The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 12:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
… we invited all members, no matter their political persuasion, to put forward those programs.
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Supporting the Wellbeing of Veterans and Their Families) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a third time.
Health Insurance Amendment (Administration) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a third time.
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2020
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) notes that:
(a) since the start of the recession, the number of people relying on unemployment payments has doubled;
(b) many pensioners—including those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment—have faced increased costs during the pandemic; and
(c) the Minister has the power under the Social Security Act to extend the Coronavirus Supplement; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) extend the $250 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement until March, in line with Jobkeeper;
(b) better support pensioners—including Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment recipients—facing increased costs in protecting their health because of the coronavirus pandemic; and
(c) announce a permanent increase to the base rate of the Jobseeker Payment".
That this bill be now read a third time.
That business intervening before order of the day No. 4, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Native Title Legislation Amendment Bill 2019
First Nations have placed their trust in legal institutions to secure their native title rights yet have be repeatedly supplanted by the legislature denying their position in the interests of third parties.
… recently significant court decisions have been made affecting native title. In McGlade v Native Title Registrar [2017] FCAFC 10 (McGlade), the Full Federal Court of Australia made a decision with potentially sweeping impacts on a range of existing and future native title claims, negotiations and arrangements. The Government responded by expediting amendments to the Native Title Act, primarily as advocated for by third parties concerned their interests would be impacted by the McGlade decision. In 2019, in Northern Territory v Griffiths[1] (Timber Creek), the High Court of Australia ruled that where native title was extinguished, native title holders were entitled to compensation for both economic loss and for non-economic loss arising from the intangible harm caused by the loss of spiritual connection to country. The Government has not responded to the Timber Creek decision. Labor Senators are concerned at the clear pattern from this Government of being unresponsive to native title holders but being expedient to accommodate the interests of third parties.
This means that any future act authorised by the ILUA that has been done through fraud, undue influence or duress remains valid and will still affect native title.
The Uluru Statement is a very important invitation to the nation, in order to take things forward and deal with a Voice to the Parliament, have that constitutionally entrenched; to deal with the Truth-Telling about our history, and our relationship, and an understanding of how it's intertwined, and has contributed good things as well as many sad things. But it's also an opportunity for us to relook at our relationship and enter into agreements around the many things that still cause consternation to First Nations peoples, and that actually diminish our nation because we haven't resolved them.
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) recognises the critical importance of native title law for the self-determination of First Nations people;
(2) notes that several provisions of this bill as presently drafted may undermine the integrity of the Native Title system;
(3) regrets that the Government has declined to make requested amendments to remedy the identified deficiencies in the bill; and
(4) calls on the Government to act on matters of importance to First Nations people, including:
(a) improving native title law so that it better serves the interests of First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians;
(b) improving access to justice and justice outcomes for First Nations people;
(c) progressing a meaningful government response to the Uluru Statement from the Heart; and
(d) devoting more attention and resources to Closing the Gap targets to reduce the disparities between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians".
(1) Schedule 6, page 45 (after line 29), at the end of the Schedule, add:
Part 3—Evaluation
Native Title Act 1993
13 After section 209
Insert:
209A Evaluation of amendments made by the Native Title Legislation Amendment Act 2020
(1) Before the end of the period of 5 years after the commencement of Schedule 6 to the Native Title Legislation Amendment Act 2020 , the Commonwealth Minister must cause to be conducted an evaluation of the operation of the amendments made by that Act.
(2) The Commonwealth Minister must cause to be prepared a report of an evaluation under subsection (1).
(3) The Commonwealth Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the completion of the preparation of the report.
(1) Schedule 6, item 2, page 41 (after line 25), after subsection 141(2), insert:
(2A) However, if:
(a) a native title party mentioned in paragraph (2) (c) (the original party ) is, at the time the objection is lodged, a registered native title claimant in relation to land or waters affected by the act to which the expedited procedure objection application relates; and
(b) the original party ceases to be a native title party; and
(c) a body corporate (the replacement party ) becomes a registered native title body corporate in relation to the land or waters;
the replacement party becomes a party to the inquiry in place of the original party.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) notes:
(a) the desirability of greater oversight and review mechanisms for decisions made under the bill; and
(b) the lack of clarity in the definition of 'arrangements' and 'institutional autonomy' in the bill; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) address the regulatory gap of private universities;
(b) provide clarity on the treatment of the Port of Darwin in the bill before the bill proceeds;
(c) make clear how this regime will interact with the existing legislation and guidelines that work to safeguard Australia's sovereignty, and provide confidence that the bill does not present a sovereign risk that will undermine investment and cost Australian jobs;
(d) engage in genuine consultation with Australian entities covered by the bill on the design of the regime; and
(e) redraft the bill and re-present it to the Parliament at the earliest opportunity".
Due to the Covid-19 related travel ban, the parents of Australian citizens and Permanent residents can not travel into Australia. The immediate family of an Australian citizen or permanent resident is allowed to enter into Australia. However, parents are not considered as immediate family. Parents are a key part of an emotional support system for immigrants and their families. Some of the immigrant residents are also primary care givers of their parents who reside in their native country and are not able to care due to the travel restrictions. We know this pandemic is going to last long and not able to meet or grief or celebrate events together is causing mental and emotional stress. The separation is now having an impact on people's emotions and mental health. Other countries like US, UK, Canada are allowing parents of citizens to join them in the country and spend time together during this pandemic.
We therefore ask the House to include parents of Australian citizens and Permanent residents as "immediate family members", which allows them to enter and stay in Australia as per the visa conditions. The parents should be sponsored and supported and will not a burden on the government or the community. A mandatory 14-day paid quarantine at designated facilities should be applied so to protect the health of the Australian community, but post this at-least the family will be able to spend time together.
On 20th October 2015, Senator Heffernan brought to Parliament and Australias attention, official documents presented during the Wood Royal Commission and again during Royal Commission into Ritual and Sexual Abuse within Institutions. These documents include police documents, naming 28 high profile paedophiles, including one former Prime Minister. Investigation into these documents were stopped. The government and Judiciary have been noted suppressing these documents with orders for 90 years, choosing not to investigate as the public would 'lose faith in the judiciary'. The public have already lost faith in the Government and Judiciary. This is compounded by these suppression orders. We the Australians with integrity and honour stand against these suppression orders and wish to protect our children. We insist these people and institutions be fully investigated, and held to account, including those whom have chosen to cover and suppress any investigations.
We therefore ask the House to 1: Lift the 90 year Suppression Orders on these documents. 2: Create and support permanently, Independent Corruption and Integrity Commission to investigate ANY and ALL corruption exposed within Government, Judiciary and other formal Institutions. 3: Investigate these particular documents suppressed, and bring those guilty to account. 4: Bring justice to the victims and survivors, by exposing those people and systems in place that are corrupt and currently hidden. 5: Clean the institutions of all corruption, to start bringing the public's faith back, showing that our government and judiciary will be honest and work for the people of Australia, while protecting our children's future.
FEDERAL SHADOW MINISTRY 10 November 2020
Shadow Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type.
The government's failure to provide for Australia's most vulnerable.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the private Members' business notice relating to the disallowance of the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2020, made under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989, and presented to the House on 10 June 2020, standing in the name of the Member for Chifley being called on immediately.
That the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Amendment (2020 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2020 made under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989 on 14 May 2020 and presented to the House on 10 June 2020, be disallowed.
The House divided. [17:20]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That the reporting date for the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network be extended to 31 March 2021.
Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020
Australia's Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
… let's say, the United Kingdom government. They have a tender of some kind and perhaps the opportunity for a major research agreement—a collaboration dealing with COVID-19. In that case, the UK government may put something like that out to tender or competition. It will be on the basis that the Australian university can only take part in that if we can agree to the terms as preset by the government without any possibility of variation. We can't do that. A tender term is typically, 'You will accept these terms—no variation,' so you run the risk of locking us out of tenders from friendly governments that are highly advantageous to Australia because we no longer have the institutional autonomy that the UK and US universities will have to compete on that playing field.
Such policy need not be written, publicly available, or even have been formulated. This means the Minister have substantial power to prohibit any agreement the State or Territory government makes with foreign governments. For example, if the Commonwealth Government's position was to commit to zero carbon emission and to support renewable energy export, then the Commonwealth can potentially prohibit any State or Territory government's agreement with foreign governments that may increase carbon emission or support coal and gas export.
… this bill is the sloppy result of a Prime Minister who puts his political interest above the national interest
The CCP intentionally isolates countries in this way to retain comparative strength and ensure the effectiveness of its coercive methods.
The two goals are not, in fact, contradictory. China is using OBOR to assert its regional leadership through a vast program of economic integration.
… until recently it has not been evident that a foreign state has been building relationships with subnational governments and with universities as a means of influencing or interfering in Australia's foreign policy and shaping the national conversation in ways more favourable to the foreign state.
… As long as subnational governments and universities continue to live in a state of innocence, they will remain easy targets for the CCP's influence campaign.
The Victorian government's decision to sign the state onto a Belt and Road Agreement with Beijing, and to make the state China's "gateway" to the nation, is a classic example of "using the countryside to surround the city" (that is, Canberra), or in this case, use the countryside to bypass the city to achieve the objective and undermine national foreign policy.
… not so much designed to indoctrinate the students who take their courses as to influence the administrators of the universities that host them.
Rising totalitarianism in China has turned the tables on Western universities: Instead of spearheading the liberalization of China, they are uncomfortably vulnerable to Chinese pressure in the opposite direction.
It's hugely empowering for that community recognising and normalising the act of speaking out.
There's no shame in surviving. The shame sits at the feet of predators, of perpetrators of these crimes.
… I know firsthand that it can also be an important way of reclaiming a sense of ownership and control over an experience where one has felt fundamentally robbed of power and control.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Vamvakinou) took the chair at 12:15.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2020-2021
We said that financing shovel-ready projects in local government areas would help ward off recession by stimulating businesses and creating jobs across the country, delivering long-term benefits to the nation in the process.
The financing of infrastructure projects in local government areas will create jobs, provide support for local businesses, and provide new hope to local communities that have done it tough for nine months or more …
The other challenge we've had in the estimates this year is that there were optimistic expenditure forecasts in the current year for the [Urban Congestion Fund] program …
… $1 billion will be allocated to priority projects which are shovel-ready, and being smaller projects they’re ready to go.
Our objective is to help keep as many employees as possible in their jobs, a second major domestic airline in the sky, prices down and competition maintained so our economy recovers strongly on the other side of the coronavirus pandemic.
… I make the point that we are committed to introducing a new online safety act …