The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE
REPORT No. 22
Petitions and Ministerial Responses
22 February 2021
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Chair Mr Ken O'Dowd MP
Deputy Chair Hon Justine Elliot MP
Mrs Bridget Archer MP
Ms Lisa Chesters MP
Ms Gladys Liu MP
Mr Julian Simmonds MP
Mr James Stevens MP
Ms Susan Templeman MP
Report summarising the petitions and Ministerial responses being presented.
The committee met in private session on 17 February 2021
1. The committee resolved to present the following petitions in accordance with standing order 207:
From 534 petitioners – requesting the preservation of current medical services at Mount Compass (PN0498)
From 36 petitioners – requesting for action to be taken regarding the persecution and organ harvesting of Falun Gong in China (PN0499)
The following ministerial responses to petitions were received:
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding Australia's engagement with the United Nations (EN1174)
From the Attorney-General – to a petition requesting support for Ms Pamela Anne Douglas (EN1239)
From the Assistant Treasurer – to a petition requesting the introduction of right to repair legislation (EN1367)
From the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – to a petition requesting stringent restrictions on land rights and locally produced resources for foreign interests (EN1455)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting the rejection of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020 (EN1575)
From the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – to a petition regarding specialised support for travel agents (EN1734)
From the Minister for Health – to a petition requesting the removal of restrictions for prescribing hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin (EN1745)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding Kurdish independence (EN1760)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding the processing of temporary visas for the partners of temporary Australian visa holders who are residing abroad (EN1775)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage (subclass 300) visa applications during COVID-19 (EN1781)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting a formal agreement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK to promote cooperation in defence, trade and citizenship (EN1811)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding updates to the Migration Amendment (Hong Kong Passport Holders) Regulations 2020 (EN1822)
From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition requesting the Australian Broadcasting Corporation withdraw programs that misrepresent Falun Gong (EN1854)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions for New Zealand citizens (EN1860)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding temporary residents who have remained in Australia during COVID-19 (EN1874)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding recommencing partner visa processing for onshore and offshore applicants (EN1875)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage visas (EN1885)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding releasing the Australian skilled visa grants lodged before COVID-19 (EN1886)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding a revision of the criteria for granting an exemption from Australia's travel restrictions to include individuals who fall outside of direct family relationships (EN1892)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the approval of travel exemptions for temporary visa holders who are unable to return to Australia due to the travel restrictions (EN1893)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding the easing of travel restrictions to allow overseas partners to visit Australia (EN1896)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding international students and travel restrictions (EN1903)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding prospective marriage visas (EN1904)
From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding banning social media for Australians under the age of 18 (EN1913)
From the Attorney-General – to a petition regarding the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Act 2020 (EN1915)
From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition requesting the establishment of a Royal Commission to ensure the strength and diversity of Australian news media (EN1938)
From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding banning omegle.com (EN1943)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition regarding approval of travel exemption for temporary visa holders who are unable to return to Australia due to the travel restrictions (EN1944)
From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs – to a petition requesting amendments to the Veterans ' Entitlements Act 1986 (EN1946)
From the Minister for Home Affairs – to a petition requesting inclusion of parents and siblings of Australian citizens and permanent residents as immediate family members for the purpose of exemption from Australia's travel restrictions (EN1964)
From the Minister for Education and Youth – to a petition requesting full subsidised child care for all Australians (EN1967)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs – to a petition regarding a pathway to permanent residency for temporary residents who have been unable to return to Australia during the COVID-19 (EN1994)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding increased international development assistance for access to family planning (EN1996)
From the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts – to a petition regarding in-game purchases and the application of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 (EN1997)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding human rights in Thailand (EN2005)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (EN2020)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0421)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0428)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by theIndependent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China (PN0431)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by theIndependent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China (PN0433)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by theIndependent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China (PN0439)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition requesting action in response to the report of the China Tribunal Judgement released by theIndependent Tribunal into Forced Organ Harvesting from Prisoners of Conscience in China (PN0440)
From the Minister for Families and Social Services – to a petition regarding single and couple rates of Age Pension (PN0487)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs – to a petition regarding the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, organ harvesting and trafficking in China (PN0490)
Mr Ken O'Dowd
Chair – Petitions Committee
Australian Local Power Agency Bill 2021
That this bill be now read a second time.
Australian Local Power Agency (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021
That this bill be now read a second time.
Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2021
That this bill be now read a second time.
That this House:
(1) notes that 27 January 2021 marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day where we remember the atrocities committed by the Nazi regime and its collaborators, and reaffirm our promise to 'never forget' the 6 million Jews and 11 million others including Roma, homosexuals, people with intellectual disabilities, political prisoners, Poles, Serbs and Soviet citizens who were exterminated during the Holocaust;
(2) acknowledges the importance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day in honouring the memory of all Holocaust victims, and the ongoing efforts of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to advance and promote Holocaust education to ensure the history and stories of its victims are passed on to successive generations; and
(3) further notes that:
(a) during the 1940s, tens of thousands of European Jews emigrated to Australia, and Australia has the largest per-capita Holocaust survivor population outside Israel; and
(b) the Government is committed to supporting Holocaust Museums in each state and territory in Australia, with the most recent museum announced in the ACT on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 27 January 2021.
The things I saw beggar description. … The visual evidence and the verbal testimony of starvation, cruelty and bestiality were so overpowering … I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in a position to give first-hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations … to propaganda.
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
That this House:
(1) notes that 8 March 2021 is International Women's Day and acknowledges the immense contribution Australian women have made during the COVID-19 pandemic, as frontline workers, as parents, and as community members;
(2) expresses concern that the decisions the Government has taken are making things worse for hardworking Australian women and have set too many women on a path to poverty by:
(a) using the pandemic as cover to give businesses more power to cut the pay of Australian workers;
(b) abandoning women in insecure and casual work; and
(c) robbing women of a comfortable retirement by making people eat into their superannuation savings to get by;
(3) further notes that this is no way to thank the women whose commitment at home, in the community, and at work has got us through the pandemic; and
(4) calls on the Government to deliver a COVID-19 response and economic plan that benefits all Australians.
… the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal … recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
When women and girls feel safe and valued, they are free to pursue their potential.
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
(a) dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people; and
(b) known by the defendant to be dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people.
To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament:
We are deeply concerned that the Government's plan for a gas-led recovery will cause immense damage to our climate and our economy. Australia is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We have not forgotten the bushfires of last summer. A majority of Australians support strong and immediate action to reduce our carbon emissions, with three quarters supporting a target of net zero emissions by 2030. The recent commitment to net zero emissions by the three largest importers of Australian coal and gas (China, Japan and South Korea), as well as the likelihood of carbon tariffs being imposed by the EU, the US and others on goods from 'climate laggard' countries like Australia, are clear signals that our economic future does not lie in fossil fuels. Reports published this year by Climate Works, the Grattan Institute, Beyond Zero Emissions and the Climate Council outline strategies to stimulate short and long term jobs growth and cut carbon emissions in energy, transport, buildings, industry and land use. Spending to fast track Australia's economic recovery from the Covid pandemic provides us with a unique opportunity to reset our economy to make it fit for the twenty first century and to safeguard our future.
We therefore ask the House to reject the spending of public money on a 'gas-led recovery' and instead, develop a Covid recovery package that stimulates green jobs growth by immediately accelerating the transition to a net zero carbon economy.
"[In a] a Labor government that I lead [I] will work with state and territory governments, unions and industry to develop portable entitlements for annual leave, sick leave and long service leave for Australians in insecure work."
Spoke to PMO. He was mortified to hear about it and how things have been handled. He's going to discuss with COS -- no one else. I flagged need for councillor …
Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2020 Measures No. 2) Bill 2020
Franchising Laws Amendment (Fairness in Franchising) Bill 2020
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
For workers who have already experienced job losses, stand downs, and reduced work hours, this bill is exactly what they don't need right now.
On top of those who've lost their jobs, there are millions more who have seen their work hours and pay-packets reduced due to COVID-19, and we owe it to them to work cooperatively through this process to deliver solutions that will get our country working again.
… the employer makes no firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work according to an agreed pattern of work …
Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) has urged the government to consider revisions to the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 (the Bill) in a submission pointing out elements of the proposed Bill which leave certain workers vulnerable, compromising workers' rights and the common good of the Australian society.
In the submission, CRA calls upon the government to work collaboratively with business, not-for-profit organisations such as CRA, unions and the broad Australian community to ensure that the nation's industrial relations system supports the full employment of Australians, while rewarding employers who provide secure employment.
CRA recognises that the global COVID-19 pandemic has posed an immense national economic and societal challenge, and it has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing weaknesses in the Australian economy. One such weakness is the increasing casualisation of the workforce, which will only further escalate if the proposed changes remain in the Bill, leaving many Australians in an unstable financial position, resulting in greater vulnerability to exploitation, and violating human rights.
CRA President, Peter Carroll FMS said "The increasing vulnerability, instability and stress caused by the casualisation of workers impacts on individuals but also on society as a whole. It's detrimental to the quality of family life and impacts mental health. It reduces consumer confidence, spending and borrowing because of the lack of security in work and income, which in turn affects the economy."
… … …
Anne Walker, CRA National Executive Director said, "Safe, secure, and fulfilling work is a right to which each person is entitled, allowing them to earn a reasonable living, support family, contribute to and participate in Australian society, forge relationships, express their skills and talents and securely enjoy leisure time."
"Legislation should never reduce the function of work to a simple economic contract between employer and employee, or have the sole purpose of increasing capital," she added.
"Any initiatives to rebuild the Australian economy following the global pandemic, any future economic shock and more generally, should always respect and enhance the human rights and the dignity of all Australians, allowing for their full participation in our society".
… "whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) notes that for this legislation to pass it should meet the test of providing secure jobs and better pay; and—
(2) further notes that the bill will make jobs less secure and result in pay cuts".
The Bill fails the Government's own test: workers will be worse off … The Government's changes will make jobs less secure; they will make it easier for employers to casualise permanent jobs and allow employers to pay workers less than the award safety net. This is the opposite of what the country needs.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms Bird) took the chair at 10:30.
It does not deliver uniformly safe and quality care for older people. It is unkind and uncaring towards them. In too many instances, it simply neglects them.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Perth Freight Link, announced by then Treasurer the Hon Joe Hockey in 2014, was comprehensively rejected by the people of Western Australia at the state election in March 2017, when it was the most prominent point of difference in terms of transport infrastructure policy between Liberal and Labor;
(b) in addition to a lack of any credible evidence to suggest it would improve road connectivity, the project which included the road reserves for Roe Highway Stage 8 and 9, did not actually reach the port of Fremantle, had no detailed planning or cost benefit analysis, was to be operated as a private toll road, and was designed to facilitate the privatisation of Fremantle Port;
(c) encouraged by federal Liberals, the Western Australian Government of the then Premier Barnett, ignored the advice of Main Roads Western Australia and in the shadow of an election wasted $20 million of taxpayers' funds in the pointless and bloody-minded smashing down of more than 100 hectares of fragile habitat, including hundred year-old heritage trees, in the Beeliar Wetlands;
(d) after the election, at the behest of the current Western Australian Government of Premier McGowan, $1.2 billion in federal funding that had been put aside for the so-called Perth Freight Link was redirected to a number of sensible and well-designed road, rail and public transport projects in the south-metro region, including the widening of the Kwinana Freeway and other freeway works, the new Armadale Road-North Lake Road bridge, the High Street Upgrade, and the Thomlie-Cockburn Metronet rail link; and
(e) the Commonwealth Government has since 2017, allocated a further $1.2 billion to fund what it describes as Roe 8/9, a project that no longer exists, while denying the people of Western Australia the much-needed funds to deliver properly planned transport infrastructure; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) respect the wishes of the Western Australian public and the mandate of the Western Australian Government as clearly expressed at the election in March 2017;
(b) stop holding the people of Western Australia to ransom for a dead and discredited project; and
(c) work with the McGowan Labor Government if re-elected on 13 March 2021 to support jobs, business activity, transport infrastructure, and economic recovery as Western Australia seeks to emerge from the pandemic.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) leads the world's efforts to end polio, bringing together Rotary International, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and many others including in the private sector with a common objective to eradicate polio once and for all;
(b) when GPEI commenced, more than 350,000 cases of polio paralysed and killed children in 125 countries annually;
(c) in 2020, polio was 99 per cent eradicated and wild polio remains in only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the entire African continent certified as polio-free on 25 August 2020;
(d) since the onset of COVID-19, the GPEI's extensive resources and infrastructure used to fight polio has been adapted to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread out of control in the developing world;
(e) the work of the Australian Polio Advocacy and Communications Team provides important support for eradication efforts by bringing together Australian advocates including Rotary International Australia, UNICEF Australia, Global Citizen and RESULTS Australia; and
(f) polio eradication efforts have slowed, and the progress made so far is now at risk; and
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) investment in completing polio eradication will benefit future generations of children who will be free of this devastating disease, and other health programs and initiatives will benefit from the knowledge and experience gained through polio eradication;
(b) efforts to eradicate polio have been extremely successful and demonstrate the effectiveness of widely available vaccination programs;
(c) the GPEI's COVID-19 response has been instrumental in ensuring that COVID-19 does not spread out of control in much of the developing world, including in the Pacific;
(d) Australia is a long-term champion of polio eradication along with many other Commonwealth nations including the United Kingdom and Canada; and
(e) the current parliaments of Australia and other countries have the opportunity to be recognised as the elected representatives who ensured that polio was completely eradicated.
I think that we'll go most of this year with still substantial border restrictions, even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated.
Make no mistake, while international borders remain closed, we have no hope of recovery.
That this House:
(1) extends its condolences to the Field and Leadbetter families for their tragic loss in Alexandra Hills on 26 January 2021;
(2) supports the trial of earlier detection, drug-testing and intervention in crystal methamphetamine addiction for new recipients of Youth Allowance and Jobseeker who are not meeting their activity requirements by identifying those with substance abuse issues and supporting them to gain employment;
(3) places on record its support for Income Management for Youth Allowance (Other) recipients who fail to adhere to activity requirements or face court for drug and related offences, and supports ear-marked and fully funded rehabilitation for anyone who fails a drug test;
(4) further supports deferral of payments where drug tests are refused, to ensure service providers are engaged; and
(5) explores enhanced information sharing between Services Australia, employment services providers and authorised officers in respective police, corrections, social services and child protection agencies, in dealing with these high addiction-risk cohorts who evade mandatory activity requirements.
That this House:
(1) calls on the Government to:
(a) immediately terminate all contracts with foreign owned external data storage centres, in particular, the Chinese owned facility, Global Switch; and
(b) immediately and securely transfer all externally stored government data to Australian owned data centres;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) the recent contract extension between the Department of Defence and the Chinese-owned data centre, Global Switch, threatens our national security; and
(b) this continued relationship was formed without due process or public tender;
(3) condemns the Government and the Department of Defence for seemingly placing cost savings above national security; and
(4) further acknowledges that having any government data stored by Global Switch is a national security risk.
The safeguarding of Defence's data is of the utmost priority for my Department.
Defence has comprehensive security controls in place at the Global Switch Ultimo data centre ...
... to protect against compromise by a foreign power—
or other malicious actor.
All of the most sensitive data was removed from this facility—
in May 2020.
Beijing's strategy of using commercial investments in critical infrastructure to support its military expansionism is most evident in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
… China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) play a key role in implementing the BRI. Ostensibly commercial operations, they operate in a hybrid style, fulfilling CCP objectives and in return receiving strong government support … Each Chinese SOE is required to have a CCP committee and numerous subordinate party branches, ensuring that commercial strategies are aligned with party directives.
Chinese SOEs designated 'important backbone state-owned enterprises' are uniquely beholden to the CCP.
Australia should build its research and analytical capacity to better understand the nexus between the CCP and SOEs.
That this House:
notes:
(a) the actions of the Myanmar military is a direct assault on Myanmar's transition to democracy and the rule of law; and
(b) Australia is a great friend of Myanmar and is deeply concerned for the welfare and wellbeing of the people of Myanmar;
(2) condemns the Myanmar military for:
(a) seizing control of Myanmar; and
(b) the detention of numerous political and civil society leaders in Myanmar; and
(3) calls on the:
(a) Myanmar military to immediately relinquish the power they have seized and release the activists and officials they have detained; and
(b) Government to review Australia's defence cooperation program with Myanmar in light of the Myanmar military's seizure of power and consider additional targeted sanctions as appropriate.
That this House:
notes:
the actions of the Myanmar military is a direct assault on Myanmar's transition to democracy and the rule of law—
condemns the Myanmar military for:
(a) seizing control of Myanmar; and
(b) the detention of numerous political and civil society leaders—
calls on the:
Myanmar military to immediately relinquish the power they have seized and release the activists and officials they have detained—
Waking up to learn your world has been completely turned upside down overnight was not a new feeling, but a feeling that I thought that we had moved on from, and one that I never thought we'd be forced to feel again.
That this House:
(1) recognises the economic and personal impact of state government international arrival caps, including;
(a) economic costs of skilled visa workers and international students; and
(b) personal and mental health costs for stranded Australian citizens; and
(2) urges state governments to review their caps on a weekly basis and initiate training of quarantine staff, so that industry-led, large-scale quarantine arrangements can be in place before the next calendar year.
The Australian Government should consider the establishment a national facility for quarantine to be used for emergency situations, emergency evacuations or urgent scalability—
By 2031, there is a sustained increase in number and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages being spoken.
Through people talking around the community, I learned that Pilawuk was taken for having a white father and was put with a white family to have a better life. Did she?
Wiradjuri Elder Isabel Reid was born in Wagga Wagga in 1932.
One afternoon, she was walking home from school with her brother and sister when she was taken from her family by the government. Her parents did not know what happened to their children.
Aunty Isabel was to become a domestic servant, sent to the Cootamundra Domestic Training Home, where wages for her work were paid to the NSW government.
She was denied the opportunity of a good education, denied a bond to her family, community and country, and was targeted for no other reason than the fact she was Aboriginal.
Today Aunty Isabel is one of the oldest living survivors of the Stolen Generation—
She reflected on her own journey, "My life is pretty simple, what I do, I do for my community and for all the children out there that need the helping hand that I didn't get way back then."
Australia is at a crossroad. It's not of our choosing, but the choices we make could change everything. This is an opportunity to reset and renew.
… I want a country that makes things and that creates wealth and shares it.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) it is now more than a year since the Prime Minister announced a National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention;
(b) many veterans and families believe the Prime Minister's national commissioner will not be 'better than a Royal Commission' and risks making things worse; and
(c) the Government was forced to withdraw the enabling legislation for the national commissioner at the end of 2020 after failing to get the necessary support in the Senate;
(2) recognises that suicide by current and former defence personnel continues to claim at least one life a week, and nothing less than an independent, open and transparent investigation is required to address this crisis; and
(3) calls on the Government to establish a Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicides as a matter of urgency.
Family Law Amendment (A Step Towards a Safer Family Law System) Bill 2020
That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn.