The SPEAKER (Mr Harry Jenkins) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Clean Energy Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Tax Laws Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Fuel Tax Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2011
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge—General) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Auctions) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Fixed Charge) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (International Unit Surrender Charge) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Customs) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Excise) Bill 2011
Clean Energy Regulator Bill 2011
Climate Change Authority Bill 2011
Steel Transformation Plan Bill 2011
Clean Energy Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Income Tax Rates Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Household Assistance Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Tax Laws Amendments) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Fuel Tax Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Customs Tariff Amendment) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Excise Tariff Legislation Amendment) Bill 2011
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Amendment Bill 2011
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Amendment Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge—General) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Auctions) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Fixed Charge) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (International Unit Surrender Charge) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Customs) Bill 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Excise) Bill 2011
Clean Energy Regulator Bill 2011
Climate Change Authority Bill 2011
Steel Transformation Plan Bill 2011
Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010
Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Online Games) Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
Personal Property Securities Amendment (Registration Commencement) Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report:
LAND 17 Phase 1A Infrastructure Project.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to parliament:
Specific Nutritional Capability Project for Defence Science and Technology Organisation at Scottsdale, Tasmania.
The Governor-General may disallow a law or part of a law made by the relevant Legislative Assembly within six months after it is made;
If amendments are recommended, the time within which the law may be disallowed is extended by six months from that date;
Once the disallowance is published on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments,[2] the law is considered to be repealed, and any law that was amended or repealed by the disallowed law comes back into force.
Banking Amendment (Covered Bonds) Bill 2011
The ABA supports this proposal. Covered bonds represent another source of term funding for banks. Having said that, we consider that the introduction of covered bonds should be part of a package of reforms aimed at addressing the cost and availability of funds in Australia.
Australia has a relatively unique depositor preference regime. In particular, section 13A(3) of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth) provides that if an ADI becomes unable to meet its payment obligations, its Australian assets must be used to meet its deposit liabilities in priority to all other liabilities.
Covered bonds grant a first call over certain assets of an ADI, and covered bondholders would have priority over the ADI's assets ahead of depositors on a winding up of the ADI. It is predominantly for this reason that APRA has repeatedly expressed an in-principle objection to covered bonds and structures with a similar effect. In APRA's view (expressed, for example, in APS 120), "covered bonds are not considered to be consistent with depositor preference provisions set out in the Banking Act and hence are prohibited." More recently, in a letter sent to all Australian ADIs on 29 April 2008, APRA further stated that "other synthetic or structured transactions that are in economic substance equivalent to covered bonds will also not be acceptable."
… the legislative framework will allow Australian institutions to issue 130 billion Australian dollars (US$129.9 billion) of covered bonds in coming years.
Su-Lin Ong, the head of Australia economics and fixed-income strategy at RBC Capital Markets, said in an emailed statement to Dow Jones that the new law would provide offshore investors with a greater suite of Australian products to participate in and give Australian banks a broader investor group.
Covered bonds are likely to become an important part of Australian banks' funding tool kit, and the market will grow over time, she added.
It has often been said that a covered bond is a corporate bond with one important enhancement: recourse to a pool of assets that secures or "covers" the bond if the issuer becomes insolvent. This enhancement typically results in the bonds being assigned AAA credit ratings by credit rating agencies
One major advantage of covered bonds for investors is that both the debt and the underlying asset pool remain on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet, and issuers must ensure that the asset pool adequately secures or covers the covered bonds. In the event of default, the investor has recourse to both the asset pool and the issuer.
… is seen as a step towards giving such Australian ADIs access to cheaper, more stable and longer duration funding in the wholesale capital markets. This is because the credit rating ascribed to covered bonds is often higher than that of the issuer itself, as covered bondholders have recourse to a segregated asset pool which the issuer is obliged to maintain in accordance with the asset coverage test. The offshore covered bond market has traditionally been accessed by highly rated financial institutions. It will be interesting to see whether the Australian covered bond market will evolve along similar lines.
This is the most serious financial crisis we have seen at least since the 1930s, if not ever, and we are having to deal with very unusual circumstances but react calmly to this and do the right thing.
As defined by the European Covered Bond Council, covered bonds have four essential characteristics:
These include considering the legal framework supporting the timely and full payment of covered bond obligations, availability of any payment moratorium or restructuring, cover pool servicing, and use of over-collateralisation if an issuer fails.
Commission a resolution to the debate about whether banks should be able to issue "covered bonds", in the same way other jurisdictions allow their banks to, which provides a more affordable line of credit.
Allow all banks, credit unions and building societies to issue covered bonds to broaden access to cheaper, more stable and longer-term funding …
Issuers of covered bonds generally seek a AA or AAA credit rating for the covered bond issue. Further, the rating of the covered bond issues is typically higher than the credit rating of the issuing ADI reflecting the dual-recourse nature of covered bonds and the high quality of the asset pool securing the covered bonds. In addition, many covered bond markets (particularly in Europe) are heavily regulated which has the effect of protecting the interests of covered bondholders, and supporting a higher-than-otherwise credit rating of covered bond issues.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a third time.
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Participants in British Nuclear Tests) Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a third time.
Work Health and Safety Bill 2011
Work Health and Safety (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2011
The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the content of this publication.
… … …
The coalition’s commitment to an ETS is demonstrable.
The question of truth in government is not a game—and it is not my game; it is about … what a government should … say to the Australian people when it is seeking their trust and their mandate at an election. Anybody in the Australian community … would say … that what they want to know before the election is just the simple truth.
The Liberal Party has a policy of both protecting the planet and protecting Australia. We support, in principle, an Emissions Trading Scheme ….
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would enable the Leader of the Opposition to move forthwith:
That this House censure the Prime Minister for betraying the Australian people with the introduction of the world’s biggest carbon tax when she said, five days before the last election, in a phrase that will haunt her to her political grave, “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” and:
(1) the 72 Labor members of parliament that betrayed their electorates by voting for a carbon tax today stand condemned; and
(2) all members supporting this toxic tax are duly warned that the Coalition will pursue every vote in every seat to give the Australian people their say on this carbon tax at the next election which has been denied to them today by a Prime Minister who has deceived them, and a Labor Party that has forgotten about families, abandoned workers and become a risk to our future prosperity.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private m embers' business
1. The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 11 October 2011.
2. The committee determined the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members' business on Monday, 31 October 2011, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS
Presentation and statements
1 Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Denmark, Sweden and Greece
Report on the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Denmark, Sweden and Greece April 2011.
The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.20 am.
Speech time limits —
Mr L. D. T. Ferguson—5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR WILKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to regulate the export of live animals for slaughter, and for related purposes (Livestock Export (Animal Welfare Conditions) Bill 2011). (Notice given 11 October 2011.)
Presenter may speak for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41.
Orders of the day
1 Air Services (Aircraft Noise) Amendment Bill 2011 (Mrs Moylan): Second reading (from 12 September 2011).
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mrs Moylan— 10 minutes.
Next 3 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 + 4 x5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices—continued
2 DR LEIGH: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that:
(a) the Australian incarceration rate has risen from 117 prisoners per 100 000 adults in 1991 to 172 prisoners per 100 000 adults in 2010;
(b) since the Indigenous Deaths in Custody Report was released in 1991, the Indigenous incarceration rate has risen from 1739 prisoners per 100 000 adults to 2303 prisoners per 100 000 adults; and
(c) an increasing number of Australian children have a parent behind bars; and
(2) encourages governments at all levels to pursue innovative policies to reduce crime and incarceration rates, including:
(a) investing in early intervention programs to deter young people from crime;
(b) where appropriate, considering alternatives to incarceration such as weekend detention, periodic detention, restorative justice and drug courts;
(c) employing smart policing strategies, such as using real-time crime statistics to identify and target crime hotspots;
(d) establishing in-prison education, training and rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing recidivism and improving family relationships for prisoners with children; and
(e) implementing randomised policy trials (akin to the 1999 NSW Drug Court randomised trial) to rigorously evaluate the impact of criminal justice interventions. (Notice given 20 September 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Dr Leigh— 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour this day. Referred to the Main Committee.
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (8 to 9.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS—continued
Notices—continued
3 MRS GRIGGS: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges 19 February 1942 as the day Darwin was bombed and marks the first time Australia was militarily attacked by enemy forces;
(2) reflects upon the significant loss of life of Australian Defence personnel and civilians during the attacks and casualties of the bombings;
(3) recognises that the attack remained a secret for many years and that even today, many Australians are unaware of the bombing of Darwin and the significant damage and loss of life which resulted; and
(4) calls for 19 February of each year to be Gazetted as 'Bombing of Darwin Day' and be named a Day of National Significance by the Governor-General. (Notice given 20 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 mins.
Speech time limits —
Mrs Griggs— 15 minutes.
Next 1 Members—15 minutes.
Next 2 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 15 mins + 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MR OAKESHOTT: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the need for comprehensive tax reform to maximise the standard of living for Australia for the next fifty years; and
(2) instructs the Treasurer to release a 10 year space road-map for comprehensive tax reform as a stand-alone budget paper as part of the 2012-2013 Federal Budget. (Notice given 11 October 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 9.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Oakeshott— 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Main Committee (approx 11 am to approx 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR CHAMPION: To move:
That this House notes that:
(1) the industrial system under the Fair Work Act 2009 is working well with low unemployment and low levels of industrial disputation;
(2) under the Fair Work Act 2009, 10 800 agreements have been made covering almost 1.5 million employees;
(3) since the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009 , the number of days lost to industrial action has continued its historical downwards trend; and
(4) the Fair Work Act 2009 is meeting its objective to balance the needs of employees and employers without taking away basic rights and guaranteed minimum standards. (Notice given 15 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Champion— 10 minutes.
Next 3 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members —5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
2 MS J. BISHOP: To move:
That this House:
(1) condemns the:
(a) Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel; and
(b) targeting of Max Brenner chocolate cafes as part of this campaign;
(2) rejects this tactic as counterproductive to the promotion of the rights of Palestinians;
(3) reiterates Australia's support for the two-state solution and the right of the Israeli and Palestinian people to live peacefully within internationally recognised borders; and
(4) urges the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian people to resume direct negotiations. (Notice given 22 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms J. Bishop— 15 minutes.
Next 1 Member—15 minutes.
Next 2 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 15 mins + 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
3 MS SMYTH: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the value of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) in providing young Australians with work experience and literacy and numeracy skills which in turn prepare them for further training and employment; and
(2) considers that the decision of the Victorian Government to cut VCAL funding will particularly harm disadvantaged and disengaged students who are encouraged by VCAL to remain in education and to benefit from practical education and training. (Notice given 24 August 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm (approximately).
Speech time limits —
Ms Smyth— 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Main Committee (approx 6.30 to 9 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS—continued
Notices—continued
4 MR BROADBENT: To move:
That this House notes the importance of the dairy industry to the health and well being of Australia. (Notice given 12 September 2011.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Broadbent— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day
1 Reducing crime and incarceration rates: Resumption of debate on the motion of Dr Leigh.
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices—continued
5 MS LEY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) in the 2010-11 Budget, the Gillard Government has not considered the implications of removing Commonwealth funding for Occasional Care Child Care; and
(b) the consequence of ceasing this funding has caused Australian families real hardship as they struggle to find alternative sources of child care;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) there are no other Commonwealth funded forms of child care to fill this void; and
(b) withdrawal of this funding has resulted in job losses in the industry; and
(3) calls on the Government to reinstate Commonwealth funding for Occasional Care Child Care. (Notice given 20 September 2011.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Ley— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
6 MR L. D. T. FERGUSON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the tenth anniversary of the Harkin-Engel Protocol signed in September 2001, designed to encourage voluntary standards for the certification of cocoa production that prohibits and eliminates engagement in the worst forms of child labour, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 182 which has been ratified by Australia; and
(2) calls upon the Australian Government to:
(a) be proactive in measures to counter people trafficking or slavery;
(b) actively engage in international fora to ensure greater priority for consideration of measures against child slavery and trafficking;
(c) work co-operatively to improve traceability of products through the monitoring of their derivation where practical with reference to people trafficking or slavery; and
(d) co-operate closely with organisations and entities against people trafficking. (Notice given 12 September 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 9 pm
Speech time limits —
Mr L. D. T. Ferguson— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
That the House take note of the documents.
(1) Mr Husic be discharged from the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety and that, in his place, Mr Danby be appointed a member of the committee; and
(2) Mr Billson and Mr Cobb be appointed supplementary members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry for the purpose of the committee’s inquiries into the Constitutional Corporations (Farm Gate to Plate) Bill 2011 and the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Horticultural Code of Conduct) Bill 2011.
Any rational investor in the SME sector considering business expansion will immediately factor in the expected prices under the flexible price trading. Very few investments have guaranteed pay-back times of less than 3 years …
See, one of the things that people haven’t quite twigged to is that carbon dioxide is invisible, it’s weightless and it’s odourless ….
Opposition, by contrast, tends to be a permanent debating society because even the most final decisions can sometimes be revisited in office.
These additional costs will disproportionately affect the ability of Victorian dairy producers to compete in international markets. Our competitors will not have to deal with the burden of a price on carbon, making it impossible to pass on the added cost of the tax to consumers.
It was actually the coalition that instigated work on the emissions trading scheme. … in … a report that I helped author back in 1998 which talks about regulatory arrangements for trading in greenhouse gas emissions—1998!
… … …
The coalition’s commitment to an ETS is demonstrable.
…. we did take that policy to the last election and it was clearly enunciated as an emissions trading scheme that would be introduced perhaps in 2011 but most likely 2012.
… the Government should have taken a knife to the expensive, failed Medicare system. Medicare has added between $3 billion and $4 billion to the Federal Budget. Medicare is one of the great failures of the Hawke Government.
Compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted by government on the Australian people.
I am writing to you to express my very deep concern for the future of my business and the jobs of the 140 members of my staff that I employ. The basis of my concerns is the soon to be introduced 'Carbon Tax' and its repercussions. I have recently been informed by my electricity broker of the projected 17% increase to my 'post tax' electricity bill (the calculation is based on the government provided formula). This increase on its own would threaten the profitability of my business, in what is an already very difficult economic retail environment. Combined with significant other recent cost increases, the 'Carbon Tax' would seriously endanger the continued operation of my company. In the current economic environment how can the imposition of these large scale cost increases be justified?
For a long period of time our great movement—
believed that the highest aspiration of working people was for a decent job.
Now we understand it can be to run a decent small business.
Pricing carbon will have much less of an impact on production patterns than we are currently experiencing from the mining boom, and much less than we'd expect from technological advancement and demographic change.
They will not be required to undertake any compliance activity or fill out any forms due to the carbon price. When it comes to indirect impacts, most small businesses will not be materially affected. Nevertheless, many small businesses may wish to make a contribution towards the move to a clean energy future. The Government will support these businesses.
… businesses constantly tell me that they are drowning in red tape, their fees and charges are going up, with local government and state government taxes and ultimately this federal tax. The general viewpoint of businesses right across the board is that they are being forced to deal with consistent increases in red tape and they feel that increased charges are being constantly put upon them.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Hockey speaking for a period not exceeding 11 minutes.
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Robert speaking for a period not exceeding 5½ minutes.
Work Health and Safety Bill 2011
Work Health and Safety (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2011
We have many examples in our region of coffee shops and the like not trading on weekends because of penalty rates.
It is something that must be addressed and it must be addressed without the position of the worker is king and must be given these rights.
Businesses have been complaining for 30 years that they have different obligations in different states and at the same time not every individual worker had the same safety standards. Now, I have delivered that.
Thirty years—on the day we delivered it there were some public servants that had tears in their eyes because they spent all their working life waiting for someone to deliver that reform. Wasn't easy, but I got it done.
… national standards had been due for completion in February and were then to be open for public comment for six months before a start date of January next year.
… incomplete and previously unseen codes were not released for public comment until—
with the consultation period cut to eight weeks to meet the January deadline.
… the union was concerned about a number of the proposals, including reductions in air and methane monitoring, inadequate provisions for escape routes, the banning of breathing apparatus, and a lack of provision for ventilation officers.
"Mine safety laws have evolved over 100 years in this country, more often than not based on the hard and tragic lessons learned from mining disasters, and we currently have some of the best safety regulations in the world,"
Perhaps less transparent to the Australian people: getting new occupational health and safety laws. Laws around the country. Businesses have been complaining for 30 years that they have different obligations in different states and at the same time not every individual worker had the same safety standards. Now, I have delivered that.
Thirty years—on the day we delivered it there were some public servants that had tears in their eyes because they spent all their working life waiting for someone to deliver that reform. Wasn't easy, but I got it done. And what I think that shows is if you believe in something passionately, then you will work through.
The lack of consistency between the safety laws in each state has led to significant compliance costs on employers who engage people in more than one jurisdiction. The arguments for harmonisation appear compelling to many.
Employers shall be required to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes under their control are safe and without risk to health.
A prosecutor represents all members of the community and cannot, therefore, act as if representing private or factional interests. Unions, by their very nature, represent the interests of employees and therefore cannot represent the entire community. To empower them with the ability to prosecute is akin to empowering employers with the ability to prosecute employees for a breach of health and safety, an issue that would be viewed as inappropriate by the community.
Employers shall be required to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable the workplaces, machinery, equipment and process under their control are safe and without risk to health.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The committee met in private session on Wednesday, 12 October 2011.
2. The committee determined to amend the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members' business on Monday, 31 October 2011, as follows, amended entries are marked with *:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS
Presentation and statements
1 Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Denmark, Sweden and Greece
Report on the Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Denmark, Sweden and Greece April 2011.
The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.20 am.
Speech time limits —
Mr L. D. T. Ferguson—5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR WILKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to regulate the export of live animals for slaughter, and for related purposes (Livestock Export (Animal Welfare Conditions) Bill 2011). (Notice given 11 October 2011.)
Presenter may speak for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41.
Orders of the day
1 Air Services (Aircraft Noise) Amendment Bill 2011 (Mrs Moylan): Second reading (from 12 September 2011).
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mrs Moylan— 10 minutes.
Next 3 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 + 4 x5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices—continued
* 2 MS SMYTH: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the value of the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) in providing young Australians with work experience and literacy and numeracy skills which in turn prepare them for further training and employment; and
(2) considers that the decision of the Victorian Government to cut VCAL funding will particularly harm disadvantaged and disengaged students who are encouraged by VCAL to remain in education and to benefit from practical education and training. (Notice given 24 August 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Ms Smyth— 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (8 to 9.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS—continued
Notices—continued
3 MRS GRIGGS: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges 19 February 1942 as the day Darwin was bombed and marks the first time Australia was militarily attacked by enemy forces;
(2) reflects upon the significant loss of life of Australian Defence personnel and civilians during the attacks and casualties of the bombings;
(3) recognises that the attack remained a secret for many years and that even today, many Australians are unaware of the bombing of Darwin and the significant damage and loss of life which resulted; and
(4) calls for 19 February of each year to be Gazetted as 'Bombing of Darwin Day' and be named a Day of National Significance by the Governor-General. (Notice given 20 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 mins.
Speech time limits —
Mrs Griggs— 15 minutes.
Next Member—15 minutes.
Further 2 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 15 mins + 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MR OAKESHOTT: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the need for comprehensive tax reform to maximise the standard of living for Australia for the next fifty years; and
(2) instructs the Treasurer to release a 10 year space road-map for comprehensive tax reform as a stand-alone budget paper as part of the 2012-2013 Federal Budget. (Notice given 11 October 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 9.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Oakeshott— 5 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Main Committee (approx 11 am to approx 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR CHAMPION: To move:
That this House notes that:
(1) the industrial system under the Fair Work Act 2009 is working well with low unemployment and low levels of industrial disputation;
(2) under the Fair Work Act 2009 , 10 800 agreements have been made covering almost 1.5 million employees;
(3) since the introduction of the Fair Work Act 2009 , the number of days lost to industrial action has continued its historical downwards trend; and
(4) the Fair Work Act 2009 is meeting its objective to balance the needs of employees and employers without taking away basic rights and guaranteed minimum standards. (Notice given 15 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Champion— 10 minutes.
Next 3 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members —5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
2 MS J. BISHOP: To move:
That this House:
(1) condemns the:
(a) Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel; and
(b) targeting of Max Brenner chocolate cafes as part of this campaign;
(2) rejects this tactic as counterproductive to the promotion of the rights of Palestinians;
(3) reiterates Australia's support for the two-state solution and the right of the Israeli and Palestinian people to live peacefully within internationally recognised borders; and
(4) urges the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian people to resume direct negotiations. (Notice given 22 September 2011.)
Time allotted—60 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms J. Bishop— 15 minutes.
Next Member—15 minutes.
Further 2 Members—10 minutes each.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 15 mins + 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Orders of the day
* 1 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011 (Mr Bandt): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 19 September 2011).
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm (approximately).
Speech time limits —
Each Member—5 minutes each.
[As per standing order 1, minimum number of speaking periods = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour.
Items for Main Committee (approx 6.30 to 9 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS—continued
Orders of the day
* 1 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011 (Mr Bandt): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 19 September 2011).
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Each Member—5 minutes each.
[As per standing order 1, minimum number of speaking periods = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Notices—continued
* 3 Mr Broadbent: To move:
That this House notes the importance of the dairy industry to the health and well being of Australia. (Notice given 12 September 2011.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Broadbent— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
4 MS LEY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) in the 2010-11 Budget, the Gillard Government has not considered the implications of removing Commonwealth funding for Occasional Care Child Care; and
(b) the consequence of ceasing this funding has caused Australian families real hardship as they struggle to find alternative sources of child care;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) there are no other Commonwealth funded forms of child care to fill this void; and
(b) withdrawal of this funding has resulted in job losses in the industry; and
(3) calls on the Government to reinstate Commonwealth funding for Occasional Care Child Care. (Notice given 20 September 2011.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Ley— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
5 Mr L. D. T. FERGUSON: To move:
hat this House:
(1) notes the tenth anniversary of the Harkin-Engel Protocol signed in September 2001, designed to encourage voluntary standards for the certification of cocoa production that prohibits and eliminates engagement in the worst forms of child labour, as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 182 which has been ratified by Australia; and
(2) calls upon the Australian Government to:
(a) be proactive in measures to counter people trafficking or slavery;
(b) actively engage in international fora to ensure greater priority for consideration of measures against child slavery and trafficking;
(c) work co-operatively to improve traceability of products through the monitoring of their derivation where practical with reference to people trafficking or slavery; and
(d) co-operate closely with organisations and entities against people trafficking. (Notice given 12 September 2011.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 9 pm
Speech time limits —
Mr L. D. T. Ferguson— 10 minutes.
Next Member—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Illawarra union boss Andy Gillespie has backed a call by Australian Workers Union chief Paul Howes for the steel industry to be exempted from the carbon tax.
Mr Gillespie, who is the AWU's Port Kembla branch secretary, agreed the steel sector was "under stress".
… … …
"We haven't changed our stance … I think the AWU has come out quite clear on this issue and that's that we're not prepared to back a tax that costs jobs," he said.
… … …
Mr Howes' plea came a week after he was jeered by steelworkers during a visit to Port Kembla with federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet.
Mr Howes was more reserved in his comments at that visit, telling workers a carbon price was "inevitable" but his union would not support it if it cost even a single job.
Members from the Illawarra have not complained to me and that is the only information I can provide to you today.
Mr TONY SMITH: I know we are short of time. One last question. You mention that you are out there talking to members all the time. Could you just, for the benefit of the committee, each tell us the last time you were at a manufacturing plant.
Mr McCauley: Personally?
Mr TONY SMITH: Yes.
Mr McCauley: I am a lawyer; I am not an organiser. We are an organising union. I am not the organiser for the union.
Keep the Promise—Global Day for the Eradication of Poverty
I am writing to you as a member of your electorate.
As you may know, 17 October is the Global Day for the Eradication of Poverty. I am writing to ask you to help Australia "Keep the Promise" to the world's poor.
In 2000, Australia, along with all countries in the world, signed on to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)—a global promise to halve extreme poverty by 2015. This critical date is now just over 3 years away.
Much progress has been made towards the MDGs, such as a significant improvement in child mortality rates.
However, each day 21,000 children still die from preventable causes.
While Australia has increased its Official Development Assistance (ODA) significantly since 2000, it is still only around half of the global promise of 0.7% of GNI.
I urge you to help ensure Australia continues its bipartisan commitment of scaling up ODA to 0.5% of GNI by 2015, and puts forward a timetable for reaching the global goal of 0.7%. This is vital to us playing our part in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
As UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon states in the 2011 MDG Report, "Between now and 2015, we must make sure that promises made become promises kept". Please help ensure Australia keeps our promise.
In the year 2000, the world's leaders including Australia's, came together at the Millennium Summit in New York and declared that they 'will spare no effort to free [their] fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty'.
… it appears that food price inflation has potentially boosted supermarket and grocery store turnover as a proportion of total retail turnover.
There are also suggestions that the measured level of food price inflation may underestimate the true rise in the cost of grocery goods.
That is, the MGRs maybe running "loss leaders", or providing lower prices, on high-volume food staples included in the CPI food basket, thereby hiding the rise in prices of other grocery goods which are growing at a greater rate.
The most remarkable shift in housing affordability has been in Australia. Once the exemplar of modestly priced, high-quality middle-class housing, it is now the most unaffordable housing market in the English-speaking world.
The housing and mortgage stress that is experienced in the severely unaffordable markets could worsen materially, if today's mortgage interest rates should return to the higher averages of the past 30 years or even to the peak rates, which were double or triple current rates.
Every child and adolescent with an ASD has access to an educational service appropriate to his/her needs.
Levels of funding support and educational service provision vary greatly from state to state.
Currently, many students with an ASD in Australia are not receiving the appropriate educational support and services they require to meet their diverse learning needs.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. Peter Slipper) took the chair at 09:40.
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition of residents of the Central Coast, the Hills and Northern Districts as well as surrounding suburbs, draws to the attention of the House that:
We therefore ask the House to:
Demand that the Labor Federal Government restore funding in this financial year for the F3 to Sydney Orbital design works to at least allow a start to be made on resolving the serious congestion problems on Pennant Hills Road.
As I am not a scientist, an economist or a politician I wrote and emailed a simple submission against the carbon tax and it was received in the allotted timeframe. It is not a scientific or economic protest, but as a citizen of Australia I feel that if I went to the trouble of submitting my protest it should be counted. Once again I feel that my opinion is of 'no consequence' and I am truly angry.
Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2011
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Participants in British Nuclear Tests) Bill 2011
The Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act provides that Australian participants in the British nuclear tests (defined as a `nuclear test participant') are able to receive treatment and testing for malignant neoplasia (cancer) through the Repatriation Commission and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
Amendments were made to the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act in 2008 and 2010 to provide extended coverage for members of the Commonwealth Police (now known as the Australian Federal Police) and Protective Service Officers who were responsible for patrolling the exclusion zone at Maralinga throughout the testing period and up to 30 June 1988.
It has become evident following the receipt of a small number of claims from Defence Force members claiming British nuclear test defence service, that some personnel undertaking the specific tasks of maintaining, transporting or decontaminating aircraft (other than Royal Air Force Canberra aircraft) used in the British nuclear test program should be, but are not currently, eligible under the Veterans' Entitlements Act or the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act … The proposed amendments will allow the Repatriation Commission to determine, by legislative instrument, additional eligibility criteria for `British nuclear test defence service' under the Veterans' Entitlements Act and for `nuclear test participant' under the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act. The amendments will facilitate eligibility under the Veterans' Entitlements Act and the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act, through enabling the making of a legislative instrument, in respect of these claims and will enable future claims of a similar nature to be dealt with more expediently. This will ensure that any newly found eligible personnel will receive benefits and treatment provided under the respective Acts with the minimum of delay.
We can only dream of the amazing insights and Nobel prize-winning discoveries that the SKA will provide. The SKA will let us see the dawn of time—the first light from the first stars, discovering what dark energy is and finding out that we are not alone in the universe are but a few of the exciting discoveries we hope to make with an SKA based in Australia.
It certainly means that gravity as we know it is not operating in the universe the way we expect it … It would seem that what we've discovered is about 75% of the universe is the stuff we didn't know existed—which we now call dark energy.
'You certainly don't expect your lecturer, who just appeared to be a normal lecturer, to win the Nobel Prize,' said 19-year-old Tom Juhola.
They say in politics that education and science don't win elections, but they are what make nations rise and fall. They are the engine behind Western civilisation …
When I first came to Australia 15 years ago, it was a well-off nation that was isolated by oceans from the rest of the world. Now we find ourselves a very wealthy nation in the middle of Asia, the place where the world's economy is booming.
We have to take this opportunity, which is really as good as Australia has ever had it, and ensure we get a lasting legacy for the next century.
Speaking to the Australian exclusively ahead of the awards ceremony at Parliament House, he said that legacy would come only if 'we make our citizens the best educated in the world and from that, from strategic planning, use those people to progress science and technology.'
'Getting our wealth by digging it out of the ground is fine in the short term, but we need to add value and create things that we and the rest of the world want to use,' Professor Schmidt said.
'We have a great platform: we are in the right place geographically, we have the resources to do it and it's a matter of putting together a long-term plan of how to do it. It might take a very long time to sort out, but it needs to be done.'
Abbott becomes not a conservative but a reverse-engineer. What hope for reform in, say, 2016 if a prime minister Abbott is still furiously trying to return Australia to 2006?
Sorry, but the tax forum reminds me of nothing so much as a bunch of kiddies lining up to sit on Santa's knee and whisper into his ear what they'd like for Christmas. Dream on, kids. The harsh truth is that neither the federal nor the state governments are in any position to simply cut this tax or that. They're all struggling to get their budgets back to surplus.
So one of the ground rules Wayne Swan laid down was that all proposals for tax reform had to be 'revenue neutral' - if you cut one tax you have to increase another by the same amount. You'd like to pay less income tax? No probs - we'll just increase the rate of the GST to cover it. Or maybe we could increase the rate and remove the exemptions for food, education and health care. That would make the GST a far more robust revenue-raiser.
Australia is very much in reach of becoming the first in the world to receive an A-Grade score—
if we can address the issue of adequacy by raising the level of compulsory savings via superannuation and continue reforms to reduce costs …
In respect of the Whyalla Solar Oasis project for which the Government announced funding of $60 million in May 2010 under the Renewable Energy Development Program, with construction originally due to commence in July 2010: (a) what is the project's current status; (b) what is the reason for the delay in commencing the project; and (c) what is he doing to expedite the finalisation of the funding deed so that the project can commence.
(a) Negotiations between the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and Solar Oasis Pty Ltd are continuing in accordance with the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program (REDP) Administrative Guidelines to finalise a Funding Deed for the Whyalla Solar Oasis project.
(b) The REDP aims to assist the demonstration and deployment of new renewable energy technologies. The Department has been working in good faith with SolarOasis, as it has with all REDP funding recipients, to ensure the proposed project is viable. This project is large, complex and attempts to deploy new and exciting technologies and production methodologies. This has resulted in some technical and commercial considerations that require resolution before the funding deed can be signed.
(c) Finalising the funding deed is a matter for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. I am satisfied the course of action being undertaken is appropriate and consistent with the Program Administrative Guidelines for the REDP. The Government remains committed to its $60 million offer to the project.
(1) Why have private health insurance premiums under Medibank Private been rising over the past five years, beyond the annual rate of inflation.
(2) Is she aware that a constituent in the electorate of Lyne claims that his Medibank Private premium rose by (a) 6.7 per cent in 2007, (b) 4.5 per cent in 2008; (c) 10.3 per cent in 2009, (d) 5.4 per cent in 2010, and (e) 8 per cent in 2011.
(3) For the same period, what were Medibank Private's (a) annual dividends received by the Government, (b) net profit after tax earning, and (c) rate of return.
(1) Private health insurance premiums have been rising mainly because of current and forecast increases in benefit outlays. This includes the increasing costs of treatments and services and higher utilisation of treatments and services.
Medibank Private premiums have risen by 26.41% over the last 5 years, compared to the weighted industry average of 26.82%, and the Health Services Index average of 28.2%.
(2) No. Different policies offered by the same insurer will have different premiums and different premium increases. Premium increases vary between policies for a range of reasons.
(3) The Minister for Finance and Deregulation is the Government's sole shareholder in Medibank Private. Therefore, all questions regarding Medibank Private's performance, returns and ownership should be addressed to the Minister for Finance and Deregulation.
(1) For each of the first 19 successful applications to become Medicare Locals, how many (a) directors, (b) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners, (c) chiropractors, (d) dentists, (e) medical practitioners, (f) nurses, (g) occupational therapists, (h) optometrists (i) osteopaths, (j) pharmacists, (k) physiotherapists, (l) podiatrists, and (m) psychologists, are proposed to be on the Board.
(2) What health profession is proposed to be the Chair of the Board.
(1) and (2) At this time, the first 19 Medicare Locals are finalising transitional governance arrangements and are not yet in a position to have identified the professions of proposed Board members or the final skill mix of Boards. This includes the profession of the Board Chair.
These transitional Board arrangements will be in place for a time-limited period after the establishment of each Medicare Local. Each Medicare Local will take its own approach to appointing both transitional and final Board members, to reflect local skill needs and in accordance with each company's constitution.
The governance arrangements for Medicare Locals are outlined in the "Guidelines for the establishment and initial operation of Medicare Locals".
For each program administered by her department, (a) what are the staffing numbers, by location, and (b) how many regulations are associated with each program.
The staffing numbers by location and each program of the Department of Health and Ageing (The Department) for the period 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 are provided in Table 1 below. The associated programs are consistent with those programs reported in the Portfolio Budget Statements. As the Department's Financial and Human Resources Management Information System is not configured to separately identify staffing numbers by individual programs the diversion of resources necessary to extract the details from the individual program areas cannot be justified.
Table 1. Staffing numbers (FTE) (i) in each division
Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
Portfolio Strategies Division is also engaged in activities which are considered to be across the portfolio and not directly attributable to a particular program.
Regulatory Policy and Governance is also engaged in activities which are considered to be across the portfolio and not directly attributable to a particular program.
The Department administers 63 Acts and approximately 500 legislative instruments. Identifying what legislation and instruments are associated with each of the Department's programs is not practicable.
What are the staffing numbers for each cross portfolio program in her department, according to department and agency.
There are no cross portfolio programs between the department and its agencies in the Department of Health and Ageing portfolio. Each agency has a distinct outcome and program group structure, however, the department funds some portfolio agency programs through a purchaser / provider arrangement.
In respect of premises used by her department and portfolio agencies (a) what is the location of each, (b) how many are (i) leased, (ii) owned, and (iii) rented, (c) what is the size of each, (d) what is the annual cost per square metre of each that is (i) rented, and (ii) leased, and (e) what is the (i) value, and (ii) 2010-11 depreciation, of each building owned.
(a) Please refer to the attached list of Departmental and Portfolio Agencies premises.
(b) (i) The Department and Portfolio Agencies hold 66 leases.
(ii) The Department and Portfolio Agencies own 1 premise.
(iii) Rented is assumed to mean premises owned by the Department and/or Portfolio Agency and rented out to another party. There are no premises of the Department and Portfolio Agencies which are rented.
(c) Please refer to the attached list of premises used by the Departmental and Portfolio Agencies.
(d) Please refer to the attached list of premises used by the Departmental and Portfolio Agencies. For the purposes of providing costs, the amount per square metre shown in the attached include rent, outgoings and other recurrent property operating expenses associated with the lease.
(i) to ii) Please refer to the attached list of premises used by the Departmental and Portfolio Agencies.
For each board in her portfolio (a) what is the title, (b) what are the (i) terms, and (ii) tenure, of appointment, and (c) who are the members.
Table A — Governing Boards in the Health and Ageing Portfolio
What is the 2010-11 expenditure for her portfolio, in total, and according to each program, for (a) advertising, (b) travel (including the breakdown of domestic and international business and economy classes), (c) information and communications technology, (d) consultancies, (e) education and training of staff, (f) external (i) accounting, (ii) auditing, and (iii) legal, services, and (g) memberships or grants paid to affiliate organisations.
(a) to (g) The departmental expenditure by the portfolio program divisions for the year to 30 June 2011 is provided in Tables 1 - 12 below. The associated programs, consistent with those programs reported in the Portfolio Budget Statements, are indicated in the table. As the department's Financial System is not configured to record expenditure by individual programs the diversion of resources necessary to extract the details from the individual program areas cannot be justified.
Table 1. Advertising expenditure
Table 2. Domestic airfares expenditure
The expenditure below includes all domestic airfares, both business and economy classes. As the Department's Financial System is not configured to record travel expenditure by class the diversion of resources necessary to extract these details.The Department's travel provider has advised that approximately 28% of travel is business class. The business class percentage varies in the portfolio agencies.
Table 3. Domestic travel (excluding airfares) expenditure
Table 4. Overseas airfares expenditure
Table 5. Overseas travel (other than airfares) expenditure
Table 6. Information and Communications Technology expenditure
Table 7. Consultancies expenditure
Table 8. Education and training of staff expenditure
Table 9. External accounting expenditure
Table 10. External auditing expenditure
Table 11. External legal services expenditure
Table 12. Memberships paid to affiliate organisations expenditure
How many staff were employed by the Minister's department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July 2008, and 2011.
The Department of Health and Ageing, which included Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and the National Industrial Chemical Notification and Assessment Scheme, employed a total of 132 SES staff on 1 July 2008. The figure includes 11 Executive Level staff acting in SES positions for a period of less than three months and seven inoperative staff; and
The Department of Health and Ageing, which included Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, the National Industrial Chemical Notification and Assessment Scheme and the Health Reform Transition Office, employed a total of 150 SES staff on 1 July 2011. The figure includes nine Executive Level staff acting in SES positions for a period of less than three months and eight inoperative staff.
(1) What funding has been allocated to (a) the Medicare Locals Fund, and (b) Regionally Tailored Primary Health Care Initiatives, in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13, (iii) 2013-14, and (iv) 2014-15.
(2) In the same period, what funding has or will be redirected to the Medicare Locals Fund from (a) the General Practice After Hours Program, (b) Improve Access to After-hours Care (funding to Medicare Locals to ensure availability of face-to-face after hours services), (c) Medicare Plus Better Aged Care Residents (Aged Care Access Initiative)—Allied Health Component, (d) Primary Health Care Organisations—Medicare Locals, (e) Primary Health Care Organisation Support—Improving Access to General Practice and Primary Health Care Services for Older Australians, (f) the Workforce Support for Rural GPs Program, (g) the Rural Primary Health Services Program, and (h) the Rural GP Locum Program.
(1) (a) to (b) $1.45 billion has been allocated to the Regionally Tailored Primary Care Initiatives through Medicare Locals Fund (the Medicare Locals Fund) to 2014-15:
(i) $217 million in 2011-12
(ii) $406 million in 2012-13
(iii) $410 million in 2013-14
(iv) $421 million in 2014-15
(2) (a) to (h) The funding that has been consolidated into the Medicare Locals Fund from 1 July 2011 is shown in the table below.
Note: Component figures are those that existed prior to the 2011-12 Budget and are notional from 2012-13 onwards (not indexed). As such, the sum of the component figures may not match the actual totals.