The SPEAKER ( Hon . Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 1 August 2023.
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, 1 August 2023, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 7 August 2023, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS
Presentation and statements
1 Standing Committee on Pro cedure
Raising the Standard: Inquiry into recommendations 10 and 27 of Set the Standard: Report on the Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces
The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made — all statements to concl ude by 10.20 am.
Speech time limits —
Mr Neumann — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS CHANEY: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to electoral matters, and for related purposes. ( Electoral Legislation Amendment (Restoring Trust) Bill 2023 )
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
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 MS BELL: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that:
(a) the Government's Cheaper Child Care policy has driven up the cost of early childhood education and care for families across Australia since it was implemented on 1 July 2023;
(b) families are reporting increases to the cost of their daily fees in excess of $20 per day;
(c) the Government's inability to manage the cost of living crisis in Australia is driving up the cost of rent, mortgages, groceries and everyday bills, like early childhood education and care bills, for Australian families;
(d) the Government's inaction to address workforce shortages is limiting access to early childhood education and care for families; and
(e) families continue to be unable to access early childhood education and care, particularly in regional and rural areas; and
(2) calls on the Government to deliver:
(a) more access to early childhood education and care places to support Australians to return to the workforce; and
(b) real cost of living relief to families.
(Notice given 31 July 2023.)
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Bell — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day
1 SOCIAL HOUSING: Resumption of debate ( from 31 July 2023 ) on the motion of Dr Ananda-Rajah—That this House:
(1) notes the Government's announcement of a new $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social rental homes across Australia;
(2) acknowledges the Government's commitment to an ambitious housing agenda which will boost the supply of all housing, with more social housing, more affordable housing, more homes to rent and more homes to buy, and includes:
(a) establishing the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee three months early, helping regional Australians purchase a home with as little as a 5 per cent deposit and avoiding paying Lenders' Mortgage Insurance;
(b) widening the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest immediately in social and affordable rental homes, with projects already under construction as a result of this funding;
(c) working with the states and territories through the National Housing Accord and National Cabinet to support planning and zoning reforms to contribute to the aspiration of building one million new homes over 5 years from 2024, as well as investing $350 million in additional federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable rental homes over five years from 2024 as part of the accord—matched by the states and territories;
(d) further establishing the interim National Housing Supply and Affordability Council to provide expert advice to Government on housing supply and affordability;
(e) delivering the largest increase to Commonwealth Rent Assistance in more than 30 years, with a 15 per cent increase in the maximum rates;
(f) increasing the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation's liability cap by $2 billion to provide lower cost and longer-term finance to community housing providers through the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator;
(g) providing tax incentives to encourage more build-to-rent developments to boost new supply in the private rental market;
(h) further providing an additional $67.5 million of funding to the states and territories to help tackle homelessness challenges as part of a one-year extension to the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement which provides $1.7 billion a year to the states and territories for housing and homelessness services; and
(i) expanding eligibility for the Home Guarantee Scheme, which helps people purchase a home sooner by reducing the deposit they need to save; and
(3) condemns the Opposition and the Australian Greens for blocking the Housing Australia Future Fund, and notes that every day of delay is $1.3 million not being spent on social and affordable housing for Australians who need it today.
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Dr Ananda-Rajah — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices — continued
3 DR M RYAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that lobbying can result in the development of policies that favour the interests of private corporations over the interests of the Australian public;
(2) notes that there is a lack of transparency over the relationship between lobbyists and Ministerial offices;
(3) recognises that breaches of the Lobbying Code of Conduct are rarely identified by the Attorney-General's Department and that there are currently no serious penalties for breaching the Lobbying Code of Conduct; and
(4) commits to:
(a) extending the Register of Lobbyists to include registered professional lobbyists acting on behalf of third parties, services firms and lobbyists acting on behalf of businesses and industry bodies;
(b) extending the cooling-off period for former MPs and senior government officials to three years in keeping with international best practice;
(c) introducing new penalties for breaching the Lobbying Code of Conduct, such as suspending lobbyists from operating for up to two years; and
(d) ensuring the National Anti-Corruption Commission has the ability to investigate alleged breaches of the Lobbying Code of Conduct and enforce penalties.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Dr M Ryan — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee 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 FLETCHER: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) the digital economy plays a critical role in the Australian economy, helping to drive economic growth and create new jobs;
(b) the Government has not:
(i) provided sufficient funding in the budget to help grow the digital economy;
(ii) produced a digital economy strategy; and
(c) the Government abolished the role of the Minister for the digital economy; and
(2) calls on the Government to prioritise the digital economy by:
(a) providing funding in sufficient levels to advance Australia's digital economy;
(b) delivering a digital economy strategy to make Australian a world-leading digital economy; and
(c) appointing a Minister responsible for the digital economy.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Fletcher — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
2 MS THWAITES: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the release of the report of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme, a 990-page report that examined the establishment of the scheme and who was responsible for it, and made 57 recommendations;
(2) recognises that the Robodebt Scheme, which was put forward as a budget measure in 2015 and was found to be unlawful by the Federal Court in late 2019, caused great harm to vulnerable members of the Australian community;
(3) notes that despite the mounting warnings and criticism of the scheme, in the words of the report the Government of the time 'continued to illegally raise debts against some of society's most vulnerable';
(4) commends the courage, leadership and bravery of victims, families, advocates and whistle-blowers who continued to raise concerns about the Robodebt Scheme; and
(5) welcomes the Government's commitment to ensuring such a tragedy never happens again, and to carefully consider the recommendations from the report and provide a response to these recommendations in due course.
(Notice given 31 July 2023.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Thwaites — 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 MR CHANDLER-MATHER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that the Government has committed to funding $3.4 billion of the $7 billion Olympics infrastructure, in the middle of a cost living crisis, when it refuses to invest more than $500 million a year in social and affordable housing;
(b) that the average cost blow-out of an Olympics since 1960 is 2.5 times the original cost, which would see the cost of the Brisbane Olympics blow-out to $17.5 billion; and
(c) the recent decision by the Victorian Government to cancel the Commonwealth Games so as to save money for schools and hospitals; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) drop its support for the disastrous Gabba demolition and rebuild that will see the bulldozing of a local public school, East Brisbane State School, and Raymond Park, a much loved public park;
(b) re-negotiate a new Olympics infrastructure agreement that actually prioritises using existing infrastructure, like Carrara Stadium, and instead invests in new public transport and other long term community infrastructure; and
(c) commit that any infrastructure built for the Olympics remains in public hands, including retaining the athletes' village as publicly-owned housing.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Chandler-Mather — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MS SCRYMGOUR: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the sustained and dedicated effort by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) to increase the enrolment of all Australians, with a particular focus on the two cohorts of Australians who have long been under-represented on the electoral roll, being First Nations Australians and young people aged between 18 and 24 years;
(2) recognises that as a result of the Government ensuring the AEC had the appropriate resources to improve enrolment:
(a) for the first time in since records have existed, enrolment of Australians aged between 18 and 24 year is now over 90 per cent; and
(b) estimated First Nations enrolment has increased in every state and territory to the highest it has ever been so that:
(i) nationwide it is now at 94.1 per cent, up from 84.5 per cent just six months ago; and
(ii) in the Northern Territory it is now at 87.0 per cent, up from 76.7 per cent six months ago; and
(3) condemns the former Government, for failing to appropriately resource the AEC to take action to improve enrolment of First Nations Australians, including by cutting AEC personnel in the Northern Territory who were addressing these matters.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Scrymgour — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
5 MR HOWARTH: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) under the current Government, decisions to conduct review after review into defence and defence industry have resulted in unreasonable delays in awarding contracts; and
(b) these delays have led to uncertainty for small and medium enterprises, threatening many businesses, and forcing them to consider leaving the industry;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) the Government's agreed recommendation from the Defence Strategic Review, stating that Australian industry content and domestic production should be balanced against timely capability acquisition, requires financial support from the Government;
(b) without such support, there is a risk of losing more contracts overseas;
(c) the Government's agreed recommendation from the Defence Strategic Review, calling for an increase in defence funding to meet our strategic circumstances, has not been meet in the 2023-2024 budget;
(d) the Government should legislate a minimum number of missiles stockpiled to ensure Australia's National Security; and
(e) the Government's disconnect with Australia's defence industry should alarm all Australians because it shows a lack of understanding of the challenges facing Australia's defence industry; and
(3) calls on the Government to take real action in supporting and growing Australia's sovereign defence industry and boosting Australia's dwindling defence budget.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Howarth — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 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
6 MR CHESTER: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) we have a world-class and sustainable native hardwood timber industry in Australia which delivers social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits for our nation;
(b) timber industry workers provide invaluable skills and practical support to their communities during times of natural disasters, particularly bushfires;
(c) banning native timber harvesting in Australia will result in more imported timber products, often sourced from countries with poorer environmental protocols; and
(d) a sustainable native hardwood timber industry is part of the answer to reducing Australia's carbon emissions as timber products sequester carbon in our floorboards, furniture and other timber products;
(2) notes that the Victorian Government's illogical decision to ban all native hardwood timber harvesting on public land from 1 January 2024 is based on political science, not environmental science; and
(3) urges the Government to:
(a) recognise the sustainable native hardwood timber industry is an issue of national importance because of supply chain considerations and community safety;
(b) include the future of the native hardwood timber industry as an issue for discussion at the next National Cabinet; and
(c) support a taxpayer-funded public information campaign to explain the importance of the native hardwood timber industry and dispel the myths perpetuated by environmental activists.
(Notice given 21 June 2023.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Chester — 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 RAE: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that the Government continues to strengthen Medicare through delivering the important service of the planned 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics which will take pressure off our emergency departments; and
(2) notes that Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are designed to make it easier for Australian families to see a doctor or a nurse when they have an urgent, but not life threatening, need for care that is bulk billed.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Rae — 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.
8 MR VAN MANEN: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that:
(a) since 2007, the National Student Wellbeing Program (formerly the National School Chaplaincy Program) has been assisting Australian students in key areas, fostering student wellbeing, increasing connectedness and school and community engagement through tailored pastoral care;
(b) on average, chaplains have 15,724 conversations with students per week, across the country;
(c) every term, chaplains run 7,025 programs, supporting 313,109 students; and
(d) the program works and is delivering measurable results for children, and
(e) a 2022 report from the University of Western Australia entitled, An Outcome Evaluation of School Chaplaincy noted the program had a considerable impact on:
(i) improved attendance;
(ii) a focus on learning; and
(iii) improved behaviour.
(2) notes that:
(a) since its creation, under Prime Minister Howard's Government, the Coalition has supported the work of the National Student Wellbeing Program; and
(b) by providing further funding of $245.7 million, the previous Government reaffirmed this commitment to the $60 million a year program, which provides $20,000 towards the cost of hiring a chaplain for over 3,000 schools; and
(3) thanks all chaplains for their ongoing efforts in providing social, emotional and spiritual support to Australian students.
(Notice given 21 March 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr van Manen — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
9 MS J RYAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the Government's commitment to stand up for casual workers who want to become permanent employees;
(2) recognises that this:
(a) will help more than 850,000 casual workers who have regular work arrangements, giving them greater access to leave entitlements and more financial security if desired;
(b) delivers on the Government's election commitment, ensuring that where a worker's pattern of work is no longer casual, they have the choice to move to permanent employment and gain the benefits of secure employment; and
(c) forms part of a broader set of reforms to be introduced into Parliament later this year aimed at closing loopholes that undermine wages and conditions; and
(3) acknowledges this is just part of the Government's commitment to deliver a better future for Australian workers, building on the strong foundations in the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislation passed in December 2022.
(Notice given 1 August 2023.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms J Ryan — 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.
10 MR BROADBENT: To move:
That this House:
(1) endorses the inalienable rights and freedoms of all Australians to make their own choices about their health and wellbeing, free from government interference;
(2) recognises that ongoing discriminatory and redundant COVID-19 vaccine mandates are wreaking untold economic, social and psychological damage on many Australians who are still unable to work due to these mandates;
(3) notes the COVID-19 clinical trials did not include carcinogenic, toxicology, immunotoxicity or genotoxicity studies in humans prior to being provisionally approved;
(4) acknowledges that as at 1 March 2023, there have been 137,606 cases of adverse reactions and 981 deaths reported on the Therapeutic Goods Administration Database of Adverse Events Notifications; and
(5) calls on the Government to:
(a) immediately intervene to prevent state and territory governments from mandating COVID-19 vaccines;
(b) review the rollout of vaccines until data around adverse reactions is investigated;
(c) broaden the Government's COVID-19 compensation scheme to include all COVID-19 vaccine injuries, not just those recognised by the sponsors and address processing delays; and
(d) delay the purchase and procurement of further COVID-19 vaccines until a proper risk/benefit analysis has been conducted; and
(e) legislate that taking the vaccine should be a decision between individuals and their health care providers.
(Notice given 20 March 2023.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Broadbent — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 3 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
2 August 2023
Housing Australia Future Fund Bill 2023 [No. 2]
That this bill be now read a second time.
National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023 [No. 2]
That this bill be now read a second time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 [No. 2]
That this bill be now read a second time.
Biosecurity Amendment (Advanced Compliance Measures) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a third time.
Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Regulator Performance) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a third time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Making Multinationals Pay Their Fair Share—Integrity and Transparency) Bill 2023
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
…based on our own observations and discussions with stakeholders, domestically and internationally, there has been significant concern with these measures as currently drafted. In summary, in our view, the design of the proposed legislation may not meet policy objectives of enhancing transparency and trust without an excessively onerous compliance burden.
The world's small elite of 2,755 billionaires has seen its fortunes grow more during Covid-19 than they have in the whole of the last fourteen years combined.
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023
The air is unbreathable, the heat is unbearable, and the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable. Leaders must lead. No more hesitancy, no more excuses, no more waiting for others to move first. There is simply no more time for that.
The potential impacts of ocean fertilisation could be severe and may include ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion in deep waters, or other unwanted ecosystem changes and human health consequences.
… while CCS is one of a suite of options available for reducing CO2 emissions, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, it is not a substitute for the decarbonisation of the global economy.
CCS at Bayu-Undan has potential capacity to safely and permanently store approximately 10 million tonnes per annum of CO2 and could build a new job-creating and revenue-generating industry for Timor-Leste.
Urgent environmental matters lay dormant while the needs of the fossil fuel industry leap ahead of the queue.
The air is unbreathable. The heat is unbearable. And the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable.
Leaders must lead.
No more hesitancy. No more excuses. No more waiting for others to move first.
There is simply no more time for that.
The findings raise onerous implications for the scores of CCS projects planned globally, with field operators and the governments that regulate them needing to expect the unexpected, make detailed contingency plans, and ensure funding is at the ready to address materialized risks.
CCS at Bayu-Undan has potential capacity to safely and permanently store approximately 10 million tonnes per annum of CO2 and could build a new job-creating and revenue-generating industry for Timor-Leste.
Chevron in Australia has been trying unsuccessfully since 2019 to get its massive 3.5mtpa-4mtpa Gorgon CCS project to meet promised targets of 80% CO2 capture for storage, instead venting higher rates of CO2 to the atmosphere than intended.
… … …
In the regulatory realm, the need to assure CO2 stays in the ground permanently means CCS projects create potentially indefinite contingent liabilities.
… … …
"With the unknowns of long-term subsurface CO2 storage, regulators could inadvertently allow material risks to be transferred to the taxpayer," Hauber says.
The potential impacts of ocean fertilisation could be severe and may include ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, oxygen depletion in deep waters, or other unwanted ecosystem changes and human health consequences.
The Makarrata Commission will be independent and have responsibility for truth telling and treaty making. It will work with a Voice to Parliament when it is established.
Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle . It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination.
For too long governments have made policies for Indigenous Australians, not with Indigenous Australians.
In the wake of the destruction of Indigenous sites at Juukan, we have commenced work with state governments and territories, and Traditional Owners to highlight the need for the modernisation of Indigenous heritage protection laws.
I am working with the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance to discuss a pathway forward to better protect our Indigenous cultural heritage …
This year's Budget included funding for an engagement process that will work closely with Traditional Owners—
Thousands of Victorians will be turning off their heating and shivering through this winter as energy prices are set to soar.
The importance of supporting Australian families.
I don't think that the budget is adding to inflation, it's actually reducing inflation in the next financial year.
I'd often go without food so that my kids could have more food. I wouldn't buy lunch or anything, I'd just have breakfast and leftovers of what the boys didn't eat …
I'm not sure how anyone can expect women to remain in the workforce when it costs so much to send children to daycare. I wonder how many women will actually have to pull their kids out of daycare, because they can't afford it anymore. Those women then stop paying super, and down the track become a burden on the system because they couldn't work and couldn't contribute to their retirement. It makes no sense.
It has honestly just been so demoralising to realise I won't be saving anything on daycare after hearing for so long that a new subsidy would bring some relief.
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Safety Net) Bill 2023
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a mature technology with commercial-scale projects operating around the globe, both onshore and offshore. CCS is regarded by many, including—
the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2020; 2021) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022), as an essential tool to meet emission targets and climate goals.
The Committee recognises that the 2009 amendment and the 2013 amendment to the London Protocol provide a means for countries to respond to the real urgency of climate change.
The Committee considered that the evidence about the environmental benefits was convincing and that any impacts should be able to be addressed through the current and proposed regulatory environment.
The widespread application of CCS would depend on technical maturity, costs, overall potential, diffusion and transfer of the technology to developing countries and their capacity to apply the technology, regulatory aspects, environmental issues and public perception.
The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived. The air is unbreathable.
The heat is unbearable. And the level of fossil fuel profits and climate inaction is unacceptable.
The ocean is recognised as the new economic frontier, offering opportunities for economic growth, employment, and innovation. However, unlike previously untouched areas, the ocean has not been spared from human impact. Stressors including rising sea temperatures, pollution, resource overexploitation, biodiversity loss, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events have only recently been understood and experienced by humans.
The success of carbon capture depends on the industrial process to which it is applied, and the success of carbon storage is specific to the geological formation into which the CO2 is injected.
… I would like to be remembered as a person with resilience who worked hard to make a difference by being the best I could be.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mrs Archer ) took the chair at 09:29.
If it can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled or composted then it should be restricted, redesigned or removed from production.
His mind, knowledge and energy was always ready to help, lean in and serve Australia's cultural future.
The EABC is devastated by the loss of our Chair Simon Crean who tragically passed on the eve of leading our Business Mission to Europe.
Australian business and industry leaders with us here in Berlin, and our wider community at home, shocked by the sudden loss of a great Australian who has always led with conviction, wisdom and warmth.
Our deepest condolences to Carole and the Crean family, and to the so many close friends and family who are profoundly saddened by Simon's passing.
A brutal day is drawing to a close here in Berlin where it was with profound sadness that our Chair, Simon Crean, passed away during his morning walk, just an hour or so before we were to commence our 2023 EABC Business Mission to Europe.
For those of us already in Berlin we had a lovely evening last night with Simon and Carole, where with high spirits and sense of purpose we discussed all the meetings to come in Berlin, Brussels, Stockholm, Paris and London.
It's still a shock, but today our focus has been to provide all the support we possibly can to Carole, whilst at the same time she has urged us to 'get on with the job' as Simon would have expected us to do by continuing with the mission at this critical time in EU-Australia relations. We'll do so with a heavy heart, and with great sensitivity and remembrance of the enormous contribution Simon made as our Chair, as part of an extraordinary lifelong record of public service.
In every endeavour, Simon led with conviction, wisdom and warmth.
Simon Crean was a remarkable Australian, respected and admired by all who knew him. His passing is absolutely devastating and will be felt deeply by people at home and around the world. He was a great leader in politics, business and in life, dedicated to making peoples' lives better, whether it be through the trade union movement, as a political leader serving in the Cabinets of four Labor Prime Ministers, as Chair of the EABC or Deputy Chancellor of Monash University. As EABC Chair, Simon has made an invaluable contribution to deepening and modernising ties between Europe and Australia to build a more sustainable and prosperous future for both regions. He had a deep and lasting commitment to community and the greater good. This is an extremely sad day for Australia. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family.
The European Australian Business Council has had the honour of experiencing Simon Crean's remarkable leadership in pursuit of closer ties with the European Union and its Member States. Simon was a unique Australian whose deep understanding of international trade and intercultural sensitivities enabled him to bring differences of opinion to respectful and meaningful compromise. We mourn his loss but add our voice of gratitude for his profound contribution to a better Australia.
… in an unusual position today in seeking the indulgence of the House to make a speech in accordance with the conventions attached to a maiden speech having … previously made a number of other speeches in the House associated with my ministerial responsibilities.
My argument is not with you but with the Government.
His moral courage is a real lesson for us in leadership roles in both public and private sectors. It goes to duty of public life and the living of a good and ethic life as an individual. But moral stance is not abstract it is real and tangible and this is why his Iraq war position is so resounding—the position was moral and how he conveyed it was practical. That's a great exemplar of public life.
I've long held a passion for the arts. It's not just the enjoyment they bring, I see the artist as central to us a nation and to securing its future.
Australia must match the technology push provided by its strong research base with the demand pull of industry and other research users …
… reflect the balance between longer-term strategic research and short-term, market-oriented projects that is essential to forging the links we need between science and industry.
The centres will also play an important role in training in science and engineering research, providing the skilled people we need to be internationally competitive into the next century.
And if I may add a further brief text.
"Oh, mankind, we created from you a pair of a male and female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other, not that ye may despise each other."
That too is from a Holy Book, The Koran. Chapter 49, verse 13.
Despite the political risk for modern politicians in pointing out the obvious - that Islam is a religion of peace, he—
decided he couldn't let the opportunity pass him by. It was a small, underreported moment in the life of a politician, yet it was also a moment of true leadership.