The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That this bill be now read a second time.
Fair Work Amendment (Better Work/Life Balance) Bill 2018
That this bill be now read a second time.
Fair Work Amendment (Tackling Job Insecurity) Bill 2018
That this bill be now read a second time.
Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that the XXI Commonwealth Games will commence on the Gold Coast with the opening ceremony on Wednesday, 4 April 2018 and the closing ceremony on Sunday, 15 April 2018;
(2) notes that:
(a) more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 Commonwealth Nations and Territories will be competing;
(b) the athletes will compete in 275 events in 18 different sports and seven para-sports; and
(c) beach volleyball, para triathlon and women's Rugby Sevens will make their Commonwealth Games debuts and for the first time at a Commonwealth Games, an equal number of men's and women's medal events will be contested;
(3) acknowledges that this year the Commonwealth Games motto will be 'Share the Dream'; and
(4) encourages all Members of Parliament to support the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the Australian sports people representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games.
That this House:
(1) notes that 14 May 2018 is the 70th anniversary of the creation of the modern state of Israel, a seminal event that occurred in 1948, and congratulates Israel on an amazing seventy years of democracy, growth and prosperity;
(2) recognises that 15 July 2018 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the fateful Évian Conference, convened by President Roosevelt in 1938 in Évian-les-Bains, France, with 31 countries, to discuss the issue of the plight of Jewish refugees fleeing the horror of Nazi persecution;
(3) further notes that:
(a) the Australian Minister for Trade and Customs in 1938, Lieutenant Colonel T.W. White, declined to further assist the Jewish people, stating 'Australia has her own particular difficulties...migration has naturally been predominantly British, and it (is not) desired that this be largely departed from while British settlers are forthcoming. Under the circumstances Australia cannot do more, for it will be appreciated that in a young country manpower from the source from which most of its citizens have sprung is preferred, while undue privileges cannot be given to one particular class of non-British subjects without injustices to others. It will no doubt be appreciated also that as we have no real racial problem, we are not desirous of importing one by encouraging any scheme of large-scale foreign migration...I hope that the conference will find a solution of this tragic world problem';
(b) post Kristallnacht, when the Nazis burned Jewish synagogues, businesses and books, Australia did reassess its policy to admit 15,000 refugees over three years, compared to the previous quota of 1,800 per year;
(c) an estimated 6 million Jews and millions of others died during the Holocaust, exacerbated by the failure of Australia and other nations of the world to more fully protect the Jewish people; and
(d) Lieutenant-Colonel White's statement on behalf of the Government of Australia is still visible at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, as a representative response for all other nations' responses of indifference at the Évian Conference;
(4) states that this Parliament, as representative of all political parties and the people of Australia, issues a profound apology and says 'sorry' to the Jewish people for the indifference shown by the Parliament in 1938 that worsened the impact of the Holocaust; and
(5) notes that:
(a) in doing so, we seek to honour the memory of all those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and make right, a great wrong, perpetuated by Australia on the Jewish people;
(b) a request will be made for this motion to be presented to Yad Vashem this 70th year asking that the parliamentary apology be displayed beside Lieutenant-Colonel White's statement of 1938 that he issued on behalf of the Government of Australia; and
(c) this motion will be provided to the Knesset this 70th year, one parliament to another.
Australia has her own particular difficulties ... migration has naturally been predominantly British, and it (is not) desired that this be largely departed from while British settlers are forthcoming.
… … …
Under the circumstances Australia cannot do more, for it will be appreciated that in a young country manpower from the source from which most of its citizens have sprung is preferred, while undue privileges cannot be given to one particular class of non-British subjects without injustices to others. It will no doubt be appreciated also that as we have no real racial problem, we are not desirous of importing one by encouraging any scheme of large-scale foreign migration…I hope that the conference will find a solution of this tragic world problem.
The government feels that, if a solution of this problem is to be found, countries must be prepared to receive a proportion of those to be expatriated, in relation to the capacity of the countries to assimilate them.
The Lord said to Moses: "When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord's holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a guilt offering. They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.
"If anyone sins and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though they do not know it, they are guilty and will be held responsible. They are to bring to the priest as a guilt offering a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the wrong they have committed unintentionally, and they will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering; they have been guilty of wrongdoing against the Lord.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."
For the sake of my family and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your prosperity.
… as we have no real racial problem, we are not desirous of importing one …
… the warmth and eloquence with which you welcomed Israel into the family of nations have earned for you the undying gratitude of our people.
… Israelis have never succumbed to a fortress mentality, never abandoned their deep yearning for peace with their neighbors or willingness to take unprecedented risks to achieve that peace …
That the honourable member for Page, Mr Hogan, be elected Deputy Speaker.
Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2017 Measures No. 1) Bill 2017
Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2017
Treasury Laws Amendment (Banking Measures No. 1) Bill 2017
Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Crisis Resolution Powers and Other Measures) Bill 2017
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Radio) Bill 2017
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Amendment (Authority Governance and Other Matters) Bill 2017
Treasury Laws Amendment (Putting Consumers First—Establishment of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority) Bill 2017
That the following matters be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services for inquiry and report by 30 September 2018:
(a) the operation and effectiveness of the Franchise Code of Conduct, including the disclosure document and information statement, and the Oil Code of Conduct, in ensuring full disclosure to potential franchisees of all information necessary to make a fully-informed decision when assessing whether to enter a franchise agreement, including information on:
(i) likely financial performance of a franchise and worse-case scenarios;
(ii) the contractual rights and obligations of all parties, including termination rights and geographical exclusivity;
(iii) the leasing arrangements and any limitations of the franchisee's ability to enforce tenants' rights; and
(iv) the expected running costs, including cost of goods required to be purchased through prescribed suppliers;
(b) the effectiveness of dispute resolution under the Franchising Code of Conduct and the Oil Code of Conduct;
(c) the impact of the Australian consumer law unfair contract provisions on new, renewed and terminated franchise agreements entered into since 12 November 2016, including whether changes to standard franchise agreements have resulted;
(d) whether the provisions of other mandatory industry codes of conduct, such as the Oil Code, contain advantages or disadvantages relevant to franchising relationships in comparison with terms of the Franchising Code of Conduct;
(e) the adequacy and operation of termination provisions in the Franchising Code of Conduct and the Oil Code of Conduct;
(f) the imposition of restraints of trade on former franchisees following the termination of a franchise agreement;
(g) the enforcement of breaches of the Franchising Code of Conduct and the Oil Code of Conduct and other applicable laws, such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 , and franchisors; and
(h) any related matter.
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2017-2018
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2017-2018
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Veteran-centric Reforms No. 1) Bill 2018
Treasury Laws Amendment (Income Tax Consolidation Integrity) Bill 2018
Social Services Legislation Amendment (14-month Regional Independence Criteria) Bill 2018
Treasury Laws Amendment (National Housing and Homelessness Agreement) Bill 2018
Proceeds of Crime Amendment (Proceeds and Other Matters) Bill 2017
Imported Food Control Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2017
That Ms Burney and Mr Snowdon be appointed members of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017
That the amendments be agreed to.
You've never seen such a list of pettifogging nastiness, yielding tiny savings to the budget.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive) Bill 2017
That the amendment be agreed to.
The provision of the appropriate goods and services required to achieve readiness and sustainability goals for the life of the Defence Element.
Defence Sustainment involves the provision of in service support, including repair and maintenance, engineering, supply and replacement parts, configuration management and disposal action.
Sustainment can apply to platforms such (ships, aircraft, vehicle fleets), commodities (clothing, combat rations, munitions) or services (calibration, provision of maritime target ranges).
… the objectives for each project should be clearly stated at the start of the year and achievements against those objectives are reported at the end of the year.
… that the Department of Defence consolidate information extracted from its Corporate Plan, Portfolio Budget Statements, Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements and Annual Report in one place online in a format that allows for clear and easy scrutiny of sustainment expenditure.
… that within six months of the tabling of this report the Department of Defence provide to the Committee:
… that the Auditor-General consider reviewing the Department of Defence's new Monthly Reporting system …
… that the Department of Defence provide a detailed progress report on behavioural changes that have accompanied improvements in internal performance reporting within six months …
Members and Senators must base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interests and the requirements of public duty, and resolve any conflict, real or apparent, quickly and in favour of the public interest.
They should act at all times in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public's trust and confidence in the integrity of the Parliament and its Members.
Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability) Bill 2018
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"the House declines to give the bill a second reading because it attacks students and would undermine the fairness of Australia's world-class student loans scheme".
In the last few days, we've seen bushfires savage Tathra, Bega and south-west Victoria. We've seen a cyclone hit Darwin.
Cutting the company tax rate will make Australia a more competitive destination for investment. Greater investment in capital will support higher productivity and real wage increases for Australian workers.
Our key business tax reforms will increase real wages by around 1.1 per cent in the long run, putting an extra $450 a year into the pockets of workers on average earnings.
Low income older people will be able to use their imputation credits even if they do not pay tax. This will mean that they can effectively 'cash out' the value of their imputation credits and increase their disposable incomes.
It was not easy to introduce. We took it to the Productivity Commission. They gave a report on how it should be done. We did have to increase tax to pay for it, increase the Medicare levy. That's something that was very controversial when we did it but I think the right thing to do because all Australians would recognise that as a decent, compassionate nation, it is the right thing to do now. It is overdue.
If we want to insist that other nations play by the rules, we also need to adhere to them.
Australia has a good record of acting in defence of this system, but not a flawless one.
Timor-Leste suffered decades of war and starvation before gaining independence. Australia played a key role in securing that independence …
The maritime boundary dispute has poisoned relations with our newest neighbour.
This must change.
That Ms McGowan be appointed a member of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Security of Critical Infrastructure Bill 2017
Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability) Bill 2018
Australia's universities and their students have made a very substantial contribution to repair Australia's Budget position since 2011. They have done their bit.
Any further reductions would increase financial pressures for students already under stress and put at risk the ability of our world-class universities to continue to deliver excellence in education and research—the foundation of our third-largest export industry and the bedrock of future economic prosperity.
…condemns lower-earning graduates to pay back their student loans when barely earning minimum wage.
… may impact negatively on students who incurred a VET student debt as a pathway to higher education. In addition, the method of determining the loan limit is not explained, and may have implications for students accessing Start-up loans.
… the first principle—the first thing you must keep in your mind when you're changing this fundamentally important scheme—is to do no harm.
We know from the National Tertiary Education Union's submission to this Senate inquiry that 60 per cent of all Australians with outstanding HELP debt are women and that two-thirds of the Australians who will be dragged into the debt pool with the new proposed repayment thresholds will also be women …
… requiring HELP debts to be repaid, just like tax or social security debts …
… we call on the other parties … to support us in bringing the budget back into balance. It is a responsibility that weighs heavily on the shoulders of every single member of the house and—
… the Senate …
As our mission, we are committed to equity and excellence. We have some 37,000 students, 27 per cent from low socioeconomic backgrounds, which reflects our demographics in the regions we serve, and around 1,000 are Indigenous, which is the largest number of any Australian university.
… this university since its foundation has served the demographics of the region by ensuring we do not trade equity for excellence.
The fact that there is an opportunity like Open Foundation has given me the confidence to do something I never knew I could do. I never thought I was smart enough when I was at school to commence university. Never once did I ever think that I would complete a bachelor degree. I ended up completing a bachelor of nursing with distinction. Now I work within one of the elite hospitals and it's my privilege to work with vulnerable families in the neonatal intensive care unit.
These students have so many obstacles already. The reason many of them are involved is to improve the financial situation for them and for their families. They are taking time away from work. They are taking time away from their families and money away from their families to find out whether they can do this. They have incredible potential. This program is life changing for them, their families and our community. It transforms lives.
We know from the National Tertiary Education Union's submission to this Senate inquiry that 60 per cent of all Australians with outstanding HELP debt are women and that two-thirds of the Australians who will be dragged into the debt pool with the new proposed repayment thresholds will also be women …
It is of concern, therefore, that the Hume Region has some of the lowest educational outcomes in Victoria. For example, the region shows lower retention rates for Years 7-12 than the average for non-metropolitan regions. The region also has an estimated 22% of young people leaving school through years 10-12, in comparison to metropolitan Melbourne where only 15% of this cohort leaves school.
The percentage of people aged between 25-34 years in the Hume Region in 2006 with a Bachelor degree or higher was 17.35%—
The percentage of people aged between 25-34 years in the Hume Region in 2006 with a Bachelor degree or higher was 17.35% compared to the Victorian rate of 30.4%. Hence, the region has just over half the Victorian average of people aged under 34 years with a university degree.
The Regional Universities Network (RUN) strongly endorses Cathy McGowan MP's motion on regional universities before the House of Representatives, and the need for a National Regional Higher Education Strategy.
Dear Ms McGowan,
As Chief Executive of Australia's leading research universities, the Group of Eight (Go8), I'm writing to you to offer my support for your Private Member's Bill, the National Regional Higher Education Strategy.
There often appears to be the view that the Go8's teaching and research is confined to the major cities. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The Go8 remains committed to ensuring not only equitable access for students to higher quality education, but also long-term sustainability and economic growth for the regions—
It wasn't just the legend of Kooweerup that grew on the weekend. So too did the legend of Phil Anning, the Pakenham Cricket Club president and former Kooweerup coach.
The little man with a heart of gold has always been a class act, but what he displayed on Sunday afternoon in the Kooweerup rooms straight after the Demons had belted out their song following a crushing win over his side was nothing short of inspiring.
Here are some excerpts of what Anning told the Kooweerup players, support staff, committee, and fans.
"I've got to say I'm extremely disappointed in the Kooweerup Cricket Club first off ... because I thought we had a mutual agreement that we took it in turns to win these!
"It's really interesting that for the past five or six years, through social media and comments from talking with people, every year after Kooweerup has been successful you hear things like 'Tubsy (Chris O'Hara) is too old' and 'the Bright boys (Paul, Matt, Chris, and John) have been there too long', but we sit back at Pakenham and think those people are living in a fantasy world to think that this club is just going to slide away and not want to better itself and continue to grow.
"We sit there and think that if we want to win another premiership, we're going to have to beat the best side in the competition—which is Kooweerup.
"We know that, and we were fortunate enough to win it two years ago, but over the past two years we've been beaten by a better side and that's undisputable.
"Dom (Paynter) said that to our players, and we've got a lot of work to do if we want to match you blokes.
"We'll do everything in our power at the Pakenham Cricket Club to make sure that your run comes to an end next year.
"If it doesn't, we'll put our tails between our legs again as we will tonight and we'll start planning how we can do it, because you are the benchmark and you should be very proud of that—whether it's Mark (Cooper) as coach, or Gilesy (Michael Giles) before him. Whoever.
"Our season will not be defined by the result of today's grand final. It will be defined by getting four sides into the grand final.
"It's no coincidence that our Premier sides are playing off in a grand final, our second sides are both playing off in grand finals, and our junior sides are playing off against each other in the under-16s. We're doing something right, and while every other club wants to sit back and have little snide remarks and play silly mind games, we'll continue to go out there and play the game in the spirit it was meant to be when it was first developed.
"No other club has taken the mantra of the Pakenham or Kooweerup cricket clubs and thought 'maybe this is the way we need to improve ourselves'.
Cricket, according to Smith, has a "rich poetic heart". And Dravid was the embodiment of its finest instincts. The Great Wall of India was a "timeless champion of steel and dignity". Having been the beneficiary of Dravid's grace and chivalry at a very difficult time of my life I can attest to his integrity, humility and decency.
Today that rich poetic heart is broken. And the Australian public feel betrayed and enraged at the failure of our national cricket team to live up to the tenets of that amorphous, imprecise code known as "the spirit of cricket".
… play the game in the spirit it was meant to be when it was first developed.
We will only appoint Service Suppliers who:
(a) reasonably satisfy us at the time of the appointment that they are, and their employees are, qualified by education, training or experience to provide the required service competently and to deal with you professionally (including but not limited to whether they hold membership with any relevant professional body); and
(b) hold a current licence, if required by law.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr Coulton ) took the chair at 10:30.
We need to unite as black people‚ there are less than five million whites in South Africa vs 45 millions of us. We can kill all these whites within two weeks. We have the army and the police. If those who are killing farmers can do it, what are you waiting for?
When you burn my image, it means you are building more coffins.
Hun Sen doesn't need to negotiate with the ones who are in jail. There is no need ... The key is in the hand of Hun Sen, and when you burn Hun Sen's images, it is the end.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a)International Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March;
(b)the theme for 2018 is 'Press for Progress', recognising the strong and growing global momentum striving for gender equity; and
(c) now more than ever, governments must recommit to addressing entrenched gender inequities including:
(i) high rates of family and domestic violence, sexual violence and harassment;
(ii) pay inequity and the undervaluation of work in traditionally female industries; and
(iii) the under-representation of women in Australian public life and leadership; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) end its complacency and ensure gender equality is a central priority for government; and
(b) commit to urgent action to improve Australian women's:
(i) safety and physical security;
(ii) economic security and retirement incomes;
(iii) health and reproductive rights; and
(iv) representation in Australian parliaments.
Achieving equality for women and men is a test of our national character and an essential building block for national prosperity.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) 24 March is World Tuberculosis Day, and marks the anniversary of German Nobel laureate Dr Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis;
(b) tuberculosis is contagious and airborne, ranking as the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent;
(c) in 2016, 1.7 million people died from tuberculosis worldwide and 10.4 million people became sick with the disease, with over 60 per cent of cases occurring in countries in our region;
(d) large gaps in tuberculosis detection and treatment remain with 4.1 million cases of active tuberculosis that were not diagnosed and treated in 2016, including 600,000 children;
(e) Papua New Guinea (PNG) had one of the highest rates of tuberculosis infection in the Pacific in 2016, with an estimated 35,000 total cases including 2,000 drug-resistant cases, not taking into consideration the large number of cases that go unreported in many regions; and
(f) tuberculosis is:
(i) the leading cause of death among HIV positive people globally—HIV weakens the immune system and is lethal in combination with tuberculosis, each contributing to the other's progress;
(ii) now linked to non-communicable diseases like diabetes; and
(iii) considered a preventable and treatable disease, however many current treatment tools—drugs, diagnostics and vaccines—are outdated and ineffective;
(2) recognises:
(a) the funding that Australia is providing to support the testing and treatment of tuberculosis in PNG, including the joint program with the World Bank, is already leading to an initiative to achieve universal testing for tuberculosis in Daru;
(b) the commitment of up to $75 million over five years for Product Development Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Health Security Initiative to accelerate access to new therapeutics and diagnostics for drug resistant tuberculosis, and malaria and mosquito vector control—an increase in funding to build on the successes of Australia's previous investments;
(c) Australia's three year $220 million pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (2017-2019)—a fund that has supported tuberculosis testing and treatment to 17.4 million people since 2002, including over 8.2 million people in the Indo-Pacific region;
(d) that through our endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015, we made a bold commitment to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030; and
(e) the scheduling of the first United Nations High-Level Meeting on Tuberculosis in September 2018, which will set out commitments to accelerate action towards ending tuberculosis as an epidemic and provide Australia with an opportunity to showcase the success of our investment in tuberculosis in our region; and
(3) calls on the Australian Government to attend the United Nations High-Level Meeting this year, and commit to increased Australian action and leadership on research and development, prevention, testing and treatment as part of the global effort to eradicate tuberculosis.
That this House:
(1) notes that the:
(a) OECD:
(i) calculates that the average old age dependency ratio in Australia was 25 in 2017, and is projected to increase to 41 by 2050;
(ii) calculates that Australia’s expenditure on age pensions is currently 4 per cent of public spending, and is projected to be 4 per cent in 2050—this compares with 9 per cent and 10 per cent respectively for the OECD;
(iii) stated that ‘The old age income poverty rate in Australia is high at 26% compared to 13% across the OECD in 2015’; and
(iv) further stated that ‘While taking out lump sums create flexibility in retirement it can also increase the risk of falling into poverty in case retirees outlive their assets’; and
(b) Benevolent Society:
(i) released ‘The Adequacy of the Age Pension in Australia’ report in September 2016, concluding from its research that ‘The Aged Pension in Australia is inadequate’; and
(ii) concluded that ‘Home ownership constitutes the single biggest factor contributing to financial hardship among pensioners. Age pensioners who are renting, in particular those who are single, are the worst off’; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) establish an independent tribunal to assess the base rate of the pension and determine the best mechanism for annual review;
(b) increase the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance to reduce the gap between aged pensioners who are home owners and those who are renters; and
(c) establish a roundtable to review services provided to age pensioners.
1.5 million older Australians rely solely on the Age Pension. Almost a third of them are living in poverty.
They suffer substantial deprivation; going without food and heating, ignoring the need to see medical specialists and skipping medications to make ends meet.
The colours of the garden are mainly red which symbolises the blood spilt, and the white roses represent our Nurses. The only Pink bush in the Garden is in memory of Sister Rosalie Wright who was killed in action.
CFMEU slush funds and Labor-aligned campaign groups have been given secret exemption from Bill Shorten's plan …
Dear Prime Minister,
I invite you, Malcolm, and I invite your wife, Lucy, as you have stated you seek her counsel and turn to her, your "life partner", for advice.
I hope Lucy will see first-hand the human side; the impact and toll this contamination is having on our communities.
I invite you to hear the full and correct facts; information which you have not received from the Department of Defence or PFAS Taskforce advisors.
I invite you, for you to understand the full impact this contamination has had on our health, lives and the devaluation, to zero, of our properties, and therefore the inability for us to be able to leave.
I am asking you and Mrs Turnbull to please visit us, hear us and put an end to our plight of nearly three years.
Yours sincerely,
Ann Clout
National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2018
The issue of unsolicited sales (of any products or services) in Indigenous communities has been long recognised as causing significant harm, with these communities targeted as suppliers can make multiple sales in a short period of time with little effort or outlay of capital.
That this House:
There's no way to 'fight back' that is considered acceptable by everyone. …
… … …
The reason I name and shame is to show men what other men do and also to show women they don't need to quietly tolerate it. It has so far proved an effective means of fighting back.
I never troll back, as I don't believe in lowering myself to their level. If I'm feeling confident, I use humour. It's the most marvellous device to disarm someone. If it's obviously a serial misogynist, I ignore, mute or block.
One of the themes for the Australian Team for Gold Coast 2018 is Greater Together … It is embracing the importance of every role within the 710 strong Team.
Greater Together is about celebrating all those family, friends and loved ones who have been part of the journey to Gold Coast 2018.
It is about being proud that our team represents the millions of Australians cheering from the stands and watching our athletes strive for success on TV.
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will deliver a multi-billion boost for our state and support thousands of jobs. It is not just about 11 days of sporting action, it's an opportunity for businesses to capitalise on the biggest and best event in Gold Coast history.
Further to success on the field in the pool or the track, the Queensland economy also stands to be a big winner. The local tourism industry in particular stands to benefit the most from the more than 600,000 visitors who will spend more than $320 million in Queensland during the event.
With a broadcast audience of around 1.5 billion, this event will put Queensland on the map as a global powerhouse for major events.
On so many levels, the Commonwealth Games is a game changer for Queensland, and a golden opportunity for businesses to take centre stage and showcase all that Queensland has to offer.
(a) what is the cause of the delay, and
(b) has the Government sought or received correspondence from the ATO on this incident and its impact, if so, will he provide it.(2) On what dates were the previous three sample files released?
(3) When will the 2014-15 individual sample file be released?
(1) (a & b)
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) has released new guidelines for the release of sensitive unit record level data. The guidelines are intended to ensure that such data is "protected to the highest standard". As part of the guidelines, the ATO are required to engage a data privacy expert to review its methodology with a view to ensuring the risk of re-identification is sufficiently low. The ATO takes seriously the protection of data and is working to ensure all releases of data comply with PM&C's guidelines and the law.
(2)
(3) The ATO is working to ensure all releases of data comply with PM&C's guidelines and the law.
1. How many tests have been conducted around Defence and non-Defence sites for perfluroctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or other chemicals related to fighter fighting foams and retardants.
2. What were the results, broken down by location tested, and including maps of the impacted areas.
3. Specifically, have the estuaries, beaches and waterways around the Adelaide Airport been tested for contamination; if so, what were the results.
4. What remediation, if any, has been considered for contaminated sites around Australia.
5. Do any sites in South Australia require treatment or further testing; if so, what are the timelines.
6. What resources have been allocated to test firefighters and other personnel exposed to PFOS and PFOA.
7. What ongoing testing and treatment and or medial monitoring have been considered or implemented by the Government.
1 & 2) The Department of Defence (Defence) is currently undertaking detailed site investigations for per‑and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at 23 Defence bases throughout Australia, including RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia (SA). Information on the progress of investigations and results to date for each Defence site are available at: www.defence.gov.au/environment/pfas/.
Airservices Australia (Airservices) is currently investigating 20 civilian airports, including Adelaide Airport, under its PFAS national management program. This work includes site investigations to understand the extent of PFAS contamination from Airservices' operations, research into possible remediation activities and close collaboration with all relevant Commonwealth, state and territory regulators to develop a nationally consistent approach to managing PFAS. Airservices provides airport-specific PFAS information on its website as it becomes available: www.airservicesaustralia.com/environment/firefightingfoam/airport-specific-information/.
3) Testing of the estuaries, beaches and waterways on state land around Adelaide Airport is the responsibility of the SA Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Further information is available at: www.epa.sa.gov.au/environmental_info/perfluorinated-compounds.
4) Due to the persistent and ubiquitous nature of PFAS and its emergence as a contaminant of concern, remedial technologies are still being developed internationally.
Defence and Airservices are trialling a number of remediation technologies which include stabilisation/immobilisation, solidification, reverse osmosis and nanofiltration, thermal desorption, pyrolysis, in-situ oxidation or reduction, pump and treat, foam fractionation and ultrasonification processes.
The Australian Government has established a $15 million National Remediation Research Program administered through the Australian Research Council to facilitate the development of innovative technologies to investigate and remediate PFAS-contaminated media including soil, groundwater, waterways and marine systems. Further information on the program is available at: www.arc.gov.au/pfas-remediation-research-program.
5) Refer to the web links in the response to questions 1 & 2 for information on available timelines for PFAS investigations in SA.
6) To date, Airservices has already commissioned five independent health-related studies to better understand potential PFAS-related human health impacts, to provide Work Health and Safety (WHS) advice to workers within the airport environment and to inform a staff blood testing program. In 2013 Airservices offered voluntary blood testing to all its aviation rescue and fire fighting service (ARFFS) employees. This program tested approximately 150 staff at a total cost of $142,000 or approximately $947 per individual tested (not including internal labour costs and other associated costs). In October 2017, Airservices announced its intention to commence several new PFAS-related health and wellbeing initiatives for its ARFFS staff which may include further blood testing to measure exposure levels.
Airservices remains committed to the safety of its staff and has undertaken further action to minimise PFAS-exposure, including transitioning to PFAS free firefighting foam at all civilian airports in 2010, implementing the use of personal protective equipment and providing guidance to staff on good hygiene practice. Airservices continues to engage with Comcare, its WHS regulator, which has advised it is satisfied with Airservices' WHS practices.
7) Defence is providing alternative drinking water, including connection to town water, to residents who use PFAS-contaminated bore water for drinking purposes, as well as installing water treatment plants in Williamtown (NSW), Oakey (QLD) and Katherine (NT) to filter PFAS‑impacted water.
The Australian Government has also committed to a number of health initiatives to assist PFAS‑impacted communities which include:
At a national level, environment regulators in all jurisdictions have been actively collaborating to develop a PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) to provide a nationally consistent, risk-based framework for the environmental regulation of PFAS. The NEMP is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2018.
Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments have developed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on a National Framework for Responding to PFAS Contamination which commits all parties to high level principles of collaboration and cooperation to deliver a more effective and consistent PFAS management response. In February 2018, the Prime Minister signed the IGA on behalf of the Commonwealth and wrote to all State and Territory Governments inviting them to sign up by 29 March 2018.
1. How many Mass Management Accreditations (MMAs) have been issued by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) since its creation in 2014.
2. What total number of accredited heavy vehicle operators have been found to be non-compliant by NHVR audits.
3. What sum of revenue has been generated by the NHVR through the issuing of MMAs.
4. Can he advise why the NHVR is now issuing permits for Road Trains and B-Triple combinations in states where these vehicles have not been able to operate in the past.
5. Can he advise what measures the Government has implemented to reduce the amount of damage caused by the increasing amount of heavy vehicles on Australian roads.
1. 2702 accreditations as at 8 February 2018.
2. 2000 operators (6856 audits conducted on all 5608 Mass Management participants where a non-conformance/corrective action was identified and addressed).
3. Revenue of $2.895 million
4. The issuing of permits for Road Trains and B-Triple combinations by the NHVR reflects the COAG-agreed productivity agenda to open up road access for restricted access vehicles. Issuing of permits requires the consent of states, territories and local government road managers.
5. In addition to supporting the work of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's Performance Based Standards program to deliver higher productivity vehicles through innovative vehicle design, the Australian Government is investing $75 billion in infrastructure from 2017-18 to 2026-27.
The Australian Government also provides road maintenance funding, including $350 million per annum to state and territory governments for roads such as the Bruce, Calder, Hume and Pacific Highways, which form part of the National Land Transport Network.
The Government also provides funding to councils through the Roads to Recovery Program to help meet the cost of building and maintaining roads. Councils throughout Australia will receive $4.4 billion from the Australian Government under this program from 2013-14 to 2020-21.
Have all annual reports of the Therapeutic Goods Administration Complaints Resolution Panel been released; if not, (a) why not, and (b) when will they be released.
The Complaints Resolution Panel (CRP) do not publish annual reports. They do however publish an annual summary of complaints. The complaints summary documents are available on the CRP website (www.tgacrp.com.au). Summaries are available from 2007 through to the 2016-17 financial year.
(1) What Australian Government programs provide subsidies for personal medical supplies for healthcare card holders.(2) What are the uptake rates for these programs, and what measures have been taken to ensure awareness amongst eligible recipients.(3) How effective are these programs in addressing poverty and financial distress amongst older Australians.
The Australian Government funds a number of programs that subsidise personal medical supplies for eligible Australians, including those on Health Care Cards. Examples of programs include the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), the Stoma Appliance Scheme (Stoma scheme), the Life Saving Drugs Program (LSDP) and the Hearing Services Program (HSP). Each of these programs provide partial, or in some cases fully subsidised products to eligible patients.
The PBS provides timely, reliable and affordable access to necessary medicines for eligible Australians. From 1 January 2018, a patient with a concession card, including a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or Department of Veterans' Affairs White, Gold or Orange Card, pays a maximum of $6.40 (known as the co‑payment) for a medicine listed on the PBS with the Government paying the remaining cost. The co‑payment for non-concession card holders is $39.50. A pharmacist may also choose to discount the PBS patient co-payment by up to $1.00. For high medicine users, when a concessional patient or their family exceeds the safety net threshold, they no longer pay a co-payment. In 2016-17, Government expenditure on concessional patients for general schedule medicines was approximately 75 per cent of total PBS expenditure.
The NDSS delivers subsidised syringes and needles, blood glucose test strips, urine ketone test strips, and insulin pump consumables to Australians with diabetes. The NDSS also provides fully or partially subsidised education, information and other services to assist in the best use of products and self-management of diabetes. Through the NDSS, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are fully subsidised for eligible children and young people under 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes. As at 31 January 2018, over 7,600 people have been approved to access fully subsidised CGM products.
The Stoma scheme assists people with stomas to better manage their condition by providing subsidised access to stoma-related products. This includes access to fully subsidised products on the Scheme's Schedule. The products are distributed to people with stomas through 22 stoma associations across Australia. Participants pay a small annual fee to their stoma association to access the Scheme.
The LSDP provides fully subsidised access for eligible patients to expensive and life saving medicines for very rare and life-threatening medical conditions. There are currently thirteen medicines available for the treatment of nine conditions. There are currently around 400 patients accessing this program. Eligibility includes being a permanent Australian resident qualifying for Medicare and that the patient must satisfy the relevant criteria for treatment with the medicine.
The HSP provides a range of fully or partially subsidised hearing services to eligible Australians to manage their hearing loss and improve their engagement with the community. The HSP has around 300 contracted service providers who see both program and private clients, comprising of the Community Service Obligations component and Voucher component. Eligibility for the Voucher component of the HSP is for Australians over the age of 21 who are, in the main, Pension Concession Card (PCC) holders or DVA Gold or White card holders. While Health Care Card holders do not automatically qualify for a Pension Concession Card and subsequently eligibility to the HSP, some recipients of Newstart, Youth Allowance or parenting payments may qualify for a PCC and be eligible for the HSP.
On what date will the National Sport Plan be released.
Release of the National Sport Plan is anticipated mid-2018.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—In 2016-17, what sum was spent on replacing lost, stolen or misplaced equipment in all ministerial offices, and what goods were replaced.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—In 2016-17, what sum was spent on replenishing the drinks cabinets in all ministerial offices, on what date were these purchases made, and what was purchased.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—What sum did each ministerial office spend on office furniture in 2016-17.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—In respect of all ministerial office expenses in 2016-17, (a) what sum was spent on the use of private dining rooms for ministerial purposes, and (b) where were these dinners held.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—In 2016-17, were there any instances of cyber security breaches within ministerial offices in respect of the hacking of (a) mobile phones, and (b) social media accounts; if so, (i) how many, and (ii) what sum did it cost to investigate and remedy these breaches.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—In respect of all ministerial office expenses in 2016-17, what sum was spent on (a) indoor plants, (b) office decorations, and (c) artwork.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance—From 1 January 2014 to 14 February 2018, what sum was spent on external media and public speaking training for all Ministers.
This information, as it pertains to all Ministers, is not held by the Department of Finance.
In respect of the Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement report Buying into our Future (June 2017), (a) how many of the 16 recommendations have been adopted by the Government, and (b) what actions have been taken by the Government to implement these recommendations.
(a) How many of the 16 recommendations have been adopted by the Government?
The Government response to the Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement Report of June 2017 was tabled in the Senate on 14 November 2017, and is publicly available on both the Finance website (www.finance.gov.au/publications/) and the parliament house website (https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Former_Committees/Government_Procurement/CommProcurementFramework/Government_Response).
Six recommendations were supported, supported-in-principle or supported‑in‑part, two recommendations were noted and the remaining eight recommendations were not supported.
(b) What actions have been taken by the Government to implement these recommendations?
With regard to Recommendation 5, Finance is currently developing a set of clauses, which could be used as appropriate in contracts that are valued at more than $200,000. Following consultation with stakeholders, we expect this to be available by July 2018.
With regard to Recommendation 15, Finance will shortly commence a review of the new rules that were included in the Commonwealth Procurement Rules from 1 March 2017. We expect this review to be completed by the end of 2018.
As noted in the Government's response: