The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PETITIONS COMMITTEE REPORT No. 11
Petitions and Ministerial Responses
19 June 2023
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
Chair Ms Susan Templeman MP
Deputy Chair Mr Ross Vasta MP
Mr Sam Birrell MP
Ms Alison Byrnes MP
Ms Lisa Chesters MP
Mr Garth Hamilton MP
Ms Tracy Roberts MP
Ms Meryl Swanson MP
Report summarising the petitions and ministerial responses being presented.
The committee met in private session in the 47th Parliament on 10 May 2023, 24 May 2023, 31 May 2023 and 14 June 2023.
1. The committee resolved to present the following 43 petitions in accordance with standing order 207:
Petitions certified on 10 May 2023
From 5 petitioners—requesting the cessation of ethnic discrimination in handling the Afghan Humanitarian visa applications (EN5031)
From 33 petitioners—requesting the cessation of the habitual systemic failure of the real estate industry (EN5033)
From 3 petitioners—requesting that IMMI Account Ensure be 100 per cent operational from 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday (EN5034)
From 19 petitioners—requesting Centrelink payments and domestic violence (EN5041)
From 279 petitioners—requesting a federally funded scheme for customers affected by the builder's liquidation (EN5044)
From 9 petitioners—requesting the cessation of inequality of funding for psychology (EN5045)
From 55697 petitioners—requesting Australia rejects amendments to the 75th WHA/WHO International Health Regulations (EN5048)
From 5 petitioners—requesting that Skill Assessment not be expired. (EN5055)
From 10 petitioners—requesting that mental health medications in Australiabe banned (EN5057)
From 12 petitioners—requesting that all unions pay tax now (EN5058)
From 23 petitioners—requesting no Apartheid in Australia / racist Voice (EN5059)
From 37 petitioners—requesting the B.O.M. publish accurate Australian temperatures (EN5060)
From 3 petitioners—requesting Prime Minister must attend the NATO Summit in July 2023 (EN5061)
From 29 petitioners—requesting a Royal Commission into price gouging of petrol prices be established (EN5062)
From 9 petitioners—requesting the flood-proofing of Cabonne (EN5065)
From 8 petitioners—requesting the purchase of nuclear powered vessels including submarines be banned (EN5066)
From 54 petitioners—requesting an inquiry into the cost of living crisis (EN5068)
From 17 petitioners—regarding Peter Dutton's eligibility to sit. (EN5069)
From 152 petitioners—regarding voting No to the Voice (EN5070)
From 35 petitioners—requesting the flying of foreign flags on government property be banned (EN5071)
From 29 petitioners—requesting more research and resources for eating disorders such as anorexia (EN5075)
From 3 petitioners—requesting a limit on the number of petitions per individual (EN5076)
From 33 petitioners—requesting the Stage 3 tax cuts be scrapped (EN5077)
From 1278 petitioners—requesting the national newborn screening election commitment be implemented as promised (EN5078)
From 342 petitioners—regarding living costs and jobs creation in relation to offshore gas exploration (EN5079)
From 12 petitioners—requesting the removal of the 60 days dispensing proposal from the May Federal Budget (EN5080)
From 79 petitioners—regarding the fighting in Sudan (EN5081)
From 15 petitioners—requesting it be made mandatory for Australian banks to implement 2FA and login alerts (EN5083)
From 14963 petitioners—requesting an increase for research scholarship rates for PhD students (EN5085)
From 16 petitioners—requesting vary preferential voting in the Senatebe varied (EN5087)
From 8 petitioners—requesting a permanent Army presence in the Northwest of Australia (EN5088)
From 21 petitioners—requesting the gross income for the GST threshold be increased (EN5089)
From 12028 petitioners—requesting fenfluramine be added to the PBS for patients with DRAVET Syndrome (EN5090)
From 21 petitioners—requesting independent pharmacies be saved (EN5091)
From 1381 petitioners—requesting no funding for the AFL stadium in Tasmania (EN5092)
From 265 petitioners—requesting TSMIT for current 491 visa holders and pending applicationsbe kept (EN5093)
From 7 petitioners—regarding another PR deportation in full breach of M32/2022 and S81/2022 (EN5096)
From 54 petitioners—regarding the nuclear submarines and AUKUS deal (EN5099)
From 19 petitioners—requesting funding of scientists to resolve the climate threat to the Earth (EN5101)
From 34 petitioners—requesting vaping not be banned (EN5102)
From 802 petitioners—requesting the cessation of federal funding for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 (EN5103)
From 146 petitioners—requesting CGM for all insulin-dependent diabetics including Type 2 diabetics be full subsidised (EN5105)
Petition certified on 14 June 2023
From 6556 petitioners—regarding Australia's duty of care to people in Australia seeking asylum (PN0563)
2. The following 42 ministerial responses to petitions were received:
Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 24 May 2023
From the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services to a petition regarding taxation laws relating to Total and Permanent Disability insurance payments in superannuation (EN3932)
From the Speaker to a petition regarding the Member for Cook and his eligibility to sit as a member of Parliament (EN4361)
From the Speaker to a petition regarding the prayers read at the commencement of each sitting of the House of Representatives (EN4367)
From the Minister for the Environment and Water to a petition requesting a review to identify a plan to mitigate major floods in the New South Wales area (EN4377)
From the Minister for Health and Aged Care to a petition requesting a national public inquiry into the Australian Government's handling of future health pandemics (EN4629)
From the Minister for Industry and Science to a petition requesting the creation of a Volume 4 to the NCC (National Construction Code) that relates solely to Social Housing (EN4633)
From the Special Minister of State to a petition regarding federal elections and compulsory voting (EN4658)
From the Minister for Health and Aged Care to a petition requesting a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the COVID-19 Pandemic response in Australia and an Australian Human Rights Commission inquiry into the violation of human rights on a federal, territory and state basis (EN4670)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition regarding government services eligibility and residential property acquisition for certain visa (EN4709)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the provision of permanent residency to international students who studied onshore during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN4718)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs to a petition regarding the incarceration of the five members of the group known as the 'Bali Nine' (EN4721)
From the Minister for Industry and Science to a petition requesting increases to the Medicare rebate (EN4729)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition regarding processing times of the Skilled Work Regional (subclass 491) provisional visas (EN4780)
Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 31 May 2023
From the Minister for Housing to a petition regarding the HomeBuilder application deadline (EN3294)
From the Special Minister of State to a petition regarding reforms to Australia's electoral environment and government accountability (EN4099)
From the Minister for Housing to a petition requesting the extension of the deadline for submissions of documentation for HomeBuilder (EN4611)
From the Minister for Social Services to a petition regarding social welfare payments for cancer patients (EN4653)
From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to a petition regarding the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) scheme (EN4659)
From the Attorney-General to a petition regarding publicly funded psychiatric and psychological assessments that have been ordered by the court in family law cases (EN4705)
From the Attorney-General to a petition regarding child sexual abuse (EN4736)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the removal of section 48 of the Migration Act 1958 and work visa applicants (EN4765)
From the Minister for Health and Aged Care to a petition regarding tick-borne illnesses (PN0556)
Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 14 June 2023
From the Treasurer to a petition requesting for businesses to accept all legal tender including cash (EN2315)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting to process on hand subclass 887 Skilled Regional visa applications in chronological order (EN3882)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding the release of Mr Mehdi Ali and other transitory persons from immigration detention (EN3920)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding indefinite detention of refugees (EN3933)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding freedom for refugees (EN3945)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding Australia's asylum seekers policy (EN4260)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding the impact of COVID-19 on temporary visa holders and pathways to permanent residency for temporary visa holders (EN4327)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition regarding processing time standards for the Australian Border Force (ABF) (EN4352)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition regarding the validity period for the Professional Year program, English test scores and the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters' (NAATI) Credentialed Community Language (CCL) test score (EN4508)
From the Minister for Housing to a petition regarding rental affordability and legislation for property investment zones (EN4574)
From the Assistant Treasurer to a petition regarding identity protection for finance applications (EN4582)
From the Minister for Home Affairs to a petition requesting a change in Australia's asylum seekers policy (EN4613)
From the Minister for the Environment and Water to a petition regarding funding for supporting soft plastic recycling (EN4634)
From the Minister for the Environment and Water to a petition regarding biodegradable soft plastics (EN4640)
From the Minister for Financial Services to a petition regarding the regulation of baby walkers in Australia (EN4651)
From the Minister for Housing to a petition regarding the HomeBuilder grant document cut-off date (EN4691)
From the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury to a petition requesting the application of tests for the true purpose of money raised during online fund raisers (EN4696)
From the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations to a petition requesting mandatory requirements for businesses to have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) (EN4699)
From the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury to a petition requesting to make changes to the Census and statistics Act 1905 to legally mandate the inclusion of LGBTIQA+ data within the Census (EN4848)
From the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury to a petition requesting the addition of a question to the 2026 Census concerning one's COVID-19 vaccination status (EN4862)
Ms Susan Tem pleman MP
Chair—Petitions Committee
Interactive Gambling Amendment (Ban on Gambling Advertisements) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a second time.
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Healthy Kids Advertising) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a second time.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the popularity of the Government's Fee-Free TAFE policy, demonstrated by the almost 150,000 enrolments in the first quarter of 2023;
(2) recognises that fee-free TAFE is:
(a) driving enrolments in sectors with recognised skills shortages and securing a domestic workforce to deliver on current and future priorities;
(b) providing training opportunities to priority groups including First Nations Australians, young people (between the ages of 17 to 24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, certain categories of visa holders, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
(c) enabling greater opportunities for Australians to gain skills for rewarding employment and to obtain secure, well-paid jobs;
(d) investing in our greatest resource, our people, and ensuring that no Australians are held back or left behind as the Australian economy transitions; and
(e) providing important cost-of-living relief to Australian students;
(3) commends the Commonwealth and state and territory governments for jointly establishing a $1 billion 12-month National Skills Agreement in 2023, delivering 180,000 places this year; and
(4) welcomes budgeting for a further 300,000 places to be made fee-free from 2024, supporting TAFE's central role in the Vocational Education and Training sector.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges:
(a) more than half of the Australian population was either born overseas or has one parent who was born overseas; and
(b) nearly a quarter of Australian residents speak a language other than English at home;
(2) notes:
(a) the importance of government in creating an inclusive society where everyone feels they belong;
(b) the importance of national broadcasters like SBS and ABC in reflecting and engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous communities and promoting social cohesion and inclusion; and
(c) perceptions of fair and adequate representation in the media directly correlates with multicultural communities' sense of belonging;
(3) encourages:
(a) policymakers and government bodies to engage with culturally diverse communities in policy development;
(b) the Australian Public Service to commit to ensuring that diversity of leadership representation is reflected across its leadership levels;
(c) media organisations to ensure staff, senior leadership and boards reflect Australia's rich diversity; and
(d) SBS to play an active role in ensuring talent from multicultural backgrounds is given opportunities to excel within the organisation; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) take into account multicultural communities and their needs when formulating policies, allocation of funding, and resources;
(b) ensure English classes are funded for newly arrived migrants and refugees to ensure their successful integration into Australian society;
(c) ensure newly settled migrants and arrivals are aware of their rights and responsibilities;
(d) improve the process to recognise overseas qualifications so migrants and refugees can contribute to Australia's skilled workforce;
(e) effectively consult with cultural communities to inform the Government's Multicultural Framework Review.
In a family the overall attachment to the common good need not impose a sameness on the outlook or activity of each member, nor need these members deny their individuality and distinctiveness in order to seek a superficial and unnatural conformity. The important thing is that all are committed to the good of all.
That this House:
(1) notes that the Government is scrapping the 100 per cent pre-injury salary for veterans undertaking approved study from 1 July 2023;
(2) further notes that the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment (Incapacity Payments) Bill 2022, which mirrors the Coalition's Maintaining Incapacity Payments for Veterans Studying Bill, was passed with bipartisan support in September 2022;
(3) recognises that at no stage did the Government flag the scheme was under review or to be cut, and on the contrary, the Minister for Veterans Affairs championed the scheme;
(4) calls on the Government to recommit to the bi-partisan support of our veterans and their families as they transition from the Australian Defence Force;
(5) calls on the Government to introduce a 'Diggers Bill'—similar to the United States G.I. Bill, also known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act 1944 (United States); and
(6) acknowledges that it is our essential duty in this place to honour those who have given so much to protect Australia's interests at home and abroad.
Meaningful employment and genuine gratitude for veterans is i believe the key to solving the veteran suicide issue in this country.
We have a duty of care for those who have served. This is especially so where that service has had a greater impact on them and their families now and into the future.
Veterans have made life changing and financial decisions based on their enrolment in this program. And it would be terrible to see Veterans now withdraw from study, some close to completion, as they can no longer afford to participate.
Creative Australia Bill 2023
Creative Australia (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2023
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2022-2023
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023
Ministers of State Amendment Bill 2022
… it is impossible for the Parliament to hold Ministers to account for the administration of departments if it does not know which Ministers are responsible for which departments.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Nature Repair Market Bill 2023
Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023
We need to start restoring the places that we've damaged in the past. We need to start healing the land and the water.
And that's what this legislation is designed to do—not to replace government effort, but to reinforce it; to add private money to the stream of investment our government is already making in nature protection and restoration.
The Marrakesh Treaty is an international treaty that was adopted almost 10 years ago, on 27 June 2013, to facilitate access to copyright material for people with print disability. There are 3 main types of print disability; learning, visual and physical. People with physical print disability, who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to not only communicate but learn with, do not currently have access to a variety of mainstream books on their preferred devices. With the right AAC features, people (including my 5 year old daughter) with physical print disability can turn the page at their own pace and as independently as possible. To achieve this, the current definition of a "person with a disability" in the Copyright Act 1968 needs to be clarified as it doesn't specifically acknowledge physical print disability, that renders a person unable to hold or manipulate a book, as mentioned in the Marrakesh Treaty. We hope the new definition will give proper recognition to people with print disability and, ultimately, help raise awareness on the need to make a wide variety of mainstream books accessible on all AAC devices and with added AAC features.
We therefore ask the House to review the definition of a "person with a disability" (Part ll—Interpretation) in the Copyright Act 1968 and include "difficulty physically accessing" so it recognises people who have low and limited physical mobility as per Article 3(c) of the Marrakesh Treaty.
A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?
In recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia:
i. there shall be a body, to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice;
ii. the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to the Parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples;
iii. the Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws with respect to matters relating to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice, including its composition, functions, powers and procedures.
The Voice will give independent advice to the Parliament and Government
The Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people based on the wishes of local communities—
The Voice will be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, gender balanced and include youth
The Voice will be empowering, community-led, inclusive, respectful and culturally informed
The Voice will be accountable and transparent
The Voice will work alongside existing organisations and traditional structures
The Voice will not have a program delivery function
The Voice will not have a veto power
Today is an historic day with the constitutional alteration passing the parliament.
Later this year, Australians will be able to vote at a referendum and complete our constitution.
A successful yes vote will recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in the constitution and create a voice to help close the gap.
Despite being one of the most successful nations in the world, on too many measures, our Indigenous brothers and sisters are not sharing the same outcomes as other Australians:
By writing yes we can help change this.
The Voice is a practical change that will help local and regional communities across Australia.
By writing yes we can help change this.
The Voice is a practical change that will help local and regional communities across Australia.
It is a safe constitutional change and it will make a meaningful difference to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Australians.
Over the months ahead, I am looking forward to being part of a movement of Australians from all political backgrounds and playing a part in the campaign.
Home Affairs Bill 2023
Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023
Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 2) Bill 2023
That the amendments be agreed to.
… listen more carefully to industry concerns raised via this inquiry regarding the quality of DISP security training including for APS staff and embed a structured, transparent mechanism to ensure industry feedback directly informs continuous improvement to ensure training meets industry's reasonable expectations.
The Committee recommends the Department of Defence implement systems which regulate and audit DISP compliance, and:
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
Nature Repair Market Bill 2023
Nature Repair Market (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023
Overall, the state and trend of the environment of Australia is poor and deteriorating because of increasing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction.
… a farming family, who want to remove invasive plants and manage feral animals on their land so they can better protect a stretch of native forest where endangered greater gliders live; or a group of Indigenous land and sea rangers, who want to control feral species across a coastal floodplain, to protect sea turtles, migratory birds, and to improve water quality for fish and crabs; or another farmer, who wants to replant native grasses and trees on an unproductive stretch of land to make the area more resilient to drought …
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ) took the chair at 10:30.
We are constantly told by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen … that renewable energy is the cheapest form of electricity that will provide reliable and affordable supplies into the future. Yet this deceit is not interrogated.
"The track behind us is littered with the relics of polic ies, programs and projects that failed, that wasted taxpayers' money and failed to deliver real outcomes to those crying out for them. They failed mainly because they did not include Indigenous people in making the decisions. "
These are the words of Patrick Dodson in 1996. Sadly, it appears not much has changed since then.
In 2008, the Australian government made a formal commitment to address First Nations disadvantage in Australia, known as "Closing the Gap". The Gap refers to the inequality between First Nations People and non-Indigenous Australians.
Did you know that First Nations people make up only 3.2 per cent of the Australian population? However,
1. They are 12 and a half times more likely to be imprisoned as an adult;
2. They are 26 times more likely to be imprisoned as a child.
3. Their mortality rate is 1.7 times higher; and
4. 61% of First Nations People die before the age of 65 compared to 17% for Non Indigenous Australians.
In 2017, Indigenous people from all across Australia met at Uluru for a very special meeting. They had important discussions and they wrote the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which suggests that Indigenous people should have a Voice, and we should have Treaty and Truth.
The Voice would be a group of Indigenous representatives chosen by Indigenous peoples from around Australia to offer advice to the government and Parliament on matters that affect them.
In late 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia, through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice enshrined in our constitution.
The Australian Constitution is the set of rules by which Australia is governed.
For the Referendum to succeed, a majority of voters need to vote yes, plus there needs to be a majority of voters in at least 4 out of 6 states.
There is proof that programs which are developed with an Indigenous voice are trusted and can work, such as the First Nations response to COVID and the Koori Courts.
As our Prime Minister recently said in parliament:
"Imagine that you stand on the other side of the gap. Imagine that your brothers and sisters are likely to die a decade younger than the general population. Imagine that your son is statistically more likely to go to jail than to go to university in 2023. Imagine that people in your community are twice as likely to commit suicide as anywhere else. Imagine that the rate of disease and disadvantage among your friends and neighbours is far higher than elsewhere. Then imagine that, after generations of being sidelined and ignored, you are finally given an opportunity to change it and to be heard."
The greatest way you can help close the gap and support the 'yes' campaign is by speaking with your family, friends and neighbours and being informed. Voting yes in the Referendum is crucial to improving the lives of Indigenous peoples, as we are voting yes to recognition and fairness—
As Chief Executive Officer of VenuesWest, Mr Etherton saw first-hand the economic and community impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and responded promptly and effectively.
There is no space for anything entertaining for the kids, eating healthy e.g. groceries … no movies, no dinners out, no … spending time with friends. I am a one income family.
Rent rises due to rate rises—
on top of the fuel increases, on top of failed energy plans and increased energy costs, on top of government spending … all of this has a major impact on our cost of living.
I have sales data that represents this trend—
as well as Google data that shows a decrease in demand relative to this time last year, even relative to Christmas.
My lease is running out and I can't find a suitable home … Fingers crossed we get something soon, otherwise it's storage and camping.
That this House notes:
(1) that the arts and cultural sector provides benefits far beyond the arts community itself;
(2) that cultural activities make a tangible and valuable contribution to policy objectives in areas such as health, mental health, social cohesion, regional development, tourism, foreign affairs, disability support, skills development, education, environmental stewardship and issues affecting First Nations Australians;
(3) that the new National Cultural Policy, 'Revive', takes a whole of government approach that emphasises the potential of the arts to serve public policy objectives across a range of portfolios and advances a cross-portfolio commitment to creative endeavour;
(4) that the Government recognises the centrality of the arts to our national identity, community life and individual wellbeing; and
(5) Revive will provide new investment and new vision for the cultural sector, to begin repairing the damage caused by a decade of neglect of the arts by the previous Government.
That this House:
(1) notes that 1 July 2023 marks five years since the official establishment of the Australian Space Agency;
(2) recognises the growth of the Australian space sector over that time and the world leading advanced manufacturing that Australia's space industry is spearheading;
(3) acknowledges that space industry development is one of the highest return investments governments can make in modem economies; and
(4) calls on the Government to re-prioritise the space sector as an investment, including as a standalone sector under the National Reconstruction Fund.
The global space industry is valued at approximately $471 billion, and is predicted to be worth almost $1.5 trillion over the next 20 years.
I believe we are at a critical point in time for the Australian space industry.
We have been through the start-up phase. Now it is time to scale up.
We believe that investment in space is central to Australia's future.
And from where I'm standing—the future looks very bright.
I'm not going to be spooked, or panicked, into spending scarce research dollars on a fruitless attempt to predict the next asteroid.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the work the Government has undertaken in just over ten months to support Australia's higher education sector including:
(a) delivering 20,000 additional university places to areas of skills need for people underrepresented in our universities;
(b) facilitating the return of international students; and
(c) introducing the start-up legislation to support entrepreneurship, innovation and new ideas; and
(2) notes the once-in-a-generation universities accord process that the Government has commenced.
… 20 years identifying and seeking out students who looked lost in my classes. Down to the last one, they are first in family students, usually from the country or outer suburbs.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Government has no plan to ensure replacement energy generation is built on time to replace the 20 gigawatt of baseload energy slated to withdraw from the National Electricity Market (NEM) by 2035, causing energy to become more expensive and less reliable;
(b) despite promising Australians it would reduce household electricity costs by $275 the Government has created energy chaos and has delivered consecutive price hikes including further increases of up to 33 per cent due from 1 July 2023;
(c) the closure of Liddell Power Station marks the start of a turbulent new era in Australia's energy market with 20 gigawatts of base load energy capacity (80 per cent of total baseload energy) to withdraw from the NEM by 2035;
(d) the Snowy 2.0 'mega battery' was commissioned by the former Government to support an orderly transition of the NEM, which is now under threat due to the current Government;
(e) the further delays to Snowy 2.0 will place further pressure on Australia's electricity market in coming years with 7.5 gigawats of baseload energy exiting the grid, before the 2 gigawatt Snowy 2.0 project is fully operational, from power stations including Liddell, Eraring, Yalloum and Vale Point B;
(f) the former Government actioned a comprehensive plan to enable a smooth powering down of the 2 gigawatt Liddell Power Station by extending its life, overseeing record investment in renewables and commissioning the 660 megawatt Kurri Kurri gas plant;
(g) since the Government came to office, there have been reports of massive blow-outs in both cost and the delivery timeframe for both the Snowy 2.0 and Kurri Kurri projects;
(h) the Government's uncommercial green hydrogen plan for Kurri Kurri has resulted in the project being delayed by at least a full year and has more than doubled the project's total cost; and
(i) the former Government worked with energy providers like AGL to extend the life of critical power stations to allow time for replacements to be built; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) immediately reinstate a technology agnostic capacity mechanism;
(b) urgently work with Origin Energy to extend the life of the Eraring power station until replacement dispatchable capacity comes online;
(c) scrap its uncommercial green hydrogen plan for Kurri Kurri so it can start as a gas plant as soon as possible; and
(d) ensure Snowy 2.0 is operational as soon as possible.
people talking about nuclear as an asset to our energy challenges right now are literally chasing unicorns.
Patients will be able to get the same quality of care while reducing unnecessary visits to the doctor and pharmacist. This will take some pressure off appointments in general practice—making it easier for my patients to see me when the need arises. The new government is offering some genuine support to GPs and their patients, after many years of cost-cutting. That's better for me and my patients.
That this House:
(1) notes that the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly accelerating globally and in Australia;
(2) acknowledges that while there is much uncertainty surrounding both the development and adoption of AI technologies, and that 'AI' is a term used to describe a variety of techniques and applications, what is clear is that these technologies will transform human society, how we experience our lives and how we understand reality;
(3) recognises that harnessing the benefits of AI presents enormous opportunities for Australia, including:
(a) the potential for AI to boost productivity and revolutionise many industries;
(b) the capacity to transform our economy with advances in every conceivable field of human endeavour;
(c) new employment opportunities through human-centered AI;
(d) improving health, wealth and equality outcomes for all Australians including through improved government service delivery; and
(e) enhancements to environmental sustainability through better-informed decision making and accelerated scientific discovery;
(4) further notes that in order to safely harness these benefits, Australia must also act to mitigate the profound risks posed by AI, including:
(a) immediate and tangible threats to job security and industrial relations;
(b) the risk that AI could perpetuate or amplify existing biases and discrimination;
(c) the risk that AI could perpetuate or enable new forms of disinformation and misinformation;
(d) social and democratic harm through the use of AI in cyber attacks and large-scale disinformation campaigns;
(e) further digital marginalisation and inequality; and
(f) the threat of social disruption and national security risks;
(5) recognises that notwithstanding positive efforts underway to address matters related to AI—including responsible AI standards and policy—Australia has broader capability and governance gaps and needs to ensure that regulatory oversight of AI development and adoption in Australia is fit for purpose;
(6) affirms that:
(a) AI is one of the most transformational technologies of the 21st century, on par with the industrial revolution;
(b) the level of risk posed by unchecked AI, and the scope of policy development needed to curtail this risk, warrants urgent attention;
(c) industry leaders are calling for additional government action and regulatory cooperation;
(d) AI governance, regulation and public-good investment is too important to be left to industry or technical experts alone; and
(e) the Australian Parliament and Government have a responsibility to consider and act thoughtfully and promptly in responding to these changes; and
(7) further notes the recent regulatory moves underway in other jurisdictions, including diverse approaches to AI governance in the EU, the USA, China and the UK; and
(8) recognises that all Members of Parliament have a responsibility to engage with the transformative challenges presented by AI, and together explore what Australia should do to:
(a) foster and contribute to a national debate about AI;
(b) seize the enormous opportunities that AI technology will continue to generate;
(c) mitigate, through appropriate regulatory measures, community anxieties and the profound risks posed by unchecked AI; and
(d) deliver an Australian approach to AI governance and regulation informed by values of democratic participation, nation building, social justice, equality, consumer protection and international cooperation.
This is a massive missed opportunity from the Federal Government to surge ahead in what is fast becoming the race to not only pioneer but leverage new AI technologies.
… … …
… this innovation is time-sensitive. By the time it's a focus globally, it will be too late.
That this House:
(1) recognises that regional print media:
(a) contributes positively to community well-being and maintains paramount civic value to rural Australians;
(b) facilitates opportunities for local journalists to cover stories of significant local importance;
(c) delivers media diversity in a highly competitive market dominated by two large conglomerates; and
(d) enables the collection and preservation of local and regional histories via national archives resources such as Trove; and
(2) acknowledges the following challenges endured by the regional print media industry:
(a) difficulties in maintaining consistent revenue streams;
(b) the closure of over 200 regional newspapers across Australia during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; and
(c) changes in government communications policy with the change in Government; and
(3) calls on the Government to review communications policy and regional print media funding to ensure that:
(a) the regional print media industry survives declining economic conditions;
(b) regional print media continues to provide entirely localised news for regional communities, which maximises social harmony;
(c) opportunities for country Australians seeking careers in print journalism are maintained; and
(d) media diversity in regional Australia remains, to prevent a city-based newspaper from becoming the sole source of print media in an entire state.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is recognised on 15 June; and
(b) this day is an opportunity to increase awareness of the different forms of elder abuse, whether they be financial, psychological, physical or neglect; and
(2) acknowledges that the Government is committed to:
(a) implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety; and
(b) ensuring that older Australians are afforded the proper care and respect they deserve.