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. 26
Petitions and Ministerial Responses
3 June 2024
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 Tracey Roberts MP
Ms Meryl Swanson MP
This committee is supported by staff of the Department of the House of Representatives
Report summarising the petitions and ministerial responses being presented.
The committee met in private session in the 47th Parliament on 22 April, 15 May and 29 May 2024.
1. The committee resolved to present the following 54 petitions in accordance with standing order 207:
Petitions certified on 22 April 2024
From 184 petitioners—requesting a nationwide cap on rental price increases (EN6068)
From 15 petitioners—requesting rail infrastructure upgrades for regional Queensland (EN6069)
From 14 petitioners—requesting honorary Australian citizenship be awarded to Formula One driver Valtteri Bottas (EN6071)
From 29 petitioners—requesting that the Australian Government assist consumers with the price of groceries (EN6072)
From 32 petitioners—regarding legislation related to vaping (EN6074)
From 543 petitioners—requesting transparency about any form of Australian aid provided to Israel (EN6075)
From 31 petitioners—regarding conversion therapy and the rights of transgender individuals (EN6077)
From 5 petitioners—requesting an inquiry into the National Broadband Network (EN6078)
From 10114 petitioners—requesting legislation be implemented to protect consumer rights for digital software (EN6080)
From 39 petitioners—requesting that a proposed ban on citizens from Iran and Iraq entering Australia be abandoned (EN6082)
From 38 petitioners—regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN6083)
From 77 petitioners—regarding concerns about the responsiveness and efficiency of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (EN6084)
From 1059 petitioners—regarding costs, waiting times and quotas for parent visas (EN6085)
From 17 petitioners—requesting that legal aid be accessible for family court matters involving the custody of children (EN6086)
From 263 petitioners—requesting that the proposed construction of an offshore windfarm at Geographe Bay be rejected (EN6087)
From 35 petitioners—regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN6088)
From 22 petitioners—requesting a review into legislation related to privacy laws (EN6090)
From 4543 petitioners—requesting the rejection of the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (EN6091)
From 65 petitioners—regarding employment requirements for Skilled Recognised Graduate (subclass 476) visa holders (EN6093)
From 9 petitioners—regarding access to public and private spaces for companion dogs (EN6094)
From 4 petitioners—requesting tax rebates to offset the cost of energy bills (EN6095)
From 63 petitioners—regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN6097)
From 1440 petitioners—requesting the cancellation of all offshore wind turbine proposals and projects (EN6098)
From 9 petitioners—requesting that all Boeing 737-Max airplanes be grounded due to safety concerns (EN6099)
From 12 petitioners—regarding recognition of Australia's constitutional monarchy (EN6100)
From 60 petitioners—regarding sex education for children (EN6101)
From 311 petitioners—requesting that the number of Medicare rebated psychology sessions be increased to 20 (EN6102)
From 17 petitioners—requesting support for Israel from the Australian Government (EN6103)
From 15 petitioners—requesting that boomerang throwing be recognised as an official sport in Australia (EN6104)
From 160 petitioners—requesting the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Australia (EN6105)
From 16391 petitioners—requesting that Australia cease diplomatic relations with Israel, cease military exports to Israel, terminate all contracts with Elbit Systems, condemn the deaths of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and support South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (EN6106)
From 17 petitioners—regarding management of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (EN6107)
From 3 petitioners—requesting the development of a nuclear fusion energy industry in Australia (EN6108)
From 9 petitioners—requesting the development of a nuclear fusion energy industry in Australia (EN6109)
From 4 petitioners—requesting the development of a nuclear fusion energy industry in Australia (EN6110)
From 324 petitioners—requesting independent oversight of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia (EN6113)
From 1116 petitioners—regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN6115)
From 59 petitioners—regarding Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa applicants (EN6116)
From 26 petitioners—requesting that drospirenone be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (EN6117)
From 84 petitioners—requesting that the severity of criminal penalties for child sex offenders be increased (EN6118)
From 426 petitioners—requesting that all immigration be suspended (EN6119)
From 43 petitioners—requesting that the pending shutdown of the 3G network be suspended (EN6120)
From 50 petitioners—regarding the Australian Government's Net Zero Plan (EN6121)
From 113 petitioners—requesting information about the memorandum of understanding signed by Australia and Israel in 2017 (EN6122)
From 68 petitioners—regarding concerns related to the 5G network and associated infrastructure (EN6123)
From 2189 petitioners—regarding the accessibility of reusable cannabis vaping devices (EN6127)
From 70 petitioners—requesting that the Taliban be proscribed as a terrorist organisation (EN6128)
From 22 petitioners—requesting that olaparib be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the treatment of pancreatic cancer (EN6130)
From 307 petitioners—requesting legislation to protect the Great Artesian Basin (EN6134)
From 16 petitioners—regarding Israeli refugees (EN6136)
From 237 petitioners—regarding the power that the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has to cancel the visas of non-citizens on character grounds (EN6138)
From 27 petitioners—requesting the establishment of a National Day of Unity in Australia (EN6139)
Petitions certified on 15 May 2024
From 35 petitioners—requesting that Australia ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (PN0606)
Petitions certified on 29 May 2024
From 1318 petitioners—requesting that an F/A-18 'Classic' Hornet be allocated to the Queensland Air Museum (PN0608)
2. The following 26 ministerial responses to petitions were received.
Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 15 May 2024
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3547)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3568)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3728)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3754)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN3778, EN3783, EN3784, EN3785, EN3809, EN3811 and EN3813)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting that that Windsor and Richmond, New South Wales, be included in the definition of designated regional areas in relation to Australia's Migration Strategy (EN4282)
From the Minister for Communications to a petition requesting an inquiry into whether the Australian Broadcasting Corporation displays bias in its selection and broadcast of political interviewees and commentators (EN5572)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting that the residency requirements to be eligible to apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa (subclass 191) be reduced (EN5594)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting a reduction in the work experience requirements for permanent residence for Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa holders (EN5672)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the establishment of a permanent residency pathway for temporary residents who lived and worked in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic (EN5695)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting an extension of 'specified work' for tourism and hospitality under the Working Holiday Maker program to the Victorian High Country (EN5767)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting that Australia provide humanitarian support to Palestinians fleeing the conflict in Gaza (EN5793)
From the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs to a petition requesting the reinstatement of a visa for a former long-term Australian resident (PN0587)
From the Minister for Communications to a petition requesting improved mobile phone coverage to the local area of Texas, Queensland, and surrounding suburbs (PN0589)
Ministerial responses received by the Committee on 29 May 2024
From the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to a petition regarding subsidies allocated to road transport and rail infrastructure (EN5653)
From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting that whistleblower protections be strengthened (EN5691)
From the Minister for Finance to a petition regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN5749)
From the Minister for Finance to a petition regarding concerns relating to the Digital ID Bill 2024 (EN5751)
From the Attorney-General to a petition requesting that the Australian Government legislate to prevent Australian citizens from serving in the Israel Defense Forces (EN5771)
From the Minister for Financial Services to a petition regarding the Australian Securities and Investments Commission supervisory cost recovery levy (EN5784)
From the Minister for Financial Services to a petition regarding the role of cash as a form of payment (EN5808)
From the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to a petition regarding the transparency of information sharing relating to the Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services program (EN5853)
From the Minister for Health and Aged Care to a petition requesting that lipoedema be recognised by Medicare (EN5889)
From the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories to a petition requesting an update and expansion of the Centenary of Women's Suffrage Commemorative Fountain (EN5895)
From the Minister for Health and Aged Care to a petition requesting that medicinal cannabis be included in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme due to cost and accessibility (EN5923)
From the Minister for Foreign Affairs to a petition requesting that Australia sign and ratify the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (PN0593)
Ms Susan Templeman MP
Chair—Petitions Committee
Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Whenever and wherever the forces of antisemitism are on the march, there is a need for moral courage and moral clarity.
Keeping Cash Transactions in Australia Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) anonymous perpetrators of family, domestic and sexual violence use social media to bully, harass, and target their victims;
(b) anonymous predators use social media to groom, traffic and exploit children;
(c) anonymous parties and organised crime gangs use armies of operatives and automated bots to radicalise, terrorise and steal from vulnerable Australians; and
(d) the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, in 2021 recommended the introduction of identity verification for social media platforms to strip malicious actors of their anonymity in an effort to prevent technology-facilitated abuse;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) this recommendation was made with bipartisan support; and
(b) the ongoing, and in some cases default, application of end-to-end encryption on social media and messaging platforms risks undermining existing mechanisms to deploy, detect, disrupt, and prosecute harmful and unlawful conduct;
(3) further notes that the Government did not support recommendation 30 of the final report on the Inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence;
(4) condemns the Government for its:
(a) refusal so far to support the recommendation to implement a mandated social media identification verification regime;
(b) failure to address the child safety, organised crime, and national security risks posed by online anonymity; and
(c) patent fealty to big tech, big porn and the big end of town; and
(5) calls on the Minister for Communications to:
(a) charge the eSafety Commissioner with expeditiously developing a roadmap toward social media identification verification within 12 months; and
(b) commence the implementation of the social media identification verification regime within three months of its release.
That this House:
(1) notes the:
(a) Government is delivering a responsible budget that provides cost of living help now, builds a stronger and more resilient economy and invests in a future made in Australia; and
(b) budget delivers for all Australians by:
(i) easing cost of living pressures;
(ii) building more homes for Australians;
(iii) investing in a Future Made in Australia, and in the skills and universities needed to make it a reality;
(iv) strengthening Medicare and the care economy; and
(v) broadening opportunity and advancing equality; and
(2) acknowledges:
(a) the Government's number one priority is delivering cost of living relief to Australians; and
(b) that the responsible economic management by the Government has:
(i) delivered back-to-back budget surpluses;
(ii) seen 82 per cent of revenue upgrades returned since coming to government over the forward estimates;
(iii) saved and reprioritised $77.4 billion of spending since coming to government;
(iv) limited real spending growth to an average of 1.4 per cent;
(v) improved the budget position by a forecast $214.7 billion over the six years to 2027-28 compared to the former Government;
(vi) reduced debt as a share of the economy;
(vii) improved Australia's debt position with gross debt $152 billion lower in this financial year than was forecast at the time of the election; and
(viii) avoided $80 billion in interest costs over the decade due to the improved budget position compared to what was inherited at the election.
This does not fill me with confidence in the Albanese government's capability. Quite the reverse.
This budget discards fiscal discipline, structural repair and policy reform, and does little to drive productivity growth.
That this House:
(1) acknowledges:
(a) Australians are currently battling the cost of living pressures and struggling to pay for mortgages, bills and everyday household needs;
(b) across various petrol stations within Australia, the petrol prices have consistently remained above $2 per litre and Australians are expected to pay approximately $100 to fill their tank or up to $200 for large vehicles; and
(c) in the electoral division of Fowler, being one of the most disadvantaged electorates, approximately 60 per cent of constituents rely on their vehicles to commute to and from work, including to other electorates;
(2) notes that the previous Government temporarily reduced fuel excise duty from 30 March 2022 to 28 September 2022, which provided significant relief to the cost of living crisis following the aftermath of COVID-19; and
(3) calls on the Government to indefinitely reduce fuel excise duty as a form of cost of living relief for Australians currently experiencing financial hardship.
Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024
Net Zero Economy Authority (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024
Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024
Net Zero Economy Authority (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024
The analysis shows across the renewable projects in Queensland, Victoria and NSW, around 5060 construction jobs will be created compared with 162 to 171 permanent and operational jobs when the turbines, solar panels and pumped hydro are installed.
… … …
… the wind, solar, hydro and battery projects … will cover … almost 102,000ha and generate up to 6387MW.
Incomes plummet by two-thirds
But workers made redundant in coal-fired power plants did much worse … They earned 69% less in the year after losing their jobs, earning a mere third of what they had.
Some of the loss would have been due to earning less in new jobs, and some of it would have been due to working fewer hours in new jobs …
And for workers who lost jobs in coal-fired power plants, the effects lingered.
Four years after being made redundant, the workers in coal-fired power plants earned 50% less. On average, across all industries, the workers made redundant earned only 29% less.
… the capacity of a society to ensure the welfare of all its members, minimising disparities and avoiding polarisation.
That Mrs Phillips be discharged from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and that, in her place, Ms Lawrence be appointed a member of the committee.
Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024
Net Zero Economy Authority (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024
A majority of Australians want the transition towards renewable energy to happen at a "moderate" pace and most are unwilling to accept higher bills to pay for it, according to a major survey by the country's top scientific organisation.
We must seize these economic opportunities. We have a great opportunity right now to harness this clean energy industrial revolution.
That order of the day No. 2, government business, be postponed until the next sitting.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
This parliament must work conscientiously to ensure that the incredible system the NDIS was set up to be lives up to the promise and hope felt by so many when it was created.
We all have a stake in a properly functioning NDIS, not only because we all might need it one day but because a society should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable …
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Scrymgour ) took the chair at 10:30.
I address you with unwavering conviction about the transformative power of youth in our political landscape, and the importance of education in our lives.
Quality education should not depend on the postcode in which a child lives or the size of their parents' bank account.
Every child deserves access to well-funded schools, well-trained teachers and a curriculum that prepares them for the challenges of the modern world.
We must continue to allocate sufficient funding to bridge the gap in resources between schools in different areas, ensuring that every student has access to the tools they need to thrive.
This includes providing well-trained teachers who are supported in their professional development and empowered to inspire and educate our youth effectively.
By prioritising education, we can break down barriers that hinder youth participation in politics, ensuring their voices are not just heard but amplified.
From climate change to social justice, we can embrace their dynamism, innovation and work hand in hand to tackle global issues.
Together, let us forge a future where every young Australian, regardless of background, has access to quality education and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to our nation.
That this House:
(1) notes the Government is continuing to improve our health system by:
(a) strengthening Medicare by:
(i) growing the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to 87;
(ii) expanding the range of free mental health services;
(iii) increasing the number of Medicare eligible magnetic resonance imaging machines;
(iv) delivering funding for Medicare rebates for nuclear medicine imaging and common medical tests; and
(v) boosting the supply of healthcare in areas of shortage; and
(b) easing cost of living pressures with cheaper medicines, and through:
(i) reducing patient costs and improving access to medicines;
(ii) listing new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;
(iii) making Australia a destination for clinical trials; and
(iv) investing in ground-breaking new health and medical research; and
(2) acknowledges:
(a) that only a Labor-led Government can be trusted to invest in and strengthen Medicare; and
(b) the damage done to Australia's health system by the Leader of the Opposition who, as the Minister for Health:
(i) tried to tax visits to general practitioners;
(ii) tried to tax visits to emergency departments; and
(iii) cut $50 billion from Australian hospitals.
the vaccine injuries scheme is administered with cruelty and callous disregard for the human beings who have been injured by these vaccines that were taken in good faith when asked by our government to do so
That this House:
(1) notes that following a ten-month blockade of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in defiance of the orders of the International Court of Justice, on 19 September 2023, Azerbaijan conducted an unprovoked 24-hour military assault against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh);
(2) unequivocally condemns the lightning military assault which resulted in the forcible displacement of an estimated 100,000 indigenous Armenians from their ancestral homeland;
(3) acknowledges the:
(a) Government's condemnation of the 24-hour military assault and the allocation of $500,000 in humanitarian aid to the UNHCR, complementing contributions from the City of Ryde and Willoughby City Council; and
(b) bipartisan parliamentary support for emergency funding and expertise to the International Committee of the Red Cross to assist the indigenous Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh;
(4) calls on Azerbaijan to abide by the International Court of Justice's provisional measures handed down on 17 November 2023, calling for the right of return for Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh under enforceable international guarantees of their security and rights;
(5) further notes the ongoing tension in the region and calls on Azerbaijan to withdraw from the internationally recognised borders of the Republic of Armenia; and
(6) further calls on Azerbaijan to release all illegally detained Armenian political prisoners, including civilians and calls on Azerbaijan to take steps to ensure the protection of ancient cultural and historical sites in Nagorno-Karabakh.
… impeded the transfer of persons of Armenian national or ethnic origin hospitalized in Nagorno-Karabakh to medical facilities in Armenia for urgent medical care. There have also been hindrances to the importation into Nagorno-Karabakh of essential goods, causing shortages of food, medicine and other life-saving medical supplies.
The Republic of Azerbaijan shall … take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions.
That this House:
(1) recognises that the Government is putting in place significant reforms in response to the Australian Universities Accord to provide cost of living relief and to make higher education better and fairer for students, including those from low socio-economic status or disadvantaged backgrounds and those from the outer suburbs and from regional Australia;
(2) welcomes the Government's target of 80 per cent of the workforce having a tertiary qualification by 2050;
(3) further recognises that if the broader accord targets are achieved, $240 billion will be added to the economy over the period to 2050; and
(4) commends the Government for progress on all five priority actions from the Australian Universities Accord interim report and its response to 29 of the Australian Universities Accord recommendations in full or in part, including to:
(a) change the way indexation is calculated, wiping around $3 billion in student debt from more than 3 million Australians;
(b) introduce a Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching, nursing and midwifery and social work students undertaking mandatory placements;
(c) fully fund Fee-Free Uni Ready courses to provide more students with an enabling pathway into higher education;
(d) guarantee funding for student led organisations; and
(e) establish an independent National Student Ombudsman.
Students are the largest stakeholder in the higher education sector and their voice is essential for a well-run system. At the moment students do not feel like their voice is being heard and universities have a reputation of being billion-dollar unaccountable institutions.
That this House:
(1) recognises the importance of home ownership to Australian families and that home ownership remains the Australian dream;
(2) notes:
(a) the increasing financial pressure on households with many Australians suffering mortgage stress; and
(b) research by Roy Morgan that an increased level of mortgage stress is being experienced across the country;
(3) acknowledges that the:
(a) high spending, high taxing policies of the Government has entrenched inflation and failed to support Australians struggling with high interest rates; and
(b) Government has failed to take the cost of living crisis seriously, with real disposable incomes collapsing by 7.5 per cent, per capita since the Government came to power, as a result of higher prices, higher taxes and higher interest rates; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) admit that the Government's policies are causing financial hardship for many Australians and fuelling the cost of living crisis; and
(b) immediately implement policies to address the high level of inflation and protect Australians from mortgage stress.
We had flagged that fiscal policy was one of the risks that could delay our base case that monetary policy easing would start in November this year.
The risk is now more real that the first interest rate cut could be delayed and that the neutral cash rate is higher than we currently estimate due to the expansionary fiscal setting and the high level of investment in the economy.
A neutral, even slightly contractionary, budget would have been in order to help tackle inflation. But this is not a budget designed to consolidate the nation's fiscal position and commence the task of gradually returning the budget to a sustainable position.
A large number of builders have faced economic distress due to significant increases in interest rates and cost of materials, labour shortages and supply-chain issues.
The root of all evil in this country is the astronomical price of housing. Once you understand all the ramifications of that—it really is the problem that is the root of all problems.
… it is now mathematically impossible for a household on the median income to pay off a mortgage in Australia …
War memorials in all forms—Cenotaphs, statues, honour rolls, plaques, armaments, fountains and swimming pools—are found it towns and cities right across Australia. They commemorate all men and women who served our nation in times of war. This includes nurses, national servicemen, peacekeepers and animals. The preservation of these war memorials is of utmost importance for many communities. Currently, not all war memorials are protected by heritage listing, which means they are at risk of removal or demolition.
We therefore ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage List for all war memorials in Australia to be heritage listed. Memorials would be nominated by local councils to their State or Territory Government, with information including the type of memorial, location, action or service the memorial signifies. To ensure memorials are looked after and cared for into the future, we also ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage Trust Fund. This fund would cover any refurbishments, repairs or upgrades to a memorial, after a time in which members of a theatre or war are no longer capable of tending to a memorial.
War Memorials in all forms—Cenotaphs, statues, honour rolls, plaques, armaments, fountains, and swimming pools, are found in towns and cities right across Australia. They commemorate all men and women who served our nation in times of war. This includes Nurses, National Servicemen, Peacekeepers and Animals. The preservation of these war memorials is of the utmost importance for many communities. Currently, not all war memorials are protected by heritage listing, which means they are at risk of removal or demolition. Request: We therefore ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage List for all war memorials in Australia to be heritage listed. Memorials would be nominated by local councils to their State or Territorial Governments, with information including the type of memorial, and action or service the memorial signifies. To ensure memorials are looked after and cared for into the future, we also ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage Trust Fund. This fund would cover any refurbishments, repairs, or upgrades to a memorial, after a time in which members of a theatre are no longer capable of tending to the memorial.
War memorials in all forms—Cenotaphs, statues, honour rolls, plaques, armaments, fountains and swimming pools—are found it towns and cities right across Australia. They commemorate all men and women who served our nation in times of war. This includes nurses, national servicemen, peacekeepers and animals. The preservation of these war memorials is of utmost importance for many communities. Currently, not all war memorials are protected by heritage listing, which means they are at risk of removal or demolition. Request: We therefore ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage List for all war memorials in Australia to be heritage listed. Memorials would be nominated by local councils to their State or Territory Government, with information including the type of memorial, location, action or service the memorial signifies. To ensure memorials are looked after and cared for into the future, we also ask the House to establish a Service Memorial Heritage Trust Fund. This fund would cover any refurbishments, repairs or upgrades to a memorial, after a time in which members of a theatre or war are no longer capable of tending to a memorial.
Yesterday was a wonderful celebration where we celebrated with the community, people we worked with, our friends, our families … It brings to mind the real intention of why I became a presentation sister.
That this House:
(1) commends the Government's Future Made in Australia plan that is securing Australia's position in the changing global economy;
(2) notes the Government is maximising the opportunities of the net zero transformation by:
(a) providing $168.1 million to better prioritise approval decisions for renewable energy projects of national significance and support faster decisions on environment, cultural heritage and planning approvals;
(b) investing $3.2 billion over the next decade through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to support the commercialisation of technologies that are critical to net zero, including through a new $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund;
(c) investing an estimated $8 billion over the decade in production incentives for renewable hydrogen, supporting new export and manufacturing opportunities;
(d) investing an estimated $7 billion over 11 years in production tax incentives to support downstream refining and processing of Australia's 31 critical minerals;
(e) committing $1.5 billion to manufacturing clean energy technologies, including the $1 billion Solar Sunshot and $523.2 million Battery Breakthrough, and launching the National Battery Strategy; and
(f) undertaking a strategic examination of Australia's research and development system, and investing $38.2 million in a range of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) programs to increase diversity in STEM; and
(3) calls on the Opposition to support Australia's manufacturing future and the creation of more secure, well-paid jobs.
We all know Australians love their lamb, and now the rest of the world is catching on with demand for lamb and mutton products continuing to grow.
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) Australia is facing the most complex set of strategic challenges since the end of the Second World War;
(b) the importance of a strong and capable sovereign defence industrial base to ensure we can respond to these strategic challenges without overreliance on international partners; and
(c) the failure of this Government to take meaningful action over the past two years to grow Australia's sovereign defence industrial base;
(2) acknowledges industry research which shows;
(a) only one in four (25 per cent) of defence businesses are 'extremely' or 'very' confident that their existing or upcoming contracts will continue as planned over the next 12 months; and
(b) 47 per cent of defence businesses believe it is 'difficult' or 'extremely difficult' to operate in Australia's defence sector, including 64 per cent of small businesses and 48 per cent of medium enterprises; and
(3) calls on the Government to urgently implement a policy framework and industry support to build our industrial self-reliance with Australian defence industry primes and successful small and medium enterprises.
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) Western Sydney is the third largest economy in Australia behind the Sydney central business district and Melbourne; and
(b) the Western Sydney Airport opening in 2026 will create thousands of jobs, inject billions into the economy and support the continued growth of Western Sydney; and
(2) commends the Government:
(a) for investing nearly $2 billion extra in Western Sydney transport infrastructure, including 14 new projects and additional funding for two existing projects;
(b) for investing a total of $17.3 billion for infrastructure projects to support the growth of Western Sydney and the development of the new Western Sydney Airport; and
(c) on opening the new Moorebank Interstate Terminal, which will deliver thousands of local jobs in Western Sydney and ease congestion by removing more than 3,000 trucks off Sydney roads per day.
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that the former Government made record investments which saw more than 227,000 people access home care packages, including our past two budgets which released an additional 80,000 home care packages to support older Australians;
(b) the Government has released just 9,500 additional packages;
(c) stakeholder concerns about the availability of in-home aged care services and the significant wait times being experienced by elderly Australians seeking to access care; and
(d) many providers now have so many clients on their waiting lists that they have closed the lists altogether, leaving vulnerable Australians without vital supports; and
(2) calls on the Government to immediately address shortfalls for aged care packages to allow Australians to access the support they need, when they need it.
My Aged Care is a failure largely due to a lack of sufficiently trained staff and the lack of current information as to service providers who can help.
Practitioners advised us that they do not service the Bay Islands. My Aged Care staff have been reduced to a group of "box tickers" and users of standard letters.
Their responses are not driven by thought or recognition of the suitability of the advice being provided.
I am waiting for an assessment interview, before a Package of Service can be assigned, I've already been waiting more than a month.
It is particularly challenging when an older person is deemed eligible for a Home Care Package, because they must first wait in the national prioritisation queue before a package of services is 'assigned', and then they must find a service provider to deliver their care. That can all take a very long time, especially for those who have higher care and support needs. Once someone is assessed as needing the highest level of care, a Level 4 Home Care Package, they can wait for a year and often longer for the Package to become a reality.
Such waiting times would be unacceptable in any other system, but are common in home care today.
… no mechanism to follow up with people who are on waiting lists to give them updates, including about whether they have progressed up the waiting list or how long it will be before a Package is available. In the interim, there is a clear and present danger of declining function, inappropriate hospitalisation, carer burnout and premature institutionalisation because necessary services are not provided. We—
have been alarmed to find that many people die while waiting for a Home Care Package. Others prematurely move into residential care.
By any measure, this is a cruel and discriminatory system, which places great strain on older Australians and their relatives. It is unfair. Older people should receive the home care services they need to live safely at home … It is shocking that the express wishes of older people to remain in their own homes for as long as possible, with the supports they need, is downplayed with an expectation that they will manage. It is unsafe practice. It is neglect.
That this House:
(1) recognises that intimate partner violence is a national crisis in Australia, with a quarter of all Australian women having experienced it in their lifetime;
(2) welcomes the Government's:
(a) announcement of $925.2 million over five years to permanently establish the Leaving Violence Program, so those escaping violence can receive financial support of up to $5,000, as well as financial support, safety assessments and referrals to support pathways, to help them establish a home free from violence;
(b) commitment to introduce legislation to ban the creation and non-consensual distribution of deepfake pornography;
(c) ongoing commitment to the Stop it at the Start campaign; and
(3) commends the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32.