The SPEAKER ( Hon. Bronwyn Bishop ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Improving the Comcare Scheme) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Comcare system is quite burdensome, not only for claimants but for their employers as well. The focus we want to see is recovery and rehabilitation for our staff and getting them back to the workplace. The studies show that if you get people back to work earlier, their lives are better in the long run..
Social Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
Communications Legislation Amendment (SBS Advertising Flexibility and Other Measures) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (Employee Share Schemes) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a second time.
Australian Border Force Bill 2015
Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Border Force) Bill 2015
The commissioner will have the same standing as other heads of key national security related agencies, such as the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police or the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
Maintaining our borders as a secure platform for legitimate trade, travel and migration is a core responsibility of the Australian government and this is a responsibility we take very seriously.
We will decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come.
… I would just like everyone to know that the buck stops here with me. He was my son.
… these guns were being imported specifically for use by criminals, including outlaw motorcycle gang members and those Middle Eastern organised crime groups.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Customs and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Border Force) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a third time.
Omnibus Repeal Day (Spring 2014) Bill 2014
That the amendments be disagreed to.
The House divided. [12:31]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Vasta)
That the reasons be adopted.
Senate Amendment Numbers (1), (2), (3) and (4)
These amendments would propose retaining the Product Stewardship Advisory Group (PSAG), the Oil Stewardship Advisory Council (OSAC) and the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee (FSCC) and disallowed an alternative public consultation process that applied with respect to the grant and variation of approvals.
The repeal of these bodies would not prevent the Department of the Environment from consulting and engaging with industry experts on an as-needs basis without the need for costly permanent structures. The proposed abolitions would not preclude the Department of the Environment from seeking views from a broader range of organisations, experts and the community in a more flexible and targeted way. A statutory process is not required to facilitate this engagement.
Accordingly, the House of Representatives does not accept these Amendments.
Senate Amendment Numbers (5) and (6)
These amendments would disallow the removal of the requirement to publish certain notices under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and theHazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 in the Commonwealth Government Gazette and instead allow the publication of the same information on the Department of the Environment's website.
These measures do not remove the publication requirements from those Acts; rather they require the information to be published in a more accessible location (on the Department of Environment website, rather than the Commonwealth Government Gazette). As a result, the measures enhance transparency and community participation in the policy development and decision-making process.
These amendments would also disallow a number of measures to the Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989 (HW Act) including:
Publication requirements for regulations have not been removed; rather they require the information to be published in a more accessible location (on the Department of Environment website, rather than the Commonwealth Government Gazette). As a result, the measures enhance transparency and community participation in the policy development and decision-making process.
The requirement that a person hold an Australian-OECD transit permit, where the transit is from one OECD country to another and the Minister is satisfied that the transit proposal does not pose a significant risk of injury or damage to human beings or the environment is unnecessarily duplicative. The current requirement to hold an Australian transit permit is effectively duplicative of the requirement that Australia provide consent (as required by the relevant OECD Decision) to the exporting country for the movement to transit through Australia. The measures would not lessen the environmental protections as the Minister for the Environment would need to be satisfied that the transit does not pose a significant risk of injury or damage to human beings or the environment in order to exempt a person from a requirement to hold an Australian-OECD transit permit.
The requirement to specify the level of detail in Basil import and export permits currently required by the HW Act has resulted in situations where permit holders are required to apply for a variation to their permit as a result of changes that occur after the permit is issued that do not substantially change the nature of the proposal. For example, because the HW Act currently requires the place of import/export to be specified, a change in the port to which the hazardous waste is to be shipped due to changes in shipping routes would require a variation to the permit. Clarifying these matters will reduce the cost to business arising from the need to apply for a permit variation when details of a movement change. The environmental protections are not lessened by these measures as:
The Hazardous Waste Technical Working Group is being retained as it advises the Minister on technical matters that have commercial implications (for example, whether a particular type of waste is hazardous and therefore subject to the hazardous waste regime). The measure clarifies the maximum period of a member's appointment to the Working Group is three years. As members are appointed based on their expertise on matters relating to the management of hazardous waste, clarifying the period of appointment ensures that the members' expertise and experience remains current. The Minister would not be prevented from reappointing a member for a further period of three years if the Minister is satisfied that the member's expertise remains current.
The measure to enable the Minister for the Environment to delegate his or her functions and powers under the HW Act to an APS employee who holds, or is acting in, an Executive Level 2 (or equivalent) position will enable Executive Level 2 officers to exercise the Minister's functions and powers where administrative necessity dictates that decisions be made at this level. This may include:
Delegating functions and powers to Executive Level 2 officers is consistent with other legislation which contain permit regimes, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 which enables the Minister to delegate any or all of his or her powers and functions to an officer or employee in the Department. TheAustralian Administrative Law Guide also provides that it may be appropriate for junior officers to make decisions involving a limited exercise of discretion, or under provisions which will give rise to a high volume of decisions. The delegation of these powers to an Executive Level 2 employee would not prevent significant decisions being made by more senior officers or the Minster for the Environment personally.
Accordingly, the House of Representatives does not accept these Amendments.
Senate Amendment Number (7)
The amendment proposes amendments to the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act (PGPA Act). These amendments would prescribe the process for entering into a contract for the design and building of a submarine, or a substantial part of a submarine, as part of the future submarine project (SEA 1000 in the Defence Capability Plan as in force on 1 December 2014).
In-line with advice from the Department of Defence, the Government is pursuing a competitive evaluation process as part of the acquisition strategy for the Future Submarine programme. This process is consistent with the PGPA Act (specifically the Commonwealth Procurement Rules issued under Section 101) and the Defence Procurement Policy Manual.
Accordingly, the House of Representatives does not accept these Amendments.
Enhancing Online Safety for Children Bill 2014
Enhancing Online Safety for Children (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014
Private Health Insurance Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2014
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading the House calls on the government to reinstate the:
(1) provision for the subject of a complaint to ask the Ombudsman for additional time to respond to a complaint;
(2)provision for the Minister for Health to intervene where the Ombudsman decides not to investigate a complaint;
(3) provision enabling the Minister for Health to request the Ombudsman to undertake investigations;
(4)capacity of the Ombudsman to investigate complaints, produce high quality reports, and protect the rights of private health insurance consumers; and
(5) penalty for failing to participate in mediation."
We cannot simply pretend that these comments were never made …
This is not just about how a union official behaves on a construction site … It's about a textile worker not being able to have an agreement that protects their job.
Our family is in deep disbelief and crippled with sadness and would like to ask for privacy. Carol was a loving Mother of two, a devoted wife to her husband Dave and a sister to three brothers. She celebrated her 68th birthday on March 23rd.
… … …
Greig was to turn 30 on 23rd April. He was a loving son to Carol and Dave and an exceptional brother to his sister Alex. He was adored by all of his family and friends.
… … …
Carol and Greig were enjoying a few weeks holiday together at the start of his European stay—
They were both extraordinary and exceptional people who were loved by many, who they loved in return. They will forever be with us in our hearts, memories and dreams.
That the member for Bowman be suspended from the service of the House.
… for the sake of the industry and the need to attract investment in Australia, especially in this very challenging economic time, we need a policeman on the beat to bring a sense of stability and decency to the building industry.
Luke Foley's campaign has been tarnished by rank opportunism and blatant scaremongering … Luke Foley is sending a very clear message that he doesn't care about jobs or energy security for NSW.
The four years of budget surpluses I announce tonight …
They're still crying …
… There's nowhere else they can go. It's just not possible.
This is about protecting people's savings to ensure it's not eroded by bank fees and changes.'
The impact of the Government’s chaotic and incompetent Budget strategy.
There is growing concern in the upper ranks of the federal bureaucracy that the budget process is adrift, with just two months to go before it is delivered.
The confusion in the bureaucratic ranks is a product of the mixed messages being sent by both the Prime Minister and Treasurer: that hard choices have to be made to repair the nation's finances; and that much of the work is already done.
I think one of the dangers in large companies is that people start to think that their job is to create PowerPoints … to make decisions and improve things for customers.
We are being governed by fools and it is not funny.
… the government's utter failure to prosecute either the policy arguments or political strategies to get voters to countenance its signature policies, is a responsibility that rests squarely with the government of the day.
It's important we bring the Budget back to the black in 2012-13 when we said we would because we've got this strength in the economy coming down the track and we don't want to exacerbate price pressures in the economy during that period.
Making savings is important because we bring the Budget back to surplus in 2012-13, build surpluses after that and in so doing that we make sure we don't add cost of living pressures on Australian families.
… the surplus and our fiscal management has been important in putting downward pressure on interest rates.
The Government needed to make responsible spending cuts to put downward pressure on inflation and therefore interest rates.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: 17th Construction Squadron Relocation Infrastructure Project.
Migration Amendment (Protection and Other Measures) Bill 2014
That the amendments be agreed to.
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Deregulation) Bill 2014
Telecommunications (Industry Levy) Amendment Bill 2014
'There is no doubt', Fraser says, 'that helping to found it was one of the very best things that I have done.' Fraser believes the great strength of CARE is that it is non-political and non-religious, giving help where it is needed, as and when it can. And what about the politics, the disappointments and the betrayals? He shrugs. 'Well, that's people. We are imperfect creatures.'
Development requires modification and transformation of the environment … The planet's capacity to support its people is being irreversibly reduced by the destruction and degradation of the biosphere and the need to understand the problem and take corrective action is becoming urgent.
If there were six Mandelas around today, a couple in Europe, one in America and in a couple of other places, there wouldn’t be any wars.
… multiculturalism speaks to us forcefully and directly … It is not an abstract or alien notion, not a blueprint holding out utopian promises, but a set of guidelines for action which grows directly out of our society's aspirations and experiences.
Flexibility in pursuit of the nation's interests must never be allowed to degenerate into expediency.
He had many positive achievements, which gave the lie to recent observations by people surprised about how much he had changed, how much more liberal, socialist even, he has become since he left office. The basic fact is, he has not changed. The new Malcolm Fraser is the old Fraser.
Fraser was not terribly concerned about repudiating a key section of his policy platform if other factors came into play. He believed that the government was elected by the people in an act of trust to make the best decision possible at any given time, rather than be tied to a specific set of promises. He claimed that dogmatism would lead to bad government. 'Measures which seem appropriate at one stage can sometimes, indeed must, be superseded by new knowledge, new events.'
If you embrace a positive view and embrace the courage of the people who are prepared to try and get a better life for themselves and their families, I think the political pressure starts to diminish.
If they are genuine refugees, there is no deterrent that we can create which is going to be severe enough, cruel enough, nasty enough to stop them fleeing the terror in their own lands.
THE asylum-seeker debate in Australia is demeaning and miserable. The politicians who participate in it have contempt for the Australian people. They believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that if they appeal to the fearful and mean sides of our nature, they will win support. They are showing that they believe we won't know enough about the world to know that for the most part what they are saying is plainly false.
Reconciliation requires changes of heart and spirit, as well as social and economic change.
The Australian government faces a moment of truth—will we continue to hide behind the myth of "extended nuclear deterrence", willing to risk our true security and the incineration of millions in our name, or will we finally step up and get on the right side of history?
… the years of the Whitlam government saw the economic growth rate halve, unemployment double and inflation triple.
Clyde Cameron, Whitlam's minister for labour, simply refused to accept that the cost of labour could possibly influence employers' decisions about how much labour they used.
From today's perspective, there's nothing radical about equal pay or four weeks leave. But to do it all so quickly and in such an inflationary environment was disastrous.
… those who are against multiculturalism have already lost. Taking the word out of government policy won't change the result. We are a multicultural nation. Anyone who looks at the faces in the street knows that, if they think about it.
… political conflict can live alongside the sustaining of a shared, deep respect for people regardless of colour, race or religion, a belief that people should be respected for who they are.
We are a nation built by people from every land. We will keep working to improve the quality of Australian multiculturalism and a fair go for all Australians.
Together in freedom, we can build an Australia of which we can be proud‚ an Australia for our children and our grandchildren.
To us he is a true hero. He set a shining example …
All my life I will have memories of calm nights beneath the sky, of waking before dawn to see the sun rise in the east and of driving over the lonely bush roads with dust eddying all round. The deformed Mallee scrub and the ghost farms, the great plains and the endless sand hills, the majestic mountains, the beautiful valleys and pleasant hills. All these are part of Australia and part of my memories. Among them I will find my home.
Those who look for a perfect system of government are unlikely to find it. Those who look to general rules that can apply in all circumstances will be misled. Good government is essentially pragmatic. Decisions need to be guided by philosophy but based on empirical evidence. Government is not about a deductive system, it is inductive, based on circumstances and facts as they emerge. There are no formulas that can make government easy. Such conclusions, drawn from the great philosophers, provide a strong underpinning of the liberal philosophy. They also demonstrate why totalitarian regimes are generally arbitrary and brutal and why political theories of communism and socialism have so patently failed. In those theories, general rules are drawn and are sought to be applied for all circumstances. That is the antithesis of reason, of common sense, of judging circumstances as they are and making decisions accordingly. If we accept that liberalism must judge circumstances as they occur, that it must be pragmatic in its conclusions, we must also accept that liberalism has to be progressive, it has to evolve. Society cannot stand in one place.
Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful.
I hear you say "Why?" Always "Why?" You see things; and you say "Why?" But I dream things that never were; and I say "Why not?"
The news of his death is not just a national mourning for Australia, but for us.
For every one of us, he is more precious and more respected than our own parents and great-grandparents.
If not for his leadership, tenacity and standing up for us, we would not be here.
Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything.
Life wasn't meant to be easy, my child, but take courage: it can be delightful.
There was one sort of trauma in having an election forced. There would have been another sort of trauma in having that government stay in power another six or seven months.
Malcolm Fraser once reflected with me that his had been a "transitional" prime ministership, in terms of the historic development of public policy in Australia.
The gist of their remarks was, 'why aren't we supporting our white cousins in South Africa?
That debate ended somewhat abruptly after I advised my colleagues of the realities of the Fraser Government. If they wanted an Australian government that would support a small white minority in South Africa determined to keep the overwhelming black majority in a state of perpetual subjection, they would have to get another government.
My abiding memory of the 1975 campaign is of a combined Liberal Party Rally at Croydon Park for both Casey & La Trobe … where Malcolm Fraser addressed a noisy and enthusiastic crowd of 2,000 plus from the Grandstand … It was there that you could sense that the tide had turned from resentment and anger at the blocking of supply—and the dismissal of the Whitlam Government—to a rolling bandwagon support for a new Government.
I remember being in the PM's office talking about a constituency matter when Malcolm stopped me, picked up a letter and said 'Excuse me, I've got to talk to Gough about something'. He pressed the button on the direct line to Gough's office and simply said 'Gough, I've got something to show you.' Whitlam arrived within 60 seconds, apologised for interrupting me. Malcolm handed him a letter, Gough looked at it and said 'I'll talk to my lot and get back to you shortly. '
I was struck by the easy rapport and understanding between them. It was reassuring to me that the two political giants in the Parliament had such an easy modus operandi when it came to national security matters and other bipartisan issues.
Fraser, on hearing of Gough Whitlam's passing observed, "The line's broken. In this world, anyway, it's broken forever."
You are embarking on one of the noblest adventures open to any people—democratic self-government. It is one of the hardest systems in the world to run, but it is also certainly the best.
But democratic self-government is much more than just a method of exacting responsibility from government, it is of the most fundamental importance to peoples' development, to allowing people to realise their potential through political participation, to enhancing their initiative, enterprise and responsibility.
For decades ultimate authority for the administration of the laws governing the Territory's day to day affairs was held by people thousands of miles away. People who did not always comprehend the Territory's special needs.
My Dad was Malcolm's campaign manager when he stood and was elected to the seat of Wannon in 1955. I have vivid memories of the campaign, even though I was only five years old. Dad went on to represent the Victorian state seat of Portland—he was elected in 1967—which was entirely within Wannon. They were a great Liberal team. My thoughts are with the Fraser family at this sad time. Rest in peace, Malcolm Fraser.
… on any measure for an Australian political leader to seek secret—
Third spaces—a conscious attempt to create public spaces where people could come into daily informal contact was key in promoting sociability and trust. Public space has long been an essential feature of urban housing design, yet it is not always 'owned' by people locally. It was important that the development of space tapped into the emotional connections people had with their neighbourhood.
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition of Holroyd Community Aid Inc. draws to the attention of the House of Representatives Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600
We therefore ask the House to: have Holroyd Community Aid Inc's Emergency Relief grant under the Families and Communities Programme reinstated.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Hon. BC Scott ) took the chair at 09:30.
As Federal Member for Kennedy, I represent vast areas of North and North West Queensland. In the National Rugby League … Kennedy, along with the rest of North Queensland, is proudly represented by the Townsville based North Queensland Cowboys.
One tenth of the greater Townsville region regularly attends Cowboys matches and half a million watch the NRL on the television every week. Rugby League attracts and involves some half a million Australians every weekend and Rugby League has done more for social cohesion—
and a fair go for First Australians than any other social mechanism in this country. In other words the game is of great significance particularly to the people of North Queensland.
I write to you today to express my concerns over the refereeing during the Knights and Cowboys game over the weekend.
During the match a Knights player (and you can watch it clearly on the replay) smashes his hand into the face of Jonathan Thurston, bashing his head upon the ground, with the net result that he was knocked semi-conscious and could not see out of his left eye for the rest of the game. It was clearly visible on the television, but no substantive action taken.
Jonathan Thurston was later tackled with what I would interpret as a shoulder charge, a good second and a half after the ball had left his hands. Again he was knocked semi-conscious and no substantive action taken.
The third incident is what has prompted this letter. A Newcastle Knights player holds Jonathan Thurston's leg up in the air so that his body is pointing to the ground. His foot is at least six and a half feet off the ground whilst his head is only a couple of feet off the ground. A second player puts his right arm under Jonathan Thurston's chest and his left hand behind Jonathan Thurston's head so that it will be the head that takes the full impact of his body in the spear tackle. This is extremely dangerous and should warrant at least a year on the sideline. Many players have copped a year for much less than this. I think, but I'm not certain, it was the same player from the Knights on all three occasions. Most certainly the commentators attributed it to the same player in the Knights. The player was not sent off the field, he was allowed to continue with his efforts clearly aimed to maim Thurston at least temporarily.
To subject the greatest player in the Rugby League to this sort of treatment will see the game reduced to who's got the most brutal, violent thugs. The numerous other attributes of our wonderful game will be lost as people walk away as the Jonathan Thurston's—
are replaced with the likes of the Knights player. Brutal violence will replace the brilliance, courageous, big-hearted intelligence that is the centre of our wonderful game.
I am pressing on with electricity privatisation because as I have pointed out on numerous occasions, I think it is the best course for NSW, for the people of NSW, job creation in NSW and every community throughout … NSW.
The only conclusion any sensible person can draw is that electricity privatisation is overwhelmingly good for NSW. What I'm worried about with Luke Foley is the denial of facts.
… has resulted in a small, privileged special interest group, the electricity unions, maintaining their advantages at the expense of the general good.
It's just deliberately misleading the public, creating unnecessary fear and trying to scare people into voting for Labor not on merit but on misinformation. In many ways I am ashamed of the Party.
We have a multicultural and harmonious society. The best way to tackle radicalisation is through the education of our young people. The worst way is to put reckless and dangerous ideas into their heads.
Our internet is slow in Calwell, the maximum speed is 4.6 megabits per second and it's been like that for more than 10 years. The suburb was on the old [NBN role out] map from Labor to get fibre to premises in 2016—but right now we don't have anything or any news about what people will get in this suburb!
Under the Coalition by 2016 … there will be minimum download speeds of 25 megabits … we will deliver a minimum of 25 megabits … by the end of our first term.
Our policy does not support colonialism/Zionism. Therefore we do not host groups that support the colonisation and occupation of Palestine.
Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.
I see the meatworks as a provider of jobs and money for the people and farmers in Casino and the surrounding towns.
… … …
You are expected to know hundreds of cuts of meat from memory, lift from 18 kilograms up to 30 kilograms of meat repeatedly resulting in lifting up to 2 tonnes of meat during one day of work and cope with the endless red sea of meat heading towards you.
That order of the day No. 1, committee and delegation reports, be postponed until a later hour this day.
When we reviewed our forecasts in late January, we did not feel that growth thus far had been weaker than we had expected three or six months ago, but, when we looked forward, as hard as that is to do, we felt that there were fewer signs of a further pick-up in non-mining activity than we had hoped to see by now.
The mark of a great leader is to take his society from where it is to where it has never been.
I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.
We knew that if we were just like our neighbours, we would die. Because we've got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have. It's incorrupt. It's efficient. It's meritocratic. It works.
We are pragmatists ... Does it work? Let's try it and if it does work, fine, let's continue it. If it doesn't work, toss it out, try another one. We are not enamoured with any ideology.
To begin with, we don't have the ingredients of a nation, the elementary factors: a homogeneous population, common language, common culture and common destiny. So, history is a long time. I've done my bit.
… social cohesion through sharing the benefits of progress, equal opportunities for all, and meritocracy, with the best man or woman for the job, especially as leaders in government.
As for me, I have done what I had wanted to do, to the best of my ability.
I am satisfied.
That further proceedings be conducted in the House.
Since 7 September 2013, 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) Nil.
(b) Not applicable.
Does the Government support the retention of the Universal Access to Early Childhood Education funding which is relied upon by many kindergartens and is critical to maintaining a quality education program for children in the year before they start school.
This Government supports quality early learning and is committed to an early learning sector that delivers flexible, accessible and affordable quality education.
In September 2014, the Government announced $406 million for an extension of the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education. All states and territories have signed the extension of the national partnership to continue universal access to quality preschool programmes for children in the year before full-time school in 2015.
Future decisions on the Australian Government's involvement in preschool beyond 2015 will be made after consideration of the Government's response to the Productivity Commission's report on child care and early childhood learning.
In respect of the $26,000 tender to the Hotel Grand Chancellor (CN2841372), (a) what event is to be conducted at this hotel, (b) when and where will this event take place, and (c) what is the full itinerary for the event.
The event at the Hotel Grand Chancellor is the Joint Commonwealth, Tasmanian State Government and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Workshop on Job Creation and Local Economic Development – An International Perspective.
This event took place in Launceston, Tasmania on 12–13 March 2015. The outline attached provides a full itinerary for the event.
______________
Supporting the creation of more and better quality jobs is a key priority for Tasmania. Collaboration between Commonwealth, State and local governments, the education and training sector, employers and the academic community is crucial to achieve this goal.
International experiences can provide important lessons for developing stronger approaches. This event will highlight key findings from the OECD's flagship publication on Job Creation and Local Economic Development as well as the G20 policy priorities on local job creation and consider their application in the Tasmanian context.
This event is a unique opportunity for policy makers and key stakeholders to learn from both international experiences as well as from local perspectives. It will also provide an interactive forum to discuss the policy priorities of supporting job creation, increasing workforce participation, skills utilisation and reducing youth unemployment.