The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Scott Ryan) took the chair at 12:00, read prayers and made an acknowledgement of country.
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020
(1) Schedule 2, item 10, page 9 (line 6), omit paragraph (a) of the definition of eligible financial service provider in section 789GC.
(2) Schedule 2, item 10, page 9 (line 7), omit ", BAS agent or tax (financial) adviser", substitute "or BAS agent".
(3) Schedule 2, item 12, page 9 (after line 17), after the definition of quarter in section 789GC, insert:
registered tax agent or BAS agent has the same meaning as in theTax Agent Services Act 2009 .
(4) Schedule 2, item 12, page 9 (lines 18 and 19), omit the definition of registered company auditor in section 789GC.
(5) Schedule 2, item 12, page 9 (lines 20 and 21), omit the definition of registered tax agent, BAS agent or tax (financial) adviser in section 789GC.
(6) Schedule 2, item 13, page 11 (lines 1 and 2), omit "states that, in the opinion of the eligible financial service provider,", substitute "confirms that".
That the House of Representatives be requested to make the following amendments:
(1) Clause 2 , page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
(5) Page 33 (after line 21) , at the end of the Bill, add:
Schedule 5 — Extension of jobkeeper scheme to casual employees
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 At the end of section 7
Add:
Requirements relating to casual employees
(8) In determining the entitlement of an entity to a payment for an employee of the entity, the rules must provide that the types of employee that an entity is entitled to receive a payment in respect of include an employee of the entity who satisfies the requirements in subsection (9), regardless of the period of time that the individual has been employed by the entity.
(9) The requirements are that:
(a) the individual was a casual employee of the entity on 1 July 2020; and
(b) it is reasonable to assume that the individual would have continued to be an employee of the entity if the entity had not been directly or indirectly affected by the Coronavirus known as COVID-19.
Statement pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000
Amendments (5), (6), (7) and (8)
Amendments (5), (6), (7) and (8) are framed as requests because they amend the bill in a way that is intended to direct funding under the jobkeeper scheme to additional persons.
Amendments (5), (6) and (8) would require the Treasurer to make rules which include additional classes of employees when assessing an entity's entitlement to receive a payment under the scheme amended by the bill. Specifically, the effect of these amendments would be to include certain casual employees and temporary visa holders as eligible employees when assessing an entity's eligibility for payments from the Commonwealth under the rules. Eligibility would also be extended to approved providers of approved child care services.
Amendment (7) would require the Treasurer to make rules which do not apply differently to, or disproportionally affect the eligibility of, higher education providers to receive a payment under the jobkeeper scheme amended by the bill. Specifically, the effect of the amendment would be to ensure higher education providers are eligible entities for payments from the Commonwealth under the rules.
As the amendments would increase the number of employees for whom employers would be eligible to receive payments, the amendments will increase the amount of expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 16 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 .
Amendments (1), (2), (3), and (4)
Amendments (1), (2), (3) and (4) are consequential to amendments (5), (6), (7) and (8).
Statement by the Clerk of the Senate pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 June 2000
Amendments (5), (6), (7) and (8)
If the effect of the amendments is to increase expenditure under the standing appropriation in section 16 of the Taxation Administration Act 1953 then it is in accordance with the precedents of the Senate that the amendments be moved as requests.
Amendments (1), (2), (3) and (4)
These amendments are consequential on the requests. It is the practice of the Senate that an amendment that is consequential on an amendment framed as a request may also be framed as a request.
The committee divided. [12:25]
(The Chair—Senator Lines)
(2) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
(6) Page 33, at the end of the Bill, after proposed Schedule 5, add:
Schedule 6 — Extension of jobkeeper scheme to temporary visa holders
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 At the end of section 7
Add:
Requirements relating to temporary visa holders
(10) In determining the entitlement of an entity to a payment for an employee of the entity, the rules must provide that the types of employee that an entity is entitled to receive a payment in respect of include an individual that on 1 July 2020 was an employee of the entity and was the holder of a temporary visa within the meaning of the Migration Act 1958 .
The committee divided. [12:35]
(The Temporary Chair—Senator Fawcett)
(3) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
(7) Page 33, at the end of the Bill, after proposed Schedule 6, add:
Schedule 8 — Extension of jobkeeper scheme to higher education providers
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 In the appropriate position
Insert:
7B Requirements for rules that provide for jobkeeper payments scheme—payments to higher education providers
(1) If the rules provide for a kind of payment that is intended to assist businesses affected by the Coronavirus to cover the cost of wages of their employees (whether known as a jobkeeper payment or otherwise), the rules relating to that kind of payment (the jobkeeper scheme rules ) must comply with the requirements in subsection (2).
(2) The jobkeeper scheme rules, in providing for the classes of entities to which payments in respect of employees are to be made, must comply with the following requirements in respect of entities that are higher education providers:
(a) the rules must not have eligibility requirements:
(i) that apply only to higher education providers; or
(ii) that apply thresholds to higher education providers that are different from the thresholds applied to other similar entities; or
(iii) that are substantially different in their application to higher education providers compared with other entities;
with the effect of making it impractical or unlikely that higher education providers will be able to satisfy the eligibility requirements;
(b) the eligibility requirements must not have the effect, whether directly or indirectly, of excluding all or substantially all higher education providers from the jobkeeper scheme.
The Senate divided. [12:45]
(The Temporary Chair—Senator Fawcett)
(4) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
14. Schedule 9
The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.
(8) Page 33, at the end of the Bill, after proposed Schedule 8, add:
Schedule 9 — Extension of jobkeeper scheme to child care providers
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 In the appropriate position
Insert:
7C Requirements for rules that provide for jobkeeper payments scheme—payments to child care providers
(1) If the rules provide for a kind of payment that is intended to assist businesses affected by the Coronavirus to cover the cost of wages of their employees (whether known as a jobkeeper payment or otherwise), the rules relating to that kind of payment (the jobkeeper scheme rules) must comply with the requirements in subsection (2).
(2) The jobkeeper scheme rules must ensure that payments are able to be made to entities that are approved providers (within the meaning of the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) (Administration) Act 1999) of one or more approved child care services (within the meaning of that Act), including in respect of:
(a) employees whose ordinary duties relate principally to the operation of one or more of those services; and
(b) individuals who are not employees but who are actively engaged in the business carried on by the approved provider.
The Senate divided. [12:52]
(The Temporary Chair—Senator Fawcett)
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
(2) Page 33 (after line 21), at the end of the Bill, add:
Schedule 7—Preventing tiered jobkeeper payments
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 After section 7
Insert:
7A Requirement for rules that provide for jobkeeper payments scheme—no tiered jobkeeper payments
(1) If the rules provide for a kind of payment that is intended to assist businesses affected by the Coronavirus to cover the cost of wages of their employees (whether known as a jobkeeper payment or otherwise), the rules relating to that kind of payment (the jobkeeper scheme rules ) must comply with the requirement in subsection (2).
(2) The jobkeeper scheme rules, in providing for the amount of the payment under the jobkeeper scheme, must not provide for there to be different amounts payable in relation to employees.
The committee divided. [12:58]
(The Temporary Chair—Senator Fawcett)
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (at the end of the table), add:
(2) Page 33 (after line 21), at the end of the Bill, add:
Schedule 3—Repaying jobkeeper payments
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Act 2020
1 After section 7
Insert:
7A Requirements for rules that provide for jobkeeper payments scheme—conduct by entities that indicates jobkeeper financial support not necessary
(1) If the rules provide for a kind of payment that is intended to assist businesses affected by the Coronavirus to cover the cost of wages of their employees (whether known as a jobkeeper payment or otherwise), the rules relating to that kind of payment (the jobkeeper scheme rules ) must comply with the requirements in subsections (2) and (3).
(2) The jobkeeper scheme rules must provide that an entity is taken not to be, or not to have been, entitled to a payment under the jobkeeper scheme rules if:
(a) during the prescribed period the entity:
(i) pays dividends to shareholders of the entity; or
(ii) pays a bonus to an executive or other officer of the entity; or
(iii) makes other payments of a similar nature that relate to distributing profits of the entity; and
(b) the Commissioner is satisfied, having regard to:
(i) the amount of the dividend, bonus or other similar payment and the extent to which it exceeds the amount of the last such payment made by the entity; or
(ii) any other matters the Commissioner considers relevant;
that the entity's conduct in making those payments indicates that the entity was not affected directly or indirectly by the Coronavirus known as COVID‑19 to the extent that the entity required financial support under this Act.
Note: Under section 9 of this Act, if an entity was not entitled to a payment, the entity is liable to repay the amount to the Commonwealth.
(3) To avoid doubt, rules made for the purposes of subsection (2) must be able to apply to an entity that has already received a payment before the commencement of this section.
But a scheme designed to reduce inequality is being misused by a small number of firms, who are channelling it to executive bonuses. Accent Group received $13 million in JobKeeper and gave CEO Daniel Agostinelli a $1.2 million bonus. IDP Education received $4 million in JobKeeper and gave CEO Andrew Barkla a $600,000 bonus. Last year he was Australia's highest paid CEO, taking home $37 million. Star Casino received $64 million in JobKeeper and gave CEO Matt Bekier an equity bonus worth $800,000. SeaLink received $8 million in JobKeeper and gave CEO Clinton Feuerherdt a $500,000 bonus. Then there is 'dividend keeper', diverting money for workers into shareholder payouts. Furniture firm Nick Scali received $4 million from Australian and New Zealand taxpayers. Its increased dividend will deliver $2 million to the Scali family. 1300SMILES got $2 million in JobKeeper and paid out $3 million to shareholders. Managing director Daryl Holmes owns two-thirds of the company and so will get about $2 million, roughly what his company received in JobKeeper support. As Ownership Matters' Dean Paatsch puts it: 'I don't think it was ever the intention of the government to subsidise executive salaries'. If you're getting taxpayer subsidies, the CEO should not be getting a bonus.
I write to seek your assistance in the reporting of COVID-19 related deaths in your respective facilities.
I write to seek your assistance in reporting of COVID-19 related deaths in your respective facilities. Specifically, I'm asking that any death of a resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 be reported immediately to the Victorian Public Health Unit … and the Australian Government Department of Health via agedcareCOVIDcases@health.gov.au. This request relates to all COVID-19 related deaths, including those involving other causes or comorbidity factors.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Payment Times Reporting Bill 2020
Payment Times Reporting (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
The reason these companies are squeezing suppliers is simple: it improves their cash flow and makes them money.
… hundreds of residents are and will die prematurely, because people have failed to act.
… neither the Commonwealth nor Anglicare Executive had an operational plan for how the residents should be managed.
… Anglicare had difficulty acquiring adequate supplies from the Commonwealth Government medical stockpile.
Although the provision of PPE is the responsibility of the Commonwealth Government, NSW Health stepped in to provide this equipment …
The Australian aged care sector and the government agencies that fund and regulate it were on notice about the particular vulnerability of the elderly residents in our own care homes.
When the circumstances at St Basil's occurred in the way that they did, it was clearly obvious to me that we didn't get it right.
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Senator Wong) moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to give precedence to a motion of censure of the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians.
Had the Australian government acted upon previous reviews of aged care … the suffering of many people could have been avoided.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians (Senator Colbeck) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to aged care.
Had the Australian Government acted upon previous reviews of aged care, the persistent problems in aged care would have been known much earlier and the suffering of many people could have been avoided.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister representing the Prime Minister (Senator Cormann) to a question without notice asked by Senator Hanson-Young today relating to the environment.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) the interim report of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements stated that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is a trusted broadcaster of emergency messages and warnings during bushfires and that ABC managers should be embedded in all state and territory emergency management centres to ensure delivery of critical information to the public,
(ii) emergency reporting during the bushfires cost the ABC an additional $3 million,
(iii) the ABC has been an essential source of news during the COVID-19 pandemic with digital, television and radio broadcasts all seeing a dramatic increase in ratings, and
(iv) the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has cut more than $783 million in funding from the ABC, and the ABC is currently operating with its smallest budget since 1996;
(b) expresses gratitude for the essential role that the ABC has played in keeping Australians informed and safe throughout the bushfire season and the COVID-19 pandemic; and
That the provisions of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 be referred to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2020.
The Senate divided. [16:06]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report as expeditiously as is practicable:
Department of Health — Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at Fairbairn Business Park, Canberra Airport.
That—
(a) if the notice of motion proposing the disallowance of the Industry Research and Development (Water for Fodder Program) Instrument 2019 standing in the name of Senator Hanson-Young for 1 September 2020 has not been finally resolved by 12.45 pm on Wednesday, 2 September 2020, the notice of motion shall be called on and considered at 5 pm that day; and
(b) if consideration of the motion is not concluded by 5.30 pm, the question on the unresolved motion shall then be put.
That the hours of meeting for Tuesday, 6 October 2020 be from midday to 6.30 pm and 8.30 pm to adjournment, and for Thursday, 8 October 2020 be from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm and 8 pm to adjournment, and that:
(a) the routine of business from 8.30 pm on Tuesday, 6 October 2020 shall be:
(i) Budget statement and documents 2020-21, and
(ii) adjournment; and
(b) the routine of business from 8 pm on Thursday, 8 October 2020 shall be:
(i) Budget statement and documents – party leaders and independent senators to make responses to the statement and documents for not more than 30 minutes each, and
(ii) adjournment.
That the Senate—
(a) acknowledges that:
(i) the Federal Government is entirely responsible for aged care funding and regulation,
(ii) the many weaknesses in our aged care system have not been caused by COVID-19 – they have been exposed in glaring focus by the pandemic,
(iii) the aged care system has long been broken, evidenced by the need for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety to examine the systemic issues facing the sector including chronic underfunding, under-skilling and underpayment of staff, no minimum staffing requirements, no minimum training qualifications and no transparency with how $21 billion paid to the sector is spent, and
(iv) it should not have taken the pandemic to make aged care a political priority;
(b) notes that:
(i) on 21 February 2020, Counsel Assisting, Mr Peter Rozen QC, recommended to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, that minimum staffing levels should be implemented urgently to protect senior Australians in care, and
(ii) minimum staffing levels in residential aged care, on every shift, with the right mix of skills and qualifications, is a critical part of providing quality care; and
(c) calls on the Government to legislate for minimum staffing levels pursuant to recommendations made by Mr Peter Rozen QC.
That the time for the presentation of the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia on its inquiry into the destruction of caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia be extended to 9 December 2020.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system in Australia derives $92.5 billion per year in economic benefits associated with direct operation of TAFE establishments, higher incomes and productivity generated by the TAFE–qualified workforce and reduced social welfare costs,
(ii) the costs of investment in TAFE are modest, at $5.7 billion per year, representing only 0.3% of GDP; despite this, the direct tax revenue which is generated as a result of an increase in productivity and incomes is worth $25 billion per year and represents 4.4 times the return on the investment in the TAFE system, and
(iii) the Liberals have cut more than $3 billion from TAFE and training, 140,000 apprentices and trainees have been lost, and Australia has had widespread shortages of critical workers including plumbers, carpenters, metalworkers, hairdressers, and aged care staff; and
(b) calls on the Government to stop the cuts to the TAFE system and to support our apprentices and trainees – we need to boost our skills at this pivotal point, where we can rebuild our economy with an appropriately skilled work force.
That the Senate—
(a) acknowledges all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the Australian Army's elite Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) since its formation on 25 July 1957;
(b) recognises that 5 August 2020 marked the 60th anniversary of the first death recorded on 'The Rock', when Private Anthony Frank Smith (5410311) lost his life during a platoon patrol training exercise in the Avon Valley, on 5 August 1960; and
(c) notes that:
(i) 'The Rock' is located at the centre of the Garden of Reflection at Campbell Barracks, Swanbourne, Western Australia, and
(ii) is inscribed with the name of every Australian SASR soldier who has died while on active service or during training exercises.
That the Senate opposes the development of any new gas fields in Australia.
The Senate divided. [16:15]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) since Australia's borders closed on 20 March 2020 many thousands of temporary visa holders have been separated from their families, jobs, and homes,
(ii) temporary visa holders contribute significantly to the Australian economy, having invested their time, energy, skills, and passion into Australia – they are part of our communities, our schools, and our businesses,
(iii) many temporary visa holders were invited to Australia under our skilled migration program, and
(iv) temporary visa holders returning to their families, jobs and homes in Australia will be subject to the same mandatory quarantine arrangements as Australian citizens and permanent residents returning to Australia; and
(b) calls on the Government to grant 'inwards' travel exemptions for all temporary visa holders who are separated from either their immediate family (including children, partners, and spouses), their established homes, or their jobs in Australia, in line with available daily travel caps set by states and territories.
The Senate divided. [16:20]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) transport accounts for almost 20% of Australia's carbon emissions,
(ii) preliminary estimates suggest that, due to the pandemic, emissions from the consumption of petrol, diesel and jet fuel as at June 2020 have fallen 17.9% relative to June 2019,
(iii) Australia must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 75% on 2005 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2035 in order to meet its Paris Agreement targets, and
(iv) the use of bicycles and other forms of active transport has surged as Australians respond to the challenges of the pandemic; and
(b) calls on the Government to act to permanently reduce our transport carbon pollution by:
(i) investing in active transport infrastructure, public transport, and high speed rail, and
(ii) supporting the uptake of electric vehicles, including through investment in renewable energy to power them.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that a report used by the Australian Greens to assert that forestry operations cause bushfires has been retracted and withdrawn after insistence from the academic community;
(b) further notes that the withdrawal of this paper was required because of the number of significant errors and wrong conclusions and that it did not meet the standard for 'high-quality scientific works' as required by the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI);
(c) condemns the Australian Greens and the Bob Brown Foundation for consistent use of bodgy science to attempt to back-up their falsehoods about forestry; and
(d) calls on the Bob Brown Foundation and the Australian Greens to apologise to the hardworking men and women of the forestry industry that they use misinformation to demonise.
The Senate divided. [16:26]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
That the Senate—
(a) notes:
(i) that many drought affected communities in the eastern states have recently seen much needed rainfall, and many farmers are reporting good winter crops,
(ii) that severe drought remains in many parts of western New South Wales and southern Queensland, and Western Australia is coming into drought,
(iii) that farmers and their communities will continue to need support, both during drought and in the recovery, and
(iv) the importance of developing programs that contribute to boosting community leadership, connectedness and collaboration, which build drought resilience;
(b) commends the Liberal and National Government for committing more than $10.8 billion to farmers and communities in drought, including more than $300 million through the Drought Communities Program, more than $460 million through the Farm Household Allowance, and $180 million through the Drought Communities Support Initiative; and
(c) also commends the Liberal and National Government for further support in helping communities build drought resilience through the:
(i) Networks to build Drought Resilience Program, which will increase the presence and reach of community networks working together to build drought resilience, and
(ii) Drought Resilience Leaders Program, which will provide drought resilience leadership courses to young and emerging leaders in rural, regional and remote communities.
Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion:
The crisis in aged care caused by Minister Colbeck's failure to listen to warning after warning and to have a COVID-19 plan for aged care, instead responding to the pandemic with self-congratulation and hubris, turning his back on scrutiny and dismissing deaths by neglect as a 'function' of aged care.
My heart is crying because I far away from my family… Because if I pass away here, I've got my spirit, my culture, my ceremony way back… at home and my family, they don't want that way, because we've got everything there in the home. And if we pass away, culture there, our spirit. That is my family, because I'm the eldest out of my family and that's my mother land Numbulwar.
The point I really want to emphasize is that Aboriginal people have by far the most complex health conditions, complex level of needs and who actually receive the least level of service, and these things are not new. We have talked about it for decades…
We often feel we are regulating with our hands tied behind our backs. We are not allowed to photographically record information, copy and take information, audio record key interviews. The Commission is a bit toothless in holding providers to account …
… there is no real penalty to failing the meet Standards. Just the inconvenience of additional visits from the Commission …
I think we should brace ourselves for some pretty bruising information about the way our loved ones, some of them have experienced some real mistreatment.
I think that's going to be tough for us to deal with, but you can't walk past it.
In January 2020, the Australian Government led the preparation of the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (COVID Response Plan). This was published on 18 February 2020 and was activated on 27 February 2020. This plan addressed the response to aged care in the context of the overall Commonwealth, State and Territory response plan.
That the Senate take note of the report.
That the Senate take note of the report.
The committee made nine recommendations and called for immediate action.
They are broadly sensible recommendations which avoid piecemeal or half-hearted approaches.
Those Inquiry recommendations have not simply been ignored.
The communities who fought for them have been.
That the Senate take note of the report.
That, contingent upon Ms Lidia Thorpe being chosen to be a senator to fill the vacancy in the representation of Victoria, she be appointed as a participating member in accordance with the list circulated in the chamber.
Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Jabiru) Bill 2020
That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment (Jabiru) Bill 2020 will support the traditional owners of Jabiru, the Mirarr people, to lead the transition of Jabiru from a mining town to a tourism town and regional service centre via a new township lease.
Land security is economic security and it helps drive opportunities for Indigenous Australians to support community development and prosperity. It means generations of traditional owners can benefit from the land and help maintain the ongoing cultural connection with the land.
With the closure of the nearby Ranger uranium mine by January 2021 and the expiry of existing Jabiru leasing arrangements in June 2021, the Mirarr traditional owners have developed a Masterplan setting out their vision for Jabiru as a world-leading ecologically sustainable, economically and socially vibrant community where traditional Aboriginal culture, the local economy, the tourist industry and the natural environment flourish.
We are introducing this bill to support the Mirarr's vision. It forms part of the Australian government's $216 million commitment to revitalising Jabiru and Kakadu National Park, which will bring business opportunities and jobs to our iconic Top End.
The bill supports the Memorandum of Understanding on the future of Jabiru Township, which was signed on 14 August 2019 between the Australian government, the Northern Territory government, Energy Resources of Australia Limited and the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation to guide implementation of the Jabiru Masterplan.
A key element of the Jabiru Masterplan is making the town Aboriginal land under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 and providing for a long-term township lease.
Township leasing provides individual property rights that drive economic development by establishing a clear, transparent and efficient land administration system. This ensures certainty for individuals, businesses and lending institutions seeking investment opportunities.
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that we foster an environment where we can enable more jobs and economic growth to ensure prosperity for all Indigenous Australians.
This bill is economic empowerment.
It is entrusting Indigenous Australians to make decisions that will benefit their communities and their people.
Land security is economic security.
And from economic security comes the ability to put in place the foundations that will lead to economic growth, job opportunity and better security for Indigenous Australians.
The Land Rights Act was amended in 2013 to provide a specific handback-leaseback arrangement for Jabiru, including for a township lease to be held by the Commonwealth through the Executive Director of Township Leasing. The Land Rights Act provides for an approved entity to hold township leases. The Commonwealth entity was approved in 2007 and in 2016 the first community entity was approved to hold the Gunyangara township lease.
New township leases can be held by either the Executive Director of Township Leasing or an approved local community entity. Many township leases held by the Executive Director of Township Leasing include transfer provisions to transition to a community entity at traditional owners' request.
This bill makes changes to the Land Rights Act to make the Jabiru township lease consistent with other township leases in the Northern Territory. It will allow the Jabiru head lease to be held by either a community entity or the Commonwealth for a term of between 40 and 99 years.
It will also make other technical amendments. These other amendments clarify that the new township lease will not automatically extend the term of existing Jabiru subleases beyond the term of the current town head lease, and remove redundant Jabiru leasing provisions.
The bill makes a minor consequential amendment to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to ensure people will be able to use or develop land in Jabiru that is subleased to them by the head lessee.
The Australian Government acknowledges the leadership of the Mirarr traditional owners. Theirs has been a decades-long struggle to secure the recognition and opportunity to forge a future guided by their own aspirations.
In February last year, the parliament passed amendments scheduling four parcels of land as Aboriginal land in the Kakadu National Park surrounding Jabiru. Negotiations are now underway with the traditional owners of Kakadu to secure a leaseback arrangement with the Director of National Parks.
These amendments complement those by giving effect to a leasing arrangement for the traditional owners of Jabiru. Traditional owners right across Kakadu National Park will be in control of the decisions that impact on them and their families for generations to come.
The Prime Minister reflected in his 2020 Closing the Gap address that to rob a person of their right to take responsibility is to deny them their liberty. He made it clear that we must 'restore the right to take responsibility, the right to make decisions and the right to step up. It must be accompanied by a willingness to push decisions down to the people who are closest to them.'
We are embracing this change and the Mirarr people will now finally be able to achieve their social, cultural and economic independence. They will be a beacon for others.
That the Industry Research and Development (Water for Fodder Program) Instrument 2019, made under the Industry Research and Development Act 1986, be disallowed [F2019L01591].
The program design was modified after the first announcement so that a slightly larger volume of water was made available under the program guidelines.
What happens when a minister goes out and says, 'I've got a program for 6,000 people' but in the end it's only for 800?
Then, when officials do some further work and other models are adopted, it is consultation.
My very strong view is we'll deliver exactly what we said we would and that's 100GL in the Water for Fodder program.
The Federal Government has walked away from plans to deliver 100 gigalitres (GL) of water to farmers to grow feed for their livestock, indefinitely deferring a decision about the future of its Water for Fodder program.
That the following matter be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 November 2020:
The reassessment of the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA), with particular reference to:
(a) the appropriateness of the A-HKFTA given the passage and imposition of China's national security law in Hong Kong;
(b) whether Hong Kong still enjoys the high degree of autonomy valued by Australia through the 'One Country, Two Systems' framework;
(c) ongoing human rights abuses and repression in Hong Kong; and
(d) any other related matters.
Given the escalating events taking place in Hong Kong at the moment, the ACTU calls on the government to wait until the situation is resolved before proceeding with the enabling legislation of the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement.
We feel it's important that we show solidarity with the protesters, and our support for human rights, civil society and the rule of law in Hong Kong, before we decide on how to proceed with a free trade agreement.
In light of the erosion of freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong which are important pillars for Australian businesses, it is therefore imperative for the … government to take action to ensure adequate consideration of human rights issues during future trade agreement negotiations and to include human rights protection clauses in the Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement, including suspension clauses to suspend an agreement if core human rights standards are not met and backed by an effective enforcement mechanism through Parliamentary scrutiny and monitoring of human rights compliance by both parties to the trade agreement.
…reaffirms the value Australia places on the high degree of autonomy enjoyed by Hong Kong through the "One Country, Two Systems" framework.
That the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020 be referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 November 2020.
The Senate divided. [18:57]
(The President—Senator Ryan)
Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Jobkeeper Payments) Amendment Bill 2020
Payment Times Reporting Bill 2020
Payment Times Reporting (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
It wasn't until retirement that I really had time to give more time to the things that interest me. And I can't act and I can't really sing other than in a community choir, but I love theatre and I love being involved in some way.
It's something that makes me feel that I have made a difference, even though it might only be a little difference and might not have a big impact. But if I have made somebody smile, it makes me satisfied that I have achieved something in my day.
The two main benefits of volunteering that can have a big impact on maintaining good mental health are the way it keeps people socially connected, and how it provides a real sense of purpose.
A strong nation brand defines our aesthetic as a nation and provides a set of principles that governs the expression of our identity.
The iconic green and gold kangaroo logo has been clearly identifying Australian goods in export markets for more than 34 years with great success.
It is by far Australia's most recognised and trusted country-of-origin symbol and is central to the export strategies of Aussie exporters taking their goods abroad. There is no need to make a change in this space.
… agriculture's workforce deficit is one of the largest constraints to our sector's productivity growth and we need solutions for agriculture to reach its potential of being a $100 billion industry by 2030.
A mine is a hole in the ground with a liar on top.
In 2020, we strengthened our Fossil Fuels Sensitive Sector Guideline to cease underwriting, financing or directly investing in new oil and gas projects, phase out underwriting and financing oil and gas by 2025, and directly investing by 2040.
Today’s jobs are increasingly likely to require the cognitive skills of the head
… something new is also happening: Jobs increasingly need us to use our hearts …
The committee recommends that the Australian government, in conjunction with its state and territory counterparts, works to improve access to specialist cancer care co-ordinators or nurses for low survival rate cancer patients in every state and territory.
State and territory governments have primary responsibility for the employment of nurses and care coordinators.
We are calling on the Prime Minister to intervene and call Qantas to account over its misuse of taxpayers' money. There is no dividend for the public if a company like Qantas can sack thousands of workers after receiving such financial support.
The Prime Minister has failed to date to implement a national plan on aviation. He must act now to urgently save jobs and ensure a return for the public.