The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That further statements in relation to the death of Judith Durham AO be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
That further statements on the death of Dame Olivia Newton-John AC DBE be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 6 September 2022.
2. The Committee deliberated on items of committee and delegation business that had been notified, private Members' business items listed on the Notice Paper and notices lodged on Tuesday, 6 September 2022, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 12 September 2022, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSI NESS
Notices
1 MRS ANDREWS: To present a Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to the criminal law, law enforcement and proceeds of crime, and for related purposes. ( Crimes Legislation Amendment (Ransomware Action Plan) Bill 2022 )
(Notice given 5 S eptember 2022.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
2 DR M RYAN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the National Disabili ty Insurance Scheme Act 2013 , and for related purposes. (National Disability Insurance Scheme (Faster Approvals for NDIS Housing and Supports) Bill 2022 )
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
3 MS COKER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the Government's commitment to fix the mess the former Government made of aged care and that this is a priority for the Government;
(2) acknowledges the Government's support for a pay rise for Australia's aged care workers as recommended by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety; and
(3) recommits to delivering a better standard of care for Australians in aged care.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Coker — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour.
4 MRS ANDREWS: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that 17 September 2022 is the start of National Police Week, which culminates with National Police Remembrance Day on 29 September 2022;
(2) acknowledges the crucial, and often challenging and dangerous, work that the men and women of our state and federal police do on a daily basis;
(3) remembers those police who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and their families who are forever impacted; and
(4) thanks the men and women of our state and federal police for their ongoing dedication to keeping Australian communities safe and maintaining the rule of law.
(Notice given 5 September 2022)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Mrs Andrews — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 10 x 5 mins]
The Commi ttee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR TUDGE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that in Government, the Coalition invested significantly in research and development, including an estimated $4.3 billion in 2020-21 through the education portfolio;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) Australia stands internationally as one of the highest performing contributors to foundational research, being responsible for 2.7 per cent of the world's scientific output, compared to being home to 0.34 per cent of the world's population; and
(b) in terms of research translation and commercialisation, Australian does not meet the same high performing reputation;
(3) further notes that the previous Government:
(a) agreed in February 2022 to a ten-year Research Commercialisation Action Plan to drive greater utilisation of research and collaboration with industry; and
(b) budgeted $2.2 billion to support its Research Commercialisation Action Plan to boost Australia's economic recovery, including:
(i) $1. 6 billion for Australia's Economic Accelerator to establish a stage-gated program to support translation and commercialisation in the six National Manufacturing Priority Areas;
(ii) $243 million for the Trailblazer Universities Program to select universities to partner with industry to work on research; and
(iii) $296 million to support greater collaboration through 1,800 industry-focused PhDs and 800 industry fellowships over ten years; and
(4) calls on the Government to commit to implementing the Coalition's Research Commercialisation Action Plan in full and on-time, first with introducing legislation to establish Australia's Economic Accelerator.
(Notice given 2 August 2022.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Tudge — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should conti nue on a future day.
2 MR NEUMANN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) many veterans struggle to find work when they transition to civilian life, which can lead to other problems, such as mental illness, homelessness, incarceration and even suicide; and
(b) some veterans can experience stigma and discrimination in the job market;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) the Government will deliver a comprehensive $24 million veteran employment program to provide greater support to defence personnel as they transition to civilian life; and
(b) this will aim to help veterans into good quality jobs by doing more to boost recognition of their skills and experience, and provide support for further education and training for veterans wanting to move into the civilian workforce; and
(3) welcomes a number of outcomes from the recent Jobs and Skills Summit to support veteran employment and training, including:
(a) a one-off income credit so that veteran pensioners who want to work can earn an additional $4,000·over this financial year without losing any of their pension; and
(b) improved access to jobs and training pathways for veterans and other disadvantaged groups, through equity targets for training places, 1,000 digital apprenticeships in the Australian Public Service, and other measures to reduce barriers to employment.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Neumann — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
3 MS STEGGALL: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) there are around 2.5 million families with dependent children aged under 15 in Australia;
(b) Australia has one of the least generous paid parental leave schemes in the OECD;
(c) McKinsey & Company found that in Australia, participation in early childhood education is lower and costs over 40 percent more than the OECD average; and
(d) perinatal discrimination is the top discrimination complaint in Australian workplaces;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) Australia lags developed countries in the provision of best practice, evidenced-based policies that support families and children;
(b) at the Jobs and Skills Summit there was broad agreement from trade unions to the Business Council of Australia, and advocacy groups that improving paid parental leave and childcare were essential to improving women's workforce participation; and
(c) there is significant economic benefit to Australia from increasing female workforce participation, gender equity and outcomes for children; and
(3) calls on the Government to:
(a) provide for at least 26 weeks of paid parental leave with a use it or lose it provision to incentivise shared use of leave where there are two carers;
(b) set 1 January 2023 as the start date for lower the cost of early childhood education for all families; and
(c) improve access to paid carers' leave for parents of sick children.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Steggall — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MS STANLEY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is on 15 October 2022;
(b) this day is an opportunity for parents, families, friends and healthcare workers to mark their shared loss, whether through miscarriages, stillbirth, and infant death; and
(c) it is also a day that increases awareness about preventative measures to reduce perinatal mortality;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) losing a baby at any time in pregnancy, birth or the neonatal period is devastating to families;
(b) each year, 20 to 30 percent of women who are pregnant experience a miscarriage;
(c) stillbirths and perinatal death rates are a combined 9.4 in every 1000 births, these figures have not changed for over 20 years;
(d) stillbirth occurrence is higher in Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities;
(e) these families go through further issues after experiencing such a tragic event, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, changes in relationships and anxiety that may be underestimated by healthcare providers, friends and family; and
(f) further research is required to support the creation of programs that help lower the overall mortality, and to provide support to those families that have experienced the loss of a baby as well as help them overcome their trauma in a healthy and meaningful manner;
(3) commends the Government for providing $6.8 million funding to assist families dealing with the grief of stillbirth;
(4) expresses sympathy to all families who have suffered a miscarriage, a stillbirth or infant death
(5) further commends each and every person who has supported parents and families through the loss of a baby; and
(6) thanks support groups like Red Nose, Still Aware, SANDS, and Miracle Babies for the work they do to support families.
(Notice given 5 September 2022.
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Ms Stanley — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices — continued
5 MR THOMPSON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that on 16 August 2021 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, along with other military attachments, were deployed to Afghanistan to rescue Australian passport holders and those who supported our nation throughout the war on terror;
(2) acknowledges;
(a) the brave soldiers who put themselves in harm's way to rescue more than 4100 people from the chaos;
(b) that when the Taliban took back Kabul, the soldiers returned to the belly of the beast to evacuate thousands of civilian men, women and children; and
(c) that the Afghan people may have lost their city and country, but our Australian Defence Force heeded the call to ensure that they did not lose their lives;
(3) honours the brave, selfless actions of those deployed; and
(4) calls on the Government to honour the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment with the appropriate battle honours to highlight the unique operation that was conducted in the most hazardous, chaotic and challenging circumstances.
(Notice given 5 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 40 mi nutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Thompson — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
6 MS DANIEL: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Senate Environment and Communication References Committee with the support of the Labor Senators recommended to the 46th Parliament that the Commonwealth initiate a judicial inquiry, with the powers of a Royal Commission to investigate the concentration of media ownership in Australia;
(b) according to the Public Interest Journalism Initiative, 255 media outlets across the country closed down between the beginning of 2019 and March 2022, nearly 70 per cent in regional Australia;
(c) the transfer of ownership of APN led to 112 local print newspapers being shut down;
(d) according to a comprehensive international study of international media ownership and concentration by Columbia University, only Egypt and China have greater concentration of newspaper ownership of the countries studied;
(e) one company has a 59 per cent share of the metropolitan and national print media market by readership and the second 23 per cent;
(f) 3,000 journalists had lost their jobs in the decade to 2018 and more since then;
(g) unlike the United Kingdom there is no longer a 'fit and proper person' test in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 ; and
(h) the public interest test does not apply to cross-media mergers; and
(2) supports and calls on the Government to:
(a) initiate a judicial inquiry, with the powers of a Royal Commission, to investigate and report on the state of media diversity in Australia with the following powers, to:
(i) call witnesses and require the production of documents and information equal to those afforded the Royal Commission into the banking system;
(ii) seek expert advice and make recommendations to broaden media diversity, especially in rural, regional and suburban Australia; and
(iii) seek expert advice and make recommendations on the state of self-regulation of media in generally available in Australia, in particular, whether the Australian Press Council and the Australian Communications and Media Authority are fit for purpose;
(b) commit to the long-term and adequate funding of Australia's only independent newswire, Australian Associated Press;
(c) establish an independent and permanent trust to assist emerging news ventures, especially in regional areas, including the funding of journalism traineeships; and
(d) abide by the independent process for appointments to the boards of the ABC and SBS.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Daniel — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
7 MR HOGAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the European Union (EU) is Australia's second largest two-way trading partner of goods and services worth over $74 billion; and
(b) with a high-income population of almost 450 million people, the EU represents an incredibly significant market opportunity for Australian exporters;
(2) acknowledges the significant work undertaken by the former Government to pursue an ambitious and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU; and
(3) calls on the Government to:
(a) prioritise the negotiation and completion of the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement; and
(b) deliver a commercially significant agreement with liberalised access that is in the national interest.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 10 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Hogan — 5minutes.
Next Member speaking — 5minutes.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day
AGED CARE: Resumption of debate on the motion of Ms Coker—That this House:
(1) notes the Government's commitment to fix the mess the former Government made of aged care and that this is a priority for the Government;
(2) acknowledges the Government's support for a pay rise for Australia's aged care workers as recommended by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety; and
(3) recommits to delivering a better standard of care for Australians in aged care.
(Notice given 6 September 2022.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices — continued
8 MR PIKE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the increasing costs in the construction industry are creating significant strains on Australian building companies;
(b) rising costs are creating serious delays and further exacerbating substantial housing shortages in many communities across the country; and
(c) these shortages are perpetuating the current rental crisis;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) union lawlessness is on the rise in the commercial construction sector following the Government's announcement to abolish the construction industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC); and
(b) this lawlessness is further undermining the housing industry and compounding the strains felt across the sector;
(3) calls on the Government to:
(a) implement measures to reign in rising costs, assisting businesses, renters and Australians who are building or have bought their own home;
(b) move to curtail the underhanded and illegal actions of the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining Energy Union (CFMMEU) throughout the commercial construction sector; and
(c) reinstate the ABCC in its role as the construction industry watchdog.
(Notice given 4 August 2022.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Pike — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minu tes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
THE HON D. M. DICK MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
7 September 2022
National Health Amendment (General Co-payment) Bill 2022
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Incentivising Pensioners to Downsize) Bill 2022
That this bill be now read a second time.
Emergency Response Fund Amendment (Disaster Ready Fund) Bill 2022
That this bill be now read a second time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022
As it is currently modelled, the bill, we're not certain it would necessarily change anything.
Most Australians will be unable to benefit from this tax policy change which is extremely narrow. It will mean that people working in small businesses are less likely to access the proposed tax policy change due to the lower level of usage of salary packaging in small and medium businesses.
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 notes:
(1) with this policy the Government has failed to:
(a) establish clear criteria and metrics of success for the policy;
(b) ensure the expenditure was temporary, proportionate, and linked to tangible productivity gains;
(c) quantify any benefit of the policy to EV uptake, to emissions reduction, or to the budget bottom line;
(d) tangibly address the biggest constraint on EV uptake, which is supply and infrastructure; and
(e) consult with business and civil society on policy design; and
(2) the Coalition supports increased uptake of low and zero emissions vehicles and our focus was on enabling consumer choice when it comes to new vehicle and fuel technologies;
(3) the Coalition is focused on partnering with industry to support the uptake of new vehicle technologies and create the necessary enabling environment to support uptake which includes helping to support the infrastructure roll-out and ensuring that our electricity grid is ready; and
(4) calls on the Government to invest the substantial medium term cost of the measure in supporting practical EV infrastructure and cost of living relief for hard working Australians.
Jobs and Skills Australia Bill 2022
Jobs and Skills Australia (National Skills Commissioner Repeal) Bill 2022
I can't help but reflect that if untapped women's workforce participation was a massive ore deposit, we would have governments lining up to give tax concessions to get it out of the ground—
That order of the day No. 3, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022
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, of the aged care providers who do not currently have a registered nurse on site, and on duty, at all times, 53% are based in regional and remote areas and 86% are small providers; and
(2) calls on the Government to ensure that:
(a) when amending the Quality of Care Principles to make provision for an exemption to the new responsibility relating to registered nurses, the disproportionate impact on providers in regional and remote areas, especially small providers, is taken into account; and
(b) further consideration of the bill is deferred until two sitting days after a draft of legislative instruments relating to the following matters are made available:
(i) exemption from the responsibility related to registered nurses as proposed in section 54-1A of the bill; and
(ii) information about aged care services that must be publicly available as proposed in section 86-10 of the bill".
… from 1 July 2024, the minimum staff time standard should require at least one registered nurse on site per residential aged care facility at all times.
That all words after "whilst" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"the House:
(1) has concerns that the bulk of the substantive measures comprising the bill are to be detailed in subordinate rather than in primary legislation; and
(2) calls on the Government to
(a) provide an opportunity to review the Quality of Care Principles, User Rights Principles and Information Principles proposed to be made under the Aged Care Act 1997 ;
(b) include in the Quality of Care Principles under Schedule 2 criteria for the exercise of exemption powers which provide for smaller and regional providers taking into account critical workforce shortages among other considerations; and
(c) specify in Information Principles under Schedule 3 financial and non-financial information of value to older Australians, their families and the community that must be published by the Secretary, including:
(i) expenditure on care, nursing, food, maintenance, cleaning and administration;
(ii) profits;
(iii) payments such as rent to third parties; and
(iv) expenditure on executive salaries".
The Australian Parental Leave Pay (PLP) policy is currently up to 18 weeks paid at minimum wage. The WHO and UNICEF recommendations for breastfeeding of infants, is for children to be exclusively breastfed for 6 months. One of the main objectives of the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and Beyond; is to increase the population of babies who are exclusively breastfed to around 6 months of age by 2025, particularly in priority populations and vulnerable groups. The most recent ABS Breastfeeding report shows that at 4 months of age 61% of children were exclusively breastfed but at 6 months of age this dramatically drops to only 29% of children who were exclusively breastfeeding. There is strong evidence from diverse countries that longer duration of paid maternity leave increases breastfeeding duration and improves maternal health. Increasing access to paid maternity leave will have a direct positive impact on these national and worldwide health objectives. This structural policy change is in the direct ability of the Commonwealth Government to achieve.
We therefore ask the House to immediately increase of the Australian Parental Leave Pay (PLP) Policy from 18 weeks to 26 weeks in line with the WHO recommendations and Australian national breastfeeding objectives.
Our world is diverse and ever changing, filled with wonderfully interesting people. Let it touch you. Seek the profound meaning of life.
National Health Amendment (General Co-payment) Bill 2022
Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022
The role of the unions in setting this government's priorities.
I was proud to be a member of the QPU. I was a member from the day I joined QPS and remained a member until I left the police. Every industry employs lobby groups and attempts to put their argument forward whatever way they can to their elected representatives and police unions and associations are no different in their role.
Healthy, happy workers make the economy hum …
For many years the committee has raised concerns regarding the human rights compatibility of the CDC program with multiple human rights. As such, in abolishing this specific program the committee considers this bill is a rights enhancing measure.
Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022
That this bill be now read a third time.
Jobs and Skills Australia Bill 2022
Jobs and Skills Australia (National Skills Commissioner Repeal) Bill 2022
Jobs and Skills Australia (National Skills Commissioner Repeal) Bill 2022
Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022
… notes that, of the aged care providers who do not currently have a registered nurse on site, and on duty, at all times, 53% are based in regional and remote areas and 86% are small providers.
… from 1 July 2024, the minimum staff time standard should require at least one registered nurse on site per residential aged care facility at all times.
There are no floating RNs in Mallee ready or able to supply the workforce required. There are simply not enough RNs to fill shifts in smaller regional town settings.
… we would say that, until we know the detail of how exemptions are going to operate, we do run a risk that we could end up with unintended consequences, even up to the closure of aged-care services across regional Australia if they cannot obtain the staff that are going to be required.
… the aged care system we have in 2020 is not a system that is failing. It is the system operating as it was designed to operate.
Even after the Royal Commission I still see people in appalling unhygienic and undesirable living conditions. Clients who are left unattended for long periods of time, even after pressing their call buttons for help and clients who are overmedicated as a way to manage.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ) took the chair at 09:30.
Congratulations on being named Education Minister. Really proud and excited to have a Labor government in, you as our local member and in education. Let's talk.
Fair Work Amendment (Paid Family and Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2022
… it takes seven to eight attempts to leave a relationship; it costs around $18,000; and it takes 141 hours to safely extricate oneself from an abuser.
… we have never seen a circumstance where a perpetrator of violence has pro-rataed the amount of violence they inflict on their partner based on how many hours she works.
The Committee received evidence that, in many cases, authorities did not appear to understand the problem and were thus taking ineffective or even counterproductive action.
It's something employers are already obligated to do, but in practice we see confidentiality breaches all the time, and that's why we see a very low uptake: people are genuinely worried about the responses they're going to get.
Some participants return to do the workshop more than once, to deepen their skills. Many participants attend with work colleagues so they can take the skills back into their workplace. There are scenarios that relate to workplaces, such as what people can do when they receive a sexually inappropriate email or hear "banter" that is disrespectful.
It is important that training and workshops are held in a safe environment, with support offered as we know that at every workshop there is likely to be someone who has or is experiencing family violence. At the same time, there are participants who have some understanding of family violence but don't know what they can do to help. They are scared, partly because they think they must intervene physically. These workshops provide a range of options for people to use which keep them safe at the same time.
The workshops have been attended mostly by women. There are a few reasons for this, but one is that men might worry that they will be used as a target in the workshop. Workplaces could help support men to get training like this by encouraging them to attend as a group. It would help if male leaders attended workshops and reported back to their teams. The more men that attend, the better as we need all parts of society to learn the signs and be able to provide support and intervene appropriately.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022
Bill Shorten wants to end the weekend when it comes to his policy on electric vehicles …
We are going to stand by our tradies and we are going to save their utes.
And no one in the world is making an electric ute, by the way, and even if they were it would be unaffordable.
Private buyers and sole traders of EV's cannot access these significant savings … The Governments assertion that this initiative makes the take up of EV's more affordable is misleading …
… will deliver the subsidy to a rather narrow class of employee beneficiaries and provides the largest benefit to the highest income earners.
It's not going to tow your trailer. It's not going to tow your boat. It's not going to get you out to your favourite camping spot …
… even if they were it would be unaffordable.
That all words after "whilst" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
the House notes:
(1) this bill seeks to encourage a greater take up of electric cars by making them more affordable by, under certain conditions, exempting them for fringe benefits tax; and
(2) that to achieve real and effective affordability and self-sustainability the bill should include detailed measures to provide:
(a) Australian manufacture by Australian majority owned companies of electric vehicles and buses, and their component parts including battery production;
(b) framework to require, by 2035, all vehicles in metropolitan areas purchased by local, state, territory and federal governments to be electric vehicles manufactured in Australia from Australian made component parts; and
(c) framework to facilitate the purchase of all new commercial and government buses in metropolitan areas to be electric buses manufactured in Australia from Australian made component parts".
… if EVs are typically charged during peak demand periods, EV charging will be more costly for owners and electricity demand will increase to levels that require our relevant local networks to be upgraded. That cost will ultimately be reflected in increased electricity prices for everyone.