The SPEAKER ( Hon. Bronwyn Bishop ) took the chair at 12:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment (Removing Re-approval and Re-registration) Bill 2014
G20 (Safety and Security) Complementary Bill 2014
Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Bill 2014
Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014
Defence Legislation Amendment (Woomera Prohibited Area) Bill 2014
Asset Recycling Fund Bill 2014
That consideration of the message be made an order of the day for a later hour this day.
Without the proposed transfer from the Education Investment Fund to the Asset Recycling Fund the Asset Recycling Fund will not be viable for the purposes for which it is to be established.
The amendments add red tape with no additional benefit …
… there is no substitute for rigorous and transparent cost-benefit analysis.
Developing a priority list based on transparent and rigorous assessment by a body genuinely independent of political and jurisdictional imperatives will assist future national planning and help achieve the best value for money in infrastructure investment.
All evaluation and prioritisation to be supported by transparent cost–benefit analysis.
The more you can get transparency and rigour into major projects the better off you will be.
It is often incorrectly assumed that the Senate has no power over appropriation bills, and in this case the Treasurer appears to be making that erroneous assumption too.
So Infrastructure Australia has not seen the full business case?
No.
But it does not recover costs?
Not for the core benefit-cost ratio.
It does not recover costs?
As presented, yes.
Asset Recycling Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014
That consideration of the message be made an order of the day for a later hour this day.
That the question be now put.
The House divided. [12.46]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
The House divided. [12:36]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop
Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2013 [No. 2]
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014
It is now clear that the government could not be trusted to honour its most basic promise—namely, to implement recommendations from the 2012 Fair Work review without change. Instead, the government is putting down its own spin on Fair Work recommendations while trying to pass them off as a carbon copy of what the expert panel proposed.
… undermines a range of key rights at work and is an exercise in the Government ticking off the pre-election wish list of the mining industry.
My family uses family day care and I know that family day care is an essential service in our community, providing local families like mine with access to high quality and affordable early childhood education and care and allowing me to contribute to our local workforce.
… a very real and lasting effect in our local community. Should these changes take effect in their current form and time frame, parents like me face uncertainty around increasing fees, service closures, and even my capacity to remain in the workforce.
But there's a better way of operating a health system, and the change should hardly hurt at all. As economists have shown, the ideal model involves a small co-payment—not enough to put a dent in your weekly budget, but enough to make you think twice before you call the [doctor]. And the idea is hardly radical.
That Mr Palmer be appointed a supplementary member of the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs for the purpose of the committee’s inquiry into the Child Support Program.
The Government’s failure to listen to the Australian people on its unfair Budget.
You probably see them anyway but I just thought I would send you a copy of one of the Labor emails we receive and I'm sorry I responded but I really am getting so wild when I open them, I couldn't help myself yesterday. We would get a new one I suppose once a week, same tone and I don't do negativity, doesn't matter which party.
I reply to you not from my position at the Ariah Park Preschool but as a voter who lives in rural NSW and has to sort through our countless emails.
We have received many of your labor emails and I am completely sick of them. If you cannot simply tell me what you are doing and accomplishing in a positive manner, without all the rubbish about the Liberal party, please cease and desist and remove our preschool from you email listing. Letters like the one below do you as a party no favors. It makes you look small, petty and childish.
Do you not understand that this isn't what Australians want? We want leaders, not bickering children ... which
is what you look like with this sort of crap!
Let me just remind you while you deride the GOVERNMENT (you lost the election remember???)—
I walk out of my office every day and look over to our Central School at the $800,000 monstrosity of a library that is no bigger than a one bedroom flat and should have cost no more than $300,000 at worst and was built by NO LOCAL BUILDERS at all (except one who got to be the foreman) and I think to myself, you have no right to talk about another party doing a bad job because sunshine, we're in this mess because of all the money you wasted.
Anyway, I would appreciate it if you would either send us productive and informative emails or remove us from your list.
A very annoyed voter!
…there will not be any new taxes as part of the Coalition's policies.
One packet of cigarettes costs $22. That gives you three visits to the doctor. You can spend just over $3 on a middy of beer, so that's two middies of beer to go to the doctor.
And is a parent really going to deny their sick child a visit to the doctor which would be the equivalent payment of a couple of beers or one-third of a packet of cigarettes?
It's important that everyone has a bit of a chill-pill here and understands that the budget is a long-term structural plan…
You see, we had a fire, and the Budget is the fire brigade.
The Government’s failure to listen to the Australian people on its unfair Budget—
… the only alternative to balance the books is to increase taxes.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the notice relating to the Nation Building Program (National Land Transport) Amendment (Nation Building Roads to Recovery Program) Bill 2014, standing in the name of the member for Grayndler, being called on immediately and being given priority over all other business for passage through all stages.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the notice relating to the Nation Building Program (National Land Transport) Amendment (Nation Building Roads to Recovery Program) Bill 2014, standing in the name of the member for Grayndler, being called on immediately and being given priority over all other business for passage through all stages.
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [16:19]
(The Deputy Speaker—Hon. BC Scott)
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [16:27]
(The Deputy Speaker—Hon. BC Scott)
That the motion be put.
The House divided. [16:39]
(The Speaker—Hon. BC Scott)
The House divided. [16:42]
(The Speaker—Hon. BC Scott)
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014
… monetary policy cannot drive sustainable, stronger growth in our economies. It comes through structural reform and entrepreneurship. And it is really the task of political leaders and business leaders to put in place the preconditions for that …
… the message is that when the legislature is putting forward new laws and new regulations we need to be very mindful of the effect it has on the ability of people with new ideas, which ultimately are going to be the source of our growth and our income, to come forward and to test these ideas in the marketplace, to create the environment where that is really what they want to do. They have got the ideas—there is no shortage of ideas out there. We have to create the environment in which they do that. It is really up to our parliaments to do that.
We will make sure that current right of entry provisions stay. We understand that entering on the premises of an employer needs to happen in an orderly way. We will keep the right of entry provisions.
Signs that consumer confidence is bouncing back, combined with strengthening business surveys, gives us more confidence that the non-mining recovery remains on track.
Weekend and night pay takes an experienced ambulance paramedic's pay to $71,000. That is a 26 per cent increase on the base rate, as compensation for shifts of 14 hours and 10 hours and working any time of the week, day and night, all with unpredictable overtime.
Without that 26 per cent you would find people have to get another job. I have done 10 years and I want to stick it out. It's incredibly rewarding in many ways but it's tough on families. We are always juggling child care, relying on friends and family …
Without that extra pay … would lose their experienced people …
A Coalition Government will keep the Fair Work framework and work to improve them. Although there are some problems with the current laws as set out in this document, there are also many positive aspects. The Coalition will work to improve the operation of the Fair Work laws so that workers, business and the economy are better off.
We will make sure that current right of entry provisions stay. We understand that entering on the premises of an employer needs to happen in an orderly way. We will keep the right of entry provisions.
We would not want to see changes to the right of entry systems that jeopardise work performance.
Workplace flexibility is a critical component of any attraction and retention strategy. Australian and international research clearly indicates that employees, be they Baby Boomers, Gen X or Gen Y, perceive flexibility in when, where and how they achieve their work commitments to be a key factor in maintaining their motivation and commitment to their employer.
Best Practice employers have put processes in place that ensure their responses and management of flexible work options meet the requirements of the legislation, are non-discriminatory and address the needs of the business and the employee.
(i) meets the genuine needs of the employee; and
(ii) results in the employee being better off overall than the 11 employee would have been if no individual flexibility 12 arrangement were agreed to …
An employer does not contravene a flexibility term of a modern award in relation to a particular individual flexibility arrangement if, at the time when the arrangement is made, the employer reasonably believes that the requirements of the term were complied with, …
The Panel recommends that the better off overall test in s.144 (4) (c) and s.204 (4) be amended to expressly permit an individual flexibility arrangement to confer a non-monetary benefit on an employee in exchange for a monetary benefit, provided that the value of the monetary benefit foregone is specified in writing and is relatively insignificant, and the value of the non-monetary benefit is proportionate …
… potentially threaten future investment in major projects in Australia.
… if a nonmonetary benefit is being traded for a monetary benefit, the value of the monetary foregone must be relatively insignificant, and the value of the non-monetary benefit is proportionate.
We will make sure that current right of entry provisions stay. We understand that entering on the premises of an employer needs to happen in an orderly way. We will keep the right of entry provisions.
The 46-year-old company’s construction arm has closed, assets will be liquidated …
Sacked workers were briefed on entitlements and allowed to collect personal items yesterday morning.
In an email sent to staff on Monday night, company CEO William Siganto described his “bitter disappointment”.
“There have been difficult projects, delays and confrontation,” Mr Siganto wrote.
We will make sure that current right of entry provisions stay. We understand that entering on the premises of an employer needs to happen in an orderly way. We will keep the right of entry provisions.
Industrial disputes are serious. They hurt workers, they hurt businesses, they can hurt families and communities, and they certainly hurt the economy. They—
will not be able to strike unless there has been genuine good faith bargaining.
Industrial disputes are serious. They hurt workers, they hurt businesses, they can hurt families and communities, and they certainly hurt the economy
They—
will not be able to strike unless there's been genuine good faith bargaining.
If we're honest, most of us would accept that a bad boss is a little bit like a bad father or a bad husband. Not withstanding all his … faults, you find that he tends to do more good than harm. He might be a bad boss but at least he's employing someone …
Foley, an affable, former reporter for the US military newspaper Stars and Stripes, was typical of the new band. He arrived with a sense of purpose and opportunity and, at times, immunity to the dangers.
Foley's luck ran out in November 2012. He was seized near the Syrian town of Binnish, along with another photographer with whom he had entered the country.
No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for our children, for Mo, for Evie, for Otis. No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for Grandad Nick. No hate in the world is as strong as the love we have for each other.
Will the Government consider adopting a stable population policy to avoid new infrastructure imperatives.
No.
(1) Is he aware that there is no engineered population growth imperative policy in Western Europe.
(2) Has the Government informed itself of the stable population policy alternative as a means of avoiding continuing major disturbances to democracy, quality of life and the environment, resulting from its current engineered population growth policy.
(1) The Government is aware that there is no engineered population growth imperative policy in Western Europe.
(2) Yes.
(1) Is the East-West Link predicated on the assumption that massive population growth will entail more automobile traffic and that this traffic will be catered to by continuous massive engineering projects; if so,
(a) has the Government factored in the rising cost of fuel and materials, and
(b) is he aware that the cost of petroleum has been rising so much since the 1990s that governments are now engaging in horizontal drilling or 'fracking' in order to recover inaccessible petroleum type deposits, such as shale oil and coal gas, which are energy-expensive and impact on major property and democratic rights.
(2) Has the Government considered that given these rising financial, energy, environmental and social costs, the infrastructure projects implicit in its growth policies may not be possible and the electorate is at risk of becoming an overpopulated and underserviced slum; if so, what is the Government doing to avoid this prospect.
1. Yes, fuel cost forecasts are included within the transport modelling scenarios
2. The Australian Government continues to maintain and improve the wellbeing of current and future generations through encouraging more effective anticipation, planning and responses to the impacts of population changes on our economy, communities and environment.
(1) What number of (a) Australians are currently unemployed, and (b) people in Australia are on temporary visas with work rights.
(2) Is it a fact that Australian employers seeking to bring in migrant workers do not have to provide to the Government copies of job applications by, or records of interviews with, Australian job applicants for the position(s) for which visas are sought.
(3) Is it a fact that (a) employers need only conduct labour market testing at 'any time' during the 12 months prior to bringing in foreign workers, without any minimum time requirement, (b) employers need only advertise a vacant position on Facebook to comply with the labour market testing requirements, and (c) employers will not be penalised for hiring more foreign workers than they applied for; if so, can employers bring in an unlimited number of foreign workers.
(4) How many overseas labour agreements have been approved since 7 September 2013.
(5) Will the Minister publish a list of all employers who have (a) engaged temporary visa holders, and (b) obtained a labour agreement; if not, why not.
(1) (a) Australian Bureau of Statistics (trend) data for April 2014 estimates the number of unemployed persons in Australia at 723 800 persons and the unemployment rate at 5.9 per cent. The Department of Employment's administrative data for March 2014 shows 806 770 job seekers (aged 15 plus) are registered and active with Job Services Australia.
(b) The number of people on temporary visas with work rights in Australia as at 31 May 2014 is 791 430. It should be noted, however, that not everyone holding a temporary visa will choose to work.
(2) That is correct. For labour agreements and some subclass 457 visa nominations, evidence of labour market shortages or testing is required.
(3) (a) Yes, except if the position was made redundant by the business in the four months prior to the date of the nomination.
(b) Yes, a broad range of recruitment activity may be accepted as evidence of having conducted labour market testing, including the use of social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.
(c) Yes, the 'nomination ceiling' of the number of nominations an approved sponsor may make has been removed for sponsorships approved after 14 February 2014, but each individual nomination must still be genuine and, where relevant, subject to labour market testing.
(4) Between 7 September 2013 and 13 May 2014, 70 labour agreements with Australian businesses were approved.
(5) No, for reasons of privacy and commercial sensitivity, as has been the policy under successive governments.
On (a) how many occasions, and (b) what date(s), has the Minister met with Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd chief executive Mr Nick Di Girolamo, and can the Minister provide the nature of each meeting.
(a) None
(b) Not applicable
(1) Is it a fact that during the 2013 election campaign, the then Opposition Leader committed during a leaders debate, that "no Medicare Locals would be shut down".
(2) Does the Government intend to retain the Lower Murray Medicare Local. (3) Is the Minister aware of the work of the Mildura band Lower Murray Medicare Local, which includes: (a) development of a Regional Care Coordination model to address local service gaps in the areas of autism and developmental disorders, movement disorders and pain management, (b) provision of support to 327 consumers through the autism and developmental disorders regional care coordination service, (c) development of a new pain management regional care coordination service that has engaged a pain management specialist to move to the region and a pain management coordinator to bring the service together, (d) provision of 24 additional supported Opioid Replacement Therapy program places, and (e) delivery of over 6,800 mental health services and 13,724 allied health services.
(1) to (2) Prior to the 2013 election, the then Opposition announced the intention to undertake a Review of Medicare Locals. Following the election of the Abbott Government, I announced the Review of Medicare Locals (the Review) on 16 December 2013. Professor John Horvath AO was appointed to oversee the Review. The Review found that many patients continue to experience fragmented health care and identified a need for an organisation to link up the parts of the health system to improve outcomes and productivity. The Review found that Medicare Locals cannot fulfil this role in their current form.
Announcements in the 2014-15 Budget, included the Government's response to the Review. Accordingly, the Commonwealth will establish Primary Health Networks (PHNs) from 1 July 2015. PHNs will be fewer in number than Medicare Locals and will be aligned with Local Hospital Networks. They will be clinically and systems focused and work to improve frontline health care through primary, community and secondary sector integration.
The opportunity to operate PHNs will be available through an open and competitive Invitation to Apply later this year, and will be open to public and private organisations. The Lower Murray Medicare Local will have the opportunity to apply to become a PHN, should it wish to do so.
(3) (a) to (e) The Government is aware of the programmes that the Lower Murray Medicare Local delivers. The focus for 2014-15 is to maintain existing frontline services that meet community needs during this transition period.
Has he sought advice on changing community consultation arrangements around any federally leased airports?
The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development monitors the effectiveness of consultation arrangements at federally leased airports on an ongoing basis to ensure that communities are adequately represented and that the level of consultation meets local needs. I am advised that the community aviation consultation groups are working effectively and are considered appropriate by both the Department and by stakeholders. It is anticipated the community consultation arrangements will be reviewed in 2015 consistent with a recommendation made by the Productivity Commission in 2011.
I have also asked the Chair of the Sydney Airport Community Forum (SACF) to review the group’s current membership and terms of reference to ensure SACF remains an effective forum for community engagement on issues relating to the operation of Sydney Airport. I understand the Chair has circulated a discussion paper to SACF members seeking feedback by 30 June 2014.
(1) Is he aware that one of the primary reasons for implementing the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) was to prevent the sale of Australian sheep in unregulated livestock markets due to the associated welfare repercussions; if so, why are Australian sheep still being sold in such markets in Jordan.
(2) Since systemic breaches of the ESCAS in Jordan were reported 12 months ago, what action has his department taken to ensure that Australian sheep exporters are operating within approved supply chains in Jordan.
(1) Yes. The department monitors compliance with the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) and where appropriate may take regulatory actions intended to promote compliance with ESCAS. Consignments of slaughter sheep exported to Jordan are subject to additional conditions which aim to strengthen control and traceability elements of exporters’ supply chains. The department continues to monitor, through independent performance audit reports and reconciliation information submitted by exporters, the ongoing performance of the supply chains in Jordan to determine what measures are appropriate to prevent, detect and manage unauthorised movement of sheep.
The regulatory framework for livestock exports is designed to minimise risk and provides a mechanism to deal with issues when they occur. It also provides stability for the industry, and the families and communities that depend on the trade.
(2) The department has required exporters to implement additional measures to manage the risks in the supply chain including:
(a) restrictions to supply chains
(b) increased supervision of livestock movement
(c) increased reporting and auditing
(d) additional security at feedlots and abattoirs
(e) additional animal identification
(f) having supply chain officers in place
The department has released three reports about non-compliance with ESCAS requirements in Jordan. The reports include information on regulatory actions and are available on the department’s website:
http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/live-animals/livestock/regulatory-framework/compliance-investigations/investigations-regulatory-compliance/jordan-june-2013
http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/live-animals/livestock/regulatory-framework/compliance-investigations/investigations-regulatory-compliance/jordan_-_january_2014_-_report_18
http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/export/live-animals/livestock/regulatory-framework/compliance-investigations/investigations-regulatory-compliance/sheep-jordan-report-20
In respect of the Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme, what sum has been issued (a) in total, and (b) to the cattle industry in the Mid-West and Gulf Country of Northern Queensland.
In respect of the Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme, as at 31 May 2014:
(a) the total value of approved loans in all jurisdictions is $115.54 million.
(b) the total value of approved loans in the cattle industry in the Mid-West and Gulf Country of Northern Queensland is $4.395 million*.
*This total includes any approved applications in the cattle industry in the following Local Government Areas:
How many families in the electoral division of Shortland will lose Family Tax Benefit B as result of the 2014 budget.
To answer this question would require a significant diversion of departmental resources from other business priorities and regular operations.
In respect of the 16 international Tamil organisations, including the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), recently listed as terror groups by the Sri Lankan Government, (a) why has the Australian Government not yet released a statement (i) condemning this list, and (ii) representing the concerns of its Tamil population, (b) what is the Australian Government doing to ensure that the (i) Australian Tamil community in Australia gains proper and beneficial information about the actions of the Sri Lankan Government, and (ii) ATC does not continue to be vilified by the Sri Lankan Government through its presence on the list, (c) why has the Australian Government not acted more publically in stating that this list is not only contrary to future reconciliation, but also goes against the basic democratic right of freedom of speech, and (d) has the Australian Government analysed and scrutinised Sri Lanka’s justification for proscribing the ATC; if so, can the Australian Government state its policy position on this matter.
(a) In a statement released to the media in April I made clear that the Australian Government does not consider the listings of the Tamil diaspora organisations referred to as conducive to reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
(b) The Sri Lankan Government listings do not affect Australia’s implementation of UNSC sanctions regimes, and do not constrain the freedom of the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) or any other listed group or individual to express views and operate in Australia in accordance with Australian law. Australian Government officials have met with ATC representatives to discuss these concerns. I have also written to the ATC regarding this matter.
Australian Government officials have raised concerns about the impact of the listings on the Tamil diaspora in Australia with the Sri Lankan Government, both in Canberra and in Colombo.
Australian officials continue to seek clarification on the practical implications of the listings for individuals or members of listed groups under Sri Lankan law, which remain unclear. In addition, officials have sought advice on available processes for designated persons or entities to seek revocation of their listing.
Australia’s travel advice for Sri Lanka was updated on 9 April to highlight that the Prevention of Terrorism Act remains in place in Sri Lanka.
(c) See (a) above.
Australia strongly supports the right to freedom of expression.
(d) The Australian Government takes very seriously any listings by foreign governments pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1373. On the available information, however, the Australian Government does not consider there are any grounds to list the ATC under Australian law.
Australia has separately listed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) pursuant to our counter terrorism sanctions regime under the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945. It is a serious offence under Australian law to make assets (including funds) available to the LTTE, whether directly or indirectly, or to deal with LTTE assets.
When will Acacia Gardens in the electoral division of Greenway have access to the National Broadband Network?
Labor failed New South Wales in rolling out the NBN. Prior to the time of the last election, as at 2 September 2014, NBN Co had connected just 8,232 active brownfields users in New South Wales. In the following 8 months the Coalition Government has increased active NBN brownfields users in NSW by 3.5 times what Labor achieved in 6 years.
The Strategic review found that the fastest and most affordable way to deliver the NBN is to apply a mix of technologies based on their best fit with the infrastructure already in place. NBN Co is now making preparations to implement the Government’s directions. NBN Co’s review into the wireless and satellite programs has been completed and is available on its website.
The outcomes of these reviews will feed into the process of determining which areas of Australia will be serviced by which technology. Meanwhile, the Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) build is continuing and the areas where build has commenced or where services are available are listed on the NBN Co website.
Once these processes have been completed and NBN Co has stabilised the FTTP rollout, the company will be in a position to provide further details. NBN Co is currently working on a new rollout schedule which will indicate when different parts of Australia will be connected to the NBN. The Government expects this information will be released in the second half of this year.
Importantly, the Strategic Review found that most areas in the fixed line footprint that currently, across the area, have no or very low levels of broadband will receive an NBN Co service, on average two years earlier in the deployment.
Has the Government decided that from 2015, answers to the NAPLAN exams will be submitted online; if so, (a) is the Government aware that many public schools are currently unable to fulfil that policy decision due to the limited number of computers available, (b) what is the Government's plan to ensure that (i) all schools are able to submit NAPLAN exams online, and (ii) the NAPLAN exam results of all students are treated fairly, (c) how does the Government plan to provide enough resources to public schools to ensure that students attending public schools are afforded the same opportunities as students attending private schools, and (d) if the Government is unable to provide improved computer capacity to public schools, what advice will it offer to reassure the parents of these students.
In December 2012, Australian Education Ministers through the Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood (SCSEEC) agreed NAPLAN testing should transition from paper-based to online delivery and to 2016 as the provisional target implementation date. SCSEEC reaffirmed this commitment in April 2014.
Collaboration across jurisdictions and sectors with the input and support of our key national education agencies aims to ensure NAPLAN online will be successfully delivered including continuation of existing arrangements to ensure test results are treated fairly in respect to the security of information and test equity.
To achieve this, significant work is underway with states and territories collaborating with the Australian Government, Education Services Australia (ESA) and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) through the AEEYSOC Online Assessment Working Group, to plan for and identify implementation requirements. A key component of this work is analysis of local readiness issues to ensure all schools will be able to participate in NAPLAN online. These issues include the number of computers or devices in schools, capability of schools' networks and bandwidth and the level of IT capability of school staff, amongst a range of other considerations. Any school readiness gaps identified in this work will enable decisions to be made about the best approach to introduce NAPLAN online. It is the responsibility of states and territories and non-government education authorities to ensure their schools are sufficiently resourced to deliver high quality, contemporary education which includes implementing the Australian Curriculum which is a fully online curriculum; communicating with parents and the school community online and will, in agreed timeframes, include participating in online assessment.
Education Ministers in August this year will consider a range of costed implementation options to deliver NAPLAN online, this will enable Ministers to make a decision on the agreed implementation arrangements with detailed knowledge of local readiness, technical and assessment requirements.
(1) Is it a fact that during the 2013 election campaign, the then Opposition Leader committed during a leaders debate, that "no Medicare Locals would be shut down". (2) Does the Government intend to retain the Hunter Medicare Local. (3) Is the Minister aware of the work of the Hunter Medicare Local, which includes: (a) delivery of the General Practitioner Access After Hours Program which has delivered after hours care for the Newcastle and Hunter communities for the last 10 years, (b) being a lead site for the Government's Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record initiative, (c) delivery of the Partners in Recovery program with a consortium of local service providers to provide support and care to people residing in the Hunter living with severe and persistent mental illness and complex needs, (d) improving Aboriginal health outcomes through providing services such as Self-Identification, Cultural Awareness Training and 715 Health Checks, and (e) providing a full suite of holistic health services available to young people aged 12 to 25 through headspace Newcastle.
(1) to (2) Prior to the 2013 election, the then Opposition announced the intention to undertake a Review of Medicare Locals. Following the election of the Abbott Government, I announced the Review of Medicare Locals (the Review) on 16 December 2013. Professor John Horvath AO was appointed to oversee the Review. The Review found that many patients continue to experience fragmented health care and identified a need for an organisation to link up the parts of the health system to improve outcomes and productivity. The Review found that Medicare Locals cannot fulfil this role in their current form.
Announcements in the 2014-15 Budget, included the Government's response to the Review. Accordingly, the Commonwealth will establish Primary Health Networks (PHNs) from 1 July 2015. PHNs will be fewer in number than Medicare Locals and will be aligned with Local Hospital Networks. They will be clinically and systems focused and work to improve frontline health care through primary, community and secondary sector integration.
The opportunity to operate PHNs will be available through an open and competitive Invitation to Apply later this year, and will be open to public and private organisations. The Hunter Medicare Local will have the opportunity to apply to become a PHN, should it wish to do so.
(3) (a) to (e) The Government is aware of the programmes that the Hunter Medicare Local delivers. The focus for 2014-15 is to maintain existing frontline services that meet community needs during this transition period.
What measures are the Government taking to support Mother Language Day on 21 February.
The Government has no measures in place to support Mother Language Day.
The Government remains committed to Harmony Day which celebrates all aspects of the success of our multicultural society.
(1) Is there a requirement for a register of pecuniary interests for senior officers in the Minister's department who provide advice on Defence equipment purchases costing billions of dollars; if not, why not.
(2) Is there a record of what largesse is provided to senior Defence personnel by Defence contractors.
(3) Are there any restrictions on Defence personnel who leave the services getting jobs with Defence contractors, for whom they may have provided advice favouring that contractor's product.
(4) What arrangements exist to ensure probity in Defence equipment contracts and tendering.
(1) and (2) Yes.
(3) Yes. Conditions governing the post-separation employment of Defence personnel, both military and civilian, are shown below .
(4) The Department monitors and manages the probity risk in all procurements, mitigating risks through:
(1) Is it the Government's intent to allow private industry to tender for the Primary Health Networks (PHNs) that will replace the current 61 Medicare locals closing on 1 July 2015. (2) If private health insurers or equivalent organisations are successful in tendering to operate the new PHNs, how will the Government ensure that (a) insured patients in networks operated by a private insurer are not given preferential treatment to the advantage of private industry and the detriment of vulnerable populations, and (b) uninsured patients will receive the services they require and are not disadvantaged. (3) Will the Government be liaising with state health departments on the selection of PHNs, including the number of PHNs and how the boundaries will be determined, particularly in Victoria.
(1) Yes.
(2) Specific detail and arrangements on how Primary Health Networks (PHN) will operate will be available through the Invitation to Apply selection process, as is appropriate for probity.
(3) My department is currently meeting with each jurisdiction to discuss the establishment of PHNs, including proposed boundaries. However, the Australian Government will make the final decision on PHN numbers and boundaries.
Why has the Coptic Orthodox Church of South Australia not received $10,000 of Stream One funding from the Building Multicultural Communities Program, and when will it receive this sum.
As a funding agreement for the Coptic Orthodox Church of South Australia was not executed prior to the commencement of the Government's review of discretionary grant spending on 4 October 2013, this grant is not proceeding. All organisations affected by the reduction in the scope of this programme were advised of the status of their grants in mid-December 2013.
The Commission of Audit was provided with a budget of $1 million. As at 30 June 2014 expenditure totalled $687,858.54.
The following table provides a breakdown.
Have any representations been received concerning risks to Australia's meat or live exports arising from the Government's comments on East Jerusalem.
Yes, one letter. The government has clarified that there has been no change in the Australian Government's position on the legal status of the Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem.
How many cases of alleged dumping of overseas products have been referred to the Anti-Dumping Commission, and of those, how many a) have been investigated, and b) are under investigation.
From establishment on 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, the Anti-Dumping Commission received 49 applications1 in the approved form for anti-dumping or countervailing measures. Of those:
a. 28 investigations were initiated during 2013/14
b. 27 cases were under investigation as at 30 June 2014.
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1 The number of applications are counted by commodity, case type and country, consistent with the WTO's statistical methodology.
The planning approvals process for the Eastern section of the East West Link has already been undertaken under the Victorian Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009 and includes the necessary assessment and approvals for the project to proceed.
In respect of (a) a media report 'Yarra Trams offers foreigners lucrative tram depot jobs' by Annika Smethurst (Herald Sun , 25 June 2014, 9 pm), (b) Tech Staff's online job advertisement in the United Kingdom for a Depot Manager at Yarra Trams in Melbourne (http://jobview.monster.co.uk/Tram-Driver-Depot-Manager-Job-Melbourne-VIC-AU-135756117.aspx?WT.mc_n=sk_feed_indeed_UK), and (c) the 'Live in Victoria' website which advertises employment opportunities to prospective overseas workers, (i) what checks and balances does the Minister's department undertake to ensure that Australian job opportunities and vacancies are advertised and offered to Australians before they are advertised to overseas workers, and (ii) will the Minister encourage these companies to advertise employment opportunities in Australia instead of overseas given that unemployment in Australia remains at 5.8 per cent, or are there no suitable Australians available for such employment opportunities.
(i) The Department of Employment provides advice to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection on labour market and workplace relations issues associated with the policy settings for the temporary work skilled (Subclass 457) and related programmes.
Under migration law, the Department of Employment does not have a role in the assessment of individual Subclass 457 visa applications or in checking advertising of related vacancies.
(ii) The Government fully supports the principle that Australian workers have priority and that the Subclass 457 programme should merely supplement domestic workforce planning initiatives where there is no Australian ready, willing and able to perform duties.
Will the cuts to the Newstart Allowance, childcare rebates and Disability Support payments, and the introduction of a General Practitioner $7 co-payment and the increased education costs for young people, combined with the high skilled migration program, increase or decrease employment opportunities for Australians.
The 2014–15 Budget measures are designed to increase participation in the workforce, including by moving more Australians from welfare into the workforce.
It is noted that under the previous term of Government, the unemployment rate increased from 4.4 per cent in November 2007 to 5.7 per cent in September 2013.
(1) Since 7 September 2014, how many food processing businesses have (a) closed, and (b) opened.
(2) How many food processing businesses were operating in Australia as at 30 June 2014.
(1) The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports on business entries and exits, rather than openings and closings. A business exit does not necessarily equate to a business 'failure'. A business is considered to have entered the market when it registers for an ABN and has a GST role allocated. A business is considered to have exited the market when the ABN or GST role has been cancelled and/or the business has ceased to remit GST for at least five consecutive quarters.
According to the ABS, in the period June 2012 to June 2013: (a) 1 724 food and beverage manufacturing businesses exited; and (b) 1 142 food and beverage manufacturing businesses entered, the Australian market.
(2) According to the ABS, 12 606 food and beverage manufacturing businesses were operating in Australia as at June 2013.
Note: The answers to your questions were sourced from ABS Counts of Australian Businesses, including entries and exits, June 2009 to June 2013 , Catalogue Number 8165.0. Statistics are not available for the periods specified in your question, since statistics in catalogue 8165.0 are reported on a financial year basis. The answers provided reflect the most recent ABS statistics available, that is, as at June 2013. Statistics for 2013–14 Financial Year will likely be reported in early 2015.
(1) What is the current number of unemployed persons who list accounting as their field of expertise.
(2) What information can the Minister provide concerning the level of (a) employment, (b) under-employment, and (c) unemployment among recent accounting graduates.
(3) Is it correct that the Department of Employment wanted accounting to be removed from the list of ‘in demand’ occupations for skilled migrants.
(4) Is it a fact that the Department of Employment believes there is a surplus of accountants, deteriorating outcomes and relatively low pay rates for Bachelor of Accounting graduates and weak employment outcomes for Master of Accounting graduates.
(5) Is the Minister aware of research by Professor Suzanne Ryan from Newcastle Business School, that there is a ‘considerable surplus’ of international accounting graduates from Australian universities, that international students who remain in Australia after they complete their course have ‘great trouble’ getting entry-level accounting jobs, and that the number of applicants per job is the highest of any profession tracked by the Department of Employment.
(6) Will the Minister review the Government’s decision to keep accounting on the list of ‘in demand’ occupations for skilled migrants.
(1) According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in May 2013 (latest available data) there were approximately 8,700 people who were unemployed and who listed Accounting as the main field of study for their highest educational qualification.
(2) Graduate Careers Australia provides data concerning the destinations of Australian resident graduates. The latest available information shows that in 2013, 77.4 per cent of 2012 accounting bachelor degree graduates who were available for full-time work were in full-time employment four months after graduation and 22.6 per cent were seeking full-time work (comprising
12.2 per cent who were not working and seeking full-time employment and 10.4 per cent who were working part-time but were seeking full-time work).
Graduate Careers Australia data show that about 55 per cent of bachelor degree graduates who were employed full-time in 2013 worked as accountants, 14 per cent as clerical and administrative workers, 9 per cent as auditors, company secretaries and corporate treasurers and 3 per cent as sales workers.
The Graduate Careers Australia data also show that 61.7 per cent of masters graduates in accounting who were available for full-time work were employed full-time.
(3) – (4) The Department of Employment was one of a number of organisations which made a submission to the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency in late 2013, as part of that agency’s deliberations prior to its annual advice to the Australian Government on the Skilled Occupation List for migration.
The department’s submission is publicly available on the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency’s website - www.awpa.gov.au/our-work/labour-market-information/skilled-occupation-list/Pages/Submissions-from-Industry-Stakeholders.aspx.
(5) The Department of Employment assesses the labour market for many skilled occupations and monitors commentary and information from a wide range of organisations and researchers.
(6) Portfolio responsibility for the Skilled Occupation List rests with the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
(1) How many contracts are covered by the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines 2012, and on what date does each contract expire.
(2) How many cleaners on current contracts are covered by the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines 2012.
(3) What is the process for transitioning workers away from the revoked Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines 2012.
(1) There have been about 25 to 30 contracts covered by the Commonwealth Cleaning Services Guidelines (Guidelines) since their commencement on 1 January 2012. Details of the contracts, including expiry dates, are managed by individual contracting agencies.
(2) Details of individual cleaning contracts, including the number of cleaners employed, are the responsibility of individual agencies. However, the Department of Employment has contacted a sample of agencies with Australian Government Cleaning Services Contracts.
Based on this sample, there may be several hundred cleaners doing work associated with the relevant contracts. It is estimated that, in total, there are over 100,000 employees in the Australian cleaning industry, therefore the Commonwealth Cleaning Guidelines applied to less than 1 per cent of cleaners in Australia.
(3) All existing contractual arrangements, including contracts between agencies and cleaning providers and contracts between providers and their employees, will remain in place until they expire or are re-negotiated. After these contracts expire, cleaning companies and their employees will have the flexibility to negotiate above award wages and other conditions through enterprise bargaining. The Cleaning Services Award 2010 and the National Employment Standards will continue to be the safety net of wages and conditions for all cleaners covered by the national workplace relations system. It is noted that agencies continue to have the flexibility to engage providers that pay above award wages and there were at least 65 such contracts in place prior to the commencement of the Guidelines.
(1) What action will the Minister take to ensure that outstanding superannuation entitlements are paid to employees of the failed company Lygon Distributors Pty Ltd.
(2) Will the Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigate allegations by the liquidator of Lygon Distributors Pty Ltd, Bolwell Kelson Advisory, that a director may have traded this company while insolvent.
(1) The Minister does not have any power to ensure that the outstanding superannuation entitlements of a company in liquidation, such as Lygon Distributors Pty Ltd, are paid to employees.
(2) ASIC has advised that on the information currently available to it regarding the failure of Lygon Distributors Pty Ltd (the company), there is not sufficient grounds at this time for ASIC to take regulatory action. ASIC will consider any allegations that it receives from the liquidators of the company, as well as any other reports of alleged misconduct that it may receive from a person or company affected by the company’s failure, to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for ASIC to reconsider its decision.
In respect of the $3.5 million of funding for the Armidale Regional Airport upgrade, (a) can he (i) explain, and (ii) provide, his correspondence with the Department of Finance on this matter, and (b) was any analysis undertaken to assess the need for this upgrade; if not, why not; if so, can he provide it.
(a) There is no correspondence.
(b) The Armidale Dumaresq Council initially developed a Master Plan for the Armidale Regional Airport in 2003 and an in house review of the Master Plan commenced in March 2014.
A draft of the Armidale Regional Airport Master Plan 2014 is at Attachment A.
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Attachment A is available at the House of Representatives Table Office
In respect of the Housing and Hearing Taskforce,
(a) when was it set up,
(b) what activities is it undertaking, and
(c) in respect of staffing,
(i) what is the total number,
(ii) what is the breakdown (by work level), and
(iii) are any external.
(a) The 2014-15 Budget provided the Department of Finance with funding for the scoping studies from 1 July 2014. The Housing and Hearing Taskforce was fully staffed as at 16 July 2014;
(b) The Taskforce will investigate the future ownership options for Defence Housing Australia and Australian Hearing Services by working closely with business and legal advisers, relevant entities and other relevant Commonwealth agencies to assess the capability and competition in the market and provide recommendations to the Government regarding the most efficient and effective way of delivering those services to the public in the future; and
(c) In respect of staffing, as at 16 July 2014, the Housing and Hearing Taskforce had a total number of eight staff consisting of 1 x SES 1, 2 x EL2, 3 x EL1, 1 x APS6 and 1 x APS5. All are current Finance employees.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence— For each electoral division from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, and as contained in the Defence Expenditure by Electorate year to date first quarter for 2013-14 within the Chief Finance Officer Group, what was the financial expenditure for (a) Military Employee Expenses, (b) Civilian Employee Expenses, (c) Facilities—Capital, (d) Facilities—Operating, (e) Grants, (f) Major Capital Equipment, and (g) Supplier Expenses.
Defence expenditure by electorate for the period 1 July2013 to 30June2014 is at Attachment A.
Defence’s 2013-14 financial statements have not yet been finalised and accordingly, the expenditure by electorate could change. It is expected that any change would not be significant.
The total spend by electorate does not represent all Defence expenditure as it excludes certain items such as payments to overseas suppliers and superannuation.
(1) What sum was saved in awarding the tender for fawn and black industrial footwear to the winning bidder over Rossi Boots.
(2) Was there any scope within the procurement rules to have considered the economic benefits from a locally manufactured product; if so, what weighting or consideration, if any, was applied.
(1) On 27 June 2014, the Commonwealth awarded a contract, for a five-year term, to Amare Safety Pty Ltd for the supply of up to 25,000 pairs of the Fawn Industrial Protective Footwear at an approximate cost of $3.49 million including Goods and Service Tax. Amare Safety Pty Ltd is a Victorian company located in Mulgrave who will be supplying a Commercial Off-The-Shelf ‘Steel Blue’ branded boot that is supplied by the Australian company who manufactures in Indonesia.
Rossiter’s Pty Ltd tendered two boots that were found to be less technically compliant against the preferred tenderers’ submission. One boot was in the range of 10 to 20 percent more expensive and the other 20 to 30 percent more expensive.
At this time, only the tender for the Fawn Industrial Protective Footware has been finalised.
(2) Defence always seeks to acquire a quality Australian product that offers equal, or superior, performance at a price that represents value for money in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. An example of this is the recent contract awarded to R.M Williams located in Adelaide, South Australia, who completed the supply of 23,000 parade boots for the Army.
The tender for the Industrial Protective Footwear has been conducted and complies with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and is in accordance with Clause 5.3 “Non-Discrimination” which stipulates that “all potential suppliers to Government must, subject to these CPRs, be treated equitably based on their commercial, legal, technical and financial abilities and not be discriminated against due to their size, degree of foreign affiliation or ownership, location, or the origin of their goods and services”.
(1) Is it a fact that during the 2013 election campaign, the then Opposition Leader committed during a leaders debate, that "no Medicare Locals would be shut down". (2) Does the Government intend to retain the South Western Melbourne Medicare Local. (3) Is he aware of the work of the South Western Melbourne Medicare Local, which includes (a) supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic disease, (b) implementing the Medicare Local After Hours program, (c) assisting healthcare professionals and the community for eHealth readiness, (d) working with local hospitals, private allied health, community health and other organisations providing mental health services, to improve access to and communication between healthcare professionals, (e) supporting clinicians and their teams through training, education and access to resources, and (f) partnering with the Department of Health, neighbouring Medicare Locals and specialised refugee services to ensure a coordinated approach to primary medical and other care for refugees settling across the region. (4) Can he guarantee that no jobs will be lost at the South Western Melbourne Medicare Local as a result of decisions made by the Government
(1) to (2) Prior to the 2013 election, the then Opposition announced the intention to undertake a Review of Medicare Locals. Following the election of the Abbott Government, I announced the Review of Medicare Locals (the Review) on 16 December 2013. Professor John Horvath AO was appointed to oversee the Review. The Review found that many patients continue to experience fragmented health care and identified a need for an organisation to link up the parts of the health system to improve outcomes and productivity. The Review found that Medicare Locals cannot fulfil this role in their current form.
Announcements in the 2014-15 Budget, included the Government's response to the Review. Accordingly, the Commonwealth will establish Primary Health Networks (PHNs) from 1 July 2015. PHNs will be fewer in number than Medicare Locals and will be aligned with Local Hospital Networks. They will be clinically and systems focused and work to improve frontline health care through primary, community and secondary sector integration.
The opportunity to operate PHNs will be available through an open and competitive Invitation to Apply later this year, and will be open to public and private organisations. As the South Western Melbourne Medicare Local is an independent company, they will have the opportunity to apply to become a PHN, should they wish to do so.
(3) (a) to (f) The Government is aware of the programmes that the South Western Melbourne Medicare Local delivers. The focus for 2014-15 is on maintaining existing frontline services that meet community needs.
(4) Each Medicare Local is responsible for its own business decisions regarding staffing and service continuity.