The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan) took the chair at 09:30, read prayers and made an acknowledgement of country.
The Australian Government has, at all times, had the protection of elderly Australians at the forefront of our approach to COVID-19 and this has dominated our planning and preparedness. Any suggestion to the contrary is strongly rejected.
That the Senate take note of the statement.
… in the crucial months between the Newmarch House outbreak in April and mid-June a degree of self-congratulation and even hubris was displayed by the Commonwealth Government.
It is unacceptable that in 2020 the aged care system is still without this. Had the Australian Government acted upon previous reviews of aged care, the persistent problems in aged care would have been known much earlier and the suffering of many people could have been avoided.
Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Improving Assistance for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Families) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a third time.
Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2020
At the end of the motion, add:
", but the Senate calls on the Government to commit to ensuring that all Australians have a decent retirement, including by committing to:
(a) no cuts to the legislated superannuation guarantee for Australian workers, and
(b) adequate funding for the aged pension".
Keating told the 1992 ACTU Congress—
"You are losing your industrial muscle; I have given you the opportunity to take on financial muscle. You will get that through your superannuation funds."
Make no mistake, industry super funds are on track to be the biggest political donors in Australia. They'll be bigger than the CFMMEU and Co.
Those opposite want to keep the hard-earned savings of Australians away from them when they need it most and have them tucked up in the industry fund by union fund managers as they count their directors fees.
That this bill be now read a third time.
1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 26 August 2020 at 7.50pm.
2. The committee recommends that the following bills not be referred to committees:
3. The committee deferred consideration of the following bills to its next meeting:
Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020
Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020
Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020
4. The committee considered the following bills but was unable to reach agreement:
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020 (see appendix 4 for a statement of reasons for referral).
(Dean Smith)
Chair
27 August 2020
Appendix 1
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation amendment (Streamlining Environment Approvals)
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: This bill would make changes to important environmental approvals processes. It would amend the EPBC Act which is currently the subject of an independent review and the Senate should understand the full recommendations of the independent review before considering this legislation.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Committee to which bill is to be referred: Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date: 30th November
(Signed)
Senator Siewert
Appendix 2
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill: Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s): no preference — depends on committee schedule
Possible reporting date: Late December 2020
(Signed)
Senator Siewert
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
Higher Education Support Amendment (Job Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
The Bill seeks to fundamentally reform university funding; student fees; student protection and institutional audit measures.
The legislation fails to address aspects of the Government's proposed reforms that have a significant bearing on university purpose and operations.
There has been significant public and expert criticism of the Bill on a range of matters — including the underlying assumptions, the evidence base, unintended consequences and perverse incentives. Key stakeholders have expressed the need for a comprehensive inquiry given the extent and complexity of the reforms proposed and the lack of consultation to date.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Group of Eight
Universities Australia
Australian Technology Network
Innovation Research Universities
Regional Universities Network
individual Universities
National Union of Students
Professional Associations
Deans of Science; Deans of Education; Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
NTEU, PSA
Policy experts and academics
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
Education and Employment
Possible hearing date(s):
September - November
Possible reporting date:
30 November 2020
(signed)
Appendix 3
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill: National Commissioner for Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration: to allow for consideration of design of proposed National Commissioner, informed by the findings of the impending interim Commissioner, forthcoming government response to the Productivity Commission's A Better Way report, impacted stakeholder submissions and consultation.
Because the interim Commissioner (as announced February 5 2020) has yet to be appointed, the interim Commissioner's literature review, also announced in February, is also yet to commence. This review, consisting of a comprehensive review of known current and former ADF and Defence personnel suicides since 2001, as well as a progress update on the implementation of recommendations made in various reviews and reports since 2003, should be concluded to inform the design of the National commissioner's proposed functioning.
The expectation offered by the Government in February 2020 was that the interim Commissioner would produce an initial report back twelve months from commencement, with a final report due 18 months from commencement (or six months after the initial reporting date). As this has been delayed, it is reasonable to suggest that the work of the interim Commissioner should inform the consideration of the Senate committee, and such that the work of the interim Commissioner should be allowed to proceed without delay, and without undue haste. The 12-month timeline to produce an initial report should be honoured.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Families, spouses of suicided Defence personnel.
Departments.
Academics.
Legal Experts.
Productivity Commission.
Ex-service organisations.
Veteran advocates.
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
FADT Legislative Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
Possible reporting date: August 2021
(signed)
Whip Selection of Bills Committee member
SELECTION OF BILLS COMMITTEE
Proposal to refer a bill to a committee
Name of bill:
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
Reasons for referral/principal issues for consideration:
Veterans' and their families have made it clear that they want a Royal Commission and that the Government's proposal, which is enabled by this legislation, is not satisfactory. This issue and the functioning of this National Commissioner needs further scrutiny.
Possible submissions or evidence from:
Julie-Ann Finney from #SaveOurHeroes
Productivity Commission
Committee to which bill is to be referred:
FADT Legislation Committee
Possible hearing date(s):
Sept-Nov 2020, Feb-Jul 2021
Possible reporting date:
August 2021
(signed)
Senator Siewert
That the report be adopted.
At the end of the motion, add:
"and, in respect of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020, contingent upon introduction in the House of Representatives, the provisions of the bill be referred immediately to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2020".
The Senate divided. [12:12]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
That leave of absence be granted to Senator Canavan for today for personal reasons.
That—
(a) government business orders of the day as shown on today's order of business be considered from 12.45 pm today; and
(b) government business be called on after consideration of the bills listed in paragraph (a) and considered till not later than 2 pm today;
(c) general business notice of motion no. 755 be considered during general business today; and
(d) the following bills be considered at the time for private senators' bills on Monday, 31 August 2020:
(i) Australian Education Legislation Amendment (Prohibiting the Indoctrination of Children) Bill 2020, and
(ii) Freedom of Information Legislation Amendment (Improving Access and Transparency) Bill 2018.
That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) economists, business groups and civil society organisations are calling for a permanent increase to unemployment payments, including the Business Council of Australia, Australian Council of Social Service, Reserve Bank of Australia, Council of Small Business Organisations Australia and Australian Retailers Association;
(ii) the Coronavirus Supplement is scheduled to cease entirely in December, reducing the base rate of JobSeeker to $565 a fortnight – a rate which is so low it traps people in poverty,
(iii) the number of people relying on unemployment payments has more than doubled since the beginning of the year, and
(iv) Government legislation proposes to make people with modest savings wait six months to access JobSeeker Payment, leaving people without a buffer; and
(b) calls on the Government to:
(i) delay its plans to re-introduce the liquid assets waiting period and dump its legislation to double the waiting period to six months, and
(ii) permanently increase the rate of JobSeeker so people can afford to live with dignity and pay for the basics they need to get back to work.
That the Senate—
(a) recognises that members of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in the retail and fast food sectors have been at the forefront of service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic;
(b) acknowledges that retail and fast food workers have:
(i) suffered abusive behaviour from customers,
(ii) put themselves at risk of infection just by turning up to work,
(iii) worked inordinate hours to help provide the basic goods that Australians need to survive, and
(iv) had their penalty rates cut by the Fair Work Commission despite their efforts;
(c) notes that:
(i) retail workers have proven themselves truly essential during this year of disasters,
(ii) the SDA union worked hard with the retail industry to have the 'SDA 10 Point COVID Safety Plan' implemented as an industry benchmark, and
(iii) the SDA union worked tirelessly to promote the need for up to 14 days special paid pandemic leave for all employees – this industry wide claim was adopted in full or in part by numerous retailers; and
(d) congratulates the SDA union on securing an appropriate and well-deserved recognition payment for its thousands of members at a range of retail employers.
That the Senate—
(a) recognises that 9 August 2020 marked the centenary anniversary of the death of Australian statesman Right Honourable Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, GCMG, PC, KC;
(b) notes that Sir Griffith had a distinguished career in public service (in politics government, and the judiciary); Sir Griffith:
(i) was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly (1872-93); Attorney-General (1874-78); Leader of the Opposition (1879-83); Colonial Secretary (1883-86); Colonial Treasurer (1887-88); and Lieutenant Governor (Queensland) (1899-1903),
(ii) served as Queensland's Premier between 1883-88 and 1890-93,
(iii) served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland between 1893-1903, and
(iv) was Australia's first Chief Justice of the High Court (1903-19);
(c) acknowledges the significant public contribution Sir Griffith made to our nation as a key architect of the Australian Constitution, a leading proponent of federalism, an intellectual giant in the field of jurisprudence (Originalism), and drafter of the Criminal Code of Queensland, which was also largely adopted by Western Australia; and
(d) further notes that Sir Griffith's public contribution and legacy is honoured today through the Samuel Griffith Society, its membership, and their commitment to upholding and preserving the Australian Constitution and its founding principles.
That the Senate—
(a) acknowledges that:
(i) Medicare is a universal healthcare system, paid for by all Australians, from the Federal Government to healthcare providers in each state and territory in Australia, and
(ii) we are all in this battle together against COVID-19; and
(b) notes with concern reports that the Queensland Labor Government is not allowing some Australian children to use Australian hospitals that are funded by the Australian taxpayer.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) 25 leading Australian scientists have just unanimously stated that there is no new role for gas and that 'existing and planned fossil fuel infrastructure is more than sufficient to push the world past 2°C, pushing the Paris Agreement's temperature goals well out of reach',
(ii) the Chief Scientist's response to the scientists states that he is not advocating 'an expanded role of natural gas for industry' and that 'any residual role of gas-fired generators be ultimately met by fuelling them from clean hydrogen', and
(iii) the Australian Energy Market Operator's advice on our future energy grid states that 'based on cost assumptions, new batteries are more cost-effective than gas-powered generation…when significant investment in new dispatchable capacity is needed'; and
(b) therefore urges the Government to act on the science and scrap its so-called 'gas-led recovery'.
That the Senate—
(a) welcomes the release of the Auditor-General's report Referrals, Assessments and Approvals of Controlled Actions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act);
(b) notes the damning findings from the Auditor-General including that:
(i) there has been a 510% increase in the average delays for approval decisions since the Liberals and Nationals were elected (between 2014-15 and 2018-19),
(ii) 79% of approvals assessed were non-compliant or contained errors,
(iii) in 2018-19, 95% of key decisions (referral, assessment method, approval), were made outside the statutory time frames,
(iv) conflicts of interest are not managed,
(v) reporting arrangements are not consistent with the EPBC Act, and
(vi) environmental outcomes are not being monitored;
(c) further notes that government cuts and mismanagement (Liberal Party blue-tape) is at the heart of job and investment delays, poor quality decisions and legal challenges; and
(d) calls on the Government to stop tying-up projects and strangling the environment with Liberal Party blue-tape, which is delaying jobs and investment, putting a handbrake on our economy, failing to protect iconic Australian species like the koala, and allowing the state of our natural environment to rapidly decline.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) the Government's unlawful 'Robodebt' scheme has:
(A) caused hardship for working Australians who paid faulty debts,
(B) had consequences for mental health including being linked to suicide,
(C) negatively impacted people's credit ratings, and
(D) created a 'climate of fear' among ordinary Australians,
(ii) despite four years of warnings, the Government failed to address the fundamental flaws of 'Robodebt',
(iii) the Government has admitted that 'Robodebt' was unlawful,
(iv) the 'Robodebt' scheme has likely cost more to implement than was recouped through stand-over tactics, debt collectors and tax returns,
(v) the current Prime Minister and Attorney-General were involved in 'Robodebt's' design and implementation as the Treasurer and Social Services Minister,
(vi) the Government has attempted to cover up the 'Robodebt' scandal through a public interest immunity claim in the Senate and the Federal Court,
(vii) it is in the public interest to uncover the circumstances under which a government unlawfully took money from its own people, and
(viii) a Royal Commission is the only forum with the coercive powers and broad jurisdiction necessary to properly perform this investigation; and
(b) calls on the Government to immediately establish a Royal Commission into 'Robodebt'.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) each year the Australian Government releases areas in Australian waters for oil and gas exploration,
(ii) the 2020 Offshore Petroleum Exploration Acreage Release was announced on 26 August 2020 by the Honourable Keith Pitt MP, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia,
(iii) new areas have been released in Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, and
(iv) a number of areas across Australia have already been opened or proposed for oil and gas exploration including the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef, the Great Australian Bight, the New South Wales coast under Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11), the Otway Basin and Lakes Entrance in Victoria and Tasmania's King Island;
(b) acknowledges that:
(i) seismic exploration and drilling pose a risk to our oceans,
(ii) further research into the impacts of oil and gas exploration on marine life and ecosystems needs to be conducted,
(iii) the New Zealand Government will no longer issue new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, and
(iv) in a time of climate emergency, there is a need to transition to clean energy; and
(c) calls on the Federal Government to ban all new offshore oil and gas exploration.
The Senate divided. [12:35]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020
That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
Just over four months ago, I stood in this Chamber and introduced legislation to implement the JobKeeper Payment, the single largest fiscal measure in Australia's history.
Since then, more than 990,000 eligible organisations and more than 3.5 million employees have benefited from the $1,500 payment.
JobKeeper has, in the words of the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Dr Phil Lowe, "done a remarkable job."
It has supported millions of Australians and given businesses the support they desperately need to help them get to the other side.
The payment is fulfilling its promise: keeping businesses in business and Australians in jobs.
While originally expected to run for a six month period, following a review of the program, on 21 July the Government announced it would be extended by a further six months until 28 March 2021 and that the payment would be tapered in the December and March quarters to encourage businesses to adjust to the new environment.
The Government also announced that as part of extending the program, a two-tiered payment would also be introduced to better align the payment with the incomes of employees before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government's decision recognised that Australia's economic recovery was still in its early stages and that a number of businesses and individuals remained significantly affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time of being announced, these changes were expected to cost an additional $16.6 billion.
Subsequent to this announcement and following the introduction of stage four restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne and stage three restrictions across regional Victoria, the Government announced it would make further changes to the program in order to help more businesses qualify for JobKeeper.
On 7 August, the Government announced it would ease the eligibility requirements so that post 28 September 2020, organisations will only have to demonstrate that their actual turnovers have significantly declined in the previous quarter.
The Government also announced it would change the employee reference date, so that from 3 August 2020, the relevant date of employment for an eligible employee will move from 1 March to 1 July 2020, expanding employee eligibility.
The combined effect of the economic deterioration in Victoria which will see more firms needing to rely on JobKeeper and the eligibility changes announced on 7 August will see the cost of JobKeeper increase by around $15.6 billion.
These changes take the total cost of the JobKeeper payment to an estimated $101.3 billion.
The extension of the JobKeeper Payment will provide much needed support for those businesses that continue to be most impacted by this crisis.
Nowhere will this be more important than in Victoria where the extension of the program will help to cushion the blow for businesses and their employees that have been severely impacted by the restrictions which have been introduced in response to the recent second wave of infections.
Around $16.8 billion in JobKeeper payments are expected to flow into Victoria during the December 2020 and March 2021 quarters.
For many businesses, this support will be the difference between them remaining in business and reopening on the other side or having to permanently close their doors and let go of all their employees.
That is why this Bill is so important.
Schedule 1 to the Bill extends the prescribed period of operation for the Coronavirus payment framework, enabling the extension of the JobKeeper Payment until March 2021. Consequently, the ability to make amended Rules to give effect to the JobKeeper payment will be extended and the Rules can be further amended up until 28 March 2021.
The Bill also amends the relevant information sharing provisions to enable the ATO to share certain JobKeeper Payment information with Commonwealth, State and Territory government agencies to assist them in their efforts to address the impacts of the Coronavirus.
A two-tiered payment will also be introduced from 28 September. Employees who were employed for less than 20 hours a week on average in the four weekly pay periods ending before 1 March 2020 will receive the lower payment rate.
The phasing down of the JobKeeper Payment will ensure a smooth and gradual transition to economic recovery, while ensuring that those who most need support continue to receive it. The introduction of a two-tiered payment rate will also better align the JobKeeper payment with the pre-COVID incomes of recipients—particularly those who work part-time hours.
When the JobKeeper scheme was introduced, it was accompanied by temporary changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Fair Work Act). These allowed those employers qualifying for JobKeeper greater flexibility in operating their business, so as to respond to the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic and assisted their employees to remain in employment and connected to their workplaces.
The Government has heard from stakeholders and directly from employers that these provisions have been vital in keeping their business operational and keeping their employees in jobs. Survey results show that around three in four JobKeeper employers used the flexibilities in the provisions. Almost all of the employers surveyed that used the provisions said they were either important or essential for the continued operation of their business and for employees to keep their jobs.
Schedule 2 to the Bill supports the continued operation of the JobKeeper scheme by extending the temporary JobKeeper Fair Work provisions in Part 6-4C of the Fair Work Act, except for those relating to annual leave until 28 March 2021.
From 28 September 2020, employers who remain eligible for JobKeeper payments after this date will retain access to the full range of remaining flexibility measures in Part 6-4C in relation to employees for whom they are claiming the payment.
Legacy employers, being employers who have previously received the JobKeeper scheme, but who no longer qualify after 28 September 2020, will be able to access a modified version of the JobKeeper provisions in relation to employees for whom they previously received JobKeeper payments.
To do so, legacy employers will be required to hold a certificate from an eligible financial service provider stating that they have satisfied a 10 per cent decline in turnover test in the previous quarter before they can use the provisions, and again for each following quarter to have the flexibilities remain in place.
Under these changes, legacy employers will not be able to use a JobKeeper enabling stand down direction to direct an eligible employee to work less than 60 per cent of their pre-Coronavirus ordinary hours, and cannot require an employee to work less than two hours in a day on which the employee works. Pre-Coronavirus ordinary hours will be assessed using the employee's ordinary hours of work as at 1 March 2020.
Under these changes, the various safeguards that apply to the existing provisions will continue, including continuation of unfair dismissal rules, general protections and work health and safety laws to name just a few. And of course, an employer must continue to pay an employee in full, including any penalty rates or allowances applicable to hours they work.
There are also enhanced consultation and notice requirements for legacy employers before they can give an employee a JobKeeper enabling direction.
The JobKeeper Fair Work provisions provide greater operational flexibility for businesses in the recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic than the more rigid terms and conditions under awards and enterprise agreements and support the effective continuation of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme between September 2020 and March 2021.
The measures will provide continued workplace flexibility at a time when businesses are still in distress and recovering from the economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Ensuring the viability of businesses in these circumstances will help preserve Australian jobs and assist employees to remain connected to their workplaces, resulting in minimised job losses and lower levels of unemployment.
Full details of the measure are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Opposition for the constructive approach they have taken to progressing this legislation through the Parliament swiftly to provide certainty to Australian businesses and employees.
At an expected cost of over $100 billion, JobKeeper forms a vital part of the Government's plan to support Australians and Australian businesses during this crisis.
My message to every Australian is that the Government will continue to do what it takes during what is one of the most difficult times in our history.
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Consumer Law—Country of Origin Representations) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a third time.
Product Stewardship (Oil) Amendment Bill 2020
Excise Tariff Amendment Bill 2020
Norfolk Island Amendment (Supreme Court) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a third time.
Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Amendment (Dairy Cattle Export Charge) Bill 2020
"One focus I had before the election was around our research and development organisations, to make sure they are fit for future," Minister Littleproud said.
"We are ranked number 20 in the world, we have just as many researchers as the US and the Netherlands who are number 4 and 6 in the world.
"As I went into South America, I remember hearing the Argentinians say you actually have the best research development people in the world, but they are bone lazy when it comes to commercialising their product."
"Are they fit for future? and how do we actually put a rocket under it and really drive it into a new pillar of agriculture," he said.
The Dairy Cattle Export Program provides advice and support for market access, conduct research and development for dairy cattle exports and participates on and provides funding to the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program to underpin market access opportunities.
A total of 39 voyages accompanied by an Independent Observer (observer) carried Bos Taurus cattle from southern ports of Australia over the equator in 2019. Observers reported varying degrees of heat stress on 49 per cent of these voyages.
… this government has worked absolutely tirelessly with the industry, with the sector, with people who have an interest in the welfare of animals, to make sure our live export trade is done in a manner that is absolutely world's best practice.
The Australian government is absolutely committed to upholding the absolutely very high standards of animal welfare while supporting a sustainable live export trade.
Describing this voyage as a 'success' because relatively fewer sheep than usual actually died on board shows the industry is still clinging to outdated and inaccurate measures of animal welfare, something the 2018 McCarthy Review strongly warned against.
Mortality rates don't account for the tens of thousands of sheep that suffer terribly but survive. And these reports confirm that's exactly what's happened here.
At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:
(a) notes with concern:
(i) the inherent cruelty of the live export trade, including the well documented impacts of heat stress on sheep and cattle during voyages departing Australia, and
(ii) that thousands of animals die from heat stress and overcrowding on live export ships; and
(b) calls on the Government to:
(i) bring an end to the live export industry in Australia,
(ii) ensure that all funds raised by the dairy export cattle charge, including co-contributions from the Australian Government, be allocated directly to animal health and welfare initiatives, and
(iii) ensure that all animal health and welfare initiatives, including research, is undertaken transparently with regular public reporting and appropriate oversight."
The aged care sector committee has effectively only been a 'talkfest' committee with little progress made over the years since it was established in 2014.
… support aged care providers with personal protective equipment (PPE) resources for staff where it is needed, as part of the infection control measures.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians (Senator Colbeck)to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to COVID-19 in aged care.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Payne) and the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (Senator Birmingham) to questions without notice asked by Senators Steele-John and Rice today relating to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and to Regional Forest Agreements.
That the Senate take note of the report.
Budget estimates 2019-20—Education and Employment Legislation Committee—Additional information—
Education portfolio.
Education and Training portfolio.
Budget estimates 2019-20 (Supplementary)—Education and Employment Legislation Committee—Additional information—Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business portfolio.
That the Senate take note of the report.
Would you prefer strangers look through your bras and briefs, or the contents of your bathroom cupboard and private text messages? I was forced to hand over the passcode to my mobile phone.
At the risk of further damaging the reputation of Millennials, giving police access to my iPhone—and therefore my text messages, search history and screenshots—filled me with incredible anxiety.
Journalism is not a crime and should never be treated as such. It's something we simply can't be complacent about so we need to cherish it, we need to nurture it, and we need to support whatever legislative change is required to ensure that press freedom remains a central component of our democratic system.
That the Senate take note of the report.
That the Senate take note of the document.
That the Senate take note of the document.
That the Senate take note of the document.
… participants have the opportunity to review and agree to quotes …
That the Senate take note of the document.
Exporter arrangements were observed to be implemented during the voyage, and to be compliant with ASEL requirements. The observer stated that the causes of the mortalities were not linked to any systemic failure of the exporter. The observer described that the AAV,—
stockpersons, vessel's officers and crew carefully monitored sheep during their daily activity routines and were committed to the positive outcomes for sheep.
All vessel staff from the master to members of the livestock crew were observed to have active involvement in the positive health and welfare outcomes for the sheep. The AAV—
stockpersons and crew communicated effectively and worked well together.
The observer commented that no sheep were observed to be in severe heat stress or distress from heat during the voyage.
In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy
Gone a-droving 'down the Cooper' where the Western drovers go;
As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing,
For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk never know.
That the Senate notes that the Morrison government has neglected Australians in aged care by ignoring the warnings from COVID-19 outbreaks in the northern hemisphere, at Dorothy Henderson Lodge, and at Newmarch House, resulting in unnecessary deaths.