The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Amendment) (Tagging Live-stock) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Fair Work Amendment (Pay Protection) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Air Services Amendment Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Migration Amendment (Putting Local Workers First) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Charter of Budget Honesty Amendment (Regional Australia Statements) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
… the likely impacts on regional Australia of key Government initiatives, or significant changes to such initiatives, announced:
(i) since the last mid-year economic and fiscal outlook report was released; or
(ii) in connection with the budget; and
(b) progress made … in implementing key Government initiatives that are likely to have an impact on regional Australia.
(a) the economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts of Government initiatives;
(b) the economic drivers of regional communities;
(c) the disproportionate effect that Government initiatives may have in regional communities due to a lack of infrastructure, including:
(i) mobile phone coverage; and
(ii) reliable internet connections; and
(iii) access to public transport;
(d) the lack of access that people living in regional communities have to government services due to cost, and long travel distances and times;
(e) the effect that lack of competition in regional communities has on:
(i) the cost of living and doing business in regional communities; and
(ii) the cost and difficulty involved in complying with regulatory requirements for people and businesses in regional—
That this House
(1) notes that:
(a) 1 December marks World AIDS Day, which is held every year to raise awareness about the issues concerning 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 'HIV is still here—and it's on the move';
(2) acknowledges the roles played by people living with HIV and their friends, family, supporters, AIDS activists and researchers, past and present, in making living with HIV possible; and
(3) will support actions to reduce stigma and prevent new HIV transmissions, and work towards a cure.
As a parent, I would have strong reservations about letting young people compete in a pool that was used for such a sick event as a gay swimming carnival.
Unscrupulous politicians, extreme right wing fringe groups, powerful religious bigots and a sensation-hungry media will combine to exploit public fear and to channel ignorance into bigotry and the search for a scapegoat, and we have no guarantee that even the most liberal-minded of governments will be able to resist this kind of pressure for long.
That this House
(1) notes that:
(a) from 21 to 28 of October the Minister for Veterans' Affairs undertook a veterans mission to Korea; and
(b) eight veterans joined the Minister to tour battlefields and attend commemorations, including Mr Gordon Hughes DSM, Mr Graham Connor, Mr Les Hall, Mr Jack Lang, Mr John Murphy, Lieutenant Commander Les Powell RAN (Retd.), Colonel Peter Scott DSO (Retd.), and Mr Ray Seaver;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) this year marks the 65th anniversaries of the Battle of Maryang San and the Battle of Kapyong;
(b) the Battle of Maryang San took place on 3 October when the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, as part of the 28th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, took part in Operation Commando, which included the capture of Hill 317, where 20 Australians were killed and 89 wounded—noted as the most significant Australian action of the Korean War;
(c) in the Battle of Kapyong on 22 to 25 April 1951, the 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, including the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, was instrumental in stalling the Chinese advance on Seoul, with 32 Australians being killed, 59 wounded and 3 taken prisoner;
(d) more than 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War and the post armistice period, with more than 1,200 wounded; and
(e) the names of 356 Australians killed in Korea are listed on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour; and
(3) notes:
(a) that although it has been called the 'forgotten war' in Australia, Korea and its people are still grateful for the significant contribution the Australian forces made in the defence of a free Republic of Korea; and
(b) the service and sacrifice of those who fought in the Korean War.
Without our Korean War veterans, my wife, Grace, and daughter, Yasmin, would not be here. Grace was from South Korea, migrating to Australia with her family at three. Her dad's family only just made it across from the North Korean side, and they have not seen their relatives in North Korea since. The communists killed her mum's grandparents by throwing them alive into a well.
I have seen much war in my lifetime and I hate it profoundly. But there are worse things than war, and all of them come with defeat.
When I joined the RSL in 1953 and I mentioned I'd been in the Korean War, they said, 'You're joking mate, that wasn't a war.' Any veterans of the Korean War, they understand, but the old timers, they tend to think that it wasn't a 'real war'.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Family Assistance Alignment and Other Measures) Bill 2016
Law Enforcement Legislation Amendment (State Bodies and Other Measures) Bill 2016
Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority Amendment (New Governance Arrangements) Bill 2016
Customs Tariff Amendment (Expanded Information Technology Agreement Implementation and Other Measures) Bill 2016
That the resumption of debate on the motion relating to domestic and family violence be referred to the Federation Chamber.
That the House:
(1) notes:
(a) revelations the Attorney-General acted against the interests of the Commonwealth by entering into a corrupt deal to give $300 million of taxpayer funds to the WA Liberal Government;
(b) the Attorney-General made this decision despite clear legal advice that the $300 million rightfully belonged to the Australian taxpayer;
(c) further revelations that other Ministers in the Prime Minister's Cabinet have been implicated in this scandal, including the:
(i) Minister for Revenue who was named in the WA Parliament for her involvement in the scandal when she was Assistant Treasurer;
(ii) Minister for Social Services who was named in the WA Parliament for his involvement in the scandal while he was Assistant Minister to the now former Prime Minister and Member for Warringah; and
(iii) Treasurer and the Minister for Finance who have direct portfolio interest and who have not yet explained their involvement in the scandal; and
(2) therefore, calls on the Minister representing the Attorney-General, the Minister for Revenue, the Minister for Social Services, the Treasurer and the Prime Minister to attend the House and provide a full account of their offices' involvement in this scandal.
That so much of the standing orders and session orders be suspended as would prevent the Manager of Opposition Business from moving the following motion forthwith:
That the House:
(1) notes:
(a) revelations the Attorney-General acted against the interests of the Commonwealth by entering into a corrupt deal to give $300 million of taxpayer funds to the WA Liberal Government;
(b) the Attorney-General made this decision despite clear legal advice that the $300 million rightfully belonged to the Australian taxpayer;
(c) further revelations that other Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet have been implicated in this scandal, including the:
(i) Minister for Revenue who was named in the WA Parliament for her involvement in the scandal when she was Assistant Treasurer;
(ii) Minister for Social Services who was named in the WA Parliament for his involvement in the scandal while he was Assistant Minister to the now former Prime Minister and Member for Warringah; and
(iii) Treasurer and the Minister for Finance who have direct portfolio interest and who have not yet explained their involvement in the scandal; and
(2) therefore, calls on the Minister representing the Attorney-General, the Minister for Revenue, the Minister for Social Services, the Treasurer and the Prime Minister to attend the House and provide a full account of their offices’ involvement in this scandal.
That the Member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [12:28]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided [12:34]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
The House divided. [12:37]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016
That all the 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:
(1) notes:
(a) widespread community concern around seafood labelling;
(b) that Australian consumers want to know where their food originates; and
(c) the specific circumstances of seafood as a fresh food; and
(2) calls on the Government to act to improve country of origin labelling for fresh, cooked and pre-prepared seafood sold in the food services industry".
To allow the potatoes in from Texas in America and from China, we will vary the cadmium levels.
Backpacker tax would never be 32%. We fought to take it to 19%. We said it would be resolved by Christmas. Welcome 15% break-through.
He told me that on 2 March 2016 his office had received an email from the Western Australian State Solicitor containing a summary briefing and slide show of the history of the matter …
What negative gearing is is the ability for you to deduct what is a business expense against a business income.
The ABCC, in particular, is what the community deserves. At its very core, the ABCC provides statutory backing that will see the cost of construction for schools, hospitals and roads reduced significantly.
Master Builders has backed the ABCC for over a decade.
It is good that we are no longer talking about innovation and agility because, frankly, it loses people.
I think innovation and agility is an important part of our economic plan.
… the fact is we know what we have to do, we have to ensure that our nations, our businesses, our cultures are much more innovative. That is the key to maintaining strong economic growth.
… … …
Those who resist innovation are not defending themselves against the consequences of technological change, they’re making themselves vastly more vulnerable to it.
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016
The Committee acknowledges that many consumers want to support Australian businesses by purchasing Australian made products—consumers express a strong preference to support local industries including food processing and manufacturing.
Income Tax Rates Amendment (Working Holiday Maker Reform) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
That the debate be adjourned.
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016
… a big step towards ending the confusion around country of origin labelling, especially for consumers who want to know how much of a product was manufactured or grown locally.
… a recognition of the importance of Australian jobs in the food production and processing sector
…a big step towards ending the confusion around country of origin labelling, especially for consumers who want to know how much of a product was manufactured or grown locally.
The House divided. [17:56]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Bill 2016
High upfront commissions give advisers an incentive to write new business. The more premiums they write, the more they earn. There is no incentive to provide advice that does not result in a product sale or to provide advice to a client that they retain an existing policy unless the advice is to purchase additional covers or increase the sum insured.
Commission-driven churn is one of the major problems in this industry and we think that provisions to claw back commissions should extend for at least three years as originally proposed.
We are disappointed that today's announcement will allow advisers to hang onto their upfront commissions if they seek to move a client to a new product after two years. Commission-driven churn is one of the major problems in this industry and we think that provisions to claw back commissions should extend for at least three years as originally proposed.
The objective of the program is to find work for Australians first.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Buchholz ) took the chair at 10:30.
The theatre of the absurd continues at the UN … denying the Jewish people's connection to the Temple Mount, our holiest site for more than 3,000 years.
To say Israel has no connection to the Temple Mount is like saying that China has no connection to the Great Wall of China or Egypt has no connection to the pyramids … But I believe the historical truth is stronger and that truth will prevail. And today we are dealing with the truth.
The Government's tax reform agenda has a strong focus on ensuring that Australia remains an attractive place to invest.
… … …
Cutting the company tax rate is an important step along this road.
This recognises the benefits to investment and growth—
from lower company tax rates and a trend to lower rates across the OECD over … 30 years.
Any student of Australian business and economic history since the mid-80s knows that part of Australia's success was derived through the reduction in the company tax rate …
… We need to be able to make life easier for Australian business, which employs two in every three Australians.
Cutting the company income tax rate increases domestic productivity and domestic investment. More capital means higher productivity and economic growth and leads to more jobs and higher wages.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) there is a current controversy pertaining to the so called 'palace letters' between the then Governor-General Sir John Kerr and Her Majesty The Queen in the months leading up to the dismissal of the Whitlam Government; and
(b) this correspondence has been declared 'personal' and therefore secret at 'Her Majesty the Queen's instructions';
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) these letters are a matter of our national history which should be made available to the Australian people;
(b) regardless of the merits or otherwise of the dismissal, Australians deserve to know the extent to which The Queen involved herself in the sacking of an elected Australian Government; and
(c) the very notion of 'personal' letters between the Monarch and the Governor-General offends all concepts of transparency and democracy that we hold dear; and
(3) call on the Australian Government to take steps to have the documents released.
It is clear that Sir John Kerr wished the correspondence with Buckingham Palace made public at an appropriate time ... The clear implication of what he writes is that this will show that version of events which he record in—
Matters for Judgement was what he recorded at the time of events in reports to the Queen.
As we understand the situation here, the Australian Constitution firmly places the prerogative powers of the Crown in the hands of the Governor General as the representative of the Queen of Australia. The only person competent to commission an Australian Prime Minister is the Governor-General, and the Queen has no part in the decisions which the Governor-General must take in accordance with the Constitution. Her Majesty, as Queen of Australia, is watching events in Canberra with close interest and attention, but it would not be proper for her to intervene in person in matters which are so clearly placed within the jurisdiction of the Governor-General by the Constitution Act.
That this House:
(1) recognises the actions this Government has taken to establish the Commonwealth Redress Scheme (CRS) for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse;
(2) congratulates this Government for leading by example by establishing the CRS for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse and for inviting other governments and institutions to 'opt in' to the scheme on the responsible 'entity pays basis' recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse;
(3) acknowledges the courage of the survivors who presented evidence to the Royal Commission and that their past and continuing advocacy for redress is vital to the successful implementation of the CRS; and
(4) recognises that this Government acknowledges that survivors of institutional child sexual abuse need and deserve equal access and treatment.
Today's announcement is delivering on the Coalition's commitment to strive to ensure redress is provided for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse across Australia by the responsible institutions
1. Croker Island Mission was a ‘half-caste’ mission located on the coast of Arnhem Land approximately 150kms by air from Darwin and run by the Methodist Overseas Missions …
2. Garden Point Mission on Melville Island, run by the Catholic Church and is about 60klms north of Darwin.
3. Kahlin Compound was on the same sight of the old Darwin Hospital over looking Cullen Bay on Myly Point—
4. Retta Dixon Home on Bagot Road, Darwin run by the Aboriginal Inland Missions
5. Emerald Mission on Groote Eylandt near Angurugu community in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
6. St Mary’s near the Alice Springs Race Course run by Australian Board of Missions.
7. The Bungalow the Old Telegraph Station, Alice Springs.
Q: Did any girls get pregnant at Garden Point when you were there?
I remember one and they actually took her off the Island. And when I ask everyone, like even now when I ask people about her, they don't know what happened to her …
Q: Who was the Father?
The Priest. The same bastards who …
Q: How do people know that?
Well, the reason they know is, Sister A, poor thing, who's dead—I know she was upset because that priest had that young girl living in his place.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) Saturday 3 December 2016 is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD);
(b) the United Nations proclaimed IDPwD for the first time in 1992 as a way of promoting better understanding of disability issues and as a sign of support for the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities; and
(c) each year, the United Nations chooses a theme for IDPwD and this year's theme is 'Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want', which draws attention to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and how these goals can create a more inclusive and equitable world for people with disabilities;
(2) encourages all Members of Parliament to support IDPwD in their electorates; and
(3) reaffirms its commitment to:
(a) ensuring Australians with a disability get the support they need; and
(b) an adequately funded and resourced National Disability Insurance Scheme.
That this House:
(1) urges all Australians to drive safely and with consideration for fellow road users over the upcoming summer holidays;
(2) notes the Government has made significant investments in road safety including:
(a) $500 million from 2014-15 to 2018-19 in the Black Spot Program (BSP);
(b) an additional $200 million from 2015-16 that makes an important contribution to reducing the national road toll under the National Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan; and
(c) completing 977 projects under the BSP which has saved an estimated 116 lives and prevented 5,959 injuries from crashes over 10 years;
(3) encourages all state and territory governments to address the over-representation of men in road fatalities through improved driver information and education; and
(4) calls on all Australians to drive carefully over the summer period.
That this House:
(1) notes that in 2012, following a comprehensive and rigorous process, the then Labor Government declared 40 marine parks in Commonwealth waters, creating the world's first and largest comprehensive national network of marine parks;
(2) notes with concern that there is increasing pressure on Australia's marine environment, as indicated by frequent and severe bleaching of coral reefs across Australia's northern waters, extensive and unprecedented dieback of mangroves, and the loss of large areas of kelp forests in southern Australian waters;
(3) notes that Australia's marine environment is the most biologically diverse in the world according to the 2010 Census of Marine Life, with our oceans spanning tropical, temperate and sub-Antarctic waters, and where at least 33,000 marine species have been identified (many of which are found nowhere else on earth);
(4) notes that Australia is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and as such is required to both conserve as well as sustainably utilise its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ);
(5) notes the economic opportunity that marine parks bring regional communities as evidenced by long standing marine parks in Australia, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park which is worth over $6 billion to the Queensland economy, and others including Ningaloo Marine Park, the Great Australian Bight, Lord Howe Island, Solitary Islands Marine Park and Maria Island National Park;
(6) notes the clear evidence that marine parks play an important economic role in accelerating the recovery of depleted fisheries, and that the long term net effect on fisheries of increased resilience and sustainability from highly protected marine reserves is positive;
(7) notes that in the 1990s the then Coalition Government put in place a systematic approach for declaring a comprehensive, adequate, and representative network of marine parks in Australia's EEZ, and proceeded to declare 22 marine parks in Commonwealth waters;
(8) notes with concern that:
(a) in December 2013 the incoming Coalition Government suspended Labor's marine parks from operation by re-declaring the parks in order to set aside their management arrangements and commencement date, pending the conduct of a politically motivated and unnecessary review; and
(b) after almost 3 years, these 40 marine parks have not been implemented, existing in statute only—leaving 5 of Australia's 6 marine regions with little to no protection at a time when the threats to Australia's valuable and important marine environment are increasing;
(9) notes that in the May 2016 budget the Coalition Government committed to completing the re‑development of the management plans for the new parks within 12 months;
(10) notes that in the recent consultation by Parks Australia, over 50,000 submissions were received from around Australia, including from more than 5,000 recreational fishers, calling for the reinstatement of the marine parks and their high level marine national park zoning, without further delay or loss of protection;
(11) notes that the Expert Science Panel of the Coalition Government's own review recognises both the extensive science that went into the development of the marine parks developed by the Labor Government and the scientifically proven benefits of marine national parks;
(12) notes the Bioregional Advisory Panel of the Coalition Government's own review recognised the extensive consultation that has occurred in developing the marine reserves developed by the Labor Government, stating that there was in fact a considerable amount of 'consultation fatigue' expressed by many stakeholders;
(13) notes the increasing move by other countries to put in place large and highly protected marine parks in their EEZs, including action taken by the United States, Palau, Chile, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and, most recently, the declaration in October 2016 by 24 nations, including Australia, of the Ross Sea marine park in the Antarctic high seas; and
(14) calls on the Coalition Government to bring the Commonwealth network of marine parks that were declared in 2012 into operation without further delay, and with no loss of marine national park protection.
We were never contacted by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
… the consultations were rushed ... It was like a rubber-stamping exercise.
Let no Sunrise' yellow noise
Interrupt this Ground
If this were a just world, these facts should be etched on Castro's tombstone;
He turned Cuba into a colony of the Soviet Union and nearly caused a nuclear holocaust.
He sponsored terrorism wherever he could and allied himself with many of the worst dictators throughout the world.
He was responsible for so many thousands of executions and disappearances in Cuba but a precise number is hard to reckon.
He condoned and encouraged torture and extrajudicial killings.
He forced nearly 20 per cent of his own people into exile, and prompted many thousands to meet their deaths at sea.
He claimed all property for himself and his henchmen, strangled food production and impoverished the vast majority of his people.
He outlawed private enterprise and wiped out Cuba's large middle class and turned Cubans into slaves of the state.
He persecuted gay people and tried to eradicate religion.
He censored all means of expression and communication.
He establish a fraudulent school system that provided indoctrination rather than education.
… … …
He brooked no dissent and built concentration camps … incarcerating a higher percentage of his own people than most modern dictators ...
… … …
He turned Cuba into a labyrinth of ruins.
He had a peaceful death, but in his final days he should have experienced a lot of suffering; he should have been dragged through the streets of Havana, like Mussolini in Italy, and then hanged.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the 'Declaration of Intent on a Strategic Dialogue' between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Netherlands was signed by Foreign Minister Bishop and Foreign Minister Koenders on 2 November 2016, in Canberra;
(b) the Declaration has been updated from the one signed in February 2014 by Foreign Minister Bishop and the then Foreign Minister Timmermans to reflect current events and increased closeness between our two countries through our shared commitment to achieve accountability with respect to the downing of MH17; and
(c) the Declaration commits Australia and the Netherlands to enhanced cooperation on international security, trade and investment, human rights and development issues; and
(2) welcomes enhanced economic and security cooperation between Australia and the Netherlands.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) since 2014, Daesh (also known as ISIL) has been carrying out terror campaigns against Christians, Assyrians, Mandaeans, Yezidis, and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria;
(b) these campaigns have taken the form of mass murders, torture, rape, kidnappings, sexual enslavement and other crimes; and
(c) these atrocities constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;
(2) noting that the United Nations mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria has declared that Daesh's actions against the Yezidi people amount to genocide, calls on the:
(a) Australian government to refer to the Daesh atrocities as war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide; and
(b) United Nations and member states to co-ordinate measures to prevent further atrocities occurring in Syria and Iraq and take all necessary action to hold those responsible to account; and
(3) commends:
(a) the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Lebanese Republic, the Republic of Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, for their ongoing support and efforts to shelter and protect those fleeing the violence in Syria and Iraq; and
(b) those nations that are providing a permanent home for Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are escaping persecution and violence.
It is reasonable to conclude that some of these incidents, … may constitute genocide. Other incidents may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes.
In my judgement Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups ... under its control, including Yazidis, Christians and Shia Muslims.
Abductions and forced removals of tens of thousands of people from their homes … effectively using [these] men, women and children as human shields.
It is reasonable to conclude in the light of the information gathered overall, that some of these incidents may constitute genocide. Other incidents may amount to crimes against humanity or war crimes.
ISIS has committed the crime of genocide as well as multiple crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Yazidis, thousands of whom are held captive in the Syrian Arab Republic where they are subject to the most unimaginable horrors.
That this House believes that Christians, Yazidis, and other ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria are suffering Genocide at the hands of Daesh; and calls on the Government to make an immediate Referral to the UN Security Council with a view to conferring jurisdiction upon the International Criminal Court so that perpetrators can be brought to justice.
That—
(1) the atrocities perpetrated by ISIL against Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria constitute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;
(2) all governments, including the United States, and international organizations, including the United Nations and the Office of the Secretary-General, should call ISIL atrocities by their rightful names: war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide;
(3) the member states of the United Nations should coordinate urgently on measures to prevent further war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Iraq and Syria, and to punish those responsible for these ongoing crimes, including by the collection and preservation of evidence and, if necessary, the establishment and operation of appropriate tribunals;
(4) the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Lebanese Republic, the Republic of Turkey, and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq are to be commended for, and supported in, their efforts to shelter and protect those fleeing the violence of ISIL and other combatants until they can safely return to their homes in Iraq and Syria; and
(5) the protracted Syrian civil war and the indiscriminate violence of the Assad regime have contributed to the growth of ISIL and will continue to do so as long as this conflict continues.
Expresses its view that the persecution, atrocities and international crimes amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity; stresses that the so-called 'ISIS/Daesh' is committing genocide against Christians and Yazidis, and other religious and ethnic minorities—
We are witnessing a true genocide. The Islamic State group in particular kills, enslaves or exiles people who don't think like them.
… in my judgment, Daesh is responsible for genocide against groups in areas under its control, including Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims.
In the moments before he raped the 12-year-old girl, the—
fighter took the time to explain that what he was about to do was not a sin. Because the preteen girl practiced a religion other than Islam—
The systematic rape of women and girls from the Yazidi religious minority has become deeply enmeshed in the organization and the radical theology of the Islamic State in the year since the group announced it was reviving slavery as an institution … The trade in Yazidi women and girls has created a persistent infrastructure, with a network of warehouses where the victims are held, viewing rooms where they are inspected and marketed, and a dedicated fleet of buses used to transport them.
That this House:
(1) congratulates the Government on the success of the National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF);
(2) acknowledges the significant and positive impact that the NSRF is having in rural, remote and disadvantaged regions around Australia; and
(3) notes that the:
(a) Government is investing $125,286,955 in 40 projects around Queensland under 3 rounds of the NSRF; and
(b) NSRF is delivering infrastructure projects to create jobs in regional areas, improve community facilities and support stronger and more sustainable communities across Queensland.
That this House:
(1) calls on the Government to:
(a) establish a national inter-governmental taskforce to co-ordinate the response of state/territory and federal government agencies to the perfluorinated and polyfluorinated (per- and poly‑fluoro) alkyl substances contamination on and around Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases at Williamtown and Oakey, and throughout Australia;
(b) develop a nationally consistent approach for screening and health guidelines, assessments, containment, management standards and remediation protocols for Commonwealth sites and their surroundings that are identified as being contaminated with per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances;
(c) provide:
(i) a breakdown and schedule of spending of the $55 million allocated from the Defence budget to deal with contamination at and around RAAF bases caused by per- and poly‑fluoro alkyl substances;
(ii) transparency into the Government's per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances interdepartmental committee, including a breakdown of its composition, terms of reference and meeting schedule; and
(iii) a timeline for when, how, and by whom the issue of per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances will be brought to the COAG; and
(d) inform Williamtown residents when its proposed dialogue will begin on buybacks of properties contaminated by per- and poly-fluoro alkyl substances; and
(2) while welcoming the New South Wales Environmental Protection Agency's lifting of fishing bans implemented as a result of the contamination, calls on the Government to:
(a) ensure income support is available to affected commercial fishers through to March 2017; and
(b) advocate for leniency by lending institutions with respect to business and home loan repayments and lending practices involving properties in the Williamtown investigation zone.
That this House:
(1) recognises that:
(a) the Strzelecki Track is a vital freight and tourist route connecting Adelaide to the Moomba Gas fields in South Australia's far north-east and South East Queensland;
(b) the route is used extensively by pastoralists, mining vehicles and tourists and is no longer fit for purpose due to pot holes, bulldust and closures from flooding;
(c) it can take more than 12 hours for heavy transport to negotiate 338 kilometres from Lyndhurst to Moomba;
(d) the Track is used by many tourists heading into the heart of Australia and visiting some of the wonders of outback South Australia and Queensland and with a proper standard road there is great potential to grow this industry; and
(e) the Track is also used by heavy transport which supports the exploitation of the Moomba Gas Fields and trucks carrying supplies to, and cattle from, properties and they are totally reliant on this route;
(2) notes that:
(a) the Track cuts through remote and inhospitable country where emergency services are reliant on the Royal Flying Doctor Service;
(b) more than 30 road trains navigate the Track each day carrying vital equipment for the gas industry and thousands of dollars of damage is done to each of these trucks on a daily basis; and
(c) rain can close the road for up to six weeks as it did in 2010 when large sections were washed away or left underwater and on average shuts the road for 45 days a year; and
(3) calls on the state and federal governments to work together in an urgent manner to bring about the sealing of this vital route.
That this House:
(1) expresses its deepest condolences for the victims of the devastating earthquakes that hit central Italy on 24 August and 30 October 2016;
(2) recognises the:
(a) ongoing suffering and displacement that the earthquakes have caused to the residents of the affected towns; and
(b) courageous and tireless work of the emergency and medical workers, and volunteers to save lives and prevent further tragedies; and
(3) expresses our sincere thanks to the Australian communities who have rallied to show their support and solidarity in the face of this tragedy.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the nbnTM Fair Use Policy is unfair for rural and regional Australia;
(b) rural nbnTM users have restricted data speeds, limits on capacity and have to pay more for a poorer service;
(c) under the nbnTM Interim Satellite Service, rural users had 'off peak' data from 11 pm to 2 pm;
(d) on the new nbnTM Sky MusterTM Satellite Service, the 'off peak' data has now changed to between 1 am and 7 am; and
(e) the consequence of the nbnTM Fair Use Policy is that businesses, students, home workers and farmers have reduced Internet access and pay comparatively more; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) implement the recommendations of the 2015 Regional Telecommunications Review and review the nbnTM Fair Use Policy in light of the impact on rural families and businesses;
(b) maximise the amount of data available under the satellite service; and
(c) revert the off-peak period in the nbnTM Fair Use Policy to 11 pm to 2 pm, to accommodate the realities of rural life.
Bonnie Doon organic lamb and beef producer Carolyn Suggate struggles to divvy up her 40GB monthly NBN Sky Muster download allowance between her farm, work and three data-hungry children.
'My son is about to enter Year 12 and can't use the internet at home for downloading anything substantial,' said Ms Suggate, who has an online beef and lamb business, and is the administrator of the Organic Federation of Australia. 'They talk about the difficulties of remote students, but we're not in the Kimberleys. Imagine telling a city kid that they can't get internet after school?'
Ms Suggate and her family live a 20-minute drive from Mansfield—
but fall 2km outside of the reach of the local NBN fixed wireless tower.
They have had to sign up to the NBN satellite service, which caps their data allowance at 40GB a month during the NBN-defined peak period of 7 am to 1 am.
'We've got access to another 100 gigs a month, off peak, but that is from 1am to 7am,' she said—
Since connecting to the NBN satellite system 10 weeks ago, Ms Suggate and her family have experienced an outage a week, most of which last for hours, not minutes.
In respect of the Government's election commitment to allocate $2.7 million for the Tweed, Ballina and Byron shire councils to undertake priority local road upgrades, will these funds be allocated in the 2016-17 budget; if so, (a) from which funding program will they come, and (b) what additional funding requirements will be imposed upon the funding recipient for them to receive the funding.
The Australian Government is currently working with the NSW Government to settle the arrangements for the funding of all new commitments. This includes projects to be delivered by the Tweed, Ballina and Byron shire councils.
(a) Funding for the projects will be provided under the Infrastructure Investment Programme.
(b) All projects approved under the Infrastructure Investment Programme are required to be administered under the terms and conditions set out in the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects.
(1) When does he expect (a) work to begin on the Armadale Road duplication, and (b) the Australian Government contribution to this project to be paid to the Western Australian Government.(2) Has Infrastructure Australia undertaken an assessment of this project; if so, when will this assessment be released; if not, why not.(3) Has the Australian Government received a request for funding for an Armadale Road or North Lake Road freeway bridge; if so, what was the nature of this request.(4) Has the Australian Government made any comparative assessment on the impact on traffic of completing the Armadale Road duplication project with and without also constructing a new Armadale Road freeway bridge.
(a) Early 2018.
(b) Australian Government funding is allocated from 2016-17 to 2019-20.
(2) Infrastructure Australia is currently evaluating the Armadale Road business case, which will be released when finalised.
(3) No
(4) The Western Australian Government is responsible for project development works including traffic modelling.