles) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
This is an entrenched epidemic that we've lived with since time began, so we've got a long way to go. But I do believe the tide is turned. It's no longer a subject that only occurs behind closed doors.
A number of data points over recent months suggest that prospects for firmer conditions in the non-mining economy are improving. Business surveys indicate that firms report conditions to be, if anything, above their long-term average in some key sectors. Firms seem to have stepped up their hiring. Job vacancies have been increasing, hours worked have been increasing and employment growth, even before the most recent month's data, had strengthened noticeably over the past year. Labour force participation has risen, and the unemployment rate has been stable. This is supporting income growth as the terms of trade decline works its way through the economy.
… make Australia a more competitive place to do business, as well as delivering a much needed boost to the nation's growth and productivity.
… usher in a range of measures to boost national productivity, investment, and economic opportunities for Australian businesses …
Increased choice and control for individuals across a range of human services will lead to improved outcomes for people.
… so we put forward a constructive proposal to increase the excise on tobacco by 12½ per cent …
Between 23 and March and 13 April 2012, Malcolm Thomas Brough … counselled and procured James Hunter Ashby, to access restricted data, namely the former Speaker of the House of Representatives … official diary, contrary to Section 478.1 of the Criminal Code 1995 …
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent further statements on the terrorist attacks around the world being made at the conclusion of today’s discussion of the matter of public importance and any House business, with each Member speaking for a period not exceeding 15 minutes.
The importance of integrity in Government.
Between 23 March and 13 April 2012, Malcolm Thomas Brough, born 29 December 1961, counselled and procured James Hunter Ashby, being a Commonwealth officer, to disclose extracts from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Slipper's 2009 to 2012 official diary, and provide those extracts to third parties without authority, contrary to section 70(1) of the Crimes Act …
Between 23 March and 13 April 2012, Malcolm Thomas Brough, born 29 December 1961, counselled and procured James Hunter Ashby … to access restricted data, namely the former speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Slipper's 2009 to 2012 official diary, contrary to section 478.1 of the Criminal Code.
If you want to know how Bill has got to where he is now … if you had to identify one thing, I think it is that he has been prepared to make decisions and to do things that almost anyone else would not.
The material also indicates that Mr Brough procured Mr Ashby and Ms Doane to provide unauthorised access to restricted data contrary to s478.1 of the Criminal Code, and unauthorised disclosure of information by Commonwealth officers contrary to s70 of the Crimes Act 1914.
I am struggling to recall others.
… … …
I do not recall any other example like this.
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person causes any unauthorised access to, or modification of, restricted data; and
(b) the person intends to cause the access or modification; and
(c) the person knows that the access or modification is unauthorised …
A person who, being a Commonwealth officer, publishes or communicates, except to some person to whom he or she is authorized to publish or communicate it, any fact or document which comes to his or her knowledge, or into his or her possession, by virtue of being a Commonwealth officer, and which it is his or her duty not to disclose, shall be guilty of an offence.
… at this stage there is nothing to suggest that Mr Brough should stand aside or do anything of that kind.
In recognition that public office is a public trust, therefore, the people of Australia are entitled to expect that, as a matter of principle, Ministers will act with due regard for integrity, fairness, accountability, responsibility, and the public interest, as required by these Standards.
… we can make it easier to earn and keep the people's trust.
To his credit, Tony Abbott has said he is determined to make very few promises before the next election and only to make ones he knows he can keep.
It seems to me we don't simply have a financial deficit, we have a deficit of trust.
What we have not succeeded in doing is translating those values into the policies and the ideas that will excite the Australian people and encourage them to believe and understand that we have a vision for their future. We also need a new style of leadership in the way we deal with others …
They are NOT rolling out NBN to thousands of premises. They are rolling NBN out to a few isolated nodes, and most people won’t be able to afford the money to connect.
Migration Amendment (Charging for a Migration Outcome) Bill 2015
Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future of Financial Advice) Bill 2014
U ltimately a political solution is needed in Syria. Only this would allow attention to turn more fully to eliminating ISIL as a military force.
If we have learned anything from 15 years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s that local people and nations have to secure their own communities. We can help them, and we should, but we cannot substitute for them. But we can and should support local and regional ground forces in carrying out this mission.
I would like to give hope to the next generation. The rest of my life, that will be my work.
… I will not give you the satisfaction of hating you … You would like me to be scared, for me to look at my fellow citizens with a suspicious eye, for me to sacrifice my liberty for my security. You have lost.
… … …
Us two, my son and I, we will be stronger than every army in the world … all his life this little boy will be happy and free.
Because you wil l never have his hatred either.
The nations, not so blest as thee,
Must, in their turns, to tyrants fall;
God Bless our lovely morning land, Australia
God keep her with his enfolding hand, Australia.
On Earth there is no other land, like our enchanting Southern land,
Our own dear home, our Mother land, Australia.
They were targeting young people who were having fun, laughing and being happy and doing what young people do … to incite hate and fear and make people afraid and escalate … racism.
I won't give in to fear. I won't give in to fear.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
the week in which a bunch of loser jihadists slaughtered 132 innocents in Paris, to prove the future belongs to them rather than a civilisation like France.
Well, I can't say I fancy their chances. France: the country of Descartes, Monet, Sartre, Rousseau, Camus, Renoir, Berlioz, Gauguin, Hugo, Voltaire, Matisse, Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saens, Bizet, Satie, Pasteur, Moliere, Zola, Balzac.
Cutting edge science, world class medicine, fearsome security forces, nuclear power, Coco Chanel, Chateau Lafite, coq au vin, Daft Punk, Zizou Zidane, Juliette Binoche, liberte, egalite, fraternite, and creme brulee.
Versus what?
Beheadings, crucifixions, amputations, slavery, mass murder, medieval squalor and a death cult barbarity that would shame the middle ages.
Well IS or Daesh or ISIS or ISIL or whatever name you're going by—I'm sticking with IS, as in Islamist scumbags—I think the outcome is pretty clear to everybody but you.
Whatever atrocities you are currently capable of committing, you will lose. In a thousand years' time, Paris, that glorious city of lights, will still be shining bright as will ever other city like it. While you will be as dust, along with the ragbag of fascist Nazis and Stalinists that previously dared to challenge democracy and failed.
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
GOLOTTA, Angela Sylvia Rose. Killed in Bali on October 12, 2002 by Islamic Terrorists Aged 19 years old. Lovingly remembered by her Granny and Grandpa and her entire family. My darling granddaughter, we lovingly remember you, each and everyday. Your sunny nature and your care and dedication to both people and animals brought a ray of sunshine into many lives. We should have been celebrating your 33rd Birthday next week. We can only imagine the heights you would have reached by now. You were bubbly, happy, ambitious and clever with a large circle of friends, and you had a such a marvellous sense of humour. You are so badly missed by all the family and friends. Granny and Grandfather, Mother Tracey, Father John and Brother Michael, and the entire Taylor family.
They are extremely brutal. Not just head-cutting. I'm talking about the strategy of religious cleansing. That's their official philosophy. They are talking about 500 million people who have to die.
The West underestimated the risk posed by IS dramatically.
… we don't have ground forces there in sufficient numbers to simply march into Al-Raqqah in Syria and clean the whole place out. And as a consequence, we've always understood that our goal has to be militarily constraining ISIL's capabilities, cutting off their supply lines, cutting off their financing at the same time as we're putting a political track together …
And that's the strategy you've been following. But ISIS is gaining strength, aren't they?
Well, no, I don't think they're gaining strength. What is true is that from the start, our goal has been first to contain, and we have contained them.
If you were re-elected, will you increase the GST? You spoke on a program last year to say that, as a senior, I would be so much better off with the GST. Well, I know my sums don't add up.
Well, the answer to the first question is no; we will not increase the GST.
But we're not going to increase the GST.
Never ever?
We are not going to increase the GST. There are no circumstances in which the GST, in fact, needs to be increased.
I was around when this GST proposal was originally introduced and at the time I and everyone around from the Prime Minister down promised that it would never go beyond 10 per cent. We all swore in blood that it would not; that it would remain at 10 per cent and that's a commitment that I as one of them who gave it intend to honour.
But everything is on the table—superannuation, negative gearing, capital gains, tax—everything. The GST, everything is on the table.
Everything is on the table. That's right.
Fran, everything is on the table.
… want us to think that there are only two options; either be cruel to refugees or open the borders and see people die needlessly at sea. They want you to forget that there is another way.
… take a leadership role within South East Asia and the Pacific to build a regional humanitarian framework to improve the situation of asylum seekers … supporting the UNHCR in providing health and education services to asylum seekers … advocating for work rights for asylum seekers, similar to what would have been achieved under the proposed Malaysia Agreement in 2011.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Hon. BC Scott ) took the chair at 09:30.
Business was temporarily suspended, patriotic bunting gaily bedecked the more imposing buildings within the city—
reached across the streets, and was visible even in the hands of the little school mites.
Suddenly, the cry: "They're here!" rang out, and sure enough the little band was in sight. The "Dungarees" were a long way off, but the din of cheering, shouting, bands and bugles playing, reached out to them, and they straightened up, and marched down the hill, head erect.
… … …
Coming towards Ellenborough-street the dense crowds that lined the balconies and thronged the sides of Brisbane-street raised a terrific cheer that simply drowned the band.
But other than the normal undercurrent of complaining on the part of various people that they do not like to be regulated, which is always there, I was not myself on the receiving end of complaints about timing.
In respect of recruitment, training and service contracts undertaken by the Minister's department(s) in 2014-15, (a) how many new staff contracts were entered into, and of these, what are the relevant staffing levels, and (b) what total sum was spent on recruitment, and of this, what is the breakdown for (i) recruitment agency fees, (ii) advertising, (iii) assessment processes, and (iv) other associated costs.
(a) Defence enters into a wide variety of recruitment, training and service contracts with external service providers, and is generally not involved in labour arrangements for contracted ongoing services, whether regular, periodic or intermittent. To provide a meaningful response to this question, Defence has focused on providing APS recruitment numbers, including ongoing engagements and non-ongoing APS employee contracts.
Based on this approach, Defence engaged 341 ongoing APS employees and 112 non-ongoing APS employee contracts in 2014-15. Table 1provides a breakdown by classification group.
Table 1
Note:
* Includes 195 graduates
(b) The total sum spent on recruitment (non-ADF) in 2014-15 was $1,201,282, broken down by the following categories. The recruitment agency fees not only relate to 'fees' paid to the recruitment agencies, but also direct costs to the agencies for services/resources they provided, including salaries for casual staff to undertake work at Defence. (i)Recruitment agency fees$482,818(ii)Advertising$223,310(iii)Assessment processes$345,942(iv)Other associated costs $149,212.
In respect of labour hire firms contracted by the Minister's department(s) in 2014-15: (a) how many positions were filled using casual staff from labour hire firms; (b) what sum was spent on the provision of these casual staff; and (c) what roles did these casual staff fulfil.
Defence employs civilian staff under a wide variety of arrangements, including shift work, intermittent tasks (such as for the maintenance of equipment), periodic tasks, fixed term contracts (such as completing a one-off evaluation), and overseas work (engaged either locally or in Australia).
Consequently, some interpretation of the intent of the question was required to enable a meaningful response to be provided, and Defence has excluded:
Based on this approach, Defence filled 56 casual positions using labour hire firms in 2014-15, at a cost of approximately $2.98 million. Table 1 (attached) provides a breakdown by position.
Table 1: Labour hire firms contracted by the Department of Defence in 2014-15
In respect of office space leased or owned by the Minister's department(s):(a) where are these offices located, (b) how much space (in square metres) is each office, (c) how much of this space is currently unused, and of this, what is the cost of (i) rent per month, (ii) utilities, including electricity and/or gas, telephone and internet, (iii) office furniture and/or hired equipment, including artwork and plants, and (iv) any other associated services.
(a), (b) and (c) Please refer to Attachment A.
Defence has based its office accommodation occupancy data on the September 2014 Australian Property Data Collection (PRODAC) return provided to the Department of Finance. Data is currently being compiled for the 2015 return for submission by the end of October. The data is collected for building office accommodation which is greater than 500 square metres. Occupancy data is not provided for building office accommodation that is less than 500 square metres, or otherwise exempt from reporting. Properties exempt from reporting include office accommodation at military bases, secret installations and overseas property leased from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Copies of Attachment A can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office
In respect of the Minister's departmental office(s), has the building(s) received energy efficiency upgrades; if so, (a) when, and (b) how has this upgrade affected (i) average energy use, and (ii) average energy cost.
Defence manages a wide portfolio of assets with more than 700 leased or owned properties, containing more than 25,000 built assets. Office buildings account for 8.17 per cent of Defence's total building stock.
Defence has had an energy efficiency program in place since 2009 that clearly identifies priorities for achieving energy efficiency on the estate. Energy efficiency initiatives include lighting efficiency upgrades as well as upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The program identifies and funds initiatives that drive natural resource efficiency and reduce utilities costs, thereby saving operating expenditure across the life of assets.
In 2013-14 Defence continued the trend for a third year in reducing stationary energy consumption (electricity and gas). Stationary energy consumption was 3,814,943 gigajoules in 2013-14, down from 3,887,232 gigajoules in 2012-13, a decrease of 1.86 per cent.
The Energy Efficiency in Government Operations Policy has two intensity targets that relate to office buildings:
In 2013-14, Defence achieved the Tenant Light and Power target (at 6,884 MJ per person) and was extremely close to achieving the Central Services target (at 402 megajoules per m2).
In 204-15 Defence spent approximately $127 million on energy costs (light and power).
In respect of the use of: (a) consultants, and (b) contractors, by the Minister's department(s) in 2014-15, (i) what total sum was spent, (ii) what services were provided, and (iii) which firms provided the services.
(a) and (b) (i), (ii) and (iii) Defence contracts above $10,000 are published on the AusTender website (www.tenders.gov.au), including details for services provided to Defence and the service providers.
What sum was spent by the Minister's department(s) on media monitoring and associated services in 2014-15.
$711,201.06 (ex GST).
What sum was spent by the Minister's department(s) on market research and associated services in 2014-15, and what policy areas did this inform.
(1) The total Departmental cost for market research in 2014-15 was $2.283 million.
(2) In 2014-15 Defence expenditure on market research predominantly relates to:
What sum was spent by the Minister's department(s) on advertising and associated services in 2014-15, and what policy areas did this relate to.
The total Departmental (including DMO) amount spent on advertising and associated services for the 2014-15 financial year was $59.664 million.
In 2014-15 Defence expenditure on advertising predominantly relates to:
What sum did the Minister's department spend in 2014-15 on the purchase and/or lease of (a) food and beverage equipment, and (b) exercise equipment, for staff in the (i) Minister's office, and (ii) departmental office(s).
(a) (i) Nil.
(ii) $0.286 million.
(b) (i) Nil.
(ii) $2.5 million.
What sum did the Minister's department spend in 2014-15 on (a) legal services, and (b) credit cards.
(a) The total Departmental (including DMO) amount spent on legal services for the 2014-15 financial year is provided in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Summary of expenditure on legal services
(b) The total Departmental (including DMO) cost of credit cards for the 2014‑15 financial year is provided in Table 2 below.
Table 2: Summary of cost of credit cards
The DPC amount excludes the 2-2.5 per cent surcharge applied to credit card purchases as this cost is acquitted against the purchase and is therefore not reported separately. The summary also excludes Fuel Cards, and Cabcharge (etickets/fastcards).
(1) What sum did the Minister's department spend in 2014-15 on the purchase and/or lease of (a) mobile phones, and (b) tablet devices for (i) Ministerial staff, and (ii) departmental staff. (2) What sum was spent on telecommunications contracts associated with these devices by (i) Ministerial staff, and (ii) departmental staff.
(1) and (2) inclusive of parts (a), (b), (i) and (ii) These questions have been previously answered under Question on Notice No, 117 from supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing 22 October 2014. This response remains extant.
What sum did the Minister's department spend in 2014-15 on (a) office refurbishment, and when and where did this occur, and (b) the purchase and/or lease of office furniture.
(a) The total spend on projects that were specifically office refurbishments was approximately $7.22 million in financial year 2014-15. Please refer to Attachment A for a breakdown on when and where this occurred.
(b) The total spend on purchased and/or leased office furniture for FY 2014-15 was $3.533 million.
Attachment A
In respect of departmental staff (a) how many redundancies were made in 2014-15, and (b) what is the total cost of payments associated with these redundancies.
(a) 241.
(b) $26.28 million.
In 2014-15, (a) what sum was spent on training for Ministerial staff; (b) on what date(s), and at what location(s) did the training occur; and (c) what outcomes were achieved.
(a) to (c) The amount of $1,481.81 (GST exclusive) was spent in 2014-15 on training requirements for two ministerial staff in the Prime Minister's Office. One staff member attended IT skills training in Canberra over various dates throughout the year; the other attended a health issues conference held in Sydney in September 2014. Various outcomes were achieved by the participants.
In respect of departmental costs for media events and photo opportunities in 2014-15, what (a) date was each event held, (b) location was each event held at, (c) sum was spent on each event, (d) announcement and/or issue did the event relate to, and (e) was the expenditure for.
Due to the breadth and complexity of the question, an unreasonable diversion of departmental resources would be required to develop a response.
In respect of ministerial costs for media events and photo opportunities in 2014-15, what (a) date was each event held, (b) location was each event held at, (c) sum was spent on each event, (d) announcement and/or issue did the event relate to, and (e) was the expenditure for.
Due to the breadth and complexity of the question, an unreasonable diversion of departmental resources would be required to develop a response.
Did the Minister's department host any conferences in 2014-15; if so (a) on what date(s) did each conference occur, and at what location(s), (b) what total sum was spent on each conference, and of this, what sum was spent on (i) meals and accommodation, and what are the details, (ii) travel, and what are the details, and (iii) social events, and what are the details, (iv) travel, and what are the details, and (c) what outcomes were achieved at each conference.
(a), (b) and (c) The total amount spent by Defence for hosting conferences in 2014-15 was $3.020 million. The details of each conference are provided at Attachment A.
Copies of Attachment A can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office.
No conferences were hosted by the Minister for Defence or the Assistant Minister for Defence in 2014-15.
In respect of catering and hospitality by the Minister in 2014-15, (a) what total sum was spent, (b) for what functions was the catering and hospitality, (c) on what date(s) did each function occur, and at what location(s), and (d) for each function, what sum was spent on (i) meals, (ii) drinks, (iii) hospitality staff, and (iv) other costs.
(a) In 2014-15, a total of $13,420.18 excluding GST was spent on catering and hospitality by Defence.
(b), (c) and (d) Tables A and B provide details of the catering and hospitality for the Minister for Defence and the Assistant Minister for Defence respectively, for 2014-15.
T able A: Details of catering and hospitality costs for the Minister for Defence for 2014-15
T able B: Details of catering and hospitality costs for the Assistant Minister for Defence for 2014-15
(1) Why have companies providing essential log books to people receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes outsourced their deliveries to overnight couriers rather than using Australia Post.(2) What was the cost of distribution of these log books in the last year it operated under Australia Post.(3) What is the cost of distribution of these log books estimated to be for (a) the first year under the new system, and (b) 2015-16.
The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is the only Commonwealth funded scheme in my portfolio that currently provides self-management information directly to people with diabetes, however it does not provide log books to people receiving treatment for diabetes.
(1) When were (a) hepatitis B, and (b) rotavirus, vaccines added to the National Immunisation Program Schedule (NIPS). (2) How many children were infected each year with (a) hepatitis B, and (b) rotavirus, in Australia before the vaccines were introduced. (3) What cost benefit and risk analysis was provided to justify the inclusion of these designated vaccines, and will the Minister provide these reports. (4) What work has been undertaken to determine the cumulative effect on infants of the adjuvants used in administering the vaccines listed on the NIPS. (5) What is the annual cost of providing each of these vaccines, and what sum of this is paid to the vaccine manufacturers. (6) Which companies manufacture each of these vaccines.
(1) (a) Hepatitis B vaccination was first funded under the National Immunisation Program in 1997 for adolescents aged 11-12 years; and in 2000 for infants aged 0-12 months.
Note: the adolescent program is no longer active on the National Immunisation Program as the current adolescent cohort should have been fully immunised against hepatitis B in their first year of life.
(b) Rotavirus vaccination was first funded under the National Immunisation Program in 2007 for infants aged 2-6 months.
(2) (a) The universal hepatitis B infant vaccination program commenced in 2000. Notifications of hepatitis B have been reported to the Nationally Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) since 1991. Table 1 summarises notifications of hepatitis B in children aged 5 years or younger between 1991 and 2000.
Table 1: Notifications1 of hepatitis B in children ≤ 5 years of age, 1991 – 20002
1 Data extracted from NNDSS on 21 October 2015.
2 The Northern Territory and Queensland did not report all cases of hepatitis B until 2004 and 1994 respectively.
3 Includes cases that may have been acquired prior to 1991.
(b) Rotavirus is not nationally notifiable, and therefore the annual number of notifications prior to the introduction of the rotavirus vaccines is not available. Estimates of burden are based on hospitalisations, emergency department presentations and visits to general practitioners.
Prior to the introduction of the rotavirus vaccines on the National Immunisation Program (NIP) in July 2007, this virus was responsible for high levels of morbidity in children aged 5 years or younger, with approximately 10,000 hospitalisations, (around half of all hospitalisations for acute gastroenteritis in this age group), 22,000 emergency department visits and 115,000 general practitioner visits annually in Australia. Since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccines on the NIP, substantial reductions (approximately a 71% decrease) in hospital presentations for both rotavirus-specific and all-cause for gastroenteritis have been reported.
(3) In 2005, the National Health Act (1953 ) was amended to provide for the evaluation of cost-effectiveness of vaccines by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Following this amendment, new vaccines cannot be listed on the National Immunisation Program unless they have first been recommended as being cost effective by the PBAC. Further, all vaccines must first be registered for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This registration process includes a quality, safety and efficacy assessment.
Hepatitis B vaccines for adolescents and infants were added to the National Immunisation Program prior to the PBAC process being established in 2005, and were therefore not subject to cost-effective analysis.
Rotavirus vaccines were considered through the PBAC process in 2006 where they were deemed cost effective by the PBAC and recommended to be added to the National Immunisation Program. Public summary documents outlining the PBAC recommendations for rotavirus vaccines are available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme website at http://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/listing/elements/pbac-meetings/psd/2006-11.
(4) Adjuvants are chemicals added to vaccines to enhance the body's immune response to a vaccine. Aluminium salts are currently the only form of adjuvants used in the childhood vaccines supplied under the National Immunisation Program, and have been used in vaccines for more than 60 years. A number of epidemiological studies have found no evidence to suggest that aluminium salts in vaccines cause any serious or long-term adverse events. In addition, aluminium intake from vaccines is lower than everyday intake from diet (including breast milk) or medication.
(5) The annual funding provided to purchase hepatitis B containing vaccines from manufacturers is approximately $64 million. Note: this figure includes the monovalent hepatitis B vaccine provided at birth and the combination vaccines containing hepatitis B protection provided during infancy.
The annual funding provided to purchase rotavirus vaccines from manufacturers is approximately $41 million.
(6) Rotavirus and hepatitis B containing vaccines are purchased from both GlaxoSmithKline (Australia) Pty Ltd and bioCSL (Australia) Pty Ltd for supply under the National Immunisation Program.
Can he provide an update on the lease provisions disputes between certain airport corporations and councils (Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Estimates, 28 May 2015, page 54).
The airport leases require the airport lessee companies to pay ex-gratia rates to local authorities.
Of the 21 federally leased airports, Sydney, Gold Coast, Jandakot, Hobart, and Launceston airports advise they are in dispute with local authorities regarding land valuations or the rates equivalent amounts notified by local authorities. Where airports and their local governments are in dispute, airports have paid the undisputed amount of ex-gratia rates to the local authorities.
The lease also identifies areas on airport excluded from ex-gratia rates calculations. In some cases there have been disputes over whether the ex-gratia rates notified by local authorities included amounts for exempt parts of the airport.
The underlying policy objective of competitive neutrality does not support an expectation to pay any amount notified by a local authority if that amount exceeds the level of rates applied to comparable off‑airport landowners.
The Australian Government (the Government) is concerned there are unresolved disputes and urges the parties to engage in a committed attempt to reach a resolution. The Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development (the Department) wrote to all local authorities in August 2014 to set out the Government's expectations around the payment of ex-gratia rates.
More recently, the Deputy Secretary of the Department met with a number of local authorities and airport lessee companies to assist them to reach a resolution.
Was the plan for the Perth Freight Link first proposed by the Western Australia Government; if so, (a) when was it first submitted to the Australian Government for consideration, and (b) can he provide a copy of the submission by the Western Australian Government.
Development of the Perth Freight Link project incorporated development work previously undertaken by the Western Australian Government for the Roe Highway Stage 8 and High Street Upgrade projects. The Western Australian Government released a preferred concept design for the Roe Highway Stage 8 in May 2011. A submission to Infrastructure Australia on the High Street Upgrade was considered in 2012‑13 and the project was included on the Infrastructure Priority List in 2013.
Building on the development work undertaken for the Roe Highway Stage 8 and High Street Upgrade projects, the Perth Freight Link project was developed collaboratively between the Australian and Western Australian Governments. This was based on a continuous dialogue and exchange of information between the governments.
An Executive Summary of the Perth Freight Link Business Case was released in late 2014 which detailed the project's reference design. The reference design incorporated the Roe Highway Stage 8 and High Street sections. A copy of the Executive Summary is available on the Main Roads Western Australia website (www.mainroads.wa.gov.au). The Executive Summary outlines that alternative options and innovation will be explored as part of the tendering process. This tendering process is currently under way.
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development has also recently provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Perth Freight Link project. The Department's submission, a copy of which is available on the Parliament House website, provides further detail on the project's development and the process undertaken to commit funding to the project.
In respect of the joint announcement he made on 20 August 2015 of a series of community consultations to be had on the discussion paper 'Australian citizenship—Your right, Your responsibility', (a) will the (i) report, and (ii) submissions, be made public, (b) were records of the public consultations provided to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for its inquiry on the Australian Citizenship (Allegiance to Australia) Amendment Bill 2015, (c) did the terms of reference for the public consultations include matters such as (i) the design of the citizenship test, (ii) citizenship eligibility, and (iii) the citizenship pledge, and (d) did the terms of reference foresee any potential changes to policy on citizenship (i) eligibility, (ii) testing, and (iii) the citizenship pledge.
(a) (i) The report will be considered by Government and any release considered in due course.
(ii) The discussion paper did not indicate that submissions would be made public. Therefore, in the interest of protecting individuals' personal details and views, submissions will not be made public.
(b) No.
(c) There were no terms of reference for the public consultations. The public consultations were informed by the discussion paper 'Australian citizenship citizenship—Your right, Your responsibility'
(d) The public consultations will help to inform any changes to Australian citizenship policy.
What sum did the department and agencies within the Minister's portfolio spend on the supply of alcoholic beverages in 2014-15, and for what purpose(s) was the alcohol purchased.
The Departments financial management system does not centrally manage expenses portfolio wide, nor allow for a distinction between spending on 'alcohol', and 'other hospitality costs' for internal hospitality expenses.
To attempt to provide this level of detail would involve an unreasonable diversion of departmental resources.
What sum was spent on replenishing the Minister's drinks cabinet in 2014-15, on what date were such purchases made, and what was purchased.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources does not provide alcoholic beverages to its Ministers office.