The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 09:30, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private members' business
1. The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 10 September 2019.
2. The committee deliberated on items of committee and delegation business that had been notified, private members' business items listed on the Notice Paper and notices lodged on Tuesday, 10 September 2019, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 16 September 2019, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 Mr Wilkie: To present a bill for an act relating to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Australians and all people in Australia, and for related purposes. ( Australian Bill of Rights Bill 2019 )
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
2 Mr Bandt: To present a bill for an act to amend the Fair Work Act 2009, and for related purposes. ( Fair Work Amendment (Stop Work to Stop Warming) Bill 2019 )
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
3 Ms Sharkie: To present a bill for an act to amend the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009, and for related purposes. ( National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2019 )
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
4 Ms Sharkie: To present a bill for an act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and for related purposes. ( Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Real Time Disclosure of Political Donations) Bill 2019 )
( Notice given 9 September 2019.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
5 Ms Kearney: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) more than 6 years of Liberal government has left Australia facing a crisis in skills and vocational training; and
(b) under this government:
(i) more than 150,000 traineeships and apprenticeships have been lost;
(ii) $3 billion has been slashed from TAFE and training; and
(iii) 75 per cent of businesses are struggling to find qualified Australians to fill jobs; and
(2) further notes that:
(a) the coalition's answer to the ongoing demise of the VET sector is a $525 million skills package, yet Senate estimates confirmed that only $54.5 million of this is new funding for the sector;
(b) the business community, unions and the not-for-profit sector are demanding reform and real funding—they know that a strong and growing economy depends on a skilled Australian workforce; and
(c) with youth unemployment stuck at more than double the national average, young people need a decent skills sector that leads to good, secure and well paid jobs.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Ms Kearney—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
6 Mr Connelly: To move:
That this House:
(1) considers the Baha'i community a valued part of Australian society;
(2) commends the contribution that Australian Baha'is make to social cohesion, unity and community building in Australia;
(3) provides assurance that it holds the Baha'i Faith, its leadership and its practicing members in the highest regard, in light of their focus on serving others with excellence;
(4) congratulates the Australian Baha'i community on the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of their founder, the Bab, in October 2019;
(5) condemns the ongoing persecution of Baha'is across the world, which includes arbitrary arrests and imprisonments, economic isolation and denial of access to higher education;
(6) acknowledges that 2019 is the bicentenary of the Baha'i Faith;
(7) notes that the Baha'i Faith teaches core principles of inclusivity, public service and peacefulness;
(8) recognises that in spite of the openness and peacefulness inherent to their beliefs, members of the Baha'i Faith have suffered significant persecution;
(9) understands that most, if not all, of the world's major religions have, at various times including the present, suffered persecution in some form; and
(10) holds that the importance of freedom of religion is both an individual and a collective right, protected under international and domestic law, whereby all people are free to adopt and hold a belief, as well as manifest that belief in worship, observance, practice or teaching.
( Notice given 9 September 2019.)
T ime allotted—remaining private m embers' business time prior to 12 noon
Speech time limits—
Mr Connelly—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 Ms Steggall: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes a national health campaign, No Time for Games, comprising the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Royal Australian College of Physicians, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Australian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians, the Australian College of Emergency Medicine, the Australian Medical Students Association and other organisations representing over 10,000 doctors and medical students nationwide, is calling for the Parliament to officially recognize that climate change represents one of the biggest and most urgent health threats to our children, requiring immediate and effective action;
(2) recognises that human health is adversely affected by human induced climate change, and that many in the Australian community, including our children, will be more susceptible to:
(a) heat related illness and death due to increased temperatures;
(b) respiratory disease and death caused by burning fossil fuels; and
(c) deadly hypoallergenic conditions like thunderstorm asthma which is exacerbated by longer allergy seasons and more severe weather events; and
(3) calls on the government to reduce the incidence of these health effects by acting to develop and implement a plan to de-carbonise every polluting sector by 2050, which will reduce the incidence of extreme temperatures and more severe weather events.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Ms Steggall—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
2 Mr Entsch: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) 24 March is World Tuberculosis (TB) Day, a day to commemorate the precious lives lost due to TB, a disease that is preventable and curable;
(b) TB is contagious and airborne—it is the world's leading infectious disease killer and kills more people than HIV/AIDS;
(c) in 2017 alone, 1.6 million people died from TB worldwide and 10 million people became sick with the disease; and
(d) there is a funding gap of US$1.3 billion annually in TB research and development and it is critical to develop quicker diagnostic tools, better drugs, and a new TB vaccine in order to end the TB epidemic;
(2) recognises:
(a) that the funding that Australia is providing jointly with the World Bank to support testing and treatment in Papua New Guinea is already leading to an initiative to achieve universal testing for TB in Daru; and
(b) the provision of $75 million over five years for Product Development Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Health Security initiative to accelerate access to new therapeutics and diagnostics for drug-resistant TB and malaria, building on the successes of Australia's previous investments; and
(3) calls on the government to:
(a) develop an action plan to monitor the progress made towards the targets and commitment made at the UN High-Level Meeting on TB; and
(b) make an increased financial commitment to the Global Fund at its Replenishment Conference in October 2019.
( Notice given 9 September 2019.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Entsch—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
3 Mr Hayes: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that National Police Remembrance Day is observed on 27 September;
(2) acknowledges the crucial role police officers across Australia play in our local communities and the tremendous risk and sacrifice that comes with their duty;
(3) honours the lives and memories of those police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the course of their duty and specifically honours the tragic loss of Constable Timothy Proctor of the New South Wales Police Force, who died from injuries sustained in a multiple vehicle collision in Lucas Heights;
(4) pays tribute to the families and friends of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty throughout our nation's history;
(5) commends the valuable work of Police Legacy, who look after the loved ones of police officers who have fallen; and
(6) reaffirms its support for the nation's police officers and honours their courage, commitment and dedication in ensuring the peace and safety of our communities.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Hayes—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
4 Mr Hastie: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises those impacted by the collapse of the Sterling First New Life investment scheme and associated companies;
(2) condemns the Sterling Group for deceptive, scurrilous con-man tactics that were used to prey on vulnerable senior Australians;
(3) further recognises that the Department of Social Services has introduced a dedicated officer to oversee the Centrelink clients impacted by the collapse and has requested that individuals seek an interview with Centrelink staff, as each personal circumstance is different;
(4) encourages the people impacted by the collapse to make contact with the department and to make a submission to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority to investigate the financial dealings of the Sterling Group; and
(5) acknowledges that the company is in administration and that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has commenced investigations into their activities.
( Notice given 9 September 2019.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Hastie—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
5 Mr Zappia: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) 2019 marks the centenary of Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith's epic flight from London to Darwin;
(b) a service was held at St Peter's Cathedral in Adelaide on 15 June 2019 to commemorate the centenary;
(c) Sir Ross Smith is one of Australia's most distinguished airmen, having served with distinction during World War I and then winning the 1919 Great Air Race with his brother, piloting the renowned Vickers Vimy aircraft now on display at Adelaide Airport; and
(d) on 15 June 1922 more than 100,000 people lined the streets of Adelaide for the funeral cortege of Sir Ross Smith who was tragically killed in 1922 whilst test flying another Vickers aircraft in preparation for another epic flight; and
(2) acknowledges heroism of the Smith brothers, their contribution to Australian aviation and the pride they brought to the nation.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Mr Zappia—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices—continued
6 Mr Georganas: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) the 74th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki occurred on 6 and 9 August 2019 respectively, causing suffering which continues to this day;
(b) the ongoing impacts of nuclear weapons on survivors of nuclear testing worldwide, including in Australia;
(c) that successive Coalition and Labor Governments have joined all other treaties prohibiting inhumane and indiscriminate weapons;
(d) that nuclear dangers are increasing worldwide, with no significant progress on nuclear disarmament in sight;
(e) the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons is an urgent humanitarian imperative;
(f) the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) outlaws the world's worst weapons of mass destruction, strengthening the international legal nuclear disarmament framework; and
(g) the TPNW complements and strengthens Australia's existing commitments under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty; and
(2) urges Australia to work towards signing and ratifying the TPNW.
( Notice given 31 July 2019.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Georganas—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
7 Dr Allen: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the imperative of improving waste management, reducing unnecessary packaging and boosting recycling in Australia;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) Australians generate about 67 million tonnes of waste each year, of which 37 million tonnes is recycled;
(b) only 12 per cent of the 103 kilograms of plastic waste generated per person in Australia each year is recycled, mostly overseas;
(c) for every 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled, more than 9 jobs are created; and
(d) waste related activities add $6.9 billion to the economy annually;
(3) welcomes the government's recent $20 million commitment for innovative projects under round 8 of the Cooperative Research Centres Projects grants to grow our domestic plastics recycling industry; and
(4) notes that this is part of the government's Australian Recycling Investment Plan, a package of initiatives totalling $167 million designed to grow and strengthen Australia's domestic recycling industry, and to support industry and community initiatives to lift recycling rates in Australia.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—45 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Dr Allen—10 minutes.
Next member speaking—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 1 x 10 mins + 7 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
8 Dr Freelander: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges:
(a) south-western Sydney as one of the key growth areas of Australia; and
(b) south-western Sydney's cultural and economic contribution to the country; and
(2) calls on the government to:
(a) ensure south-western Sydney is adequately resourced in terms of vital infrastructure projects and inter-connectivity of the region;
(b) ensure that major infrastructure projects, such as Western Sydney International Airport, do not isolate business centres such as Campbelltown and Liverpool from the public transport network;
(c) adequately fund public transport links between the Western Sydney Airport, Western Sydney Aerotropolis, and south-western Sydney growth centres to ensure realisation of the economic benefits of the airport for the local community; and
(d) build a:
(i) south-west rail line extension from Leppington through to Western Sydney Airport;
(ii) a north-south rail link from Western Sydney Airport to Macarthur; and
(iii) a rapid transit link along 15th Avenue from the Liverpool CBD to Western Sydney Airport.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Dr Freelander—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
9 Dr Gillespie: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the government's commitment to Medicare;
(2) further notes:
(a) the record level of funding to Medicare in 2018-19 of $24.1 billion, which is an increase of 3.5 per cent in benefits paid in the 2017-18 financial year;
(b) that the national GP bulk billing rate of 86.2 per cent is a four percentage point increase on the 2012-13 figure of 82.2 per cent when Labor were last in office; and
(c) that patients made 136.5 million bulk billed GP visits in 2018-19, up 3.3 million visits on the previous financial year;
(3) acknowledges that on 1 July 2019, the government increased the patient rebate for further GP items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule, and that specialist procedures, allied health services and other GP services such as mental health and after hours services, were indexed; and
(4) congratulates the government for ensuring the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review will continue to ensure that Medicare services are effective and appropriate for patients now and into the future.
( Notice given 10 September 2019. )
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Dr Gillespie—5 minutes.
Other m embers—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed members speaking = 10 x 5 mins]
The c ommittee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
THE HON A. D. H. SMITH MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
11 September 2019
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
National Health Amendment (Safety Net Thresholds) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Emergency Response Fund Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Emergency Response Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Paid Parental Leave Amendment (Work Test) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Better Targeting Student Payments) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Drug Testing Trial) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Payment Integrity) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management to Cashless Debit Card Transition) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Bill 2019
Aged Care Amendment (Movement of Provisionally Allocated Places) Bill 2019
The House divided. [10:54]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
National Sports Tribunal Bill 2019
National Sports Tribunal (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2019
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2019
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment Bill 2019
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 implement a plan for a large-scale carbon capture and storage plan to help Australia meet its international emissions targets while further growing Australia's resources sector".
The House divided. [11:47]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a third time.
Higher Education Support (Charges) Bill 2019
Higher Education Support Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2019
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 notes that the Government has damaged the quality of Australia's world-class higher education system, having cut billions from universities by effectively capping undergraduate places and slashing research funding".
The House divided. [12:27]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Higher Education Support Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a third time.
Migration Amendment (Streamlining Visa Processing) Bill 2019
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:
(1)notes that the Government's plan to privatise Australia's visa system will lead to:
(a)cuts to services, increased risk of visa fraud, worker exploitation, and data security breaches; and
(b)the loss of around 2,000 jobs Australia-wide; and
(2)urges the Government to stop its privatisation of Australia's visa system".
The House divided. [13:14]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
That business intervening before order of the day No. 10, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2019
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 criticises the Government for its record of delayed and withdrawn Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings".
Jeffrey Wayne Yates served in the Australian Defence Force as a Signals Officer for more than 21 years. He saw operational service in Cambodia in 1993, where his unit was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation. In the Australia Day Honours of 1990, he was awarded an Order of Australia.
Throughout his years of service, he was a mentor to hundreds of soldiers and officers across a wide range of regimental postings. That experience would hold him in good stead for retirement. During his service life, he recognised that soldiers broken in service were looking for help in seeking compensation for injuries sustained during that service. That led to his commitment to help them, and the best way he could do that was to become an advocate.
During his time as an advocate he has worked tirelessly helping hundreds of service and ex-service personnel, submitting claims on their behalf, as well as working for those seeking war widow status. He represents them at the Veterans' Review Board and gives advice and assistance to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Sam Dastyari has been caught betraying his country and that means he's betraying every patriotic Australian in this country.
It's all very odd. Especially as there is a huge question over the sincerity of her own boss's views on border protection.
And the message is very clear: if you come to Australia by boat without a visa, you will not be settled in Australia.
What that does is it breaks the model. That’s what we need to do.
I couldn't ask someone else to do something I couldn't see myself doing and if people were in a boat, including families and children, I myself couldn't turn that around.
The government's failure to develop a consistent energy policy to meet the demands of climate change.
National Health Amendment (Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a third time.
Health Insurance Amendment (Bonded Medical Programs Reform) Bill 2019
That this bill be now read a second time.
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 criticises the Government for its cuts to and neglect of health care, which have made health care more expensive and less accessible for people in regional, rural and remote Australia".
That this bill be now read a third time.
Water Amendment (Indigenous Authority Member) Bill 2019
… recognises and acknowledges that the traditional owners and their nations in the Murray-Darling Basin have a deep cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to their lands and waters. The Authority understands the need for recognition of traditional owner knowledge and cultural values in natural resource management associated with the basin. Further research is required to assist in understanding for providing for cultural flows.
… a meaningful consultation should now commence between the basin states, the Commonwealth and the MDBA concerning cultural flow.
… contemporary Australian society has a considerable way to go in understanding Aboriginal culture, and the significance of water resources within it.
… pressing reminders of the damage and loss simultaneously suffered by the Aboriginal peoples of the Basin to their culture and way of life as a result of the over exploitation of Basin water resources.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019
State and territory governments should introduce legislation to create a criminal offence of failure to protect a child within a relevant institution from a substantial risk of sexual abuse by an adult associated with the institution—
… children are more likely to be abused in institutional contexts where the community has an unquestioning respect for the authority of an institution.
This is our country, our Boodja, the land. And the waterway is part of our country. So when you make decisions to look at what you have in front of you, make the right decision for all people.
A man-made access channel will fill up over time, requiring frequent maintenance dredging.
The access channel will act as a giant trap catching mobile week wracks and turn into an anoxic sludge pit.
Our position has not changed over the past 5 years in that we strongly oppose the dredging of the access channel and inland marina to house 300 oversize boats.
… of the opinion that the proposed point Grey Marina, including the construction of a 2.5km navigation channel across the Harvey Estuary is the single highest risk development to the ongoing health of the Ramsar-Listed Peel Harvey Estuary.
The significant dredging required, and the residual development will have major deleterious impacts to the fishing industry. The proposed channel will be in the middle of the most prolific breeding ground for crabs in the estuary.
Point Grey must not go ahead. And that's for not just my community … But this is for the whole community. When I see things that are still the same as I've seen when I was a kid and there still the same now, what a fantastic place. And my grandkids see that the same as I saw it. But if you made change, it'll never be the same again. So I ask yous, keep this for all our kids future to see, all of them, not just mine.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hogan) took the chair at 10:00.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2019-2020
Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2019-2020
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2019-2020
We need to do more to prevent, reduce and ultimately eliminate domestic and family violence if we are to have any chance of ending homelessness.
… the purpose of being here today is to say that when it comes to the public service, that is the engine room through which a government implements its agenda.
… let me explain to you what I mean by implementation. It is the job of the public service to advise you of the challenges that may present to a Government in implementing its agenda. That is the advisory role of the public service.
… given how well contained the wage inflation is across the nation, and between sectors, even this modest increase looks optimistic with the risks to this forecast more to the downside than upside.
Education
Attorney-General's
Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Environment and Energy
Foreign Affairs and Trade
Health
Communications and the Arts
Defence
Treasury
Social Services
Social Services—National Disability Insurance Scheme
Finance
Agriculture
Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development
Home Affairs
Industry, Innovation and Science
Prime Minister and Cabinet
Prime Minister and Cabinet—National Indigenous Australians Agency
... 75 per cent of employers were having difficulty recruiting qualified or skilled workers to fill vacancies. The biggest shortages were among technicians and trades workers.
Apprenticeship and traineeships numbers have fallen from 446,000 in 2012 to 259,385 last year, which Mr Willox blamed on a number of policy changes, including the removal or reduction of many employer incentives.
More must be done to train the next generation to ensure the economy has the requisite skills to sustain existing and future economic activity.
Doing what we've always done isn't working—we have a 'perfect storm' of stubbornly high levels of youth unemployment, but businesses are crying out for staff.
Technological change, such as artificial intelligence, automation and advances in biotechnology are transforming existing industries and changing the skills required for high-quality jobs. Unless Australia can reverse its recent declines in educational performance, its future workforce could be poorly prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
The Coalition's proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission is a fraudulent nonsense, designed to protect ministers, parliamentarians and their aides from investigation and exposure.
I don't think it is appropriate or correct to refer to the model proposed by Attorney-General Porter of a national integrity commission as fraudulent or designed to avoid scrutiny of ministers.
It was a very serious assertion which should not have been made …
I hope and expect any debate after the election on this important step to combat corruption, no matter who is in power, will be conducted respectfully with the rule of law at the front of the mind of everyone.
Nobody should throw allegations around like confetti in order to impugn the motives of those who disagree with their model. We should all focus on the issues, not rhetoric.
It shouldn't be the case that simply being a card-carrying member of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance exempts you from all legal sanction.
I'm not convinced that there is a need for yet another integrity officer …
JOURNALIST: They do say—I mean, you said it has the potential to have a big impact on landholders, one of those landholders being a company that is—
ANGUS TAYLOR: One of the landholders is me—
I'm a farmer.
I make absolutely no apologies for standing up for farmers in my region. That includes me … It is my job to stand up for us.
In the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government provisioned $8.4 million from the Community Health and Hospitals Program to expand hospital care and dialysis services in South Australia's rapidly growing region of Victor. The funding will be provided to the South Australian government over three financial years commencing in 2022-23. The commencement and completion dates of the project will be negotiated between the Australian and South Australian governments and will be included as milestones in the final project agreement.
In respect of the $8.6 million promised from the Government's Community Health and Hospitals Program to expand the emergency department at Mount Barker District Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in South Australia: (a) when will the money be released; and (b) when will the project (i) commence, and (ii) be completed.
In the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government provisioned $8.6 million from the Community Health and Hospitals Program for the upgrade of the Mt Barker Emergency Department. The funding will be provided to the South Australian government over three financial years commencing in 2021-22. The commencement and completion dates of the project will be negotiated between the Australian and South Australian governments and will be included as milestones in the final project agreement.
47. What total number of (primary and dependent) applicants lodged an application for citizenship by conferral in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018‑19.
48. What total number of applications for citizenship by conferral (both primary and dependent) were on hand on 30 June in: (a) 2013; (b) 2014; (c) 2015; (d) 2016; (e) 2017; (f) 2018; and (g) 2019.
49. What total number of (primary and dependent) applicants were conferred citizenship in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
50. What total number of (primary and dependent) applicants were refused citizenship by conferral in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
51. What were the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15, (d) 2015-16, (e) 2016-17, (f) 2017-18 and (g) 2018-19.
52. What are the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral that were on hand on 30 June in: (a) 2013; (b) 2014; (c) 2015; (d) 2016; (e) 2017: (f) 2018; and (g) 2019.
Note, the Department is unable to provide detailed on-hand information for past financial year periods; on-hand information as at 30 June 2019 is reported.
53. What are the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants conferred citizenship in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
54. What are the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral that were refused in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
55. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
Reason for non-response: Note, information about citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence is not currently able to be reported. Where a geographical indicator is requested by Mr Hill, the Department has supplied information about applicants' preferred councils for ceremony attendance as an alternative, where this information is sufficiently recorded in Departmental systems to support a response.
However, in relation to this question regarding applicants who have lodged applications, preferred council information is not sufficiently recorded to support a response. This is because a client's preferred council for ceremony attendance may not necessarily be recorded in Departmental systems at the time of lodgement.
56. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral that were on hand on 30 June in: (a) 2013; (b) 2014; (c) 2015; (d) 2016; (e) 2017; (f) 2018; and (g) 2019.
Note, information about citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence is not currently able to be reported. In relation to this geographical specification, the Department is able to provide information about applicants' preferred councils for ceremony attendance. The Department is unable to provide detailed information about citizenship clients for past on-hand periods; therefore, on-hand information as at 30 June 2019 is provided.
57. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants who were conferred citizenship in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
Note, information about citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence is not currently able to be reported. In relation to this geographical specification, the Department is able to provide information about the council where applicants attended their citizenship ceremonies.
Also note that the information provided in this response relates only to people who acquired Australian citizenship at citizenship ceremonies hosted by local government councils. A small proportion of people acquire Australian citizenship at ceremonies not conducted by councils, or are not required to attend a ceremony and acquire Australian citizenship on approval of their citizenship application.
58. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral that were refused in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
Reason for non-response: Citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence are not currently able to be reported. In relation to this geographical specification, in responding to other QoNs received from Mr Hill we have supplied information about applicants' preferred council for ceremony attendance as an alternative, where this information is sufficiently recorded in Departmental systems to support a response. However, in relation to this question on applicants whose applications have been refused, preferred council information is not sufficiently recorded. This is because a client's preferred council for ceremony attendance may not be recorded in Departmental systems for cases where a refusal outcome has occurred.
59. What total number of applications for citizenship (both primary and dependent) lodged in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14: (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19 remain on hand.
60. What are the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship lodged in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19; that remain on hand.
61. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship lodged in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19; that remain on hand.
Note, information about citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence is not currently able to be reported. In relation to this geographical specification, the Department is able to provide information about applicants' preferred councils for ceremony attendance.
The Department is unable to provide detailed information about citizenship clients for past on-hand periods; on-hand information as at 30 June 2019 is provided.
62. What was the average number of days from lodgement to conferral for (primary and dependent) citizenship applications by conferral that were conferred in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
63. What are the top ten countries of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral with the highest average number of days from lodgement to conferral for applications conferred in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
64. What are the top ten local government areas of (primary and dependent) applicants for citizenship by conferral with the highest average number of days from lodgement to conferral for applications conferred in: (a) 2012-13; (b) 2013-14; (c) 2014-15; (d) 2015-16; (e) 2016-17; (f) 2017-18; and (g) 2018-19.
Note, information about citizenship applicants' local government areas of residence is not currently able to be reported. In relation to this geographical specification, the Department is able to provide information about applicants' council of ceremony attendance.