The SPEAKER (Hon. Peter Slipper) took the chair at 14:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
… decisions … were taken, in my absence … and then announced and implemented … without my knowledge, in the case of … the Malaysia solution … and then off they went only to discover they didn’t work.
It was the Howard Government that set the 50-50 funding split for the Pacific Highway from 2006 and the NRMA has supported this approach since day one.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the member for Warringah moving the following motion forthwith—That the Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011 be brought on for debate and voted upon immediately.
On occasions like this people often ask you how you feel. Well I can tell you how I feel today, I feel impatient.
The nation's interest today requires that we deal expeditiously with the migration amendments.
The urgent need for the government to restore confidence in their management of the national economy—
The House divided. [15:43]
(The Speaker—Hon. Peter Slipper]
That the House take note of the following documents:
Health and Ageing—House of Representatives Standing Committee—Roundtable forum on burns prevention in Australia—Government response.
Innovation Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Law Enforcement—Joint Statutory Committee—Examination of the annual report of the Australian Crime Commission 2009-10—Status of Government response.
The urgent need for the Government to restore confidence in their management of the Australian economy.
We had reservations about embarking on something so complex but Wayne's view was that without it, his credentials as a reforming treasurer would be shot to pieces.
And when the brawl became its most intense, Wayne didn't seem to be around at the end …
I was doing my absolute best to run the country and to bring us through the global recession, totally focused on that. None of my colleagues in cabinet meetings or privately, including Mr Swan, who is now most vocal in his opposition, ever said that to me. I had very long and direct conversations with Mr Swan in the lead-up to the events of the coup on the 23rd and 24th of June that year. And at no time—at no time—did he reflect to me that there was any fundamental concern or any significant problem that would cause me or require me to change course, do something radically different, in order to retain the position of Prime Minister. In fact, the only time I found out that Mr Swan had changed his position on this was when I rang him after the coup had been launched, where he said to me simply, 'Oh. I'm backing change.' That was it. No prior warning. No nothing.
And when they lose then they and their mates should just go to the backbench and then wander off at the next election.
On the face of this comparative performance, Australia has serious bragging rights. Compared to most developed countries, our economic circumstances are enviable.
On the face of this comparative performance, Australia has serious bragging rights. Compared to most developed countries, our economic circumstances are enviable.
Our rate of unemployment has a 'five' at the front and the next digit is a small number. Inflation is about where we want it and our banks are strong. Our government finances, despite some pickup in debt in recent years, are … that basically we are a AAA-rated country and rightly so—there are not many of those. We are attractive to foreign investment. The government did not end up having to own any banks as a result of the crisis. There is a lot that is good about this picture.
I also believe it is affecting the business community and I agree with recent statements by peak bodies to this effect.
It is important that business confidence is maintained in Australia—the economy and jobs are core to what any responsible government is about.
I think there's a lot of concern in industry at the moment about the price we've locked in given where Europe is at the moment in terms of price of carbon—whether we've locked in a price that's to our disadvantage as a nation.
Nuclear Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2011
Members of Parliament (Life Gold Pass) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012
Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Improvements) Bill (No. 2) 2011
Australia cannot impose an onus on the importer to prove the goods have not been dumped …
In its recent report on anti-dumping, the Commission nevertheless recognised that notions of unfairness had become so entrenched that retaining some form of anti-dumping system was inevitable, and on balance may serve to prevent something worse (as is sometimes said of FIRB). We therefore opted simply to moderate its potential to impose costs on Australian industry and consumers …
However, no such ambiguity is to be found in the Opposition’s recently announced policy, which pushes the boundaries of allowable restrictions. Getting the right balance in anti-dumping policy between addressing perceptions of fairness and avoiding actions that would be costly domestically—and harmful to our bilateral relationships (including with China)—is a very difficult challenge for policy makers and always has been. Unfortunately the Opposition’s policy falls well short of the balance required, and has now made harder the Government’s own efforts to hold the line.
… occurs when an overseas supplier exports goods … at a price that is designed to ultimately lower competition.
It shall be unlawful for any person engaged in commerce, in the course of such commerce … to sell, or contract to sell, goods in any part of the United States at prices lower than those exacted by said person elsewhere in the United States for the purpose of destroying competition, or eliminating a competitor …
The fate of AWU members rests with the creation and enforcement in Australia of a strong anti-dumping regime.
Unions will be able to bring cases, where dumping is occurring, to the attention of the customs department and have the matter dealt with in a timely manner.
Dumping has occurred, the (Australian) industry has suffered, and the gates are open for imported competition which is effectively unfair competition.
The high cost in having to fund an investigation means it's only open to the larger companies - smaller companies can't afford it and have to put up with the unfair competition.
Dumping has occurred, the (Australian) industry has suffered, and the gates are open for imported competition which is effectively unfair competition.
The high cost in having to fund an investigation means it's only open to the larger companies - smaller companies can't afford it and have to put up with the unfair competition.
In trade negotiations a Rudd Labor government will focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for the nation and for Australian business, particularly through multilateral structures. Labor believes there is an ongoing role for bilateral and regional agreements, especially where they are consistent with and can contribute to multilateral outcomes.
We will also fight for better market access through whichever process will deliver the best gains, whether through global trade agreements, agreements with groups of countries and bilateral agreements with individual trading partners.
The Minister for Trade, Dr Craig Emerson, today urged a focus on services trade liberalisation to kick-start the stalled WTO Doha Round of trade negotiations.
'There was not enough on the table to conclude the Round in 2008,' Dr Emerson said.
'We need to ensure that Doha delivers commercially meaningful outcomes for the services sector, as well as for agriculture and manufacturing.'
Agreeing on new disciplines for WTO-consistent bilateral and regional trade deals should not depend on or wait for the success of negotiations on manufacturing industry tariffs, farm subsidies, export subsidies or anything else. It should be done for its own sake to prevent the further degradation of the non-discrimination principle.
… … …
A new approach involving an initial down-payment, further instalments and the parallel negotiation of selected agreements is a realistic way of achieving further liberalisation.
Mr Chair, there are many paths to the mountain top and Australia has been advocating a new pathway in recognition of the fact that the Round has stalled.
So, we strongly support the WTO General Council statement of 30 November, which has actually been agreed by all Members, and it has several essential features.
First, it embraces the notion of different approaches, of a new pathway.
Second, it provides a focus on components of the Doha Declaration where we can reach agreement on a provisional or definitive basis earlier than full conclusion of the single undertaking.
And third, it says we fully respect the development component of the Doha Round.
If trade in and out of Australia is to be free, it also must be fair.
If the Australian Dollar continues at its high level and we continue with this flawed free trade concept without a level playing field there will be no growers left in a few years.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011
That the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011 be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011
Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
Cybercrime in Australia is getting out of control and we are losing. And I think that, with the pressures coming on us over that next few years, if nothing is done to change the current direction we will lose faster.
A case in point is the mooted National Broadband Network (NBN). The report notes that once the network is built, taking high-speed broadband services through fibre-optic cable to an estimated 93 per cent of households, responsibility for maintaining cyber-security will rest with retail service providers rather than NBN Co.
… E-Health is the means of ensuring that the right health information is provided to the right person at the right place and time in a secure, electronic form for the purpose of optimising the quality and efficiency of health care delivery.
It makes good sense to move away from large scale, all encompassing national ehealth projects and focus on projects which are more modest in scope and geography.
In that regard it is a mystery why the Deloitte Recommendation to establish a National ePrescription Exchange Service has not been embraced by NEHTA and the Department.
We also note that there is no commitment from the Coalition yet on e-health.
This is a major concern because, without e-health, we cannot make the best use of existing health care services and avoid errors, duplication and waste.
We are committed to e-health into the future. We do strongly support a roll-out of e-health and the funding is there until 2012.
I am writing on behalf of the Business Council of Australia (BCA) which represents the CEOs of Australia's top 100 companies to advise you of our support for early commitment by COAG and the Commonwealth government to implementation of the national e-health strategy.
As you are aware, the BCA has been promoting the need for reform of the health system and for sustained improvement in Australia's health status as an integral part of the productivity and workforce participation improvement strategies necessary to underpin Australia's future economic prosperity. We have become convinced that acceleration of a nationally integrated e-health system is fundamental to achieving these reforms.
… $5 billion has been spent on e-health over the past 10 years and the experience is that a lot of money can be wasted.
… it is easy to be seduced into believing the development of the PCEHR—
is readily achievable and for many advocates it is convenient to forget lessons from the past and hastily rush into this still uncharted territory.
Consequently, available solutions are immature and the experience and understandings of health providers, agencies and consumers minimal. This accounts for why so few studies have been undertaken to validate their adoption.
One recent major review stated that:
Medication errors currently account for 190,000 admissions to hospitals each year. Up to 18 per cent of medical errors are attributed to inadequate patient information.
It makes good sense to move away from large scale, all encompassing national ehealth projects and focus on projects which are more modest in scope and geography. Subject to the architecture they can then be scaled up and rolled out nationally. This more ‘contained’ approach is easier to manage, less risky and less costly to 'prove'. It also makes it very much easier to quickly counter disruptive vested interests and overcome difficult political and technical hurdles as they arise.
In that regard it is a mystery why the Deloitte Recommendation to establish a National ePrescription Exchange Service has not been embraced by NEHTA and the Department.
… … …
The private sector has successfully deployed two Prescription Exchange Services serving medical practices and community pharmacies in every State and Territory of Australia. Yet this is not addressed.
… policy makers have discovered that there are many obstacles in developing e-health policies and programs. Some of these have been resolved, others persist, still others are beginning to emerge.
A premise is passed/covered when the shared network and service elements are installed, accepted, commissioned and ready for service which then enables an end user to order and purchase a broadband service from their choice of retail service provider.
Start-ups fell across sectors, particularly among construction, finance, manufacturing and services firms where a near 100 per cent drop in new business was recorded year on year.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms D'Ath) took the chair at 16:00.
Scientific evidence has shown that many women do experience symptoms that, if acted on, could result in an earlier diagnosis and a better chance of beating the disease.
Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill 2011
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Mining, Petroleum and Water Resources) Bill 2011
But a lot of people who are under investigation end up having nothing to answer for …It's a police investigation and the appropriate thing for me to do is to let the police investigation run its course and then if it is appropriate I will have something to say.
Marriage Amendment Bill 2012
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2011-2012
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012
As the local arm of the world's largest manufacturer of evaporative cooling, thermal storage and heat transfer equipment, BAC Australia has congratulated the Australian government on its resolve to set a price on carbon. As one of Australia's leading manufacturers in the heating, ventilation and airconditioning and refrigeration industry, employing over 120 people at its Gosford manufacturing facility, Baltimore Aircoil Australia says a carbon price is an important step for a country which relies so heavily on airconditioning and refrigeration.
The sector in which we operate is a major contributor to Australia's carbon emissions. Airconditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment services over 1 million square metres of non-residential space, while consuming 9 per cent of the nation's electricity resource. This equates to 21 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, 3.6 per cent of the national total. We believe that without a price on carbon, these figures would continue to trend upwards. However, the Australian government has ensured our industry a prosperous future. Already many opportunities are presenting themselves in this clean energy space.
A price on carbon will further strengthen these credentials through green jobs and opportunities for the development of clean technology.
… shortcomings in designing and implementing an effective means for identifying and assessing candidate construction projects has meant that the IEP stream did not achieve the economic stimulus objectives set for it in the anticipated timeframe.
… funds have not been targeted at those areas identified as having the greatest need for support, with none of the approved and contracted projects being located in a Priority Employment Area.
… the department did not assist its Minister with the early identification and targeting of promising projects that could be expected to deliver timely and effective economic stimulus … Instead, the department only responded to referrals from the Minister or his Office.
… Infrastructure did not analyse each proposal’s overall quality in contributing to the stated program objectives so as to provide advice to the decision‐maker on the merits of candidate projects … This reflected the department’s quite narrow view of its role in the administration of this program, and does not sit comfortably with the requirements of the enhanced grants administration framework.
Rather than undertake an initial assessment of the potential merits of projects raised through each inquiry as possible candidates for IEP stream funding, the usual departmental response was to provide inquirers with a Fact Sheet on the IEP stream and to advise that:
Please note that there is no application process for IEP. The Australian Government will be identifying projects …
… a number of inquirers were informed that they could ‘lobby’ the Infrastructure Minister directly, or seek to have their local council and/or local Member of Parliament ‘lobby’ the Minister on their behalf.
All but two of the 19 projects accepted for initiation as a possible IEP stream project had been the subject of a representation to the department, the Infrastructure Minister, Treasurer or then Prime Minister concerning possible Commonwealth funding.
… the IEP stream would operate through a non‐competitive and closed process of deciding which projects would be considered for possible funding.
… the IEP stream has not provided the planned level of stimulus in the timeframe that had been budgeted. In particular, only half of the approved projects were contracted to be completed by the original program end date of 30 June 2011 and, by this date, 38 per cent of program funds remained uncontracted.
… despite the April 200937 announcement of the IEP stream stating that the funding of construction of local infrastructure would create immediate jobs in communities affected by the global economic downturn, it was not until August 2010 that any project proponent reported to Infrastructure that an IEP stream project had created or retained any jobs.
The winning projects include a new $5.5m terminal for Gladstone Airport, requested of Mr Albanese by the former Labor member Chris Trevor, who lost his marginal seat in the 2010 election. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh successfully lobbied Mr Albanese for $9m to relocate the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney—
was given $13m to create a national centre for creative learning.
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2011-2012
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Amendment Bill 2011
For many, the highlight of the voyage is the visit to Cape Denison, the sight of Sir Douglas Mawson's hut from the historic 1911-1913 addition; a time capsule from a great era of exploration. This is one of the most exclusive places on earth—more people have stood at the top of Mt Everest than have stood inside this historic hut.
The voyage also takes passengers to Port Martin, the site of 100 grounded icebergs, allowing OEC's guests to get up close and view these amazing sites; and Dumont d'Urville, the French base renowned for its rich local wildlife, including colonies of Adelie and emperor penguins.
OEC's second cruise to the region takes in Scott and Shackleton's Antarctica—Ross Sea, and will operate from 25 January 2013.
This voyage covers some of the polar regions famously charted during the first race to the South Pole by pioneering explorers Scott and Shackleton exactly 100 years ago. The Ross Sea coast extends from the iceshelf northwards until it reaches the very tip of Victoria Land and Cape Adare. During their time in the Ross Sea region Orion will attempt a variety of opportunistic landings, subject to weather conditions.
Although Orion's itinerary to the extreme sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions is based on many years of collective experience, prevailing weather and ice conditions in this area of the world are unpredictable, mother nature dictates their course. These are not cruises they are truly expeditions to what can be the most inhospitable region on earth, and tourists should bring with them a spirit of adventure and flexibility.
An activity in the Antarctic includes, but is not limited to, scientific activities, tourist vessels entering the Antarctic (whether making landings or not), construction of facilities or overflights by tourist aircraft that are made for the purpose of visiting the Antarctic.
The provision is not intended to have application to shipping and aviation passage over or around the Antarctic, or en route to or from Australia to a third country destination outside of the Antarctic.
This landmark legislation demonstrates that the Hawke Labor Government is committed to fully protecting the Antarctic environment which we hold in trust for future generations.
This Bill gives effect to Australia's obligations arising from the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, known as the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid Protocol designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science, and puts in place a legally binding and comprehensive regime for the protection of its environment. The Government has shown leadership in Antarctic environmental matters and already has made significant progress in implementing the requirements of the protocol. This Bill will enable Australia to move forward to ratification of the protocol.
The Madrid Protocol stands amongst the world's most significant environmental agreements. It is unique in setting out to ensure the protection of the environment of an entire continent. It is an outstanding demonstration of countries working together on environmental protection. Australia thus takes great pride in its role in leading its treaty partners to adoption of the protocol in October 1991.
There can be no slipping back on this … There are signs that some countries, in a situation of decreasing oil and resources, have their eyes on the prize down there in Antarctica. They have to be set back. There can be no letting up on the commitment we made 20 years ago … to ensure that generation after generation after generation will have that pristine continent as a nature reserve, preserved only for scientific research.
The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in subsection (2). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.
(4) … operator is liable to a civil penalty if the operator contravenes subsection (1).
In respect of Treasury modelling of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, what (a) was Australia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010, (b) is Treasury's base case forecast of GDP growth per annum between 2010 and 2050, and the forecast of GDP for 2050 at this growth rate, in aggregate and per capita terms, (c) is the forecast of GDP growth per annum if a carbon price is introduced, and the forecast of GDP for 2050 at this growth rate in aggregate and per capita terms, and (d) is the expected difference in GDP for 2050 and on a cumulative basis from 2010 to 2050 with and without a carbon price.
The 2008 Government report Australia's low pollution future: the economics of climate change mitigation provided details of modelling of the effect of a carbon price on the economy. One of the scenarios modelled in that report, labelled 'CPRS-5', incorporated information from the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper and was calibrated to achieve a carbon mitigation target of 5 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 and 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.
In 2011, the Government report Strong growth low pollution: modelling a carbon price was released and the core policy scenario contained in that modelling report closely matched the Government's policy as outlined in the Clean Energy Future.
The responses to your questions regarding the 2011 report are:
(a) Australia's GDP in 2010 is estimated to be $1.28 trillion (2010 dollars).
(b) The forecasts of GDP and GDP per capita average growth rate per annum between 2010 and 2050 are 2.7 and 1.4 per cent respectively for the medium global action scenario. GDP in 2050 is estimated to be $3.66 trillion (2010 dollars).
(c) The forecasts of GDP and GDP per capita average growth rate per annum between 2010 and 2050 is 2.6 and 1.3 per cent respectively for the core policy scenario. GDP is estimated to be $3.56 trillion (2010 dollars) in 2050.
(d) This information is published in Chart 5.13 in the SGLP report, available on the Treasury website.