The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Sue Lines ) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That the Senate take note of the explanation.
That so much of standing orders be suspended as would prevent Senator Waters moving a motion relating to the conduct of business, namely a motion to give precedence to general business notice of motion no. 451.
That the question be now put.
The Senate divided. [10:41]
(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)
The Senate divided. [10:45]
(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living—Medicare Levy) Bill 2024
That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.
That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to these bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings.
STATEMENT OF REASONS FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE IN THE 2024 AUTUMN SITTINGS
TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (COST OF LIVING TAX CUTS) BILL 2024
TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (COST OF LIVING—MEDICARE LEVY) BILL 2024
Purpose of the Bills
The Bills:
Reasons for Urgency
The Bills require urgent consideration and passage to allow sufficient time for the Australian Taxation Office to update systems, develop and register withholding schedule instruments, and work with digital service providers to flow through changes to business payroll software, ahead of 1 July 2024.
That these bills be now read a second time.
TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (COST OF LIVING TAX CUTS) BILL 2024
I'm proud to introduce the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Bill 2024.
This Bill implements the Albanese Labor Government's cost of living tax cut for middle Australia.
It means every Australian taxpayer will now get a tax cut, right up and down the income scale.
And 84 percent of taxpayers will get a bigger tax cut and more support.
It means more tax relief for more workers, to help with the costs of living.
It means the steel workers I met with in Launceston, the early educators in Carrum Downs, the health care workers in Meadowbrook, the plumbers and sprinkler fitters in Beenleigh—
The truckies, the nurses, the police officers—
Will get a bigger tax cut.
This is all about supporting the hard work of people who make our economy and our country strong.
It's all about supporting people who work hard so that they can provide for their loved ones and get ahead.
It's all about doing more than just acknowledging people are under pressure and doing something about it.
It's about recognising that aspiration in this country is not, and should not, be limited to people who are already doing pretty well.
Middle Australia is aspirational Australia—where people work hard to give their kids a better chance.
And the best version of our country is one that provides more opportunities for more people, so there's reward for effort right up and down the income scale—
In every suburb and every town.
Our tax cuts are better for workers and families and communities right around Australia, and better for the economy.
We found a better way to deliver cost of living relief and we've done it in a way that is better for bracket creep, better for labour supply, better for women, better for young people—
And in a way that doesn't burden the budget or add to inflationary pressures.
These tax cuts build on our broader plan to ease cost of living pressures and come on top of tens of billions in relief across childcare, energy bills, rents and medicines already rolling out.
These cost of living tax cuts for middle Australia mean every taxpayer will get a tax cut from 1 July.
As I said, 84 per cent of Australian taxpayers will get a bigger tax cut because of our changes.
The workers of our communities and our country need and deserve this extra help.
The average worker will now get a tax cut of more than $1,500 a year.
That's around $29 per week.
And more than double what they were going to receive under the old plan.
Someone earning $100,000 a year, gets a tax cut of around $42 per week, or $2,179 a year.
For a family on an average household income—around $130,000—with one partner earning $80,000 and the other $50,000—
Their combined tax cut will be over $2600—which is about $50 a week, and $1600 more than they would get under the old plan.
Nurses, teachers, and truckies are some of the most likely to benefit, with more than 95 per cent of those taxpayers getting a bigger tax cut.
This is good for workers and good for the economy.
This is not relief or reform; this is relief and reform.
More relief for middle Australia and a better reform for our economy.
We found a better way to give a tax cut to every taxpayer but with a bigger emphasis on middle Australia, by cutting two rates and lifting two thresholds.
By reducing the lowest rate of income tax from 19 to 16 per cent—
Lowering the second tax rate from 32.5 to 30 per cent -
And raising the thresholds of the 37 and 45 per cent tax rates to $135,000 and $190,000 respectively -
We are reforming the tax system, providing cost of living relief across the board and returning bracket creep.
In fact, the 45 per cent threshold will be lifted on July 1st for the first time since Labor was last in office.
And the average tax rate for the average worker will be lower under our plan compared to those opposite, for the next decade.
Our tax plan delivers sustainable relief and substantial reform by:
Maximising cost of living relief for middle Australia—
Without adding to inflationary pressures -
And delivering an economic dividend—by boosting capacity.
The Treasury advice makes these four things clear:
First, we've found a better way to return more bracket creep to more people.
Bracket creep hurts low and middle income earners the most as they experience the fastest growth in their average tax rate as their income increases.
Our approach does more to reduce bracket creep for more taxpayers.
As a result, over the next decade the average worker will pay $21,635 less in tax.
Second, we found a better way to increase incentives to work and boost labour supply.
Treasury estimates our changes will increase labour supply by around 930,000 hours per week.
This is more than double the labour supply impact of the plan from five years ago.
Third, we found a better way to do more for women.
From July 1, 5.8 million women, that is 90 per cent of tax-paying women will receive a bigger tax cut.
Helping parents returning to work, particularly young women with children.
And delivering a bigger benefit to more than 90 per cent of taxpayers in high demand occupations that have a significant percentage of women.
Teachers, nurses, aged carers, disability support and early childhood educators will take home more pay because of our tax plan.
So will younger Australians and those who live in the regions -
With over 90 per cent of those under 35 getting a bigger tax cut.
All this helps to build a larger, more inclusive and more dynamic labour force.
And fourth, we are doing it in a way that does not impact inflation or put extra strain on the budget.
The Treasury advice is clear—our changes are broadly revenue neutral and won't add to inflation.
Tax relief rolls out over the course of the year, not in a single payment so its effect is staggered.
It begins to flow from the middle of year when inflation is expected to moderate further.
The Treasury Secretary and I consulted the RBA ahead of these changes, and Governor Bullock confirmed our tax cuts don't have implications for their inflation forecasts.
Our tax cuts are better for cost of living, better for the workforce, better for bracket creep, better for women and better for the economy.
And they come with additional help via the lifting of the low income Medicare levy thresholds, in the legislation that I will introduce shortly.
That will mean 1.2 million low income earners get additional tax relief on top of the tax cuts we are legislating here.
The Government didn't come to the decision to alter the old stage three tax cuts lightly.
We knew it would be politically contentious and contested to amend the tax changes legislated five years ago—
When the world was a very different place.
Before a once in a 100-year pandemic, persistent inflation, higher interest rates, two conflicts and global uncertainty—
Which put people under more sustained cost of living pressure.
Listening to our communities it became increasingly clear over the summer that we needed to have more cost of living relief, and it needed to be broader, without adding to inflation.
I think Australians understand that when economic circumstances change, the right thing to do is improve and align our economic policy.
The tax changes contained in this Bill are the right thing to do, for the right reasons and at the right time.
We have put people before politics.
We found a better, more responsible way to ensure every taxpayer gets a tax cut, but the workers of middle Australia get a bigger tax cut to help ease the pressure they're under.
Our cost of living tax cuts build on our broader economic strategy.
Helping to ease cost of living pressures without adding to inflation -
Getting the budget in better nick so we can insulate ourselves against uncertainty and provide responsible relief—
And investing in the capacity of our economy through skills, energy and housing.
They are a central part of our broader economic plan—to get wages moving again, bring inflation under control and drive fairer prices for consumers if we can.
Part of our efforts to modernise the economy and maximise our advantages in the defining decade.
So more people are beneficiaries not victims of the big changes underway in our economy and our society.
And despite the weaker global conditions, persistent inflation and uncertainty around the world we are making welcome progress.
Inflation has come off substantially since its peaks in 2022, and our policies are helping, but it's not mission accomplished because people are still under pressure.
Our labour market has been resilient—we've overseen the creation of 650,000 jobs, a record for a first term Government.
We've seen two consecutive quarters of real wages growth, with Treasury expecting annual real wages to grow this year.
This is on the back of delivering the first surplus in 15 years, with a second one in prospect.
That's a $100 billion fiscal turnaround from what we inherited, in one year alone.
We have come a long way in less than two years.
Repairing the budget and investing in the capacity of our economy.
Inflation is slowing.
Real wages are growing.
And from the 1st of July we will see Labor's cost of living tax cuts flowing as well.
This is the parliament's big chance to provide bigger tax cuts for more people to help with the cost of living.
Honourable members should not stand in the way of that.
Full details of the measure are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
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TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (COST OF LIVING—MEDICARE LEVY) BILL 2024
Today I introduce the Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living—Medicare Levy) Bill 2024.
This is another way that the Albanese Labor Government is providing more tax relief to Australians on modest incomes, to help with the costs of living.
It means more help for more people via the tax system, by adjusting the Medicare Levy low income thresholds.
It will ensure people on lower incomes continue to pay less or are exempt from the Medicare levy.
It means 1.2 million Australians get to keep a bit more of what they earn.
Most Australian residents pay the Medicare levy, charged at two per cent of their taxable income.
We are increasing the low income thresholds by 7.1 per cent for singles, families, seniors and pensioners in line with average annual growth in the Consumer Price Index.
This is not an automatic change; it's not indexation -
It requires a Government decision and this legislation.
The increases contained in this Bill mean that those with a taxable income of up to $26,000 will not be liable for the Medicare levy—
That's an increase of almost $2,000.
Seniors and pensioners will now be able to earn up to $41,089 before being liable for the Medicare levy.
Couples and families will now be able to earn up to $43,846.
Families who are eligible for the seniors and pensioners tax offset can now earn up to $57,198.
And the thresholds for couples and families increases by $4,027 for each dependent child or student.
These changes are about ensuring those on the lowest incomes, keep a bit more of their weekly pay packet—
Providing targeted relief to those that are doing it tough and help to ease some of the pressure on Australian families, seniors and young people on modest incomes.
This Bill adds to the cost-of-living relief we are already rolling out for those who need it most.
Our cost of living tax cuts for middle Australia that deliver a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer—
The tens of billions of dollars in cost of living relief across childcare, energy bills and rents we are already rolling out—
And the billions we have invested in strengthening Medicare.
We've tripled the bulk billing incentive, supporting 11.6 million Australians to access a GP with no out of pocket costs.
We've made medicines cheaper, saving Australians $250 million last year and with more savings to come this year.
And we're establishing Medicare urgent care clinics across the country to ease the pressure on emergency departments when care is needed.
It is cost of living relief and health reform, hand in hand.
Our changes to the low income threshold for the Medicare levy for 2023-24 will benefit more than a million Australians.
This is about doing what we responsibly can to help ease some of the pressure being felt by Australians right around the country—
Especially for those on lower incomes, younger people, seniors and women—
And many of the Australians doing it toughest when it comes to managing cost of living pressures.
Across our tax changes, the tens of billions in targeted cost of living relief and now these changes to the Medicare levy -
We are determined to make a positive difference in people's lives; to help where we can.
We are focused on getting the budget in better nick and inflation under control.
As well as, not instead of, supporting Australians through tough times.
Full details of the measures are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that:
(a) this government has mismanaged the economy and made a deliberate decision to break promises and raise taxes;
(b) the Coalition is committed to lower, simpler and fairer taxes;
(c) because Australians are hurting from the Government's mismanagement of the economy, the Coalition will not oppose the reduction in the 19c tax rate to 16c;
(d) the Coalition is committed to going to the next election with a tax reform package that is in keeping with the stage 3 tax cuts; and
(e) the Coalition's package will:
(i) deliver lower, simpler, and fairer taxes,
(ii) fight bracket creep and enshrine aspiration in our tax system,
(iii) reward hard work and support a strong economy where every Australian can get ahead, and
(iv) unite, rather than pit Australians against each other".
Parliament made a decision to legislate those tax cuts, and we made a decision that we would stand by that legislation rather than relitigate it, and we haven't changed our opinion.
While recent data indicate that inflation is easing, it remains high.
The Board expects that it will be some time yet before inflation is sustainably in the target range, and the Board remains resolute to return inflation to target in a reasonable timeframe. The path of interest rates that will best ensure this will depend upon the data and the evolving assessment of risks, and a further increase in interest rates cannot be ruled out.
… inflation analysis showed labour costs made up almost two-thirds of headline CPI in the year to June 30, 2023.
The contrast underscores the opportunity cost of using a significant tax scale change for political purposes. Such opportunities rarely occur more than once every few terms of government. They ought to be applied to bedding down structural improvements in the tax system, rather than on fixing short-term political or even business cycle concerns.
Households have been dealing with the cost of living challenges that elevated inflation and rising interest rates impose. At the same time, bracket creep is ratcheting up the average rate of tax paid, while aggregate measures of income and economic growth are being driven by population growth, not productivity.
"The GST deal isn't Chalmers' fault, but no party is going to abandon it because of the politics of WA. Something is going to have to change because it can't continue."
The WMO—
Guide states that an acceptable range of error for thermometers (including those used for measuring maximum and minimum temperatures) is ±0.2 °C. However, throughout the last 100 years, Bureau of Meteorology guidance has allowed for a tolerance of ±0.5 °C … This is the primary reason the Panel did not rate the observing practices amongst international best practices.
Before public release of the ACORN-SAT data-set the Bureau should determine and document the reasons why the new data-set shows a lower average temperature in the period prior to 1940 than is shown by data … by previous international analyses of Australian temperature …
The mission of Operation Sovereign Borders remains the same today as … when it was established in 2013: protect Australian borders, combat people smuggling in our region, and importantly, prevent people from risking their lives at sea. Any alternate narrative will be exploited by criminal people smugglers to deceive potential irregular immigrants and convince them to risk their lives and travel to Australia by boat.
The mission of Operation Sovereign Borders remains the same today as it was when it was established in 2013: p rotect Australia 's borders, combat people smuggling in our region , and , importantly, prevent people from risking their lives at sea.
Any alternate narrative—
will be exploited by criminal people smugglers to deceive potential irregular immigrants and convince them to risk their lives and travel to Australia by boat.
There's no point throwing good money after bad, at a project where more than 90 percent of the benefit flows to the mainland.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today.
The mission of Operation Sovereign Borders remains the same today as it was when it was established in 2013—
protect Australia's borders, combat people smuggling in our region, and importantly, prevent people from risking their lives at sea .
Any alternate narrative will be exploited by criminal people smugglers to deceive potential irregular immigrants and convince them to risk their lives and travel to Australia by boat.
Border Force funding is currently the highest it's been since its establishment in 2015, and in the last year the ABF has received additional funding totalling hundreds of millions of dollars, to support maritime and land-based operations.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a question without notice I asked today relating to the recycling of clothing.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Watt) to a question without notice asked by Senator Whish-Wilson today relating to Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP 11).
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Senator Watt) to a question without notice I asked today relating to environmental approvals.
That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the following bills, allowing them to be considered during this period of sittings:
Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024
Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment Bill 2024
Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Foreign Investment) Bill 2024
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No. 1) Bill 2024
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024.
CRIMES AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE) BILL 2024
Purpose of the Bill
The Bill amends the Crimes Act 1914 to implement trauma-informed measures that better support vulnerable persons when appearing as complainants and/or witnesses in Commonwealth criminal proceedings, whilst maintaining appropriate criminal procedure safeguards.
Reasons for Urgency
Passage of the Bill in the 2024 Autumn sittings is required to implement a number of outstanding recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It is also required to advance the broader work of the Australian government on strengthening criminal justice responses to sexual assault, including Theme 2 of the First National Action Plan of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030, and the Standing Council of Attorneys-General Work Plan to Strengthen Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Assault 2022-2027.
Passage of the Bill will also ensure the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has ample time to consider the Bill and its practical effects on the criminal justice process as part of its inquiry into the justice system's response to sexual violence. The ALRC has been asked to provide its final report to the Attorney-General by 22 January 2025.
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FAIR WORK AMENDMENT BILL 2024
Purpose of the Bill
The Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024 will amend the Fair Work Act 2009 (Fair Work Act) to provide that contravening an order of the Fair Work Commission made under Division 6 of Part 2-9 of the Fair Work Act, relating to the employee right to disconnect (a right to disconnect order) as set out in the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023 (Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill), does not expose a person to a criminal penalty.
The Bill will ensure that the treatment of right to disconnect orders made by the Fair Work Commission will be consistent with the treatment of orders made by the Fair Work Commission under the stop bullying and stop sexual harassment provisions already set out in the Fair Work Act.
Reasons for Urgency
The Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill did not explicitly provide for criminal penalties to apply to a contravention of a right to disconnect order, but the interaction of those provisions with existing section 675(1) of the Fair Work Act makes it necessary to legislate a specific provision to rule them out. The Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill passed the Parliament on 12 February 2024. Before passage, the Government sought to move an amendment to the Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill to provide that contravening a right to disconnect order does not expose a person to criminal penalties. Leave was not granted in the Senate for this amendment to be moved.
The right to disconnect provisions in the Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill will commence six months after that Bill receives Royal Assent (with a further 12 month delay to commencement in relation to small business employers—that is, 18 months following Royal Assent).
The introduction and passage of this Bill in the 2024 Autumn sittings will ensure the amendments to section 675 of the Fair Work Act commence at the same time as the right to disconnect provisions.
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FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (SUPPLEMENTARY POWERS) AMENDMENT BILL 2024
Purpose of the Bill
The Bill amends the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (the FFSP Act) to remove certain limiting words from section 32B, which confers power on the Commonwealth to make, vary or administer an arrangement or grant and similar words from section 39B, which confers powers on the Commonwealth in relation to companies.
The amendments would clarify the operation of powers conferred by sections 32B and 39B of the FFSP Act, where powers to engage in spending may also be available in other legislation.
The amendments make clear that sections 32B and 39B provide legislative authority for spending that falls within those terms, even if it is possible that the Commonwealth could engage in that spending activity under another spending power.
Reasons for Urgency
The amendments are required to put beyond doubt that the FFSP legislative framework operates how it has been understood to operate in circumstances where another general spending power may be available in other legislation.
Passage of the bill in the 2024 Autumn sitting is required to give certainty to Commonwealth entities relying on the FFSP legislation that current and future spending activities which are specified in the FFSP Regulations are supported by the spending powers in the FFSP Act.
The validation provisions would regularise the status of past spending and government activity in purported reliance on sections 32B and 39B, in the event that any such past spending or activity may not have been valid by reason of there having been an alternative source of power.
Some portfolios have enacted or initiated amendments to their legislation to clarify the operation of spending powers in their Acts and section 32B of the Act, to put beyond doubt that both may be available to support particular spending.
There would be a large administrative burden on the Commonwealth and Parliament if portfolios began amending all individual Acts to specify intended interaction with section 32B of the FFSP Act. This amendment would provide a whole of government response.
The FFSP framework, established by the FFSP Act and the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (FFSP Regulations) supports the Government from time to time to deliver immediate or urgent support to the Australian community. In the recent past, the FFSP framework has been used to support a broad range of spending, including emergency payments during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 bushfires and floods.
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FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS AND TAKEOVERS FEES IMPOSITION AMENDMENT BILL 2024
TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (FOREIGN INVESTMENT) BILL 2024
Purpose of the Bills
The Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2024 will implement the Government's commitment to ensure foreign investment in housing is consistent with the Government's agenda to boost Australia's housing supply by:
The Treasury Laws Amendment (Foreign Investment) Bill 2024 will clarify the uncertainty associated with the interaction between foreign investment fees, and similar state and territory property taxes, and double taxation agreements implemented domestically by the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 , to ensure that the foreign investment fees and similar imposts prevail.
These measures will further encourage foreign owners to increase Australia's housing stock and support the integrity of the foreign investment rules. The measures are estimated to increase receipts by $525.0 million, and increase payments by $3.5 million over the five years from 2022-23.
Reasons for Urgency
Passage of these bills in the 2024 Autumn sittings is required to support the Government's housing agenda, maximise revenue impacts, and reduce the opportunity for applications to be brought forward which would undermine the Government's policy intent.
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NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL
Purpose of the Bill
The National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No.1) Bill 2024 (the Bill) amends the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act) to ensure the National VET Regulator (the Regulator) has the necessary regulatory tools to take swift action to address integrity risks posed by non-genuine or unscrupulous NVETR Act registered training organisations (NVR RTOs), as described in section 3 of the NVETR Act. The Bill also ensures greater scrutiny of new NVR RTOs and promotes a quality vocational education and training (VET) sector that benefits students, industry, and the community. The Bill further incorporates some changes from the lapsed Regulator Performance Omnibus Bill 2022 (the Omnibus Bill).
The Regulator is established under the NVETR Act and is responsible for registration and compliance monitoring of NVR RTOs, as well as the accreditation of VET courses. Section 157 of the NVETR Act sets out the Regulator's functions. All NVR RTOs must comply with the requirements of the NVETR Act and its associated legislative framework.
In 2023, the Australian Government released the Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia's Visa System (the Nixon Review) which identified the risks posed by NVR RTOs that do not have the genuine purpose of delivering quality training and instead undermine integrity in the VET sector and exploit vulnerable students. The 2018 All eyes on quality: Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (the Braithwaite Review) also highlighted the need to strengthen quality and integrity in VET by placing more rigorous legislative requirements on NVR RTOs at the point of registration and throughout the registration period. The Braithwaite Review also recommended strengthening entry to market requirements to ensure NVR RTOs are committed to and capable of providing quality VET. The Bill implements recommendations from the Braithwaite Review and responds more broadly to the findings in the Nixon Review in relation to non-genuine VET providers.
The lapsed Omnibus Bill was introduced in 2022 to support best practice regulator performance by streamlining processes to improve regulator efficiency, reduce regulatory impost on regulated entities and clarify legislative requirements for the regulated community.
The amendments in the Bill support whole-of-government priorities to ensure students receive quality training by strengthening regulatory levers within the VET sector. The amendments would empower the Regulator to take decisive action to prevent non-genuine or unscrupulous NVR RTOs using their business operations as a veil of legitimacy for fraudulent activity or to circumvent regulatory requirements in respect of training and assessment.
Outline of the Bill
Integrity risks posed by dormant NVR RTOs using their registration for non-genuine or fraudulent purposes, or those not demonstrating a genuine commitment to training delivery (as highlighted in the Braithwaite Review), will be addressed by amendments to enable the automatic lapse of an NVR RTO's registration (Part 1 of the Bill). Specifically, where an NVR RTO has not delivered training and/or assessments for a period of 12 consecutive months its registration will automatically lapse by force of law. However, to ensure procedural fairness, all NVR RTOs will be able to apply to the Regulator for an extension to this 12-month period ahead of their registration lapsing. Where an NVR RTO is genuinely committed to providing training and assessment, but has legitimate, reasonable justification for not providing training or assessment, the Regulator will be able to grant an extension for a maximum of 12 months, after which no further extensions are available. The extension would ensure that the NVR RTO's registration will not lapse until the end of the period specified in the extension. It is intended that extensions will only be granted where the reason for which the NVR RTO has not provided training or assessments is demonstrably outside the control of the NVR RTO. Such limited circumstances could include, for example, natural disasters such as fire, flood, or pandemic events. Provided an NVR RTO begins delivering training and/or assessment within the period specified in the extension and it demonstrates that it is otherwise capable and committed, the NVR RTO's registration will not lapse after the extension period concludes. The Bill also proposes amendments to ensure that extension decisions are subject to internal and external merits review (via the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or, subject to the passage of legislation, the proposed Administrative Review Tribunal) in line with other reviewable decisions under the NVETR Act. The Bill proposes amendments to ensure that extension decisions are reviewable decisions under the NVETR Act.
Consistent with recommendations of the Brathwaite Review, Part 2 of the Bill includes amendments to prevent an NVR RTO from changing, in the first two years of its registration, the courses it is registered to deliver to students. These amendments will help ensure those that are new to the sector are able to focus on delivering quality training or assessments in the segment of the market for which they were originally approved. Further, this would provide the Regulator with the opportunity to assess an NVR RTO's operations over a reasonable period to ensure the organisation has a sound understanding of the educational integrity and commitment required to operate in the sector prior to expanding its course offerings.
The amendments proposed in Part 3 of the Bill would expand—from 90 to 120 days—the period in which the Regulator can conduct internal review of decisions, where a review application is made by an NVR RTO. While it is expected that most reviews will be completed within the current 90 day timeframe, this amendment will ensure the Regulator gives due consideration to review decisions, which are more complex and require detailed consideration.
Part 4 of the Bill includes amendments that allow the Regulator to consider and make decisions in relation to initial applications for registration in an order determined by the Regulator. Importantly, these amendments still require the Regulator to make a decision on applications for registration but provide the Regulator with greater flexibility in terms of how it prioritises, considers, and makes decisions in relation to applications—for example, taking into consideration areas of skills training shortages or community need. The amendments also give the Regulator the ability to decide non-complex applications quickly and efficiently, while applying appropriate scrutiny to complex applications or applications that raise potential integrity issues.
Part 5 of the Bill includes amendments that will empower the Minister to determine, via legislative instrument, a specified period where the Regulator is not required to, or must not, accept or process initial applications for NVR RTO registration under the NVETR Act. This will assist the Regulator to manage and address integrity risks identified in the VET sector in relation to NVR RTO market entry. The legislative instrument may apply to all initial applications for registration or to one or more classes of initial applications. Allowing for the instrument to apply to a particular class or classes of initial applications enables the Regulator to target specific cohorts of high-risk applicants or specific VET courses, without disrupting the acceptance and processing of other applications. The determination will require the Minister to consult with the Regulator and seek the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council's agreement to the instrument prior to implementation. This will ensure the instrument cannot be made without the agreement of the states and territories and that the views of the Regulator are taken into consideration prior to the Minister making the instrument.
Amendments proposed in Part 6 of the Bill expand and strengthen offence and civil penalty provisions regarding false and misleading representations made by NVR RTOs. These amendments broaden the existing provisions to clarify that prohibited conduct includes making false and misleading representations in relation to the NVR RTO's operations. This strengthens consumer protections for students where unscrupulous or non-genuine NVR RTOs seek to attract student enrolments through false and misleading claims in relation to their operations. Inserting new provisions clarifies that prohibited conduct could include, but is not limited to:
Part 7 of the Bill will increase the penalty units specified under certain provisions in the NVETR Act to deter non-genuine or unscrupulous providers from breaching the NVETR Act and to reduce the financial benefits and incentives to engage in conduct in breach of the NVETR Act.
The maximum penalty units for a breach of a relevant offence or civil penalty provision under Part 6 of the NVETR Act will increase, along with the penalty units specified under section 64, subsection 71(3) and subsection 79(2) of the NVETR Act. The amendments provide for increased maximum penalties for offences and civil contraventions which threaten VET integrity, student protection or otherwise are indicative of practices that may be associated with non-genuine or unscrupulous providers. It is intended that an increase in penalty units send a strong signal to non-genuine or unscrupulous NVR RTOs and potential providers that heavy penalties will be applied for breaches of the legislation. These increased penalty provisions are the maximum penalties that could be imposed by a court and are intended to ensure that the imposition of such penalties operate as more than just a cost of doing business for a non-genuine or unscrupulous provider.
The Bill would also increase the penalty units specified under subsections 211(3) and 211(4) of the NVETR Act. Those subsections relate to a failure to provide a copy of VET student records, which is an issue that affects students when a provider ceases to operate, or the provider's registration is cancelled or lapses. A higher penalty may support better student outcomes by ensuring that providers and their executive officers are incentivised to provide the Regulator with a copy of affected students' records in such situations.
The amended penalty regime will apply in relation to offences committed, or contraventions, acts or omissions that occur on or after the commencement of the Bill. Courts have the discretion to determine the appropriate penalty amount, up to the maximum set under the law.
Consistent with the principles set out in the Attorney-General Department's Guide to Framing Commonwealth Offences, Infringement Notices and Enforcement Powers (the Guide), the increased maximum penalty units prescribed under the amended provisions will be adequate to deter and punish the worst-case offences. Those involved in breaches of the NVETR Act may receive large financial benefits from their misconduct. The penalty units in the NVETR Act have not been increased since the NVETR Act commenced, and the increases the Bill proposes reflect the changing structure and nature of the VET market over that period. The increase of financial penalties is appropriate for regulatory and disciplinary purposes. The Guide notes that a higher maximum penalty will be justified where there are strong incentives to commit the offence, or where the consequences of the commission of the offence are particularly dangerous or damaging.
The amendments proposed in Part 8 of the Bill will help support efficient and effective regulation of the VET sector. These amendments were included as part of the lapsed Omnibus Bill, which senior State and Territory Government officials were consulted on. Specifically, the amendments clarify the use of personal information contained in audit reports, align registration requirements with similar requirements under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) and clarify review processes to better align with the internal review process in the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act). This streamlines interactions for entities regulated by both the Regulator and TEQSA under the ESOS Act. The Bill also makes technical amendments to a number of sections in the NVETR Act to ensure alignment with new provisions.
Finally, Part 9 of the Bill would amend the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act to set out transitional arrangements. Those arrangements would ensure the effective and efficient operation of the Bill on commencement by specifying how the amendments will operate during the period immediately post-commencement. For example, section 4 of the transitional provisions provides that Part 2 of the Bill relating to change to scope of registration will only apply to applications made on or after the day of the Bill's commencement (the day the Bill receives the Royal Assent). Applications received prior to this date will not be affected by the amendments.
Reason for Urgency
The Bill is urgent and requires introduction and passage in the 2024 Autumn sittings period to ensure that amendments can be implemented as soon as possible. This is necessary to assist the Regulator in taking action against providers who do not intend to deliver quality training and are being used as a veil of legitimacy for fraudulent activities. The changes would ensure the sector and the broader community can have confidence that NVR RTOs delivering and/or assessing VET are providing quality education and training and are legitimate operators. If the Bill is not passed in the 2024 Autumn sittings the Regulator will not be in a position to take action against non-genuine and unscrupulous providers in a timely manner, leaving students and Government exposed to fraudulent and otherwise exploitative activities of unscrupulous and non-genuine NVR RTOs.
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PASSENGER MOVEMENT CHARGE AMENDMENT BILL
Purpose of the Bill
The Bill gives effect to the 2023-24 Budget measure to uplift the Passenger Movement Charge from $60.00 to $70.00, effective as of 1 July 2024.
Reasons for Urgency
Passage of the Bill in the 2024 Autumn sittings is required to allow sufficient time for implementation of necessary IT systems by industry stakeholders before the increase to the charge takes effect. Industry stakeholders have been advised that the increase will take effect from 1 July 2024, pending passage of the Bill, and are required to facilitate collection of the charge from that date.
That general business order of the day no. 20, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Climate Trigger) Bill 2022 [No. 2], be considered on Wednesday, 28 February 2024 at the time for private senators' bills.
That leave of absence be granted to the following senators from 26 to 29 February 2024:
(a) Senators Wong and White, for personal reasons; and
(b) Senators Farrell and Ayres, on account of ministerial business.
That leave of absence be granted to Senator McDonald for today, on account of parliamentary business.
That leave of absence be granted to Senator Hanson-Young from 26 to 29 February 2024, for personal reasons.
That—
(a) the Select Committee on Commonwealth Bilateral Air Service Agreements, appointed by resolution of the Senate on 5 September 2023, as amended on 7 September 2023, be reappointed on the same terms, except as otherwise provided by this resolution, so that the committee may:
(i) receive evidence at a public hearing from:
(A) witnesses who were unavailable prior to the committee's original reporting date, including Mr Alan Joyce AC, and
(B) government affairs representatives from Qantas, noting that Qantas' answers to questions on notice from senators were unsatisfactory, and
(ii) report on any matters arising relevant to the committee's terms of reference;
(b) the committee or any subcommittee have the power to consider and make use of the evidence and records of the select committee appointed on 5 September 2023;
(c) senators who were members or participating members of the previous select committee are appointed to the new committee; and
(d) the committee report by 28 March 2024.
The Senate divided. [15:42]
(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)
That the Senate acknowledges that:
(a) the concerning number of excess deaths observed in Australia in 2021 and 2022 has continued into 2023 as evidenced by all-cause provisional mortality data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics; and
(b) there is a need for further inquiry as to the reasons for these excess deaths.
The Senate divided. [15:49]
(The Deputy President—Senator McLachlan)
Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The policing, surveillance, criminalisation, and detention of First Peoples children is a humanitarian crisis and the youth carceral system is operating in breach of this country's human rights obligations. Children need culture, country, connection, and family, not prisons. The billions spent on police, prisons and surveillance must be urgently re-invested into First Peoples self-determined community programs and services to provide appropriate wrap-around support to women, children, and families.
That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The policing, surveillance, criminalisation, and detention of First Peoples children is a humanitarian crisis and the youth carceral system is operating in breach of this country's human rights obligations. Children need culture, country, connection, and family, not prisons. The billions spent on police, prisons and surveillance must be urgently re-invested into First Peoples self-determined community programs and services to provide appropriate wrap-around support to women, children, and families.
… from a beautiful culture, the oldest continuing culture in the world, with so much to teach about how we can live in harmony together and with the land. But … their elders have been pushed aside by a government hungry for land and power.
… the Australian government uses brutality against children for their own political ends.
The Senate divided. [16:27]
(The Acting Deputy President—Senator Marielle Smith)
Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The need for Prime Minister Albanese to restore Operation Sovereign Borders to its original design under the former Coalition government, including re-introducing temporary protection visas, to send a clear message to people smugglers that Australia takes the protection of its borders seriously.
That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The need for Prime Minister Albanese to restore Operation Sovereign Borders to its original design under the former Coalition government, including re-introducing temporary protection visas, to send a clear message to people smugglers that Australia takes the protection of its borders seriously.
They all congregated at the water tap—they were really thirsty.
He spent two hours with the men waiting for authorities to arrive.
They reported being dropped off in the middle of the night along the rocky shoreline of Pender Bay, and then walking in the bush for four days before being found.
And they begged him for help to get to Sydney to find work.
Border Force have a tough job, but there does have to be more layers of surveillance in place. These guys had a success making it here, so there will probably be more turning up.
Border force funding is currently the highest it's been since its establishment in 2015 and in the last year the ABF has received additional funding totalling hundreds of millions of dollars, to support maritime and land-based operations.
"The mission of Operation Sovereign Borders remains the same today as it was when it was established in 2013: protect Australia's borders, combat people smuggling in our region, and importantly, prevent people from risking their lives at sea.
"Any alternate narrative—
will be exploited by criminal people smugglers to deceive potential irregular immigrants and convince them to risk their lives and travel to Australia by boat."
The need for Prime Minister Albanese to restore Operation Sovereign Borders to its original design under the former Coalition government, including re-introducing temporary protection visas, to send a clear message to people smugglers that Australia takes the protection of its borders seriously
The Senate divided. [17:05]
(The President—Senator Lines)
That the Senate take note of the document.
That the Senate take note of the documents.
That senators be discharged from and appointed to committees as follows:
Australia's Disaster Resilience — Select Committee —
Discharged—Senator Grogan
Appointed—
Senator Payman
Participating member: Senator Grogan
Economics Legislation Committee —
Appointed—
Substitute member: Senator Faruqi to replace Senator McKim for the committee's inquiry into the provisions of the Help to Buy Bill 2023 and a related bill
Participating member: Senator McKim
Supermarket Prices — Select Committee —
Discharged—Senators Grogan and Dean Smith
Appointed—
Senators Kovacic and Pratt
Participating members: Senators Grogan and Dean Smith
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2023-2024
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2023-2024
That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.
That these bills be now read a second time.
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 3) 2023-2024
Today, the Government introduces the 2023-24 Additional Estimates Appropriation Bills. These Bills are:
These Bills underpin the Government's expenditure decisions made since the 2023-24 Budget that relate to the 2023-24 financial year, including decisions made in the 2023-24 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).
The 2023-24 MYEFO continued the Government's responsible economic and fiscal management, which has helped deliver the first budget surplus in 15 years and helped ease inflationary pressures at their peak. The fiscal position has further improved in the MYEFO with lower deficits and gross debt now forecast across the forward estimates compared to the 2023-24 Budget.
Appropriation Bill 3 seeks approval for appropriations of $8.7 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This would ensure there is sufficient funding available to cover estimate variations for existing programs, for example, changes in costs for demand driven programs. The Bill would also provide funding for the 2023-24 financial year costs of measures announced since the 2023-24 Budget.
The Bill provides funding to support the following significant items.
The Department of Defence will receive close to $2 billion. This primarily reflects a reclassification of $1.6 billion from capital to operating funding reflecting updated expenditure requirements, $213 million for operations undertaken in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and $174 million for changes in foreign exchange rates.
The Social Services portfolio will receive over $1.4 billion, with the majority of funding for the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide reasonable and necessary supports for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will receive approximately $1.1 billion, including $537 million to support older Australians in receiving appropriate care, and $99 million for the community pharmacy sector's transition to Maximum Dispensing Quantity changes and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations will receive approximately $807 million, including over $650 million to support employers which have engaged apprentices and trainees.
The Department of Home Affairs will receive close to $696 million to safeguard national security interests and improve cyber security and security of critical infrastructure assets.
Services Australia will receive close to $344 million, including $232 million for additional frontline and service delivery staff to help reduce claim backlogs and support more timely access to government services.
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources will receive approximately $338 million, including for the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour floating oil production and offtake facility and the implementation of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.
The Australian Signals Directorate will receive over $257 million to deliver on the Government's foreign signals intelligence and cyber security objectives.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will receive over $230 million, including $207 million for costs incurred on the National Interest Account managed by Export Finance Australia.
The Department of the Treasury will receive approximately $213 million, including around $175 million for Housing Australia.
Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.
I commend this Bill to the chamber.
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APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 4) 2023-2024
Appropriation Bill 4 seeks to appropriate $2.3 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This funding will support the following significant items.
The Department of the Treasury will receive $825 million for Housing Australia to support social housing providers as part of the $1 billion invested in the National Housing Infrastructure Fund.
The Department of Finance will receive around $441 million to finance the purchase of Commonwealth fleet vehicles.
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will receive over $266 million including funding to continue to support delivery of the Western Sydney International Airport project.
The Department of Defence will receive over $189 million primarily to reflect updated estimates for foreign exchange exposure.
The Department of Health and Aged Care will receive just over $160 million including to support aged care services and to replenish COVID-19 supplies within the National Medical Stockpile.
The Australian Signals Directorate will receive over $127 million to support the delivery of the Government's foreign signals intelligence and cyber security objectives and for updated estimates for foreign exchange exposure.
Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.
I commend this Bill to the chamber.
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APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 2) 2023-2024
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill 2 provides additional appropriations for the operations of Parliamentary Departments, specifically the Department of Parliamentary Services and the Department of the House of Representatives, for the remainder of 2023-24.
This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $10.3 million.
The Department of Parliamentary Services will receive $10 million to fund ICT upgrades and capital works in West Block.
The Department of the House of Representatives will receive $273,000 to strengthen engagement with the Parliaments of Pacific Island Nations.
Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.
I commend this Bill to the chamber.
Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Foreign Investment) Bill 2024
That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.
That these bills be now read a second time.
FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS AND TAKEOVERS FEES IMPOSITION AMENDMENT BILL 2024
This Bill implements the measures announced by the Government in the 2023-2024 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook to triple foreign investment fees for established dwellings and double vacancy fees.
The higher fees for established dwelling applications will encourage foreign buyers to invest in new housing developments.
This creates additional housing stock and supports economic growth.
The increased vacancy fees will encourage foreign investors to make their unoccupied properties available to renters, providing more homes for Australians who need them.
To facilitate these fee increases, Schedule 1 to the Bill will amend the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Act 2015 to increase the maximum fee that can be imposed by the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Regulations 2020 to $7 million, and will align the indexation process for all fee amounts in Australia's foreign investment framework.
Schedule 2 to the Bill amends the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Regulations 2020 to triple foreign investment application fees for established dwellings and double vacancy fees for foreign investors who have purchased residential dwellings (new and established) since 9 May 2017.
Higher fees for the purchase of established homes, and increased penalties for those that leave properties vacant will help ensure foreign investment in residential property is in our national interest.
These changes are part of the Albanese Government's broad and ambitious agenda to improve housing affordability and supply.
This agenda includes an ambitious national target to build 1.2 million well-located homes over five years from 1 July 2024.
This target will be supported by $3 billion through the New Homes Bonus to states and territories that exceed the original target of building one million homes over five years from 1 July 2024 under the National Housing Accord.
It will be supported by $500 million in the Housing Support program to help local and state governments kick-start housing supply by funding things like connecting essential services, amenities to support new housing development, or building planning capability.
The National Housing Accord also includes federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable homes over five years, to be matched by up to another 10,000 by the states and territories.
The National Housing Accord will be supported by the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, the single biggest investment in social and affordable rental housing by a Federal Government in more than a decade.
Applications are now open for this funding.
The Albanese Government's $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator is helping to deliver around 4,000 new social homes across Australia, with this money already with the states and territories to get work underway.
Up to $575 million has already been unlocked from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, with homes under construction across the country.
We are also investing an additional $1 billion in the National Housing Infrastructure Facility this financial year to support more social homes.
In last year's Budget, we committed an additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental homes through Housing Australia.
We are introducing new incentives to boost the supply of rental homes by changing arrangements for investments in Build-to-Rent accommodation.
We have increased the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent, the largest increase in more than 30 years. And this is already making a real difference, as the Consumer Price Index data shows.
We have improved and expanded the Home Guarantee Scheme, including the introduction of a new Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee and changing the eligibility of the scheme to help more Australians into home ownership.
People who were locked out under the former government can now get the support they need to get into a home.
In fact, since the election of our Government, more than 93,000 people across Australia have been helped into home ownership through the improved Scheme.
Last year the government introduced legislation to assist even more Australians through Help to Buy which will bring home ownership back into reach for 40,000 Australian households.
We have committed to a one-year extension of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement which will provide approximately $1.7 billion. This includes a $67.5 million boost to homelessness funding. National Cabinet has agreed to A Better Deal for Renters to harmonise and strengthen renters' rights across Australia.
And we're also working with state and territories on the development of a new National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
Together these initiatives represent the most significant housing reforms in a generation after a decade of little action from the former government.
And with the introduction of these measures today we add to these reforms, to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home.
Full details of the measure are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
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TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (FOREIGN INVESTMENT) BILL 2024
This Bill amends the International Tax Agreements Act 1953 to clarify the interaction between foreign investment fees, and similar state and territory property taxes, and Australia's double tax agreements. This change ensures that foreign investment fees and similar imposts prevail so that they can continue to be imposed on foreign nationals who purchase Australian property. This change will have retrospective effect.
Full details of the measure are contained in the Explanatory Memorandum.
Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No. 1) Bill 2024
Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024
That these bills may proceed without formalities, may be taken together and be now read a first time.
That these bills be now read a second time.
CRIMES AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE) BILL 2024
Sexual assault can have devastating, cumulative and long-lasting effects on the lives of victims and survivors, their families and communities. I recognise this and thank victims and survivors for their advocacy for law reform in this space.
The Australian Government is deeply committed to improving criminal justice responses to sexual assault. This means ensuring the criminal justice system supports vulnerable people at all stages of the criminal justice process.
The Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024 amends the Crimes Act 1914 to strengthen protections for vulnerable persons involved in Commonwealth criminal proceedings.
This builds on the extensive work of the Australian Government throughout this parliamentary term in leading a national discussion on strengthening criminal justice responses to sexual assault.
In the 2023-24 Budget, the Australian Government announced that it is investing $14.7 million to strengthen the way the criminal justice system responds to sexual assault to prevent further harm to victims and survivors. This includes an Australian Law Reform Commission inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence; a lived experience expert advisory group to support that inquiry; and a ministerial-level national roundtable to drive nation-wide, cross sector collaboration and inform the terms of that inquiry.
That work is now well underway. Last August, the Government convened the ministerial national roundtable and the ALRC inquiry has just commenced. The Government expects the ALRC inquiry to conclude early next year.
This Bill implements several outstanding recommendations regarding the pre-recording of evidence from the 2017 Final Report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The Bill also supports victims and survivors by:
The Bill expands the range of offences covered by existing protections for vulnerable persons in Commonwealth criminal proceedings. It ensures adult complainants are able to access vulnerable witness protections for offences that occurred while they were children, including crimes against humanity, war crimes and drug offences. This recognises the broad range of offences impacting vulnerable people, and that it may take many years for a victims and survivors to disclose their abuse.
The Bill introduces a range of measures to address the admissibility of evidence concerning vulnerable people. Evidence about a vulnerable person's reputation with respect to their sexual activities will be made inadmissible. Greater restrictions are also placed on sexual experience evidence, making it inadmissible except in limited circumstances and where the court grants leave. This type of evidence is too far removed from evidence of actual events or circumstances for its admission to be in the interests of justice, and can re-traumatise vulnerable persons by 'victim-blaming'. A court will therefore need to be satisfied that sexual experience evidence is substantially relevant to the proceedings, and to consider whether its probative value outweighs any distress, humiliation or embarrassment to the vulnerable person.
The Bill addresses barriers that may deter vulnerable witnesses from giving evidence. The new measures allow for a vulnerable person to give evidence by way of video or audio recording, and for evidence to be recorded for use at subsequent proceedings. Importantly, witnesses will not be required to see the defendant when giving recorded evidence, and it will be an offence to intentionally copy, damage, alter, possess or supply recordings of the evidence. This aims to reduce the risk of re-traumatising victims and survivors and will enable vulnerable persons to give evidence in a safe, controlled format.
Due process for defendants is retained as defendants will be provided with the opportunity to observe the evidence recording hearing (as they would be during an ordinary hearing) and will have access to relevant evidence recordings.
The Bill supports the voices of victims and survivors by ensuring they are empowered to speak out, if they choose to do so. The Bill makes it clear that the current restriction on publishing material that identifies another person as a child witness, child complainant or vulnerable adult complainant in a proceeding does not apply to a person who publishes material that identifies themselves. The Bill will also remove the requirement for the proceedings to be finalised before such publication may occur, and clarifies the law that there is no restriction on identifying a vulnerable person who is deceased.
Not only do these amendments ensure victims and survivors are able and supported to speak out should they wish to do so, but they also present an opportunity for the public to gain a better understanding of sexual violence from the perspective of victims and survivors. Most importantly, these changes give victims and survivors back their voice, as well as the agency and power to control their own stories and experiences. Limiting this provision to victims and survivors balances providing a legal mechanism to support them to speak out while preserving the ability for victims and survivors to maintain their privacy. This safeguard ensures that the choice is that of the individual, and that they are empowered, but not obligated, to tell their story.
These reforms will progress the work of the government under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse 2021-2030 and the Standing Council of Attorneys-General's work plan to strengthen criminal justice responses to sexual assault.
This Bill is an important step toward creating better outcomes for vulnerable persons in Commonwealth criminal proceedings through strengthened protections and enhanced safeguards. The amendments aim to minimise the risk of re-traumatisation, and provide greater assurance that vulnerable persons will be treated with appropriate sensitivity when appearing as witnesses or complainants in criminal proceedings.
I commend the Bill to the House.
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NATIONAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING REGULATOR AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING QUALITY AND INTEGRITY IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING NO. 1) BILL 2024
Today I am introducing the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Strengthening Quality and Integrity in Vocational Education and Training No.1) Bill 2024 (the Bill).
The Bill amends the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (the Act) to support the integrity and quality of Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector. It does this by strengthening and clarifying the powers of the National VET Regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
The Bill empowers ASQA to take decisive action against the minority of non-genuine or unscrupulous Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The Bill targets those RTOs that use their business operations as a veil of legitimacy for fraudulent activity, or to circumvent the regulatory requirements for the delivery and assessment of VET. The Bill will enable ASQA to take swift action to deter and remove non-genuine or unscrupulous RTOs, and to apply greater scrutiny to new RTOs seeking to enter the VET sector.
The Bill also provides for increases to the penalties that ASQA is able to seek against RTOs for serious breaches of the Act. The penalty units in the Act have not been increased since the Act commenced in 2011, and these changes are in the view of the Government long overdue. This is designed to ensure that penalties in relation to unscrupulous or non-genuine conduct outweigh any financial gain to be had from that conduct.
The Government is committed to supporting a high performing, reputable and trustworthy VET sector. The Government recognises that this sector is critical to skilling Australians, creating career opportunities and pathways to secure work, as well as delivering the skills needed to drive the economy. This is demonstrated in the landmark, $30 billion, five-year National Skills Agreement between the Government and state and territory governments that will provide the skills needed for a modern economy.
The Bill represents the next step in the Government's work to protect students and build the integrity and quality of our VET sector. It follows the Government's $37.8 million investment to support ASQA's processes, as provided for in the 2023-24 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. This investment provides for an integrity unit within ASQA, significant upgrades to ASQA's digital and data systems, and the establishment of a tip-off line to detect and address unacceptable and egregious behaviour by RTOs.
Working with state and territory Skills Ministers, the Government has also strengthened the Fit and Proper Person Requirements under the Act, to apply increased scrutiny on those in management positions within RTOs. This change expanded the list of matters ASQA can consider when determining if a person is fit and proper, including a new power to consider conduct that suggests a deliberate pattern of unethical behaviour.
These changes are being made in parallel with work underway to revise the Standards for RTOs. New RTO Standards are being designed to drive integrity across the sector. These reforms will emphasise quality rather than baseline compliance, and will make it more difficult for non-genuine or poor-quality providers to comply with the new standards.
The amendments in the Bill respond to integrity and quality issues highlighted in a number of reviews dating back to 2018. These reviews made recommendations to ensure students from Australia and overseas who choose to access our VET sector can be confident in the high standard of education and training delivered. These recommendations include those made in the 2023 Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia ' s Visa System , conducted by Christine Nixon AO, APM (known as the Nixon Review), as well as those in the 2018 reviewAll eyes on quality: Review of the Act 2011 , conducted by Professor Valerie Braithwaite (known as the Braithwaite Review).
The Bill has also been informed by the 2023 report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's ' Quality and Integrity—the Quest for Sustainable Growth ' : Interim Report into International Education .
The Bill also incorporates changes from the lapsed Regulator Performance Omnibus Bill 2022 (the Omnibus Bill) to improve regulator efficiency and remove areas of legal uncertainty for regulated entities.
I turn now to the measures in the Bill.
First, the Bill enables the automatic lapsing of an RTO's registration where it has not delivered training and/or assessment for a period of 12 months, as recommended by the Braithwaite Review. These provisions will apply to any RTO that has not delivered training and/or assessment for 12 consecutive months. This targets the integrity risks posed by dormant RTOs that are not demonstrating a genuine commitment to education and training delivery. For example, dormant RTOs that use their registration purely for on- selling purposes will be subject to an automatic lapsing of their registration, by force of law, where they have not delivered training and/or assessment for 12 months.
To ensure procedural fairness, RTOs will be able to seek an extension from ASQA in instances where the RTO has a legitimate, reasonable justification for the non-delivery of training or assessment. These extensions are for a maximum of 12 months, and will only be granted where the reason the RTO has not provided training or assessments is demonstrably outside its control. Such limited circumstances could include, for example, natural disasters such as fire, flood, or pandemic events.
This measure applies to RTOs that have not delivered training and/or assessment for 12 consecutive months from 1 January 2023, in order to apply to dormant providers currently in the sector. For these RTOs, their registration will lapse on 1 July 2024 (or after 90 days following the day after Royal Assent, whichever is later). Those RTOs will be able to apply to ASQA for an extension 60 days before their registration lapses to demonstrate a legitimate, reasonable justification for the non-delivery of training or assessment.
Second, the Bill will prevent an RTO from adding new courses to its scope of registration in the first two years of registration to manage quality risks to students, addressing a Braithwaite Review recommendation. This will ensure newly registered RTOs are required to focus on delivering quality training and/or assessment in the segment of the market for which they were originally approved. It will also provide ASQA with the opportunity to assess a new RTO's operations over a reasonable period, to ensure a new RTO has a sound understanding of the educational integrity and commitment required to operate in the sector, prior to expanding its course offerings.
Third, the Bill expands the period within which the Regulator can conduct an internal review of decisions. This ensures ASQA can give due consideration to complex or high-risk review decisions.
Fourth, the Bill gives ASQA greater discretion in terms of how it prioritises, considers, and makes decisions in relation to applications for initial registration of an RTO. This ensures registration applications can be prioritised, such as where reputable applicants propose to deliver courses in areas of skills shortage or where there is community need. It will also enable ASQA to decide simple applications quickly and efficiently, while applying appropriate scrutiny to complex or high-risk applications.
Fifth, Bill empowers the Minister responsible for VET to determine a specified period where the Regulator is not required to, or must not, process or accept initial applications for RTO registration. This determination must be made in consultation with ASQA and with the agreement of state and territory Skills Ministers.
This determination could be used by the Minister where ASQA identifies a trend in applications by non-genuine or unscrupulous providers seeking to enter the VET sector, for reasons other than a genuine commitment to the delivery of quality training. The determination could also be used where ASQA has received a considerable influx of applications, and the number of applications means that granting them would have a deleterious effect on the integrity, health and quality of the VET sector. The determination may apply to one or more classes of applications. This will permit ASQA to target specific cohorts of RTO applicants that pose a risk to the sector, without disrupting the acceptance and processing of other applications for registration.
Sixth, the Bill improves student protection by expanding offence and civil penalty provisions to cover a broader range of false or misleading representations by RTOs about their operations. This clarifies that ASQA will be able to consider broader activities that relate to a non-genuine or unscrupulous RTO's business operations, including where it publishes false and misleading descriptions about its training, or misleading images of delivery locations, premises, and facilities. It would also prohibit the publication of false testimonials. These provisions will remove impediments to ASQA taking decisive action in response to RTOs that seek to mislead students with false representations and false advertising.
Applying tougher penalties to egregious RTO behaviour is imperative to support integrity in the VET sector, and to deter those that currently see penalties as a risk worth taking, or a 'cost of doing business'. The Bill increases the maximum penalty for many of the offence and civil penalty provisions in the Act five-fold. Currently, maximum penalties for affected offences under the Act range from $9,390 to $187,800. These amendments mean those penalties will now range from $46,950 to $939,000 under current penalty unit values. These increases are focused on the offences and civil contraventions which threaten VET integrity, student protection and are otherwise indicative of practices that may be associated with non-genuine or unscrupulous providers.
Finally, the Bill supports effective regulation through a number of technical and administrative changes.
Measures previously introduced in the lapsed Performance Regulator Omnibus Bill 2022 further support efficient regulation by clarifying the use of personal information contained in audit reports, aligning registration requirements with similar requirements under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (the ESOS Act) and clarifying review processes to better align with the internal review process in the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) Act 2011. This will ensure streamlined interactions for entities regulated by both TEQSA and ASQA under the ESOS Act.
The measures in the Bill, combined with the steps already taken, demonstrate the Government's commitment to lifting integrity and delivering quality outcomes for those who access our VET sector.
The Bill supports the majority of providers—those who are genuine, are doing the right thing, and are in the business of education and training for the right reasons. They, along with students, industry and the whole Australian community will benefit from the removal of non-genuine and unscrupulous providers, who undermine integrity and trust in VET.
A well-regulated and trusted VET sector will strengthen Australia's ability to ensure our skills and training workforce needs are met now and into the future.
I commend the Bill to the chamber.
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PASSENGER MOVEMENT CHARGE AMENDMENT BILL 2024
The Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2024 gives effect to a measure announced by the Government as part of the 2023-24 Budget. This Bill will amend the Passenger Movement Charge Act 1978 to increase the passenger movement charge from $60 to $70 from 1 July 2024.
The passenger movement charge is imposed on persons departing Australia for another country and is usually collected by the carrier, such as an airline, at the time a ticket is sold, and then remitted by the carrier to the Department of Home Affairs.
Border Revenue Collection measures, such as the collection of the passenger movement charge, play an important role in advancing Australia's economic interests and helping to fund our critical border protection services, such as customs, immigration and biosecurity. This is the first time the passenger movement charge has been increased since 2017.
In the intervening period, the Government has already acted to improve the traveller experience at our border. We continue to invest in improving the performance of our airports and the passenger experience through our international airports and cruise ship terminals. This includes commitments in the 2022-23 Budget of $60 million to upgrade Hobart Airport runway and airfield facilities and $55 million to upgrade Newcastle Airport.
The Government has invested over $48 million in a range of measures to support Australian tourism and travel. These initiatives include programs to revive international travel, upskill workers, ensure quality tourism products and deliver infrastructure upgrades. These programs support the THRIVE 2030 strategy, which sets out a long-term plan for growing Australia's visitor economy.
This increase of $10 to the passenger movement charge is broadly in line with the increase in inflation since 2017. It will see an additional $520 million generated in revenue over the next three years. This is one of several measures the Government announced in the 2023-24 Budget as part of our Economic and Fiscal Strategy to make the economy and budget stronger, more resilient and more sustainable over the medium term.
This considered increase to the passenger movement charge will bolster the Government's capacity to invest in the protection of our international border—including the Government's recent investment in strengthening Australia's biosecurity system, as well as supporting the important and expanding work of the Australian Border Force.
We continue to see a steady increase in international visitors to Australia, and the outlook for the visitor economy is positive.
This increase to the passenger movement charge will apply to persons departing Australia from 1 July 2024 with a ticket purchased from that time. This is a considered and responsible measure that will contribute to the continued economic prosperity of Australia, including continued support and investment in our travel and tourism sectors.
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards and Other Measures) Bill 2023
That this bill may proceed without formalities and be now read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
Access to telecommunications underpins much of today's economic, social, cultural and political activity. The Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Consumer Safeguards and Other Measures) Bill 2023 will deliver improved safeguards for Australian consumers when they access broadband and voice services.
The Bill contains five schedules. Schedule 1, the bulk of the Bill, sets out measures to refine and improve the statutory infrastructure provider, or SIP, regime in Part 19 of the Telecommunications Act 1997.
Currently, Part 19 provides the legislative basis for NBN Co, and other telecommunications carriers, to provide access to high-speed broadband networks across Australia.
Most changes focus on minor changes to enhance the operation of the regime, but there are a number of more significant measures.
First, the Bill would will bring private networks in new developments, for example those operating in retirement villages, into the SIP regime for the first time. Bringing these private networks under the regime will mean that consumers living in these new developments will have greater certainty they can access broadband and voice at appropriate standards.
Second, the Bill will provide a mechanism for SIPs to be required to pay compensation to customers where they do not meet a standard or a rule. This will give providers an incentive to lift performance in the event that new standards or rules are implemented.
Third, the Bill will clarify that SIPs' obligations start in an area once buildings have been constructed and someone has moved in. Currently the obligations start once a network has been installed and there can be situations where a SIP is delayed in deploying a network and this means occupants may face delays in being able to access telecommunications.
Fourth, the Bill will clarify the powers of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman to resolve complaints about SIP connections. This will provide an additional safeguard for consumers.
Fifth, the Bill provides stricter rules when SIPs exit their service areas, meaning that there is appropriate notice given to NBN Co, as the default SIP, to arrange for continuity of service in an area.
Sixth, the Bill repeals an exemption from the SIP supply obligation, because there was uncertainty in the industry about how this exemption works in practice. The Bill proposes to replace the exemption with a power for the Minister to adjust the SIP supply obligation in the event a SIP is temporarily unable to fulfil the obligation.
This mechanism would be delivered by legislative instrument and the Minister would be able to specify conditions that must be met, such as reporting obligations, to provide transparency to consumers and the regulator.
Schedule 2 to the Bill would provide powers for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, or the ACMA, to issue remedial notices to developers who do not install functional fibre-ready facilities, such as pit and pipe, in developments.
This will further encourage developers to install fit-for-purpose pit and pipe and remediate it if it is deficient.
Schedule 3 to the Bill clarifies the powers of the ACMA to identify carriers and carriage service providers in public reports on their performance. This will improve transparency and accountability. Carriers and carriage service providers will be encouraged to improve their performance, and consumers will have better information when they choose a service provider.
Schedule 4 provides powers for universal service providers to be determined in relation to specific areas of Australia. This provides future flexibility, for example, if Norfolk Island is fully integrated into the Australian telecommunications regulatory framework.
Schedule 5 makes some technical amendments to legislation, including to clarify the powers of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to issue infringement notices, and to clarify the maximum penalties that should apply for breaches of carrier separation rules and also the anti-avoidance measures relating to the Regional Broadband Scheme.
Taken together, the measures in the Bill will improve access to broadband and voice services for people in Australia.
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023
That the following matters be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by 15 August 2024:
(a) the full effects of energy transition on regional and remote Australia; and
(b) any related matters.
Some environment journalists are blind to what's really happening globally in fossil fuel use and the renewable energy transition.
This certainly seems to suit Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who is failing to meet his government's commitments on the electricity network rollout and power price reductions.
On almost every energy issue, Bowen and his media cheer squad ignore setbacks in the northern hemisphere where coal and gas are being burned at record levels, the US is winding back EV mandates, two of Europe's biggest carmakers, Volvo and Renault, are reducing EV investment and the EU looks likely to start to unravel its commitment to achieve net zero by 2050.
Thermal coal use globally reached an all-time record in 2023. Global coal exports topped one billion tonnes and coal-fired electricity generation between October 2022 and October 2023 was up—
1 per cent to 8295 terawatt hours. Emissions from coal-fired power last year topped 7.85 billion tonnes of CO2, up 67 million tonnes.
While coal use fell in Europe and North America, that was more than offset by coal burnt in Asia. Indonesia was the world's biggest exporter of thermal coal last year—
at 505.4 million tonnes and Australia number two at 198 million tonnes—
Use of gas globally rose 0.5 per cent last year as China emerged from lockdowns. That growth is expected to increase to 3.5 per cent this year.
… Hydro-electric generation and biofuels, which can count as renewable energy, exceeded wind and solar in the renewables ledger.
The Doomberg energy news letter that publishes on Substack went through the latest International Energy Agency coal numbers. It points out China now uses 55 per cent of the world's coal—
… coal makes up 70 per cent of China's CO2 emissions.
Even the Guardian now acknowledges China is approving new coal power projects at the rate of two a week.
Yet in much of the Australian media, China is regularly described as a green superpower. Sure, it exports wind and solar components made in China with coal-fired electricity!
Writes Doomberg, China is "more than happy to profit from countries willing to sacrifice themselves at the Altar of the Church of Carbon and even happier to recycle those profits into securing coal at prices lower than they would otherwise be if so much international demand hadn't been voluntarily removed from the market".
India, the number three CO2 emitter, pledges to hit net zero in 2070—"the functional equivalent of never", Doomberg says. India has announced an extra 88GW of capacity by 2032—
up 63 per cent from the projections released in May.
The world has little chance of meeting net zero by 2050: figures released in December at COP28—
in Dubai showed CO2 emissions up 1.1 per cent last year despite a fall of 419 million metric tonnes outside China and India. China's emissions rose 458 million tonnes and India's 233 million.
Predictions EVs will conquer the motoring world are proving just as inaccurate as peak coal forecasts.
Both Porsche and the EU are pushing for delays to Europe's commitment to phase out internal combustion engine (ICE) cars.
Porsche chief financial officer Lutz Meschke told Bloomberg last month he believed the EU's 2035 deadline for stopping ICE manufacture could be delayed. Politico reported on January 18 that the manifesto of the European People's Party, the continent's largest conservative political force, wanted the unwinding of the 2035 ICE ban.
Volvo, which has been telling the world—
it is moving to electric only, last month said it would no longer provide financial support to the loss-making Polestar electric vehicle maker and would look at selling its 48 per cent stake to Chinese parent company Geely.
French giant Renault has "scrapped the separate listing of its EV unit Ampere", according to London's The Daily Telegraph on February 2.
Toyota, which environmentalists last year were criticising for being a laggard on EVs, again looks to have made the right call on continuing to invest in hybrid technology.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living—Medicare Levy) Bill 2024
… there is a risk that the tax changes add to inflation in mid-2024 and could challenge our current expectation for rate cuts starting from mid-year …
Australia relies heavily on individuals' and corporate income taxes compared with other developed countries, as well as some regional competitors. Australia's reliance on individuals and corporate income taxes remains much the same as it was in the 1950s, despite the significant change to the economy. This reliance is projected to increase further, largely due to wages growth and individuals paying higher average rates of tax (bracket creep).
Bracket creep diminishes progressivity, and exacerbates the other problems in the individuals income tax system, such as reward for effort …
Our tax base is eroding and with an unhealthy reliance on taxing incomes as well as a raft of inefficient taxes, especially at state and territory level, we are increasingly ill-equipped to meet our society's needs.
I'm living on a shoestring, and my health is suffering as well. The doctor says to me, 'Your diabetes is high, you've got to eat better.' And I said, 'Well, I can't eat better because there's no money.' If I had the money, of course you can buy better food, better quality food, and I would go to the gym as well, but I can't do that because there's no money. He wanted to send me to a dietician, and I said, 'Well, you're wasting your time. I know what to eat, the problem is I can't.' Instead of buying a steak, you've got to buy potatoes because you can't afford the steak.
I am feeling very depressed as there is never enough money to make ends meet. Every time I am almost out of debt something happens and I have to borrow money again.
There is no future, the only future is death. … I'm so limited in everything I can do that sometimes I think well, Lord, give me cancer so I can die because I can't take it anymore.
When I finally went up to Centrelink they said, 'Oh no you've got this [redundancy] payout. We aren't actually [going to] start paying you the JobSeeker until for another six months.' And I looked at them and I said, 'Well, great, I've got $1000 in the bank. … How am I going to live?'
I got a bit of a false sense because the first dole payment had all the Covid bonuses. So, it was about $1200. And I thought, oh this is all right, I can live on this … And then it dropped, and it was down to just under $1000, I think. Okay, well you're going to have to pull your head in, but that was all right. But then, I think the one or two payments after that it had dropped back even more.
I was back to the normal JobSeeker, and then I realised, well you're going to have to pull your head in here, and—I did take some super when the government said you could take a bit of extra super and, you know, paid rent in advance and all that sort of stuff.
If it wasn't for that super, I'd be buggered on JobSeeker, alone … With the cost of living going up, JobSeeker doesn't seem to be going up that much.
But what worries me is that unfortunately I'm still a bit over four years now off the Age Pension. And the Age Pension is around $1000, I think a fortnight. I can live on that.
But what does worry me is that if I haven't been able to get a job by the time I retire, there'd be no super in there … because I would have eaten it all while unemployed.
Unless I have a steady stream of income, I don't think I'll ever feel safe, but I can't work a standard 40-hour week, or even a 20-hour week, because of my mental health. But then my mental health tanks because I'm stressing about money, or it tanks because I'm working too much, and I can't recuperate like I need to. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.
You can find a casual job, but a casual job is not [going to] give you the financial strength to think of the future, or even the present. The market is hard, and I have given so many interviews so I can get [something] permanent.
Not enough groceries at home, freezer is empty. I have asked my landlord if I can pay rent late. I'm tired and feeling anxious about finding full-time work.
I feel like I am coping well, making the best possible outcome out of a difficult situation, but I also believe the situation should be changed so that the best possible outcome is not barely surviving.
From a human point of view, it affects your mental health. There's a lot of things you want to do. And work doesn't allow you to do that either because being casual you just can't take—you take a week off you lose a week's pay …You do go through a lot. Sometimes you feel depressed. Sometimes your mental health's affected. I've learned just to stay positive because, like I said, it's very easy to hit rock bottom sometimes.
The Reserve Bank needs labour productivity to improve and wages growth to come down to hit its inflation forecast. If either of those things proves incorrect, then inflation will prove to be too strong.
… younger people were being forced to choose between paying their rent or seeing a GP, because there are no longer any GPs in Gladstone that allow for bulk-billing and those young people's budgets are simply at breaking point.
… my call is to help us get the fossil fuel boot off Australia's next so we can just get on with it.
… … …
We get the next few years wrong, and Australia's economy—and the rest of us—cook.
We get it right and Australia enjoyed decades of economic growth, full employment and the reinvigoration of its natural environment.
Young people are fed up with the continued approval and funding of new gas projects by the government. These gas projects are fuelling climate disasters on a scale that we have never seen before, devastating vulnerable rural and regional First Nations communities.
As a proud Gomeroi woman, country is culture, and when country is sick, mob is sick. I come from quite a small regional area of South Australia. Just from my community alone we are starting to see the effects of climate change and what it is doing to our community, from rising sea levels, blocked rivers and dead fish.
Now more than ever we need immediate climate action. I have watched climate change devastate my community in India, witnessing a once in a century flood wipe through an entire town. The time to safeguard our future is now. We're calling on politicians to stand up for what's right and listen to young voices.