2021-05-11 46 1 6 House of Reps 0 1

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 12:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 1 STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER COVID-19: House of Representatives Procedure 1 12:01 The SPEAKER 00APG Members, just bear with me. I have a short statement to make before we get underway. I wish to draw the attention of members to the altered arrangements in the chamber and the Federation Chamber for this week's budget sittings. These arrangements reflect the current COVID-safe advice under the one-person-per-two-square-metre rule and are likely to remain in place until there is a variation in the risk profile. Clearly, the most obvious change is the seating arrangement. For the first time since 5 March 2020, the full membership of the House can once again be accommodated within the chamber at one time. Each member has a nominated seat. Please sit only in your seat, and note that you will not be recognised by the chair unless you're seeking the call from your nominated seat. At this stage it has not been possible to seat all ministers and shadow ministers on their respective front benches, but this situation will remain under review. During divisions, the tellers will continue to operate from near the Hansard table, which will not otherwise be occupied. This will avoid crowding down here near the Speaker's chair and where the clerks are. The questions put in any division will still be expressed in such a form as to minimise the need for most members to cross the chamber floor for any count. There are empty seats around the rear of the chamber on the side voting for the ayes. These can be used by the crossbench or others, and any occupants will be counted with the ayes during divisions. There are precautions in place to ensure that all occupants of the chamber can be identified, if required, by contact tracers. Advisers using the advisers boxes are expected, on entry to the chamber, to scan the QR codes posted outside the chamber doors to my left and right. I have spoken to the whips and asked them to enforce this practice. Members of the media using the press gallery above me must use the QR codes located there as well. All visitors in public galleries will be known either to my office or to Visitor Services. Of course, a record is already kept of members attending the chamber, as you're aware. These steps are necessary in order to increase the number of people allowed to be in the chamber at any one time. Seating capacity in the Federation Chamber will return to normal, and advisers and visitors there will need to record their entry by scanning QR codes. You'll notice the placement of QR codes at the entrances to party rooms. Whilst it's not necessary for members to scan in for party room meetings, anyone else will need to scan in, and all occupants, including members, will need to scan in when the rooms are being used for other events. I've spoken to the whips about their offices managing events in the party rooms in a COVID-safe way. In order to allow us to maintain a more normal operating environment within Parliament House, it's imperative that members and all building occupants continue to observe COVID-safe behaviours, including not attending parliament when unwell—it's particularly important with the onset of winter, when respiratory illnesses are, of course, more common, and any respiratory illness requires testing and isolation, pending results; observing COVID respiratory and hand hygiene, such as coughing into your elbow, hand sanitising and regular handwashing; and, when travelling, being aware of jurisdictional requirements and also registering attendance, including using QR codes, which are placed throughout the building. The President of the Senate and I will continue to take regular advice from medical authorities on appropriate COVID precautions. Arrangements in the chambers and at Parliament House will be adjusted to reflect the expert advice, and, of course, I will advise members of any new developments. Finally, I encourage all members to download the Check In CBR app for use around the building and around Canberra, if you haven't already done so. I want to thank the whips, the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business for the discussions we had leading up to today's sitting, and I thank the House. BUSINESS 1 BUSINESS Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders 1 12:05 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That in relation to the presentation of, and reply by the Leader of the Opposition to, the 2021-2022 Budget that: (1) standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) and standing order 33 (limit on business) be suspended for the sitting on Tuesday, 11 May 2021; and (2) standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) be suspended for the sitting on Thursday, 13 May 2021 and at that sitting, after the Leader of the Opposition completes his reply to the Budget speech, the House automatically stand adjourned until 10 am on Monday, 24 May 2021, unless the Speaker or, in the event of the Speaker being unavailable, the Deputy Speaker, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting. Question agreed to. Rearrangement 2 12:06 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson by leave—I move: That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for this sitting being as follows: (1) Address of condolence moved by the Prime Minister in connection with the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with debate to be limited to three Government speakers and two Opposition speakers; (2) sitting to be suspended for 90 minutes; (3) motion of condolence moved by the Prime Minister in connection with the death of the Honourable Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, with the Leader of the Opposition to respond and resumption of the debate on the motion to be referred to the Federation Chamber; (4) questions without notice; (5) presentation of documents; (6) motion relating to the appointment of members to committees; (7) presentation of a report by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and any specific motions to be moved in relation to the report; (8) statement and presentation of a document by the Chair of the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit in relation to the draft budget estimates for the Australian National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Budget Office for 2021-2022; (9) sitting to be suspended until 7.30 pm; (10) from 7.30 pm government business to have precedence until adjournment; and (11) any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister. Question agreed to. CONDOLENCES 2 CONDOLENCES His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh 2 12:08 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I move: That: An address to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the following terms be agreed to: YOUR MAJESTY: We, the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, received with great sorrow the news of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. On behalf of the Australian people, we express deep sympathy to Your Majesty and other members of the Royal Family, and give thanks for a remarkable life dedicated to service, devotion and commitment. For almost 80 years, Prince Philip served the Crown, his country and our Commonwealth. He was part of a generation that we will never see again: a generation who defied tyranny, who won a peace and built a liberal world order that protects and favours freedom, a generation who found meaning in service over self and to whom we owe so much. Prince Philip, as consort to the monarch, is said to have remarked, 'Constitutionally, I don't exist.' That no doubt is true, but it belies the Prince's lifelong support of the Queen as an exemplar of a life of service. In Her Majesty's own words, Prince Philip was her 'strength and stay'. They were married a remarkable 73 years—remarkable in any time, in any context, but even more remarkable under an unrelenting public gaze. It was a romance that began when he was a young officer in the Royal Navy. Prior to war, he graduated top of his class at the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. At 21 he was the youngest first lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Like so many others, the war had tempered this young lieutenant. It forced him to confront who he was, what he valued and how he would live. He wrote after war's end to his betrothed: To have been spared in war and seen victory, to have been given the chance to rest and re-adjust myself, to have fallen in love completely and unreservedly, makes all one's personal and even the world's troubles seem small and petty. The then Lieutenant Mountbatten and Princess Elizabeth married in 1947. In keeping with the times, ration coupons were used to purchase the wedding dress. Five years later the princess became our Queen, and Prince Philip put aside his active military career and took up the role of royal consort and companion. It was a role that required another to shine, not him. That takes a certain humility, as well as a deep understanding of what service truly means. Whilst their partnership embodied the tradition and timelessness of monarchy, their partnership in another way was one ahead of its time—a husband who put aside his career to support and affirm the work of his wife. The role of consort is one without a rule book. Prince Philip put his own unique stamp on the role with geniality, good humour, a genuine interest in others and a fair dinkum authenticity. By the time he had retired at the sprightly age of 96, he had undertaken some 22,000 public engagements. Those of us here have been to plenty of engagements, but I don't think any of us would pretend to a number of that scale. Again and again, he deployed his trademark lightheartedness to draw out people and put them at ease. It was an unfaltering service, always walking two steps behind Her Majesty. What you saw was what you got. If the photographers were taking too long, he'd tell them. If the environment was in danger, he'd indeed say it. If monarchy could encourage and inspire, he made sure that it did. Sixty-five years ago, Prince Philip created the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, an award that is about young people giving their best, taking responsibility, persevering, developing skills, giving back and making a contribution. He described the award as a 'do-it-yourself growing-up kit', an award modelled on how the Duke himself saw life. In Australia alone, 775,000 young people have completed the award. Millions more have done so around the world. Every one of those lives gained a layer of texture because of that experience. Internationally, the Prince was patron or president of more than 750 organisations and, of those hundreds, 50 were here in Australia. Many of them reflected his personal passions for conservation, science, industry, design, engineering, sport and of course the military. Prince Philip was a frequent visitor to Australia over his life. In fact he first came to our shores as a midshipman aboard the battleship Ramillies in 1940 and again in 1945 aboard the Royal Navy destroyer Whelp. One trip that is almost lost to history but is worth recounting today here in this place was his visit to Australia in 1967, some 54 years ago. In February of that year, Tasmania experienced its most deadly bushfire, Black Tuesday, a day when 64 people died and more than 7,000 lost their homes. Less than a month later, the Duke visited Tasmania's fire ravaged southern region on what some dubbed a 'protocol-wrecking tour'. He travelled through Taroona, Kingston, Margate and Snug. He met with people and heard their stories. He listened, he consoled and he did his best to lift everyone's spirits. But that's not where the story ended, because a year later he returned to visit the same sites and the same people. He was checking in. Over his 80 years of service Australians saw the measure of Prince Philip. More than the husband and partner of our sovereign, he was an authentic man, who, despite the protocol and privilege that surrounded him, sought to reach out and connect with people and good causes in his own way. He was a genuine defender of Australia. Today we place on record our gratitude for his lifetime of service to the Crown, to our Commonwealth and to our country. We honour, indeed, a remarkable life that bore witness to almost 100 years of history in the making of our modern world. On behalf of all Australians, I extend our sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and to the royal family in this their time of grief, but especially to Her Majesty. The image of her seated alone at her prince's funeral service was a very solemn one. I know she would have been drawing, as she always has, great comfort from her very deep faith. But let also now our Commonwealth seek to sustain her as she continues in her selfless and devoted duty to our Commonwealth and, indeed, to Australia. Let us, her Commonwealth, be her strength and her stay. To Her Majesty, we send Australia's love and respect, and to His Royal Highness, may he rest in peace. Honourable members: Hear, hear! 12:16 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I join with the Prime Minister in giving an address of condolence on the death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on behalf of the Australian Labor Party. Prince Philip was always part of the picture. By the time any of us here in this place was born he was already a veteran of royal duty, a veteran of war, a veteran of life. In his near century His Royal Highness knew conflict and peace, empire and Commonwealth, turbulence and tranquillity. He was such a familiar face of the establishment it was easy to forget that as a baby his family smuggled him out of his native Corfu and into exile concealed in an orange crate. From there his childhood was an unrelenting cascade of chaos and loss. He was abandoned by his father. His mother went into psychiatric care. His beloved sister was killed in an air crash. He was shuffled between countries and schools and languages, left to depend on the support of relatives. Even though he was a royal he understood what it was to be an outsider. His cousin Alexandra, the Queen of Yugoslavia, remembered the young Philip as, 'A huge, hungry dog, perhaps a friendly collie, who never had a basket of his own,' and yet he rose. In the Navy he found a sense of home. When the war came, bringing with it an enemy that was as relentless as it was merciless, he showed courage and clear thinking. He found love with Elizabeth, a love that survived and thrived even after they were thrust into the strange limelight of royal power far sooner than either of them had ever anticipated. During his many decades devoted to his Queen, his nation and the Commonwealth he also became an enduring part of the story of our nation. His first visit to Australia was in 1940, a midshipman aboard a battleship that escorted Australian troops from Melbourne to the Suez. He eventually became a regular visitor to our shores, not least of which was his extensive visit here with the Queen in 1954, as well as his opening of our Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956. Just as he shared in our joys and our triumphs, he shared in our sorrows, seeing with his own eyes the awful devastation wrought by bushfire. Throughout it all he developed multiple connections here and ultimately built the lasting legacy in the form of the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme. It gives great encouragement and support to young people as they grow into adulthood, both making them aware of their potential and equipping them with the means to reach it. Nearly 800,000 young Australians, my son Nathan included, have participated in and benefited from this scheme, amongst the more than eight million across the world who have participated so far. He also took keen interest in other aspects of our great continent. As an avid birdwatcher, he was captivated by the rediscovery of the noisy scrub-bird in Western Australia. So it wasn't just an academic exercise; he campaigned to create the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve to give it a fighting chance at survival. As he once told the BBC, 'The power that humanity wields over other species is something that must be exercised with a moral sense.' It is true that perceptions of him often threatened to harden into caricature. But, as even British newspaper the Observer noted, there was a gulf between the media coverage and the reality of the man. Prince Philip, being Philip, was philosophical about this, offering the thought: 'Safer to not be too popular; you can't fall too far.' It was certainly my observation when I met him and the Queen during the first G20 meeting, during the global financial crisis, at Buckingham Palace. He was someone who showed that attention to duty, and could be very charming indeed. Throughout it all, of course, there was his Queen Elizabeth. Prince Philip's death brings to an end one of the most remarkable and enduring partnerships of our time. Queen Elizabeth often found ways to describe the central place Prince Philip occupied in her life. Indeed, she once said that she owed him 'a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know'. It was such a poignant image of the Queen at the funeral—so sad. Amid the solemn pageantry, in the end there was just her, alone—a human being without the partner who had been her great counterweight in the adventure of life. We mourn Prince Philip but we also celebrate a long and truly remarkable life. On behalf of the Australian Labor Party, I extend my condolences to Her Majesty and to the royal family. 12:22 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson On behalf of the Australian Defence Force, I rise to extend our most profound sympathies to Her Majesty. With the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, we have lost a loyal and distinguished servant of our Westminster democracy and of our armed forces. We have lost a giant of our time. At 18 months old, in December 1922, Philip was forced to flee his native Greece. Amid a military coup, his first naval voyage was to be an evacuation aboard the Royal Navy's HMS Calypso. The future royal consort spent the Adriatic crossing to Italy in a cot, fashioned, as the Leader of the Opposition pointed out, from an orange crate. The Prince's family found refuge in the western Parisian suburb of Saint-Cloud. At a young age, parental circumstances saw Philip cross the Channel to live with family and attend school in Great Britain. It was here that this nomad found his home. The Prince would go on to attend the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, graduating as best cadet. It was also at Dartmouth, in April 1939, that Philip would meet Elizabeth for the second time. They would soon enter into regular correspondence. The Nazi invasion of Poland took place less than six months later, and the world was plunged into devastating conflict. Philip joined the battleship HMS Ramillies in Ceylon—modern day Sri Lanka—in January 1940. It was aboard this vessel that Philip first visited Australia, taking part in the escort of ANZAC troop convoys to the Suez. By March 1941 the 19-year-old Duke was serving on the Queen Elizabeth class battleship HMS Valiant in the Battle of Cape Matapan. The Greek prince, forced to flee Corfu on the corvette Calypso as an infant, had returned to Greece on a battleship to defend her. Philip's actions, directing a search light onto Italian cruisers which were subsequently destroyed, saw him mentioned in despatches and later awarded a Greek War Cross. The engagement was a major strategic victory for the Allies, including the Royal Australian Navy, which, as we know, served with distinction. During the 1943 invasion of Sicily, Philip saved his ship, the destroyer HMS Wallace, from a likely lethal German aerial bombardment. Luftwaffe dive-bombers were undertaking a persistent night-time assault on the vessel when Philip seized the initiative. In the minutes the enemy aircraft was preparing to make another run over the Wallace, Philip set in motion an inspired diversion. He filled a wooden raft with rubbish and set it on fire. Smoke floats were attached to the end, and the raft was launched into the water. On its return, the German aircraft was deceived by the flames and the smoke, and the pilot mistakenly believed he had destroyed the British battleship on his previous attempt. Harry Hargreaves, who had also served on the Wallace, would later say, 'Prince Philip saved our lives that night.' Philip would take part in the Allied invasion of southern France, before joining the British Pacific Fleet. As First Lieutenant of the W-class destroyer HMS Whelp, the Prince would visit Sydney, Darwin and Melbourne. On 2 September 1945 he was present in Tokyo Bay, as the Japanese foreign minister signed the instrument of surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri. With the war over, in 1947 the Prince married the love of his life, Elizabeth. Their first child, Charles, was born in 1948. One year later, Philip joined the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet at Malta, where he continued his promising naval career. The Duke was promoted to lieutenant commander and, in 1950, given his first command, the HMS Magpie. Fate then intervened. Philip's father-in-law's health began to dramatically decline, and, in 1951, he took indefinite leave from the Navy. Less than a year later, on 6 February 1952, King George VI passed in his sleep. Just as for Prince Albert, who was unexpectedly thrust onto the throne through the abdication crisis, the young couple found their lives jarringly changed forever. This ambitious and dynamic young naval officer would refocus his energy into a new form of service. He would support his Queen, whilst stridently carving out his own identity and role. He was a maverick and a moderniser, who led to navigate and ultimately strengthen an ancient and storied institution, and he did it his way. Philip always proudly maintained his connection to the armed services and to Australia. On presenting a Queen's Colour to HMAS Cerberus during the 1954 royal visit, the Prince reflected: 'I had the good fortune to serve with Australian seamen on Australian ships in the last war in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific. I have a firsthand respect for their qualities. You have a splendid tradition to live up to, and I hope this Colour will always serve to remind you of the valour and achievements of the men of the Royal Australian Navy.' On 1 April 1954, Her Majesty appointed the Duke as Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Australian Navy, Field Marshal in the Australian Army and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force. Philip had a very special affinity with our Army cadets and the Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, serving as the Colonel in Chief of both. Philip lived a truly remarkable life of service to the Commonwealth and to his Queen. As Elizabeth's strength and stay, he was the longest serving consort in history. He was Her Majesty's best friend, her closest confidante and her sounding board. From the good times to the horrible, Philip was always there, two steps behind. This House sends our deepest and most sincere condolences to Her Majesty. We stand with you, we grieve for you and we grieve with you. 12:28 Mr MARLES HWQ Corio Prince Philip had a deep connection with Australia. It began at the age of 18 in 1940, when, as a midshipman aboard HMS Ramillies, he helped escort Australian troops across the Indian Ocean to Egypt. In many ways, this first engagement with Australia came to characterise Prince Philip's life, because, as a decorated naval officer and as consort to the British monarch, Prince Philip's was a life of astonishing service. He visited Australia on more than 20 occasions. So it was no surprise that, when the Queen and Prince Philip decided that at least part of Prince Charles's education should occur in another country of the Commonwealth, they chose Australia—more specifically, the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School. The outdoor education of Timbertop was inspired by the educational philosophies of Kurt Hahn, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, who, in 1934, founded the Gordonstoun school in Scotland, which was Prince Philip's own alma mater. It was a school to which he was devoted throughout his life. It was where his three sons did the bulk of their education and where Princess Anne sent her own children and served on the board of governors. As a boy at the school, Prince Philip was the guardian of Gordonstoun, the school captain. When you look at the philosophies of Kurt Hahn, they speak to the essence of Prince Philip. Hahn believed that an education should give a child the experience of self-discovery, that it should enable a child the opportunity to meet triumph and defeat. Right there, you've got the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which Prince Philip established with Kurt Hahn in 1956 to provide young people with the opportunity to have new experiences through physical and community challenges. Since then, millions of people around the world, from 90 countries, have gained the benefit of participation in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award program. Hahn also believed that an education should give a child the opportunity of self-effacement in the face of a greater cause—in other words, that it should instil a spirit of service towards others. Instilling that spirit remains part of the educational tenets of Gordonstoun to this day. Prince Philip served in the name of science, he served in the name of the environment and he served thousands of organisations throughout his life and, through them, millions of people in the Commonwealth and Great Britain. But, most especially, he served his wife and his sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, as the longest serving consort to a reigning British monarch, over an astonishing period of 69 years. Think about it: here was a man who was larger than life and charismatic and who, by instinct, probably would have imagined himself to be the one out front but who willingly made a decision to be the one behind and to make his life about providing support to another. Of course, that's a decision that millions of people make—to provide support to a husband or a wife, or to give loyal and faithful service to a leader at work—but Prince Philip's example reminds us that those who give that support are just as important as the ones who are out front, and that, in making that decision, there is in it a profound nobility and that, just occasionally, it is that person who gets recognition of the highest order. After his visit in 1971, the people of the dramatically beautiful volcanic island of Tanna, in southern Vanuatu, came to literally worship Prince Philip as a living god. Whatever his status, Prince Philip leaves this world much loved, as the reaction around Australia to his passing has shown. His life is acknowledged here today by a deeply grateful nation. 12:32 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina I acknowledge the fine and eloquent words by the Prime Minister, the opposition leader, the defence minister and the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party about a truly remarkable man. His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was committed to a life of service, of service to others. He was undoubtedly Her Majesty's rock, so consistently was he with her, supporting and encouraging Her Majesty. However, recent statistics show that, since 1952, the Duke of Edinburgh had completed 22,219 solo engagements. That's truly amazing. Each and every engagement focused on reaching out to the peoples of the Commonwealth and, indeed, the world. These were not over five, 10 or even 20 years of service; this was a lifetime of service lived for others. Many people choose to retire in their 50s, their 60s or perhaps their early 70s. Prince Philip scaled back at age 96. Just imagine that. For Australians, amongst his most enduring of legacies has been the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, as has been spoken of before. This youth development program empowers young Australians aged between 14 and 24 to explore their full potential, to be their best selves and to find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. It is a fully inclusive program, with no social, political or religious affiliations. The award's national chair in Australia, Gary Nairn AO, said this: We have lost a great man who, over more than 60 years, gave inspiration to young people to explore their potential and achieve success … Prince Philip leaves behind a wonderful legacy that will continue to benefit youth across the world. Indeed it will. This rings so true when we see the award's scope: since 1959, motivating 775,000 young Australians to set goals and challenge themselves as they build their lives. There are participants across the Riverina, my electorate, taking this opportunity with both hands right now, and, indeed, 60,000 volunteers are supporting 45,000 young Australians currently taking that very challenge. Communities across Australia have responded with consistent enthusiasm to royal visits. Since Her Majesty's coronation, Wagga Wagga, in New South Wales, my home town, has hosted multiple visits. Indeed, I once complained when I was the editor of the Daily Advertiser at Wagga that we had actually had more royal visits than prime ministerial visits. Fortunately, we now get a few more visits from the Acting Prime Minister—but I digress. The Duke visited Wagga Wagga with Her Majesty in February 1954 and again in October 1973. In 1954, honouring their effort and reflecting the tremendous interest, tens of thousands of people turned out, despite the Wagga Wagga heat. It was reported that, of the 15,000 children gathered in the centre of Robertson Oval, 500 fainted in the heat and had to be stretchered off. Amongst the treasured memories of the 1973 visit are photographs of the Duke deep in conversation with Riverina College of Advanced Education students, many of them resplendent in their flared pants fashion of the day. In 2000, as part of a three-day royal tour of New South Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh visited the Wagga Wagga campus of Charles Sturt University to see firsthand developments in the wine industry, the cheese making and the internationally acclaimed equine centre. Also that year, the Queen and Duke visited the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture right here in Canberra. This national centre had been recently announced as a joint initiative of CSU and the Anglican diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. As then Vice-Chancellor of CSU Professor Cliff Blake said: 'The university's inclusion in both the New South Wales and Canberra royal tours was indeed a high honour and significant recognition for CSU.' The visit to the cheese factory on the uni campus back at Wagga Wagga brought one or two unexpected outcomes, creating headlines, indeed, that reached the United Kingdom. It came not long after intense press debate over headgear worn by Prince Charles on a tour of the Caribbean. The Duke's travelling party explained to the cheese factory team, 'He will be here for four minutes. He won't have time to put the hairnet and factory gear on.' The visit was a roaring success but left in its wake a batch of lemon myrtle herb cheese, valued at a couple of grand, with an uncertain future on the market. Someone said after the event, 'If it tests up safely, why don't we put it on the market as a Prince Philip special?' A little more than three years ago, the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated 70 years of marriage with the Queen. Her Majesty is the only British monarch to have celebrated a platinum wedding anniversary. We are witnessing firsthand a most extraordinary period of service, highlighted by an extraordinary depth of personal commitment to the community, to the Commonwealth. Australians give deep thanks for the Duke of Edinburgh's lifetime of service and dedication. We extend our deepest sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family and to them we also say, simply, thank you. Question agreed to, honourable members standing in their places. Sitting suspended from 12:39 to 14:0 9 MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS 7 MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS 14:09 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I inform the House that the Treasurer will absent for question time today as he is preparing for the budget. I will answer questions on his behalf. I present a revised ministry list reflecting changes to the ministry and the change of representative arrangements. The document read as follows— Each box represents a portfolio. Cabinet Ministers are shown in bold type. As a general rule, there is one department in each portfolio. However, there can be two departments in one portfolio. The title of a department does not necessarily reflect the title of a Minister in all cases. Ministers are sworn to administer the portfolio in which they are listed under the 'Minister' column and may also be sworn to administer other portfolios in which they are not listed. Assistant Ministers in italics are designated as Parliamentary Secretaries under the Ministers of State Act 1952. CONDOLENCES 9 CONDOLENCES Peacock, Hon. Andrew Sharp, AC 9 Reference to Federation Chamber 12 14:26 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson by leave—I move: That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate. Question agreed to. QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE 12 QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE COVID-19: Vaccines 12 14:27 Mr HUSIC 91219 Chifley My question is to the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. Can the minister confirm that, more than a year since this pandemic started, the only money the Morrison government has spent on mRNA vaccine manufacturing has gone to consultants, not scientists? 14:27 Mr PORTER 208884 Pearce Mr Speaker, on indulgence: I would like to congratulate the Leader of the House on his ascension. Every cloud has its silver lining! I thank the member for his question. The mRNA technology that he is referring to has of course been the subject of a McKinsey report into the capability and capacity for domestic manufacture. I know that there is limited ability to give some context, but I think it is important for the House to understand a couple of things about messenger ribonucleic acid vaccines. They are a free form of protein, mRNA. The vaccines essentially trick the body into producing some of the viral proteins itself. In considering a potential domestic manufacture capability for Australia, there are three very critical features to this new technology. The first is that it is a very, very new technology. The second is that the production and manufacture of that technology at scale is very complicated. It requires the production of a synthetic version of the mRNA that uses the virus to build infectious proteins. The proteins must remain solitary. Once put into the body, they then create some of the virus molecules themselves, and the immune system detects those molecules. The third issue is that it is very likely that this type of technology could become the next generation in immune science. There is no doubt about that, but it is still absolutely cutting-edge. So for everyone listening today: the first mRNA technology which has found its way into the bodies of human beings has been in the context of COVID. We have approached this issue, with all of its complications, I think with both confidence and realism—confidence that Australia can and should have a domestic manufacture capability here but with some realism that it is not a simple process. It's not a process, as has been reported by some outlets, that would take three to six months. It's going to be a significantly longer process than that. To understand that process, as the member noted in his question, we went through an audit last year to identify possible companies in Australia with the potential for mRNA capability. We went through an information generating process where there were 64 responses. We engaged McKinsey. They produced a final report on 21 March this year. We have gone through that report. It obviously has a range of commercial-in-confidence measures and information. It notes, I think, if I can say in summary to the House, that there is great confidence for Australia in terms of a capability to manufacture this type of technology. But to ensure that that manufacture is sustainable, that it is commercially viable and that it is at scale, that will require a breadth of manufacture not just in vaccines but in other therapeutic goods, and we are investigating that at present. Budget 13 14:30 Dr MARTIN 282982 Reid My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister please outline to the House how the Morrison government's 2021 budget will secure Australia's recovery and create a stronger economy that can fund the essential services Australians rely on? 14:30 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I thank the member for Reid for her question. I thank her for her diligence over these past 18 months, as all members of this place have sought to do, to provide support to Australians through what has been a very difficult period in our nation's history. Tonight the Treasurer will announce the coalition government's further plan to secure Australia's recovery. Tonight's budget will once again show how we're protecting Australia against the COVID-19 pandemic, how we create jobs and how we guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on, whether it be in aged care or in mental health or the National Disability Insurance Scheme, to build a more resilient and secure Australia in what is increasingly an incredibly uncertain world. Whether that uncertainty stems from the security of our region, the pandemic which we face or the challenging climate which the world is faced with over the next 30 years and beyond, our world does remain uncertain. The pandemic continues to rage. This will be our government's second pandemic budget tonight. We are under no illusion that the pandemic continues to rage across the world, as it has extended from the developed world now into the developing world, as we see the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in places like India, and, indeed, as it will continue to move across other parts of the world in the months ahead. It is against that pandemic background that tonight's budget is framed. We will continue to take responsible action to save lives and to save livelihoods, as our government has done throughout the course of this pandemic and the recession that it has caused. Through our plan to secure Australia's recovery we will to continue to bring Australia and Australians through this terrible pandemic. While moving beyond emergency responses, as we have been doing for these last 18 months, we move into the recovery phase and continue to provide the support that Australians need both to protect their lives and to protect their livelihoods. These actions have ensured, even right now, that, compared to the rest of the world, we are living a way that the rest of the world envies, because of the way that in this country Australians have worked together, governments have worked together and the Commonwealth government has invested to ensure that lives and livelihoods have been protected. Indeed, there were 13 million Australians who were working in this country before the severity of the pandemic hit. Today there are 13.1 million Australians working, and that is after 900,000 Australians lost their jobs. More people working today than before the pandemic hit— (Time expired) COVID 19: Vaccination 13 14:34 Mr HUSIC 91219 Chifley My question is to the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. How many applications for funding to support the manufacture of mRNA vaccines in Australia has the government received and how many have been funded? 14:34 Mr PORTER 208884 Pearce I thank the member for his question. The member seems to consider that with this extremely advanced, cutting-edge technology—of which the commercial and scientific future is imperfectly understood, even by the experts in the production and manufacture community and in the scientific community—people in their dozens come, unsolicited, to government with proposals to establish that sort of manufacturing facility. Opposition members interjecting— Mr PORTER 208884 What we have done is we have gone and insisted upon a very thorough analysis of the market through a very, very thorough process conducted by McKinsey. They have spoken to the major players, of which there are only a handful. We are now considering that report, but what the question seeks to lead Australians to believe is that somehow such a production facility could have been up and running or could be imminently up and running, and it is important for all Australians to understand that the actual science and commerciality of this technology speaks totally against that proposition. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The members on my left will cease interjecting. Obviously, given the nature of the question, I have allowed the minister to give some context to all of that; however, this question was very specific. In fact, it was two very specific questions. So now, having given him that time, which is about half the time available, he will really need to address those questions or wind up his answer. Mr PORTER 208884 There are only a tiny number of commercial entities who are even possibly able to do this, and we are in conversations with them. That's what responsible governments do, based on the best information that is available. It should be noted that many said it was absolutely impossible to do what the government have done, which is to retool CSL so that they could produce the adenovirus AstraZeneca vaccine, but we did that. We will investigate this technology, and we will produce a result in due course. Infrastructure 14 14:36 Mr O'DOWD 139441 Flynn My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Will the Deputy Prime Minister inform the House how the Morrison-McCormack government is securing our recovery by continuing to stimulate the economy and drive jobs through the rollout of infrastructure across Australia? 14:37 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina I thank the member for Flynn for his question and note that we were there last week, at Gladstone port—a very deep port, a very industrious harbour. Indeed, we were there announcing $5 million for the Auckland Hill precinct upgrade and $5 million for the hydrogen knowledge hub, and that wouldn't have happened but for the LNP and the member for Flynn and his advocacy. The member asked me about economic recovery. He asked me what we're doing on infrastructure projects, and there are many. The infrastructure budget today is $110 billion. Just as importantly, that is supporting 100,000 workers. The budget tonight will support an additional 30,000 workers. Shovels in the ground, excavating, building and doing—that's what we want, that's what we're getting and that's what we're delivering. As the Prime Minister has just said, there are more people with a job in Australia today than there were prior to the pandemic, and that is something of which we all should be very proud. Some of our new investments being added to the infrastructure pipeline over 10 years include $2 billion for the Great Western Highway. The eastern and western sections of Katoomba and Lithgow— Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The member for McEwen! Mr McCORMACK 219646 He's a recidivist, Mr Speaker! There is a $2 billion investment to deliver a new Melbourne intermodal terminal in Victoria. There is $400 million more for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, and, having travelled on it last week, I know those upgrades are going to save lives. There's more investment for Metronet in Western Australia, the Truro bypass in South Australia and national network highway upgrades in the Northern Territory. There are the Bass Highway safety and freight efficiency upgrades in Tasmania and an upgrade to William Hovell Drive in the Australian Capital Territory. I was near there yesterday. As Zed Seselja and I were there, the motorists were honking at our press conference. I know they were delighted—not just about the upgrades that we're doing in the ACT but acknowledging our work right across this wide, brown land. We're getting on with creating jobs, with putting in the investment and with making opportunities. Every state and every territory has benefited and will certainly benefit into the future with the announcements that are going to be made precisely here tonight, at 7.30. I look forward to it. The Treasurer is going to make some more exciting announcements about infrastructure and about regional Australia—because it's been regional Australia that has helped to carry this nation through the pandemic, in agriculture and in resources—to make sure that Australia continues to have those investments and those opportunities into the future. (Time expired) Budget 14 14:40 Ms CATHERINE KING 00AMR Ballarat My question is to the Prime Minister. This government has underspent on its infrastructure announcements by an average of $1.2 billion every year for the eight long years that it's been in office. How can Australians have any confidence it will deliver on the announcements made in this year's budget? 14:40 Mr McCORMACK 219646 Riverina I'm so glad the Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question on his behalf and on the government's behalf. I know— Opposition members interjecting— Mr McCORMACK 219646 Blessed are the cheesemakers! I know that Labor haven't delivered a budget for nearly 10 years. They haven't delivered a surplus budget since 1989! That was the last time you did it. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG Members on my left! Mr McCORMACK 219646 Look at them go! Look at them go! They know. Funny that. Probably none of you were even here then! There is no underspend. This is how budgets work. This is how budgets work. It's not come in spinner. They put you up to this— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The Deputy Prime Minister will just pause for a second. Members on my left, a lot of you have spent a lot of time wanting to get back in here. You're about to be straight out. The Deputy Prime Minister— Mr McCORMACK 219646 Out at the next election, Mr Speaker! The SPEAKER 00APG I've got to ask the Deputy Prime Minister—I didn't think it was possible—but he needs to be relevant to the question. Mr McCORMACK 219646 The federal government pays states and territories upon the completion of milestones. When a state or territory gets the allocation, gets the commitment by the Commonwealth, they do the contracting, they do the tendering, they run the project, and, when a certain amount of cement is put down, when a depth of a hole is built, when a pier is put up, we pay on milestones. So, if there's weather or if there's some other event or, indeed, if a state just can't get on and do the job required then the cheque doesn't get paid. But rest assured, Member for Ballarat, that money, as you claim might be underspent, still goes into the overall budget for infrastructure, and it does get spent upon the completion of that job. That's why we are getting on— Mr Albanese interjecting— Mr McCORMACK 219646 I can hear the Leader of the Opposition. Yes, eight years, eight glorious years. You just thought you had it made when they gave you a small amount of money to spend. We are getting on with building the infrastructure that Australia needs, particularly regional Australia—regional Australia, which you forgot in those six sorry, dysfunctional years under Kevin Rudd, under Julia Gillard and then under Kevin Rudd again. We're getting on and we're building the infrastructure, whether it's dams, whether it's roads, whether it's the Inland Rail, and it's supporting 100,000 workers. Did I say in my previous answer—I think I did—an additional 30,000 tonight in the budget. We're getting on and we're spending the money that's required. We also do it based on state priorities— Opposition members interjecting— Mr McCORMACK 219646 Yes, based on territory priorities. I'm happy to work with any ministers of any political colour, stripe or creed to get on and build the infrastructure that we need. That's why, when I advised them on Sunday night, gave them the heads up as a courtesy call, they all came back to me. The Labor ministers were delighted with the infrastructure spend that Josh Frydenberg is going to announce tonight. Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG Members on both sides. Budget 15 14:44 Mr BANDT M3C Melbourne My question is to the Prime Minister. One in three of Australia's biggest corporations pays no tax, and, while the rest of the country was hit hard during the pandemic, Australian billionaires' wealth increased by a third, with some doubling their wealth. Prime Minister, isn't it time to make the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share so that we can make critical investments like getting dental into Medicare? We're a wealthy country, but many people are still struggling. So, in tonight's budget, will you listen to the Greens and put in place a six per cent tax on billionaires' wealth— Government members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG Members on my right. Mr BANDT M3C and a new super profits tax on big corporations making excessive profits? 14:45 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I've got a tip for the member for Melbourne: I won't be listening to the Greens, and neither will the Treasurer or the Australian people, who value their jobs and value the strength of the economy, which is what actually pays for essential services. This seems to be something that escapes the member for Melbourne, the Greens and, I expect, many who sit on their side. It is the strong economy—businesses going out and employing people, investing, creating jobs and creating the opportunities that drive an economy—that pays for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, pays for aged care, pays for mental healthcare support and pays for all of the services. It pays for the pension. It pays for disability support. A strong economy is what achieves that. That is why tonight you will see a budget that guarantees the essential services that Australians rely on, because it is a comprehensive further plan to secure the economic recovery of this country. That economic recovery, compared to what is happening around the world at the moment, is quite striking. There are few developed countries in the world that can say that there are more people employed today than there were before the pandemic hit. That is a great achievement of Australians—Australians going out there and working hard, running businesses and putting Australians in work so they can pay taxes and ensure that the government can support the essential services that Australians rely on. We are the party of lower taxes, and I'll tell you why that is. We are the party of lower taxes because we believe that Australians should keep more of what they earn. We believe that a dollar kept in the hands of an Australian family is better than a dollar kept in the hands of the government. That's what we believe. We believe that. That's why we have put speed limits on taxation in this country, which the Labor Party has opposed at two successive elections. It is a speed limit on taxes that we apply on ourselves, because we know that higher taxes actually strike out the enterprise and initiative of Australians who are working hard for their own families in their own communities. We will remain the party of lower taxes. Those opposite are the ones that, on every occasion, know how to start spending. They never know how to stop. They're the party that said that we should keep JobKeeper in place forever. They knew it had to be introduced, but they didn't know how to end it. That was not the responsible decision that they were prepared to support. We will remain the party of responsible investment of taxpayers' money, and we will forever be the party of lower taxes. (Time expired) Women's Health 16 14:48 Dr ALLEN 282986 Higgins My question is to the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Will the minister please update the House on the actions the Morrison government is taking to guarantee essential services, including for those women suffering from breast cancer, as well as other health related concerns, by supporting women's health and wellbeing? 14:48 Mr HUNT 00AMV Flinders It was my privilege to join the member for Higgins on Sunday, Mother's Day, at the launch of the $354 million within this budget for the National Women's Health Strategy. The member for Higgins very graciously and movingly told of her own mother's passing to cancer. As part of that, we talked more generally about the challenges of cervical cancer and breast cancer and about our $100 million investment, the largest component within the Women's Health Strategy. But, importantly, we learnt that 3,000 Australian women pass from breast cancer every year. Over 1,000 women pass from cervical cancer, but we may well be the first country in the world to eliminate, or nearly eliminate, cervical cancer, with our screening programs and with our Gardasil program. Significantly, though, there's more work to be done. I met a young woman—she's still a young woman—Alison Day, not long ago. She has triple-negative breast cancer. It is stage 4, and, by her own admission, it is only a question of time. She's a mother of two young children. She pointed out—and it was very powerful; one of the privileges of being in this House is that every day we meet people with real and powerful stories—that there was no program, as yet, for genetic testing or genomic screening for women in this particular circumstance so that they can have their cancer matched with the optimal medicine. Whilst we have the Zero Childhood Cancer program, which does do this, and the national cancer genomic screening program, led by the Garvan Institute, this is a new frontier. We have looked at it, and we have listened to Ali and her wish. We are bringing forward, as part of this budget, a $5 million clinical trial program, which will open immediately and close in July. Admissions for clinical trials will be put forward, through a competitive peer-review process, for genomic screening that will lead to the matching of optimal medicines for triple-negative and other low-survival breast cancers. This will give people real hope and real opportunity. At the same time, we are in discussions with Gilead to bring forward a new, breakthrough medicine that they sponsored in the United States, Trodelvy, for assessment by the PBAC. They have agreed to bring that forward. If it's approved, we will list it. If it's listed, that will save lives. Today is about making Ali's wish a reality. JobMaker Hiring Credit 16 14:51 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler My question is to the Prime Minister. In last year's budget the government announced that its signature JobMaker program would support 450,000 jobs. But the program only supported 1,000 jobs. When the government failed to deliver its signature announcement from the last budget, how can Australians believe anything that it announces tonight? 14:52 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I genuinely thank the member for his question. I quote his shadow Treasurer, who said this after the last budget: The test for this budget is what it means for unemployment. If unemployment is too high for too long, then this budget and this Government would have failed its central task. He said: You judge a budget by jobs and opportunities and what it says about the— The SPEAKER 00APG The Prime Minister needs to— Mr MORRISON E3L I'm coming to it, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER 00APG You need to come to it now. Mr MORRISON E3L I was asked why the government should be believed when it comes to what we put at tonight's budget. I was asked that question by the Leader of the Opposition. That's what I was asked. They said, after the last budget, that the test— The SPEAKER 00APG The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition, on a point of order? Mr Albanese R36 I understand the Prime Minister's embarrassment about the JobMaker program; I get that. The SPEAKER 00APG The Leader of the Opposition needs to come to his point of order. State what it is. Mr Albanese R36 It was a very specific question about the JobMaker program. The Prime Minister needs to talk about the JobMaker program. It shouldn't take too long. The SPEAKER 00APG I will just say to the Leader of the Opposition that I did ask the Prime Minister to relate his answer to the material, but it was a very specific question followed by a very open-ended question about how anything could be believed in tonight's budget. I think that does open it up somewhat. If it didn't have that in it, it would require a much tighter answer. I'm listening to the Prime Minister. Mr MORRISON E3L The opposition put the test of our budget last time as what it meant for unemployment. I note that, at the time we brought down our first pandemic budget, unemployment was at seven per cent. Today, it is at 5.6 per cent. By the Labor Party's own standard, the economic recovery plan that we put in place in our first pandemic budget has met their test and has exceeded it. But this is not the first time. It was the Leader of the Opposition who said back in July of last year, '400,000 more will join the unemployment queues by Christmas,' but indeed 300,000 jobs were created during the same period. He said the Morrison government had no plan for jobs and no plan for recovery in June of last year, but yet another 500,000 jobs were created after that. During the course of this pandemic this government has acted in concert with Australians and with other state and territory governments to do one important thing, and that is to put Australians back in work. Today there are 13.1 million Australians who are in jobs. Before the pandemic, there were 13 million. The Cassandras and the Chicken Littles over there have on numerous occasions said that people were literally going to go off cliffs. That is a direct quote from the Leader of the Opposition. But the alternative— Mr Albanese interjecting— Mr MORRISON E3L He asks. He said on 19 June: The truth is, today is exactly 100 days until JobKeeper stops and people literally will fall off a cliff. That's his exact quote. That's the hubris and exaggeration of the Leader of the Opposition. If there's a person who cannot be believed in this place it is the Leader of the Opposition, whose economic credibility is in complete and utter tatters. (Time expired) Women 17 14:56 Ms FLINT 245550 Boothby My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Women. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is focused on the needs and priorities of Australian women, particularly their economic security and their personal safety? 14:57 Ms LEY 00AMN Farrer I thank the member for Boothby for her question. She knows that women from all corners of Australia and all walks of life will be listening carefully to the Treasurer tonight to hear about our strengthened and ongoing commitment to women at every stage of their lives. The cabinet women's task force is building on the achievements of this government, and I am reminded that there is always more work to do, such as the support that we will continue to show to our frontline workers. The frontline workers include those that work in Betty's Place in my home town of Albury and women's refuges across the country where I have met them and been impressed by their compassion, their resourcefulness and the spirit they have in confronting really difficult and tragic incidents on a daily basis. We are committed to women's safety, their economic security, their health and, indeed, their leadership opportunities. We are committed to women at the hardest of times. I recently sat in the Downing Centre Sydney local court with victims and advocates as they went through apprehended domestic violence order hearings. As Women's Safety NSW CEO Hayley Foster told me, universal access to justice and frontline support services and advocacy has never been more vital. Since 2013 we have committed more than $1 billion to women's safety. The current national action plan concludes in June 2022 and we will have an opportunity to really reflect on the progress we've made and the road ahead. Everyone will have their chance to have their say on the development of the next national plan. At the next National Women's Safety Summit, we will continue to examine not only women's safety but also improving health outcomes, economic security, financial independence and leadership opportunities. The national plan is complemented by the 'road map to respect' in response to the Respect@Work report, which outlines the reforms and measures that this government is taking to combat sexual harassment and inequality in the workplace. Financial independence is critical to safety and security, and we are focused on increasing the record-high workforce participation rates for Australian women. We have already achieved much. We want to continue to narrow the gender pay gap, currently the lowest it has been. Families not only need security in the workplace; they need flexibility and choice, which is why we will be investing an additional $1.7 billion in the annual childcare subsidy cap—to give women choice. To women all over Australia: whether you will be working in our cities or raising and caring for your families, whether you have just started to call Australia home or you have lived a lifetime in regional Australia, we are here, we are listening and we are responding. JobMaker Hiring Credit 18 15:00 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the central program announced in last year's budget, JobMaker. Can the Prime Minister confirm that, instead of the 450,000 jobs that were announced, just 1,000 jobs have actually been achieved? Is it also a fact that just $2 million of the $4 billion that was announced for this failed scheme has been spent? 15:00 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I am very happy to provide an update on these matters. As we assembled our policies throughout the course of this pandemic, we were going to throw everything we had at it to ensure we kept Australians in jobs. Every tool we could bring together, we were going to put in place to support jobs in this country. That included the hiring credit, which, as usual, the Leader of the Opposition supported and opposed in the same breath, as he has with pretty much every measure we've been engaged in through the course of the pandemic. The JobMaker hiring credit was one of those measures. When you put these measures together, I don't care whether it's the JobMaker hiring credit, the boosting apprenticeships scheme, the JobMaker program, the cash flow boost or the JobTrainer program—I don't care which of these programs delivers the result, just so long as the result is achieved. I'll tell you what the result is: 13.1 million people in jobs today, compared to 13 million before the pandemic started. I do note that on the hiring credit, what occurred is that, at the time we put that together, the jobs market over the course of the March quarter actually proved to be much stronger because of myriad measures the government had put in place. There were some 440,000 more people employed in March—that figure has a familiar ring to it, doesn't it?—than we had forecast in the budget. Whichever road we have to take to get people back in jobs, that's what my government's doing. Mr Rob Mitchell interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The member for McEwen is warned! Mr MORRISON E3L Whether it is the JobMaker hiring credit, the boosting apprenticeships program and the extending of apprenticeship support—we thought we would be able to get 100,000 apprentices in the space of 12 months. We got it in five, and we extended the program, and that is in place as we speak today. The Leader of the Opposition can complain about the measures we're putting in place to get Australians into jobs. He can have a bet each way, as he does on every single issue, particularly when it comes to the economy, but I'll tell you what: we'll get on with the job of creating jobs for Australians. Tonight's budget is about securing that economic recovery. It is about creating those jobs. It is about guaranteeing the essential services that Australians rely on. It is about proving up and building that resilience that Australians need in a time of great uncertainty both in our region and more broadly as we face this pandemic. This government has been producing the policies and plans that have kept Australians in work, that have saved lives and that have saved livelihoods, while those on the other side have bickered and complained. Child Care 18 15:03 Mrs McINTOSH 281513 Lindsay My question is to the Minister for Education and Youth. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government is supporting Australian families, including in my electorate of Lindsay, to reduce the cost of living and to take on more work if they choose to? 15:03 Mr TUDGE M2Y Aston I thank the member for Lindsay for her question and for her tremendous advocacy for Western Sydney. As the member for Lindsay knows, the focus of this government is supporting Australians into work and supporting our post-COVID economic recovery. That's exactly why, just over a week ago, we announced a further $1.7 billion in childcare subsidies to remove barriers for parents, particularly for mums who want to return to work or want to take on more hours. This policy is very much targeted at where it is needed most. That is for those families who have two or more children in child care because, despite the fact that those hourly fees may be modest, if you have two or more kids in child care they can add up. So we're increasing the subsidy on the second and third child up to 95 per cent and we're also removing the annual caps so that no family will ever hit that cap and therefore create a disincentive to work. We estimate that this will help 250,000 families across the country, and that includes 1,700 families in the member for Lindsay's electorate. It means that a family in the member for Lindsay's electorate who might be earning, say, $110,000, which is the median amount for those families in child care, who has two kids in full-time care will be $120 per week better off. Or you might be a single mum with a couple of kids and earning $65,000, wanting to work, or needing to work, that extra day—that fifth day of the week. That particular person will be $71 per week better off as a result of this particular package. But it's not just good for those individual families who will benefit from this package, it's also good for the economy. Treasury estimates that there will be a $1.5 billion increase to GDP as a result of this package because the equivalent of 40,000 people will be doing an extra day a week of work. Of course, this builds on the tremendous amounts that we've already put into child care. Since coming to office, our childcare assistance has increased 77 per cent: 280,000 more families have their child in child care than did when we first came to office, and women's workforce participation is at record levels—in part because of our childcare policy. We believe in choice for families to work if they want to and will back them all the way in order to do exactly that. That's what this childcare policy does. Budget 19 15:07 Mr BURKE DYW Watson My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that his government has failed to achieve its forecasts on wages in every one of the last seven budgets? Why should any wage forecast released tonight in the eighth budget be believed? 15:07 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook The Treasury forecasts that are contained in every budget, which are prepared by Treasury— Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The Prime Minister will pause. Members will cease interjecting! I need to be able to hear the answer. The Prime Minister has the call. Mr MORRISON E3L It may come as a mystery to the Leader of the Opposition—I know he didn't spend too much time on the Expenditure Review Committee when they were in government; it was almost as little time as he did on the National Security Committee. I've never known someone to spend so much time in the parliament and have so little experience when it comes to economic and national security policy. But Treasury have prepared the forecasts, independently, for the government in every single budget, and they are based on the understanding of circumstances at the time. And they will do that again tonight. We have always sought as a government to ensure that as Treasury frame those forecasts they do so conservatively. A very good example of that is the estimate that is made on iron ore prices. The purpose of all of those estimates and the purpose of all of those assumptions is to ensure that the government can base its spending decisions on revenue estimates that are reliable. The fact is that each of those budgets, particularly those I was responsible for as Treasurer and as Prime Minister—with the exception of the pandemic hitting the 2019-20 budget—have seen those revenue estimates exceeded. Exceeded! The SPEAKER 00APG The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order. Mr Burke DYW Mr Speaker, the question goes directly to the wages forecasts and no other sector of the budget. It goes to how much people are paid and why it is that the government always say they're going to get more in their pockets than they end up with in those wages forecasts—every single budget! The SPEAKER 00APG Yes, the question was about one policy topic and one policy topic only. The Prime Minister. Mr MORRISON E3L I take the point of order and I take the interjection. I'll tell you why: because we cut their taxes. Under our government they get to keep more of what they earn because we have reduced the taxation burden on working Australians. This is what those opposite don't understand. Opposition members interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG The Prime Minister will resume his seat. I say to the Prime Minister: it wasn't about taxation policy; it was about wages policy and the forecasts in the budget. Mr MORRISON E3L I was diverted by the interjection and the point of order by the Manager of Opposition Business. But, as I was explaining to those opposite, the forecasts in the budget, which include the wage forecasts, combine with all the other forecasts in the budget to make an assessment of revenue estimates upon which we base our spending decisions. This may come as a mystery to those opposite but that's called responsible financial management. It's what our government does, and that's why our revenue estimates have always proved to be quite conservative. That means we don't spend money that's not there. We don't do that. We make our spending decisions carefully and to deal with the circumstances we're faced with as a government. What we have done as a government over the course of this pandemic is stepped up to ensure that the Australian economy has performed like few others in the world. That may have escaped the notice of the Leader of the Opposition and the Labor Party, but I know Australians like the fact that they're back in work. The people that have achieved that are Australians, and we'll keep backing them in—and we'll back them in again tonight. (Time expired) Australian Natural Disasters 20 15:11 Mr THOMPSON 281826 Herbert My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is strengthening Australia's resilience to natural disasters? 15:11 Mr LITTLEPROUD 265585 Maranoa I thank the member for Herbert for his question, and acknowledge the fact that, representing North Queensland, he understands better than most the impacts of natural disasters—but so too do many in this House—over the last couple of years and the challenges we face. Whether it be floods, cyclones or bushfires, we as a nation have had to pull together. We heard those harrowing stories replayed during the royal commission into natural disasters. I am pleased to say that, just on six months since that report was handed to the government, we have as a federal government completed eight of the 14 recommendations to the federal government. Last week we announced, in response to one of those recommendations, the bringing together of the recovery agencies of the bushfire with the drought and flood agencies into one national recovery agency, making sure that the nearly $11 billion put for drought, the nearly $3.3 billion for floods and the $2 billion for fires are rolled out in a coordinated way with a new and enhanced Emergency Management Australia. We have also established Climate Services Australia, bringing together and collecting the data from 10 agencies. Whether that be from the Bureau of Meteorology, Geoscience Australia, the CSIRO or the Australian Bureau of Statistics, what we want to do is be able to give those in emergency management across the country real-time data to be able to make decisions. What that does in a practical way for someone in North Queensland is: if there is a cyclone about to hit their community, we will be able to tell those state authorities the number of households that will be impacted, the age of those households and the number of inhabitants, so they can make pre-emptive decisions about the resources that are going to be required to be there to help them in the immediacy of that natural disaster. We are also looking at mitigation works. I am proud to say that, yesterday, with the first of the $50 million under the ERF, I announced 22 projects across the country for mitigation works in flooding. We will be reopening that ERF program, now that we've got it up and going, for another $50 million. We also announced, as part of the mitigation works last week, further funding of $600 million. There's $200 million to support households. That builds on the household program that we already run in Queensland. We're allowing households to get grants from between $5,000 and $30,000 to do renovations to their home to make them fit for purpose—to make them cyclone proof, to make them flood proof—and to be able to have those undertakings on their own property and to also reduce their insurance premium. In North Queensland alone, we have seen a reduction of up to $310 in their insurance premium. Then we looked at community mitigation works. There is $400 million to complement the $50 million in ERF to ensure that we don't just look at flood but we also look at fire and every other disaster that may be mitigated with capital works. We are asking the states to come with us. This is a dual responsibility. This government, along with the states, will stand shoulder to shoulder with Australians here and into the future. (Time expired) Aged Care 20 15:14 Ms O'NEIL 140590 Hotham My question is to the Prime Minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that his record on aged care includes: up to two-thirds of aged-care residents malnourished; maggots in wounds; 685 COVID deaths; 27,000 older Australians who've tragically died waiting for a home-care package; and $1.7 billion in cuts? Why would Australians trust the Prime Minister to fix an aged-care system that his decisions and his government have brought to its knees? 15:15 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I thank the member for her question. I would invite her to listen carefully to the Treasurer's response tonight in the budget, where also we will release our full response to the royal commission into aged care that I commissioned not long after I took on the role of Prime Minister. The royal commission into aged care has provided us with a wealth of information to ensure that we can deliver a response tonight that addresses the challenges that have been faced not just in recent times, as the royal commission highlighted, but going back over several decades. Responding to the challenges of aged care has over quite a long period of time, until the last few years, been an act of bipartisanship in this place. I remember that when the shadow minister for health was the minister he worked closely with the opposition, and we sought to support him in that. As the royal commission has reported, there are many challenges in this space. We will respond to those wholeheartedly tonight, but it won't be for the first time, because, in response to the member's question, I note this: real growth in this government's aged-care funding has increased by 50 per cent from when we came to government to the current year. It has increased from $14.2 billion to $24.3 billion. An honourable member interjecting— Mr MORRISON E3L I'm asked in an interjection: 'Does that take into account population?' Let me tell you that the increase in the population of those aged over 65 over that period of time is 23 per cent. The real growth in funding for aged care from this government has been 50 per cent and, in addition to that, home care packages have increased by 194.86 per cent. So, in response to growing demand, this government has been taking steps, year after year after year, to increase support to ensure that we increase in-home aged-care places and that we increase support to the residential aged-care sector. Tonight we will take another bold step in addressing the very serious concerns in aged care. The question for the Labor Party is: will they play politics with this or will they engage with the government to ensure we work together to fix what is an intractable problem that has impacted on governments of Labor and of the Liberals and Nationals for decades? We will step up tonight. The test is on the Labor opposition as to whether they will join us and step up also. Australian Defence Force 21 15:18 Mr SIMMONDS 282983 Ryan My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government is investing in our northern Australian defence facilities and, importantly, how we are working to strengthen our vital alliance with the US? 15:18 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I thank the member for his question and for his great interest in the Australian Defence Force and support of the personnel at the Gallipoli Barracks. We were there only a week or two ago. We engaged with the troops on the ground and we were welcomed. It was a great opportunity to listen to those members of the ADF who make a great sacrifice for our country. Their families give up a lot of time when their mums or dads are deployed, and we want to make sure that they have the best possible conditions to deploy to. The government has made an announcement in this budget that we will have three-quarters of a billion dollars spent in the Northern Territory to upgrade air training facilities. We know that, at the moment, we have about 15,000 Australian defence personnel in the region. We know that, as of next month, we will start to have about 2,200 US marines training up in Darwin as part of that force's rotation, which is a doubling of the number that we had last year. They will work alongside Australian defence personnel. This investment builds on the money that we're putting into facilities right across the north of Australia. We have a total of $8 billion being invested into facilities in the Northern Territory over the next decade. We have a further $1.1 billion that we'll spend in Central Queensland and northern Queensland and approximately $800 million in northern Western Australia. When we talk tonight about making sure that the budget will secure Australia's recovery and create a stronger economy, we will also talk about how we intend to keep Australia safe. In tonight's budget we will further detail our commitment to the Australian Defence Force and our continued expenditure not only on personnel but on the infrastructure that's required to support them. We will make sure that we offer Australia every defence possible in a very uncertain period of history. To make sure that we can work alongside the United States, our most important alliance partner, nobody kids themselves in terms of what we need to do as a country to keep us safe and to make sure that we can keep our regional partners safe. Along with our Five Eyes partners, we provide stability in our region. The fact that we can manage the economy well and the fact that we have responded to COVID in a way that most other countries around the world have not been able to do has meant that we can invest additional money into the Australian Defence Force, and we will—not just tonight but over the decades ahead. The Australian Defence Force personnel know that, when we say we are back to business and we have their backs, this government believes it, we will act on it and we will make sure that we continue to invest in the best defence force in the world. Disability Services 22 15:21 Mr SHORTEN 00ATG Maribyrnong My question is to the Prime Minister. For eight months before 23-year-old Liam Danher choked to death during an epileptic seizure in his sleep, his family fought the government for a $445 seizure mat which they say would have saved his life. Given what the government knows now, including that the legal and administrative cost of fighting the family was much more than the cost of the seizure mat itself, would it have handled things differently and just accepted the claim? 15:22 Mr MORRISON E3L Cook I thank the member for his question. I will ask the Minister representing the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme to respond. 15:22 Mr ROBERT HWT Fadden I thank the member for his question. I note that a similar question was asked of the responsible minister in the Senate. She has said that she will come back to the Senate with specific details around the legal costs. Notwithstanding that, the responsible minister will come back to the Senate and we will ensure that response is given to the member as well. I think it's important for all of us to recognise that the death of any participant is absolutely tragic, especially in circumstances where deaths can be largely preventable. We all in this House, and especially the Morrison government, are committed to a nationally consistent set of quality and safeguard systems across Australia, and we've implemented a number of major reforms over the last 12 months to consistently deliver a strong and consistent protection for every participant in the NDIS. That includes, on a rolling rotating basis, calling 78,000 vulnerable participants each year, especially during the pandemic, to ensure that Australians feel supported and have the necessary supports they need. The minister will continue to work with the state and territory disability ministers to ensure we can strengthen the issues, especially as we connect with states and territories on health care, justice, out-of-home care and, indeed, for participants who are at significant risk of harm—the intent being that there is a no-wrong-door approach to identifying vulnerabilities or supports that are needed. In late 2020, all disability ministers discussed this critical work on how we would strengthen the support and protections for people with disability to ensure that those who are vulnerable or at harm, or who need supports, can get them quickly. There will be ongoing work with the disability ministers right across the states and territories that we will continue to do to ensure we maximise the support for participants, especially those who are vulnerable participants. Defence Industry 22 15:24 Mr ENTSCH 7K6 Leichhardt My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister please outline to the House how the Morrison government's investment in world-class defence infrastructure, like that she saw in my electorate last week, is promoting regional job opportunities and ensuring that the Australian Defence Force has the capability that they need to keep Australians safe? 15:25 Ms PRICE 249308 Durack I thank the member for Leichhardt for his question and I also thank him for being such a champion for northern Australia as well. The Morrison government's $270 billion investment in defence capability is something that we're very proud of. But it's not just about transforming ADF equipment and platform; it's also about empowering defence industry to deliver the infrastructure that the ADF needs to be able to operate and train and also to maintain the new equipment that is delivered by our Australian industry. Just last week I was delighted to join with the Prime Minister and the very popular member for Leichhardt in Cairns to announce this government's investment of $155 million in investment infrastructure at HMAS Cairns. I think we all know that Cairns has done it pretty tough during COVID. Its tourism industry has certainly been severely impacted by COVID, so I'm sure that the good people in Cairns and the broader region are thrilled with our investment in HMAS Cairns, which will create more jobs in that region. The managing contractor, Watpac Construction, is committed to 80 per cent local contractors in their contract, which is great news, and each one of those contractors will then target 10 per cent participation for Indigenous employment. Again, that's great news for Cairns and the broader region. At its peak, the construction phase is expected to create some 180 new jobs—great news. This, as I said, will create more jobs for the locals, which is good news for Cairns and, of course, critical for our national security. Queensland will also reap the benefits of a recently announced $53 million investment in the Shoalwater Bay training area. This is the latest in a series of local contracts which have seen local businesses sharing some $157 million worth of investment from this federal government. I know that's something the local member for Capricornia is very passionate about, so I know that this is good news for her as well. Our investment will deliver some 450 jobs at its peak, meaning more opportunities for local businesses and tradies and professionals that they employ. Just one good example is a company called Bellequip. Bellequip are a local company in Central Queensland. They're going to provide a range of earthmoving and civil services critical to delivering the much-needed infrastructure in that region. Our investment in HMAS Cairns and the Shoalwater Bay training area shows that defence industry in Australia is not just about the shipbuilders or the engineers delivering the ships or the vehicles. The local tradies, the local earthmovers, those locally owned, family building companies—they are just as critical to the defence of our nation. They are important for our major infrastructure projects, and we are incredibly proud of their contribution. Mr Morrison E3L Mr Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper. STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 23 STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER Budget 23 15:28 The SPEAKER 00APG Before members leave the House, I'll just update the House about arrangements for this evening and Thursday evening. I ask all members to note the usual arrangements and, importantly, the courtesies that will apply to the Treasurer's budget speech this evening and equally to the Leader of the Opposition's speech in reply on Thursday evening. As with all proceedings of the House, the member with the call is entitled to speak without interruption. In accordance with precedent, should I determine that a member be required to leave the House under standing order 94(a), the member will be advised by written note. I haven't had to do this during my time as Speaker. It's important that those courtesies are maintained. I ask all members to ensure that their guests comply with COVID-safe measures in place in the building. I trust there'll be cooperation from members and their invited guests in the galleries, for whom they are responsible. It should be the aim of all members that both nights proceed smoothly for the benefit of the House and for those watching and listening to procedures. To finish off, for the information of members, almost every year during the budget speech and during the budget-in-reply speech, I get a note alerting me to the time. The clock is there as a guide. This is the one occasion where both the Treasurer and the Leader of the Opposition don't have a time limit. We don't want to encourage them to be unlimited, but there is not a 30-minute limit on the speech or on the Leader of the Opposition's reply. DOCUMENTS 23 DOCUMENTS Presentation 23 15:29 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson Documents are tabled in accordance with the list circulated to honourable members earlier today. Full details of the documents will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS 23 AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORTS Report Nos 33 to 36 of 2020-21 23 15:29 The SPEAKER 00APG I present Auditor-General's audit reports Nos 33 to 36 for 2020-21. Details of the reports will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings. Documents made parliamentary papers in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 28 March 2018. DOCUMENTS 23 DOCUMENTS Resolution from the Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory 23 Presentation 23 15:30 The SPEAKER 00APG I inform the House that I've received a letter from members of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory enclosing a resolution passed on 31 March 2021 relating to the need to restore territory rights regarding voluntary assisted dying. I present a copy of the letter and the resolution. PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS 23 PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS 15:30 Mr ALBANESE R36 Grayndler I wish to make a personal explanation. The SPEAKER 00APG Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented? Mr ALBANESE R36 I do. The SPEAKER 00APG Please proceed. Mr ALBANESE R36 During question time the Prime Minister, in trying to avoid answering questions about his JobMaker program, gave a quote from myself about the government's JobKeeper program, in which I pointed towards the danger of an early ending of that program, which was due to end at the end of June last year. The quote from me indicated that that would have a devastating impact. What the Prime Minister didn't go on to do, by quoting it out of context, in terms of the timetable, was acknowledge that I was correct by extending the JobKeeper beyond June at that time. BILLS 24 BILLS Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021, Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus Response and Other Measures) Bill 2021, Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) 2021, Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Customs) 2021, Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Excise) 2021, Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (General) 2021, Industrial Chemicals Legislation Amendment 2021, Regulatory Powers (Standardisation Reform) 2021, Biosecurity Amendment (Clarifying Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Bill 2021 24

Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2021

Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Early Childhood Education and Care Coronavirus Response and Other Measures) Bill 2021

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) 2021

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Customs) 2021

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Excise) 2021

Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (General) 2021

Industrial Chemicals Legislation Amendment 2021

Regulatory Powers (Standardisation Reform) 2021

Biosecurity Amendment (Clarifying Conditionally Non-prohibited Goods) Bill 2021

Assent 24 COMMITTEES 24 COMMITTEES Membership 24 15:32 The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265991 I have to report that the House that on 23 April 2021 I received advice from the Chief Government Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees. In accordance with standing order 229(b), as the House was not expected to sit for several weeks the appointments became effective on that day. I now call the minister to move a motion to resolve the memberships of the committees. 15:32 Mr PITT 148150 Hinkler I ask leave of the House to move a motion for the appointment of members to certain committees. The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265991 Is leave granted? Mr Burke DYW Could you re-state what you just said to the House, please? The DEPUTY SPEAKER 265991 Yes, sure. I have to report to the House that on 23 April 2021 I received advice from the Chief Government Whip nominating members to be members of certain committees. In accordance with standing order 229(b), as the House was not expected to sit for several weeks the appointments became effective on that date. I now call the minister to move a motion to resolve the memberships of the committees. Mr Burke DYW Okay. Leave is granted. Mr PITT 148150 I move: That: (1) Dr Webster be discharged from the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories and the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme; (2) Ms Bell be appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services; and (3) Mr R. J. Wilson and Mr Broadbent be appointed as members of the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety. 15:33 Mr BURKE DYW Watson I move an amendment to the motion that has been moved by the minister: That the following words be added: "Mr Laming be discharged from the Employment, Education and Training committee." The opposition accepts in moving this that it will be for the government whips to replace Mr Laming with whoever they choose. We are not seeking to shift from the practice that the whips recommend who becomes members of committees. But, can I tell you, we were told by Mr Laming himself, the member for Bowman, and by members of the government that he was resigning from all parliamentary positions. We were told that. And when we agreed to the motion today for what the order of business would be, committee memberships was one of the things we agreed to, presuming there would be that opportunity. We didn't raise it in question time, because the government had specifically nominated that they would deal with committee memberships. And then, when we get to committee memberships, guess what is the one that they don't want to change. After everything we heard about the member for Bowman over the break, we get back here and nothing has changed. After everything we dealt with for weeks and weeks in this parliament, we get back here today and we discover nothing has changed! We find the committee memberships that were reported to be changed in April—in April!—will now be 'tidied up'. But in relation to someone who in March announced he was going, nothing's going to be done. Every single day since that announcement, that they did as part of their media management, he's been collecting the salary of chair of a committee—every single day. His claim wasn't, 'Oh, I'll resign later on.' The claim was he would resign immediately. That's what we were told, that he would resign immediately. And why were we told that? Why was it important that he would resign immediately? Because the member for Bowman is not fit to be a member of this parliament. The member for Bowman is not fit to be a member of the House, and this government is relying on the tainted vote of the member for Bowman to retain any majority in this place. He has a long history of trolling and abusing his own constituents on Facebook. He publicly accused one woman of misappropriating charity funds, leading her, under pressure from him, to consider taking her own life. He targeted another woman, and her husband, with abuse for six years! Six years! This man has been targeting his constituents with abuse. When he was exposed on Nine, he apologised. He stood over there in the parliament and he apologised for the abuse. Then, within hours, he was sending messages saying he didn't even know what he was apologising for. If you behave that way, you are not fit to be a member of parliament. If you then apologise and don't even know why, you are not fit to be a member of parliament. If you hide behind bushes, jumping out, taking photos of constituents, you're not fit to be a member of parliament. If you offer a $100 reward to people to help identify who another member of parliament has been seen with in public, you are not fit to be a member of parliament. 15:37 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That the Member be no longer heard. The SPEAKER 00APG The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no further heard.

The House divided. [15:42]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 68 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

 15:46 Ms BUTLER 248006 Griffith I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. 15:47 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move That the question be now put. Mr Burke interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG No, I know the difficulty. I'm very familiar with the Practice, and I will get out the page. I'm just going to familiarise members with this issue; I've had a lot of cause to reflect on it. I'll helpfully get the page in a second, if I can, from the Practice, which I can find if members want, where it states that a closure motion can be moved during the moving of a motion, during a seconding of a motion, at any time before the chair has stated the question. The other principle at stake is: when members seek the call—the Leader of the House was there seeking the call immediately afterwards—you don't want a precedent where I don't give members the call. The only difference here is that what normally happens has happened a little bit later, but it has happened just in time. I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business. Mr Burke DYW The seconder had concluded her speech— The SPEAKER 00APG Yes. Mr Burke DYW and reserved her right. It also is one of the principles of Practice and standing orders that the moment a seconder has concluded the question will be stated. That's part of the Practice. For the Leader of the House to be able to move the closure is for you to give the call, but immediately after the member for Griffith sat down, the first thing to happen was for the question to be stated, before the call was given to anyone. The SPEAKER 00APG No, I don't agree with that interpretation. I really don't. It's a fundamental difference. What you're really asking of me is to speak very quickly and state the question when there's someone there already seeking the call. If the boot is on the other foot, there are times when you're seeking the call or the Leader of the Opposition is seeking the call. That is why those standing orders, and they're fairly brutal standing orders, they really are—the Leader of the Opposition and yourself know the history of them; they go back a long way—are designed for exactly that purpose. So what the argument here really is is that I should have ignored someone at the dispatch box and stated the question. We were talking about a millisecond. Let's be real-world about it. I'm happy to hear from the Manager of Opposition Business again. Mr Burke DYW Mr Speaker, what we're talking about is whether or not the member for Bowman remains on a committee, and this judgement call is a big part of determining that. The SPEAKER 00APG Actually, no; that's not— Mr Burke DYW Yes, but the House— The SPEAKER 00APG No, because what you are suggesting is that I should have a different interpretation based on the question before the chair. And I do not accept the principle that amendments are of unequal weight. All amendments are important. The Manager of Opposition Business has moved an amendment—he has done so—and the Leader of the House was there seeking the call. The Leader of the House, as you well know, could have moved the closure motion during the Manager of Opposition Business's speech. I don't think he could have moved it after that—after the Manager of Opposition Business was no further heard. I think I did have to call for a seconder. But it remains— Mr Snowdon interjecting— The SPEAKER 00APG It would be helpful if the member for Lingiari didn't interject. It remains the case that the question before the chair was not that the amendment now be disagreed to. That's the case. So the question before the chair is that moved by the Leader of the House, and that is that the question be put. Honourable members interjecting—

The House divided. [15:55]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 69 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Georganas, S Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

15:59 The SPEAKER 00APG The question now is that the motion moved by the minister for the appointment of members of certain committees be agreed to. Question agreed to. Employment, Education and Training Committee 28 Membership 28 16:00 Mr BURKE DYW Watson I move: That Mr Laming be discharged from the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training. The SPEAKER 00APG You need to seek leave or— Mr BURKE DYW This morning we suspended standing orders to be able to deal with committee memberships. That was moved by the Leader of the House this morning. The SPEAKER 00APG Okay, yes, I'll let you proceed on that basis. Has the Manager of Opposition Business finished his motion? Mr BURKE DYW I finished moving the motion, yes. 16:00 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That the member be no longer heard. The SPEAKER 00APG The question is that the Manager of Opposition Business be no longer heard.

The House divided. [16:05]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 69 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Georganas, S Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

16:07 The SPEAKER 00APG Is the motion seconded. 16:07 Ms BUTLER 248006 Griffith I second the motion. The government is defending the indefensible, and they should be ashamed. It's an absolute disgrace. The SPEAKER 00APG The Leader of the House. 16:07 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That the motion be put. The SPEAKER 00APG You can't move that motion. The Leader of the House has the call. 16:08 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That the member be no longer be heard. The SPEAKER 00APG The question is the member for Griffith be no further heard.

The House divided. [16:10]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 69 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Georganas, S Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

 16:11 The SPEAKER 00APG The question now is that the motion moved by the Manager of Opposition Business be agreed to. 16:11 Ms PLIBERSEK 83M Sydney When those opposite vote to defend the member for Bowman, they vote to defend— 16:11 Mr DUTTON 00AKI Dickson I move: That the question be now put. The SPEAKER 00APG The question is that the question be now put.

The House divided. [16:12]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 69 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Georganas, S Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

 16:15 The SPEAKER 00APG The question before the House is that the motion moved by the Manager of Opposition Business be disagreed to.

The House divided. [16:15]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)

 74 AYES Alexander, JG Allen, K Andrews, KJ Andrews, KL Archer, BK Bell, AM Broadbent, RE Buchholz, S Chester, D Christensen, GR Coleman, DB Conaghan, PJ Connelly, V Coulton, M Drum, DK (teller) Dutton, PC Entsch, WG Evans, TM Falinski, JG Fletcher, PW Flint, NJ Gee, AR Gillespie, DA Goodenough, IR Hamilton, GR Hammond, CM Hastie, AW Hawke, AG Hogan, KJ Howarth, LR Hunt, GA Irons, SJ Joyce, BT Kelly, C Laming, A Landry, ML Leeser, J Ley, SP Littleproud, D Liu, G Marino, NB Martin, FB McCormack, MF McIntosh, MI Morrison, SJ Morton, B O'Brien, LS O'Dowd, KD Pasin, A Pearce, GB Pitt, KJ Porter, CC Price, ML Ramsey, RE (teller) Robert, SR Sharma, DN Simmonds, J Stevens, J Sukkar, MS Taylor, AJ Tehan, DT Thompson, P Tudge, AE van Manen, AJ Vasta, RX Wallace, AB Webster, AE Wicks, LE Wilson, RJ Wilson, TR Wood, JP Wyatt, KG Young, T Zimmerman, T 69 NOES Albanese, AN Aly, A Bandt, AP Bird, SL Bowen, CE Burke, AS Burney, LJ Burns, J Butler, MC Butler, TM Byrne, AM Champion, ND Clare, JD Claydon, SC Coker, EA Collins, JM Conroy, PM Dick, MD Dreyfus, MA Elliot, MJ Fitzgibbon, JA Freelander, MR Georganas, S Giles, AJ Gorman, P Gosling, LJ Haines, H Hayes, CP Hill, JC Husic, EN Kearney, G Keogh, MJ Khalil, P King, CF King, MMH Marles, RD McBain, KL McBride, EM Mitchell, BK Mitchell, RG Mulino, D Murphy, PJ Neumann, SK O'Connor, BPJ O'Neil, CE Owens, JA Payne, AE Perrett, GD Phillips, FE Plibersek, TJ Rishworth, AL Rowland, MA Ryan, JC (teller) Sharkie, RCC Shorten, WR Smith, DPB Snowdon, WE Stanley, AM (teller) Steggall, Z Swanson, MJ Templeman, SR Thistlethwaite, MJ Thwaites, KL Vamvakinou, M Watts, TG Wells, AS Wilkie, AD Wilson, JH Zappia, A 0 PAIRS

Question agreed to.

 PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS 34 PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS 16:17 Mr LAMING E0H Bowman Mr Speaker, I wish to make a brief personal explanation. The SPEAKER 00APG Does the member claim to have been misrepresented? Mr LAMING E0H I have been. The SPEAKER 00APG The member may proceed. Mr LAMING E0H In the last hour a number of matters have been raised by those in the chamber making reflections on my character and conduct. They misrepresented me a number of times, and I'll list them very briefly. Legitimate political questions that I've asked online of Labor state MPs have been characterised in here as 'stalking'. That is a misrepresentation. A photograph taken of my own wife playing with our family has been misrepresented as 'stalking' while 'hiding in the bushes' in a park where there are no bushes. An utterly, entirely appropriate and innocent workplace photograph, with no offence whatsoever found after a police investigation, has been misrepresented in this place as 'lewd'. The work that I've done on Facebook in responding to comments of others has been misrepresented. It has been characterised as 'harassment'. To refer to me and misrepresent me as a 'taxpayer funded troll' for my online work, with all posts remaining online, visible and public, is a misrepresentation and reflection on my character, and something that I wish to point out very clearly to this House is an unacceptable way to deal with accusations that are not subject to a single substantiated complaint. COMMITTEES 34 COMMITTEES Treaties Committee 34 Report 34 16:19 Mr SHARMA 274506 Wentworth On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, I present the committee's report entitled Report 195: Film Co-Production—Malaysia; Radio Regulations—WRC-19; Tax Information Exchange—Timor-Leste Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). Public Accounts and Audit Committee 35 16:19 Mrs WICKS 241590 Robertson I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Committee concerning the draft budget estimates for the Australian National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Budget Office for 2021-22. In doing so, I'd like to acknowledge the presence in the chamber of the deputy chair, the member for Bruce, and to thank him and all members of the committee for their ongoing role in the important work that this committee does. The committee is required under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951 and the Parliamentary Service Act 1999 to consider the draft budget estimates of the ANAO and the PBO and to make recommendations, including to both houses of parliament, regarding these estimates. With regard to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the committee has been informed that the PBO has sought additional funding of $3.6 million over four years in the 2021-22 budget to allow it to maintain and expand its publicly available research. The PBO states that additional funding over the 2021-22 to 2024-25 period would allow the continued production and publication of new material during the peak period of the six to nine months around an election. It would also assist in improving the usability and accessibility of the PBO's website, assist in the hiring of a team of five staff to expand the PBO's work, and allow the PBO to maintain its special appropriation. This is substantially similar to the PBO's $3.1 million request last year, which the government did not fund in the previous budget. The JCPAA recognises the important role that the PBO can play in shaping the parliament's and the public's understanding of our economic and fiscal environment. The committee notes that the agency received $5.3 million in the 2019-20 budget to uplift its funding base to meet demand and modelling costs. The JCPAA supports the Parliamentary Budget Office's request for additional funding over the forward estimates, acknowledging the continued difficult budgetary conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. With regard to the ANAO's 2021-22 budget estimates, the Auditor-General is seeking supplementation of $8.8 million in 2021-22, rising to $11.6 million by 2024-25—or $41.4 million over four years—to address existing cost pressures and to restore, by 2024-25, the ANAO's capacity to meet its longstanding target of delivering 48 performance audits annually. The committee has advised that this will also assist in ensuring that quality and auditing standards in financial statement auditing are met and maintained. The ANAO states that supplementation is required to deliver an appropriate number of performance audits, to conduct mandatory financial statement audits, and to meet quality standards in IT and data storage security requirements. The committee notes that in recent years the ANAO has delivered a reduced number of audits. In 2019-20 the ANAO delivered 42 audits and in 2021-22 the Auditor-General forecast delivering 40 audits, falling to 36 by 2024-25. In the ANAO's 2019-20 annual report, the Auditor-General has outlined that this is due to several factors. These include insufficient resourcing; higher-than-average audit costs resulting from cost pressures, including the need to train new staff due to high turnover; more complex audit issues; challenges from entity recordkeeping systems; and increased contract out costs for financial statements audits. The JCPAA further notes that the ANAO has reported an operating deficit in recent years, including a total operating deficit of $3.117 million for the 2019-20 financial year and a $4.778 million operating deficit in 2018-19. It notes that this is inclusive of one-off costs for property. The ANAO is also seeking funding of $3.1 million in 2021-22, rising to $8.9 million by 2025-26—or $30.7 million over five years—to implement mandated performance statement audits, following a recent pilot program. As part of the pilot, audits were completed on two entities: the Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. These audits aim to drive improvements in the transparency and quality of entities' performance reporting and to increase entities' accountability to the parliament and the public. The ANAO submits that this pilot demonstrates benefits in improving the reliability, relevance and completeness of performance statements of the entities involved. The committee notes that developing a methodology and capability for performance statement audits has been a long-running project over many parliaments and supports the intent of such audits. The committee endorses the Auditor-General's request for supplementation to build the capability of the ANAO to return to a capacity to deliver 48 performance audits annually by the end of the forward estimates. The committee considers that increased funding consistent with a return to the historic target is important in the near term to commence that trajectory. Further, the committee considers that there are opportunities to provide for a more sustainable, ongoing funding model to avoid regular returns to the government and is examining this issue in its 10-year review of the Auditor-General Act 1997. Finalisation of this report need not preclude a funding commitment in this budget. Members of the JCPAA acknowledge the difficult budgetary conditions due to COVID-19, in which this request is made, whilst understanding the importance and value of a robust audit function in achieving value for taxpayers and greater efficiency and effectiveness of government expenditure. The committee also endorses the Auditor-General's proposal to implement mandated performance audit statements in a staged approach and recommends that ongoing funding be provided to the ANAO to undertake this work. I thank the Auditor-General and the Parliamentary Budget Office for their work in support of the parliament and the JCPAA. I present a copy of my statement. Sit ting suspended from 16:27 to 19 : 30 BILLS 36 BILLS Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022 36

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022

First Reading 36 Second Reading 36 19:31 Mr FRYDENBERG FKL Kooyong I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Securing Australia ' s recovery Introduction Australia is coming back. In the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic, the Australian spirit has shone through. Doctors and nurses on the front line. Teachers and students in the virtual classroom. Businesses, big and small, keeping the economy moving. 'Team Australia' at its best. A nation to be proud of. Mr Speaker, we have come so far since the height of the pandemic. Treasury feared unemployment could reach 15 per cent and the economy could contract by more than 20 per cent. This would have meant more than two million Australians unemployed. It would have been the equivalent of losing the agriculture, construction and mining sectors. Mr Speaker, today the reality is very different. Ahead of any major advanced economy, Australia has seen employment go above its pre-pandemic levels. At 5.6 per cent, unemployment today is lower than when we came to government. This is remarkable. Australia's fate could have been so much worse. The United Kingdom, France and Italy all contracted by more than eight per cent, Japan and Canada by around five per cent. Australia, just 2.5 per cent. On the health front, the catastrophic loss of life seen elsewhere has been averted. Early and decisive actions saved lives and livelihoods. We closed our borders. The Prime Minister established the national cabinet. And unprecedented support is seeing the country through the biggest global economic shock since the Great Depression. JobKeeper kept 3.8 million people in their job. JobSeeker helped 1.5 million people without work. The cashflow boost supported over 800,000 businesses and not-for-profits. And additional payments went to millions of pensioners, carers, veterans and others on income support. All made possible because we entered this crisis from a position of economic strength. Economic environment But, it has come at a significant and unavoidable cost. The COVID-19 recession will see our deficit reach $161 billion this year, falling to $57 billion in 2024-25. With more Australians back at work, this year's deficit is $52.7 billion lower than was expected just over six months ago in last year's budget. Net debt will increase to $617.5 billion or 30 per cent of GDP this year and peak at $980.6 billion or 40.9 per cent of GDP in June 2025. This is low by international standards. As a share of the economy, net debt is around half of that in the United Kingdom and United States and less than a third of that in Japan. We are better placed than nearly any other country in the world to meet the economic challenges that lie ahead. Consumer sentiment is at its highest in 11 years. Business conditions reached record highs. And more Australians are in work than ever before. Our plan is working. Australia's economic engine is roaring back to life. Since the last budget, almost half a million jobs have been created. Tonight, I outline the Morrison government's plan to secure Australia's economic recovery and build for the future. A plan that continues to protect Australians from COVID. A plan that creates more jobs. A plan that guarantees the essential services. And a plan that builds a more resilient and secure Australia. It is a plan that is guided by our enduring values. Reward for effort. The power of aspiration and enterprise. Upholding personal responsibility. And always providing a helping hand to those who need it. This is what the coalition stands for. Securing the recovery and creating jobs Our first priority is to keep Australians safe from COVID. In this budget, a further $1.9 billion is allocated for the rollout of vaccines. Australians have already received over 2.5 million doses. This budget provides another $1.5 billion for COVID-related health services, including for testing and tracing, respiratory clinics and telehealth. In total the Morrison government has committed $20 billion to the vaccine rollout and to strengthen our health system in response to COVID. Tax relief Australia's economic recovery is now well underway and we must keep the momentum going. In last year's budget, we promised hardworking Australians tax cuts and we delivered. We promised the largest set of investment incentives and we delivered. We promised more jobs and we delivered. This was done without undermining the structural integrity of the budget. But, this pandemic is not over. For as long as the virus persists, so will we. So tonight, we go further. Announcing that over 10 million low- and middle-income earners will benefit from a new and additional tax cut. A stimulus measure that will support the recovery and build on tax cuts that we announced in last year's budget and the budgets before that. Low- and middle-income earners will receive up to $1,080 for individuals or $2,160 for couples. More of their money in their pockets to spend across the economy, creating jobs. Under the coalition, taxes will always be lower, and hardworking Australian families will always be better off. Eight out of 10 jobs are in the private sector. A sustainable recovery requires a strong private sector. Our record investment incentives are filling the order books of the nation. Over 99 per cent of businesses, employing over 11 million workers, can write off the full value of any eligible asset that they purchase. This has seen their spending on machinery and equipment increase at the fastest rate in nearly seven years. So, tonight, we again go further. Announcing the extension of these measures for a further year until 30 June 2023, so a tradie can buy a new ute, a farmer a new harvester and a manufacturer expand their production line. Housing and small business Mr Speaker, when construction work began to dry up, HomeBuilder came to the rescue. New house starts are now at their highest level in 20 years. New loans to first home buyers reached their highest level in nearly 12 years. HomeBuilder has been a huge success. And our $2 billion investment in affordable housing is bringing on more supply. Mr Speaker, in this budget, our housing measures go even further. Helping another 10,000 first home buyers build a new home with a five per cent deposit. Supporting 10,000 single parents to purchase a home with as low as a two per cent deposit. Increasing the amount that can be released under the First Home Super Saver Scheme from $30,000 to $50,000. Under the coalition, home ownership will always be supported. Mr Speaker, we know that some sectors and regions across the country continue to do it tough. That is why this budget provides a further $2.1 billion in targeted support for aviation, tourism, the arts and international education providers. More than 800,000 half-price airfares. Support for more than 200 productions. Grants to English language course providers. And extending our small business loan scheme, which has already helped more than 45,000 businesses access low-cost finance. We are also providing tax relief for around 1,000 small brewers and distillers across the nation. Mr Speaker, small and family businesses are the engine room of our economy. They are at the heart of every local community. As they strive to recover, we need the tax system to work for them, not against them. So tonight we provide small business with peace of mind that an independent umpire will stand between them and the tax office when it comes to debt recovery actions. We will take these disputes out of the courts and let small business get on with what they do best. Under the coalition, small business will always be stronger. Record investment in skills and training Mr Speaker, we need to equip Australians with the skills that they need to get a job today and tomorrow. In this budget, we double our commitment to the JobTrainer Fund. Supporting a total of more than 450,000 new training places to upskill jobseekers and young people. At a cost of $2.7 billion, we will create 170,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships. Building on the 100,000 new apprentices we have already helped into a job in the first stage of the program. We will help more women break into non-traditional trades, with training support for 5,000 places. And we will provide 2,700 places in Indigenous girls academies to help them finish school and enter the workforce. And more STEM scholarships for women, in partnership with industry. Tonight, we are also providing another 5,000 places in higher education short courses. And better matching jobseekers to jobs. We will invest in modernising employment services, including specialist assistance for young and Indigenous Australians. Importantly, for those who find themselves without work, the government has strengthened the safety net, increasing the JobSeeker payment while enhancing mutual obligations. Child care Mr Speaker, child care is an important driver of higher workforce participation and women's economic security. In this budget, we are making a further and targeted $1.7 billion investment in child care. This will increase the affordability of child care for low- and middle-income families. 250,000 families will be better off by an average of $2,200 each year. Giving more parents, especially women, the choice to take on extra work. A dynamic and competitive economy Mr Speaker, our economic plan capitalises on the opportunities that will exist on the other side of this crisis. Building the infrastructure our economy needs for the future with our 10-year, $110 billion infrastructure program. Tonight we make $15 billion in additional infrastructure commitments including for: the North-South Corridor in South Australia the Great Western Highway and Newcastle airport in New South Wales the new Melbourne Intermodal Terminal in Victoria the Bruce Highway in Queensland METRONET in Western Australia highway upgrades in the Northern Territory Light Rail Stage 2A in the Australian Capital Territory and Midland Highway upgrades in Tasmania. In this budget we also invest a further $1 billion in road safety upgrades to save lives and a further $1 billion in local road infrastructure projects. Funding for these shovel-ready projects will be provided on a use it or lose it basis. And through the Building Better Regions Fund, we will support a further $250 million of regional community infrastructure projects, creating more jobs. Under the coalition, regional Australia will never be taken for granted. Throughout the pandemic we have seen how quickly Australians have adapted. Changing the way we work, shop and communicate. A trend that will only accelerate. Digital infrastructure and digital skills will be critical for the competitiveness of our economy, creating massive opportunities for growth and jobs. In this budget, we are investing $1.2 billion in our Digital Economy Strategy. Establishing a new national network of artificial intelligence centres to drive business adoption of these new technologies. Expanding our cybersecurity innovation fund to train the next generation of cybersecurity experts. And undertaking a digital skills cadetship trial which combines workplace and vocational training. Mr Speaker, Australia's manufacturing sector will be a key driver of future jobs and higher wages. That is why we have already committed $1.5 billion to expand manufacturing activity and create jobs across six priority areas, including medical products and clean energy. We backed in our Modern Manufacturing Strategy with an additional $2 billion in research and development tax incentives. Australia has led the world with innovations like wi-fi, the bionic ear and a vaccine for cervical cancer. We want to see more innovation commercialised in Australia. And so tonight, we are launching a new 'patent box' starting on 1 July next year. Under the patent box, income earned from new patents that have been developed in Australia will be taxed at a concessional 17 per cent rate—almost half the rate that applies to large companies. The patent box will apply to the medical and biotech sectors and we will consult on expanding it to the clean energy sector. Mr Speaker, Australia's effective management of COVID makes us an even more attractive place for the best and brightest from around the world. To take advantage of this, we are streamlining visas to target highly skilled individuals when circumstances allow. We're simplifying our tax laws, including the treatment of employee share ownership schemes in line with the rest of the world. And we're improving Australia's competitiveness as a financial services sector and centre in the region. Guaranteeing essential services Mr Speaker, our strong economy enables us to guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on. In this budget, the Morrison government is providing record funding for schools, hospitals, Medicare, mental health, aged care and disability support. Since coming to government, we have listed more than 2,600 medicines on the PBS, an average of one each and every day. This has put life‑changing treatments within the reach of every Australian. In this budget, we fund new medicines to treat breast cancer, lung cancer, severe osteoporosis and asthma. Tonight, we announce the listing of Emgality to treat chronic migraines. Instead of costing $6,800 per year for treatment it will now cost just $41.30 a script or $6.60 for concession card holders. The government is also providing in this budget new funding for endometriosis, research into pre‑term birth and genetic testing for pregnant women. The government is committed to ensuring Australians can access quality medical services no matter where they live. That is why in this budget we will provide higher incentives to rural and regional GPs for bulk-billed services, helping to keep more doctors in the regions. National Disability Insurance Scheme Mr Speaker, the NDIS has made Australia a better country. Profoundly improving the lives of people with disability and their families. A new wheelchair, home modifications, care in the home and transport to work. Today, 450,000 people are receiving disability support. In the last year alone, more than 100,000 people have joined the scheme. In this budget, we will spend a further $13.2 billion over four years to meet the needs of Australians with disability. As the scheme reaches maturity, our focus is on ensuring its sustainability and that it continues to deliver a high-quality essential service for those who need it. Under the coalition, the NDIS will always be fully funded. Aged care Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister called the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It revealed shocking cases of neglect and abuse. Tonight, we commit $17.7 billion in practical and targeted new funding to significantly improve the system. We will fund another 80,000 new home care packages, bringing the total to 275,000 home care packages that will be available. We will increase the time nurses and carers are required to spend with residents. We will make an additional payment of $10 per resident per day to enhance the viability and sustainability of the residential aged-care system. We will support over 33,000 new training places for personal carers, and a new Indigenous workforce. We will provide retention bonuses to keep more nurses in aged care. We will increase access for respite services for carers. We will strengthen the regulatory regime to monitor and enforce standards of care. We will upgrade essential aged-care infrastructure in regional and remote areas around the country. This package brings our record investment in aged care to over $119 billion over the next four years. We are committed to restoring trust in the system and allowing Australians to age with dignity and respect. Mental health Mr Speaker, everybody listening tonight knows somebody who is struggling with their mental health. Suicide is the leading cause of death in Australia for those aged 18 to 44. Tragically, over 65,000 of our fellow Australians attempt to take their own lives each year. These are not just statistics on a page. These are our family. These are our friends. These are our colleagues. In every budget, we have committed more resources to frontline services. Beyond Blue. Lifeline. Kids Helpline. Tonight we extend our support with a $2.3 billion commitment to mental health care and suicide prevention. More headspace centres to support more young Australians. Expanding this model to those aged over 25, with a new Head to Health national network of 40 centres. Increased funding for the treatment of people with eating disorders. Greater access to psychiatrists, psychologists and GPs through Medicare. Universal access to care for people who have been discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt. A new National Suicide Prevention Office. And as the Prime Minister has announced, we will establish a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. We have nearly doubled spending on mental health since we came to government. It is a clear national priority. It goes to the heart of who we are as Australians, helping those who need it most. Education Mr Speaker, in this budget the government is investing record funding in education. We have already doubled school funding since we came to office. Our focus is on lifting student outcomes and better equipping teachers. Tonight we also commit $2 billion to fund preschools, with reforms to improve participation. Preschool is a vital time in a child's development and prepares them for the educational journey ahead. In this budget, we are also providing more than $19 billion in funding for our universities in 2021-22. And as a result of decisions made during the pandemic, this year there are 30,000 more places at Australian universities. Women's safety Mr Speaker, all Australians have the right to be safe. The reality is that, for too many women, this is not their experience. One in four women experience violence from a current or a former partner. This must stop. We must do all we can to end all forms of violence against women and children. Since we came to government we have invested more than $1 billion to keep women and children safe. Tonight, we invest a further $1.1 billion in women's safety. Delivering more emergency accommodation. More legal assistance. More counselling. More financial support, including cash payments for those escaping abusive relationships. More targeted services for Indigenous, migrant and refugee women and women with a disability. We will improve the family law system to better protect children, give victims of domestic violence greater access to justice and reduce the time spent in court. Mr Speaker, sexual harassment is unacceptable in any context. When it occurs in the workplace, it denies women their dignity, as well as their personal and economic security. The government in its response to the Respect@Work report is strengthening laws, guidance and standards to prevent and to address harassment. Retirees We want all Australians to get the most out of the superannuation system. On average women retire with less superannuation than men. So tonight, the government will remove the current $450 per month minimum income threshold for the superannuation guarantee. This will improve economic security in retirement for around 200,000 women. Our plan will also make it easier for Australians to prepare for retirement and to be more secure once in retirement. We will improve flexibility by no longer requiring older Australians to meet a work test before they can make voluntary contributions to superannuation. We will allow those aged over 60 to contribute up to $300,000 into their superannuation if they downsize their home, freeing up more housing stock for younger families. We will also enhance the Pension Loan Scheme by providing immediate access to lump sums of around $12,000 for singles and $18,000 for couples. Under the coalition, Australian seniors will always have more control over their money. A resilient Australia COVID has not been the only challenge Australia has faced. Drought, bushfires, cyclones and floods. This budget provides more resources to help Australians prepare, respond and recover from these natural disasters. A new National Recovery and Resilience Agency to lead our response to natural disasters. A $10 billion government guarantee to make insurance more affordable in northern Australia. Funding from our $3.5 billion National Water Grid Fund to make regional Australia more resilient to drought, building dams and irrigation projects. More than $600 million for community and household projects to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. And $170 million to strengthen internet and mobile coverage in regional Australia, particularly in bushfire prone areas. Mr Speaker, Australia's biosecurity system protects more than $50 billion in agricultural exports and 1.6 million jobs from threats like African swine fever. This budget will strengthen border screening controls and improve our ability to fight an outbreak. Mr Speaker, a resilient Australia requires diverse and reliable supply chains. That is why we are providing additional support for Australian manufacturers of critical products. And more funding to help small businesses and farmers expand and diversify their export markets. Mr Speaker, our industries and regions depend on affordable and reliable energy. That's why the government is unlocking Australia's vast gas reserves in the North Bowen and Galilee Basins, and investing in hydrogen‑ready gas plants. We are also shoring up our fuel security by helping local refineries to keep operating here in Australia. Mr Speaker, we are the custodians of this great continent for future generations. This budget provides over $480 million in new funding for the environment, including $100 million to protect our oceans. We are also upgrading our recycling capabilities, creating jobs and reducing waste sent to landfill. Australia is playing its part on climate change too, having met our 2020 commitments and on track to meet and beat our 2030 target. Australia is on the pathway to net zero and our goal is to get there as soon as we possibly can, preferably by 2050. We will do this with a practical, technology‑focused approach. Technology not taxes. Already, we have the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world and are supporting major energy projects like Snowy 2.0 and Battery of the Nation. In this budget, we are investing a further $1.6 billion to fund priority technologies, including clean hydrogen and energy storage. Our approach will strengthen the economy, create more jobs and reduce emissions. National security Mr Speaker, while we have been fighting COVID, other threats to our national security have not gone away. To keep Australians safe from these threats—whether domestic or foreign—the government is providing an additional $1.9 billion over the decade to strengthen our national security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. We also need to be prepared for a world that is less stable and more contested. This is why we are investing $270 billion over 10 years in Australia's defence capability. The Australian Defence Force continues to protect and uphold our national interests abroad and at home. Our Defence Force are always there for us and we are forever indebted to them. Conclusion Mr Speaker, this pandemic is far from over. Around the world, there are more than 800,000 new COVID cases every day. The global economic environment remains uncertain. The euro area has fallen back into recession. But, Australia is now well on the road to recovery. Our economy is forecast to grow by 1¼ per cent in 2020-21, rising to 4¼ per cent in 2021-22. Employment is at a record high, with 75,000 more Australians in jobs than before the pandemic. And this budget will help to create more than 250,000 more jobs by the end of 2022-23. Mr Speaker, this budget secures the recovery and sets Australia up for the future. Tax cuts to put more money in people's pockets. Business incentives to unleash a further wave of investment. New apprenticeships and training places to get more Australians into work. A $110 billion infrastructure pipeline to build our nation's future. And record funding to guarantee the essential services Australians rely on. Mr Speaker, jobs are coming back. The economy is coming back. Australia is coming back. And this budget will ensure we come back even stronger and ensure that we secure Australia's economic recovery. I commend the budget to the House. Debate adjourned. BUDGET 44 BUDGET Documents 44 20:11 Mr SUKKAR 242515 Deakin For the information of honourable members, I present the following documents in connection with the budget of 2021-22: Budget strategy and outlook—Budget paper No. 1—2021-22. Budget measures—Budget paper No. 2—2021-22. Federal Financial Relations—Budget paper No. 3—2021-22. Agency resourcing—Budget paper No. 4—2021-22. Australian Government response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, May 2021. Documents made parliamentary papers in accordance with the resolution agreed to on 28 March 2018. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS 44 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Women's Budget Statement 2021-22, Supporting Regional Recovery and Growth 44 20:11 Mr SUKKAR 242515 Deakin I present the following ministerial statements: Women's budget statement 2021-22 and Regional ministerial budget statement 2021-22—Supporting regional recovery and growth. BILLS 44 BILLS Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022 44

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022

First Reading 44 Second Reading 44 20:12 Mr SUKKAR 242515 Deakin I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022 Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022, along with Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022, are the budget appropriation bills for the coming financial year. Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $20 billion. This bill provides a full year of appropriations for purposes that are non-ordinary annual services of government for 2021-22, including capital works and services; payments for the states, territories and local government authorities; and funding for new administered outcomes not previously endorsed by the parliament. This bill also includes a revised Advance to the Finance Minister provision for a maximum of $3 billion. This is down from the total $6 billion that could be issued under 2020-21 AFM provision in the equivalent even-numbered appropriation bill and takes into consideration the evolving nature of the COVID‑19 pandemic, allocations that have been made to date and the uncertainty around what may be required over 2021-22. This bill includes appropriations for the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, recognising that this involves a new administered outcome and consistent with the Senate-Executive compact, this should be in an even-numbered bill. I will now outline the significant items provided for in this bill. The bill proposes an appropriation to the Department of Defence of $12.7 billion. The appropriation will be used to continue delivering on the government's commitments in improving defence capability as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper, as well as the 2020 Force Structure Plan and 2020 strategic update. The bill also proposes an appropriation to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications of over $3.5 billion in 2021-22 to support rail, road and aviation infrastructure throughout Australia and to support local governments deliver key community infrastructure. This bill will provide nearly $400 million to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The bill additionally proposes an appropriation of $600 million to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. This includes $500 million partly for the plantation development concessional loans to be delivered by the Regional Investment Corporation. Passage of the bills through the House of Reps and through the Senate by 30 June is required to ensure continuity of the government's programs and the Commonwealth's ability to meet its obligations for the 2021-22 financial year. I therefore commend this bill. Debate adjourned. Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022 45

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022

First Reading 45 Second Reading 45 20:16 Mr SUKKAR 242515 Deakin I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022 provides appropriations for 2021-22 for the operations of: the Department of the Senate; the Department of the House of Representatives; the Department of Parliamentary Services; and the Parliamentary Budget Office. The bill proposes total appropriations of $287.5 million. The most significant item in this bill is for the Department of Parliamentary Services, which will receive $226.2 million for the maintenance of the Australian Parliament House, and to support the functions of parliament and parliamentarians through the provision of professional services, advice and facilities. This bill continues the very significant funding uplift provided in last year's budget on an ongoing basis. It also includes funding consistent with present levels of Senate committee activity, through to the end of the current parliament. Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill and the 2021-22 portfolio budget statements. I therefore commend the bill. Debate adjourned. House adjourned at 20 : 18 NOTICES 45 NOTICES