The SPEAKER (Mr Harry Jenkins) took the chair at 10:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011
Livestock Export (Animal Welfare Conditions) Bill 2011
Before sticking commences animals are stunned in a way that ensures the animals are unconscious and insensible to pain before sticking occurs and do not regain consciousness or sensibility before dying.
An animal that is stuck without first being stunned and is not rendered unconscious as part of its ritual slaughter is stunned without delay after it is stuck to ensure that it is rendered unconscious.
Air Services (Aircraft Noise) Amendment Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
Today I am announcing my decision not to approve Parafield Airport's 2009 draft master plan. I am not satisfied with the community consultation undertaken by Parafield Airport in preparing its draft master plan. Parafield Airport has failed to provide the community with accurate information about current and forecast aircraft movements and they did not adequately consult with those sections of the community that will be most affected by aircraft noise as the airport grows. Parafield Airport should make sure that there is clear public information about the hours of flight training, agreed flight paths, and contact information for the public.
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.
We're in our fourth year of VCAL and young men and women are finding it a great pathway into their career futures …
What is remarkable is the striking and steady growth in VCAL programs since their inception five years ago; clearly a major need has been identified and continues to grow.
VCAL is like a second opportunity at an education for students who do not feel they can do VCE. This is our future. I think the government really needs to rethink its decision.
We need to keep these students at school but these cuts are diminishing the way we do that effectively. Unless we offer meaningful quality programs these kids will walk. We are taking funding from kids who most need it in the education system.
It's going to make it difficult for us to go out to visit students when they're on their jobs.
Tax Laws Amendment (2011 Measures No. 6) Bill 2011
Banking Amendment (Covered Bonds) 2011
Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Measures) Bill 2011
Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Improvements) 2011
Business Names Registration Bill 2011
Business Names Registration (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2011
Business Names Registration (Fees) Bill 2011
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011
That the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011 be referred to the Main Committee for further consideration.
Social Security Amendment (Student Income Support Reforms) Bill 2011
These financial pressures, we understand from mental health, lead to family disharmony; increased levels of mental ill-health and depression; pressures on other family members and risks to younger siblings; increases in domestic violence; potential loss of family home or car; family discussions about financial prioritising; feelings of discrimination; and, in small communities, the fears of shame leading onto isolation are real pressures.
Because of the advocacy of Labor members, the member for New England and the member for Lyne, in the last parliament the government acted to create a better and fairer system of youth allowance for Australian students generally and particularly for country students.
(a) urgently to introduce legislation to reinstate the former workplace participation criteria for independent youth allowance, to apply to students whose family home is located in inner regional areas as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics instrument Australian Standard Geographical Classification; and
(b) to appropriate funds necessary to meet the additional cost to write a daily limit and give expanding the criteria for participation, with the funds to come from the Education Investment Fund; and
(2) to send a message to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and request that it concur.
… the Prime Minister and all parliamentarians for fairness and equity of access for the thousands of regional students who have to relocate to attend tertiary education who are currently classified as ‘inner regional’.
Put simply, I am asking whether members of this parliament believe in a fair go for rural and regional students and their families or whether this parliament will continue to discriminate against these same students and families.
Yes, there will be losers. There have been losers in my electorate and I have spoken to many of them. I sympathise with them, but the government has to make tough decisions.
The changes will make a real difference for families trying to send their kids to university and will help ease the cost of living pressures that university can place on students and their families.
My daughter is one of the unlucky children leaving school in 2009 therefore, not able to claim independent youth allowance. She had to relocate to start her degree and with the workload is unable to work. The new laws surrounding inner regional areas are unjust to say the least. If you have to relocate 4 hours away from home to study your chosen course these children should be entitled to some assistance.
The recent passing of the amended bill does not address the key issues for many students, most particularly those who must relocate to study. Why not acknowledge the financial penalties for country families with children studying at metropolitan universities? Why not supplement their living away from home allowances, rather than removing them?
That the House record its deep regret at the deaths on 29 October 2011 of Captain Bryce Duffy, Corporal Ashley Birt and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin during combat operations in Afghanistan, place on record its appreciation of their service to their country and tender its profound sympathy to their families in their bereavement.
That the order of the day in relation to the deaths of Captain Bryce Duffy, Corporal Ashley Birt and Lance Corporal Luke Gavin be referred to the Main Committee.
The Government must be highly selective about the cases where it seeks to intervene. In general, the parties to an industrial dispute should make their own arrangements … without any government—
A lot of people say there’s a dispute so let’s get the government to fix it. Quite frankly that is old thinking … It’s an idea that we—
If this overtime ban continues, we will be grounding even more aircraft.
That the House take note of the following documents:
Aboriginal Land Commissioner—Report for 2010-11.
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Limited—Report for 2010-11.
Airservices Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation—Report for 2010-11.
Army and Air Force Canteen Service—Frontline Defence Services—Report for 2010-11, incorporating the reports on the monitoring of the equal employment opportunity (EEO) management plan and of occupational health and safety arrangements and statistics.
ASC Pty Ltd—
Report for 2010-11.
Statement of corporate intent for 2011-14.
Attorney-General’s Department—Report for 2010-11.
Auditing and Assurance Standards Board—Report for 2010-11.
Australia Council—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Accounting Standards Board—Report for 2010-11, incorporating a correction.
Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Building and Construction Commissioner—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Electoral Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Federal Police—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Film, Television and Radio School—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Government Solicitor—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Hearing—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Institute of Marine Science—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Law Reform Commission—Report No. 116—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Australian National Maritime Museum—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Public Service Commissioner—Report for 2010-11, incorporating the report of the Merit Protection Commissioner.
Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Reward Investment Alliance—Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, Public Sector Superannuation Scheme and Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Solar Institute Limited—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Sports Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Australian Trade Commission (AUSTRADE)—Report for 2010-11.
Bankruptcy Act 1966 —Report on the operation of the Act for 2010-11.
Bundanon Trust—Report for 2010-11.
Bureau of Meteorology—Report for 2010-11.
Cancer Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Centrelink—Report for 2010-11.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Commissioner for Superannuation—Report for 2010-11.
Commissioner of Taxation—Report for 2010-11.
Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board—Report for 2010-11.
Crimes Act 1914 —
Authorisations for the acquisition and use of assumed identities—Report for 2010-11—Australian Federal Police.
Controlled operations—Report for 2010-11.
Data-matching program—Department of Veterans’ Affairs—Report on progress for 2010-11.
Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal—Report for 2010-11.
Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Defence—Reports for 2010-11—
Volume 1—Department of Defence.
Volume 2—Defence Materiel Organisation.
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Finance and Deregulation—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Health and Ageing—Report for 2010-11—Corrigendum.
Department of Human Services—Report for 2010-11, incorporating the report of the Child Support Agency and CRS Australia.
Department of Immigration and Citizenship—Report for 2010-11.
Department of Infrastructure and Transport—Report for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 June 2011.
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research—Report for 2010-11, including the report of IP Australia.
Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government—Report for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 June 2011.
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism—Report for 2010-11, including the report of Geoscience Australia.
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities—Report for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 June 2011.
Department of the Treasury—Report for 2010-11.
Director of National Parks—Report for 2010-11.
Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978—Supervising Scientist’s report on the operation of the Act for 2010-11.
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation—Report for 2010-11.
Fair Work Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Fair Work Ombudsman—Report for 2010-11.
Family Court of Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Federal Court of Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Financial Reporting Council—Reports on auditor independence—2010-11
Financial Reporting Panel—Report for 2010-11.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand—Report for 2010-11.
Future Fund—Report for 2010-11.
Gene Technology Regulator—Report for 2010-11.
Health Workforce Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Healthcare Identifiers Act 2010 —
Compliance and enforcement activities—Report by the Australian Information Commissioner for 2010‑11.
Healthcare Identifiers Service—Report for 2010-11.
Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Inspector-General of Taxation—Report for 2010-11.
International Air Services Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Low Carbon Australia Limited—Report for 2010-11.
Medicare Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Migration Agents Registration Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal—Report for 2010-11.
Military Superannuation and Benefits Board of Trustees—Report for 2010-11.
National Australia Day Council—Report for 2010-11.
National Blood Authority—Report for 2010-11.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre—Report for 2010-11.
National Competition Council—Report for 2010-11.
National Film and Sound Archive—Report for 2010-11.
National Gallery of Australia—Report for 2010-11.
National Health and Medical Research Council—Report for 2010-11.
National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme—Report for 2010-11.
National Library of Australia—Report for 2010-11.
National Native Title Tribunal—Report for 2010-11.
National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority—Report for 2010-11.
National Transport Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner—Report for the period 1 November 2010 to 30 June 2011, incorporating financial statements for the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for the period 1 July to 31 October 2010.
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General—Report for 2010-11.
Old Parliament House—Report for 2010-11.
Productivity Commission—Report for 2010-11.
Professional Services Review—Report for 2010-11.
Public Lending Right Committee—Report for 2010-11.
Remuneration Tribunal—Report for 2010-11.
Repatriation Commission, Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs—Report for 2010-11.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and Comcare—Report for 2010-11.
Screen Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority—Report for 2010-11.
Skills Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Superannuation Complaints Tribunal—Report for 2010-11.
Takeovers Panel—Report for 2010-11.
Tax Practitioners Board—Report for 2010-11.
Tourism Australia—Report for 2010-11.
Veterans’ Review Board—Report for 2010-11.
Wet Tropics Management Authority—Report and State of the Wet Tropics Report for 2010-11.
Wine Australia Corporation—Report for 2010-11.
Witness Protection Act 1994 —Report on the operation of the National Witness Protection Program for 2010-11.
Social Security Amendment (Student Income Support Reforms) Bill 2011
An underlying tension has persisted throughout the consultations and the submissions to this review. Simply put, it is how to reconcile the competing needs of those on low incomes and those from rural, regional and remote communities.
Some argue that the most fundamental issue is to adequately provide for students from low-income families. They are the ones in greatest need, and whom the Review of Australian Higher Education (the Bradley Review) and the Australian Government seek to help through the student income support reforms. The top priority is to build the numbers and the proportion of these students within the Australian higher education student mix.
Others point to this review being established primarily to consider the needs of rural and regional students. They remind us that rural students are handicapped, relative to their metropolitan counterparts, by more limited schooling opportunities, smaller cohorts of peers with whom to collaborate and to compete and less specialist teaching in the critical final years of secondary education.
They remind us as well that, for regional and rural communities to survive and thrive, more professionally educated people will be called for, and it is disproportionately from young people returning back to those communities with which they identify and feel affection that the future of regional Australia can best be assured.
Many young people from regional and remote Australia have no choice but to relocate away from the family home if they are to access educational opportunities (generally, higher education) comparable to those available to students in metropolitan areas. Relocation poses a significant additional financial impost on families. This underpins concerns about the changes to the arrangements for accessing full assistance as an independent person. For this reason, many have argued in the consultation and submission process that just as different arrangements are in place to support students from low-income families in comparison with those from higher income families, so there should be a similar acknowledgment of the circumstances of regional students in comparison with metropolitan students. This is a major issue, perhaps the most important issue, for this review.
… these factors support the argument on equity grounds that different support arrangements for regional young people and metropolitan young people might reasonably be made available.
I just think the whole eligibility criterion needs to be completely overhauled and changed.
Rural communities need to continue to get a message to all levels of government that we are at a disadvantage in sending our year 12 onto tertiary study and that if more rural people are going to be able to study at tertiary level, we need better living-away-from-home allowances and financial support for our students.
Currently I've spoken to three Centrelink personnel and have been told three different stories. I've been told that if I earn the required amount in my gap year then I will receive the independent allowance, where another person has told me that, despite my income, it will be means-tested against my parents' income. I am very confused at the moment. I will meet all the criteria for the youth allowance/gap year allowance.
The Australian government is committed to reforming higher education and, in particular, increasing students' access to university.
Higher education is central to achieving the government's vision of a stronger, fairer and more productive nation.
The impact of the reforms has been measurable with more students qualifying for assistance, especially young people from low- to middle-income families.
The reforms have also had a positive impact on families from regional and remote areas of Australia with more young people who need to live away from home being able to access student income support.
… we are committed to removing those distinctions between the various rural and regional areas, but we’ve also made it clear that there is not an endless bucket of money and I think people need to be aware that does not mean that everyone will move to the outer regional rules.
I have been increasingly frustrated with the Youth Allowance situation and the fact that it directly disadvantages country students. I am more than happy for you to use our situation as an example. and will outline our story:
We have four children, and at this stage two have chosen to pursue a tertiary education, which in both cases involves them moving over two hours from home to do so. We live about 10 minutes from Hamilton in a small town called Tarrington. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position to support two children living away from home.
My daughter Jaz completed year 12 in 2008 and took a year off in 2009 to work and travel, then comenced her tertiary study in Melbourne in 2010. She qualified for Youth Allowance as an independant having satisfied the requirements, and is continuing to study and support herself this year.
My son Tyler completed year 12 in 2009 and also took the following year off to work so that he could also qualify for Youth Allowance. Unfortunately the requirements were changed in this period so that now due to the "zoning" rule he cannot recieve the payments and will have to try to support himself in his sudies at Ballarat University. I will outline his situation in point form below—
I was bawling my eyes out!
I couldn’t believe that one of the things that kept me going through the house fire incident, was cancelled on me. I was very frustrated and hurt for a second time in a period of a year! I didn’t know what to do.
I worked it out that I had earned more than enough of the 75% with independent youth allowance and that I would be able to afford uni down in Melbourne possibly after all.
I had decided to go down to orientation week, have a look around and see what it was going to be like. It seemed so out of my comfort zone! I was used to the quiet country life and had only been to Melbourne approx. 7 times in my life that I can remember. The big city was too busy and I hated it there! It was a place I was avoiding when deciding where to go to university for nursing.
I thought if I went, I had the option of withdrawing before 31st of March if I disliked it, could fill in a leave of absence, or transferred possibly if I made it through the whole year.
It was very interesting to hear Senator Carr say that the coalition, which is the National Party and the Liberal Party, did not include inner regional in their agreement with the government. That is interesting. Where was the National Party when you were sitting down with the minister agreeing to a deal that cut out rural and regional areas? Where were they? They are here now. But where were they when the minister said that they did not include inner regional in the deal? That is funny. The National Party did not seem to want to stand up then.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Territories Self-Government Legislation Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment of Laws) Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
The Parliament may make laws for the government of any territory surrendered by any State to and accepted by the Commonwealth …
The Northern Territory Government expresses its support for the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment Power of the Commonwealth) Bill 2010.
The amendments to the Bill are consistent with my Governments position that limitations to the Northern Territory's legislative and executive powers that are not imposed on the States should be removed, and consistent with the Northern Territory's commitment to achieving Statehood.
Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Inquiry.
Dear Senator Brown,
I write to thank you again for your ongoing support of the ACT's bid for stronger self-government arrangements through your introduction and continued espousal of the Australian Capital Territory (Self Government Amendment Disallowance and Amendment Power of the Commonwealth Bill 2010 (the Bill).
As you are aware, the bill was referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee for inquiry. The ACT government, along with many other groups and individuals, made a submission to the inquiry supporting the bill. The committee's report was tabled on 4 May 2011. I understand the bill is likely to be considered again by the Senate shortly.
Given the committee's support for the passage of the bill, I am optimistic of wider support. I note Commonwealth officials appearing before the Senate committee indicated the federal government intends to support the bill. I ask that you also continue to voice your support for the findings of the committee and rally for an affirmative vote in favour of the bill. The committee has recognised that our assembly and its members have 'demonstrated a high level of maturity and competence over many years'.
I believe, as you do, that it is time the ACT's self-government arrangements reflected this and it is my sincere hope that you will support the passage of this bill to allow the citizens of the ACT to have their views represented in a legitimate, democratic parliament—the birthright of all Australians.
Thank you for your initiative on these important issues. I have also written to all crossbench and opposition senators urging them to support the bill.
From ambivalent beginnings—
self-government is now firmly embedded in the consciousness of our community. The ACT, through its stable government and mature parliament, has embraced the social responsibilities with which it is charged. On average, Canberrans are among the healthiest, the best educated and most prosperous in Australia. We are just, free and relatively free of prejudice. We have grown in population terms and as an indispensable presence in our region. We have also grown as a community, a vibrant and engaged polity, and increasingly we are recognised as such by a nation whose capital and seat of government we are proud to uphold and sustain.
… a constraint on the legislative rights of the ACT that is both unnecessary and undemocratic.
It constrains the mandate imparted on the elected representatives of the ACT to govern the Territory responsibly and accountably.
Removing power is a blunt instrument that prevents the making of any laws, for good or ill, including those that are clearly in the best interests of the local community. It also sends a clear signal that the Commonwealth believes that the Territories are not up to the task of enacting appropriate laws on the subject. This is at odds with the fact that the ACT and the Northern Territory both have a larger population, and a better functioning system of self government, than some of the colonies that became states upon Federation in 1901.
Territorians elect representatives to their local assemblies in the expectation that those representatives will make laws for the peace, order and good governance of their communities within the parameters of the law making powers afforded them by the self-government Acts. It is an affront to the democratic process in which Territorians participate if legislation lawfully passed by their elected representatives is rendered invalid by the operation of Commonwealth laws …
At present, legislation emanating from territorial parliaments may be struck down by an exercise of executive power by the Governor General (acting on the advice of the responsible Ministers). In other words, the will of the people of the ACT, as represented by its Parliament, can presently be struck down on the basis that it does not conform to the will of the federal government of the day.
Because the Territories do not formally have statehood, they are subject to overriding legislation, on any subject, enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament. But this at least is an open process, requiring the executive to explain the reasons for the action that it wishes to take in the forum of the Parliament, which is designed to subject them to public scrutiny and debate.
Omit all words after “That”, substitute: “the House declines to give the bill a second reading, and:
(1) notes the comments of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the bill that ‘an approach which fails to look at the broad range of issues affecting the autonomy of the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory may not be the most appropriate way of addressing outstanding self-determination matters in those territories, and may not ultimately represent the most considered solution. The committee believes that a systematic and holistic review of self-government arrangements in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory holds merit, and would help to address some of the specific issues raised during this inquiry.’;
(2) affirms that the process by which the Australian territories move towards greater legislative independence, consistent with the overall framework of the Australian Federation, should continue, but that a more systematic and comprehensive approach is to be preferred; and
(3) calls for a full review of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988 in lieu of piecemeal amendments to that Act.”
… a parliamentary process is more in keeping with a sound democratic practice.
… removal of the anachronistic features in sections 35 and 9, respectively, of the ACT and NT self-government Acts would be a significant step forward in their constitutional history …
… the ACT and the Northern Territory both have a larger population, and a better functioning system of self government, than some of the colonies that became states upon Federation in 1901.
Repealing section 35 of the ACT (Self-Government) Act is a measure that can and should be taken now … The geographical accident of being resident in a Territory should not be a ground for discrimination in terms of basic rights under the Australian Constitution.
… as an overdue change to correct what has become an anachronism in the Australian system of government.
I want us to have a climate where men can hope. We cannot have hope in hot countries.
Canberra residents may have been demanding a greater say in their destiny, but they rejected attempts by the Federal Government to have them take control of their own affairs through self-government. They appeared reluctant to accept the responsibility of governing themselves, or perhaps, the increased costs which they feared would inevitably follow the handover of power from the Federal Government to a local body.
National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011
After nearly four years in government, an 18 month independent inquiry into the health system, a Prime Ministerial listening tour of the nation's hospitals, several fraught Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meetings and one unsuccessful attempt, the federal Labor Government has finally secured a health reform deal with all states and territories.
The National Health Reform Agreement announced this week is essentially a detailed implementation plan for the Heads of Agreement on National Health Reform, which was negotiated at COAG in February 2011. Most commentators agree that the scope of reform has been scaled back over time. The reforms outlined in this Agreement and the earlier Heads of Agreement are less extensive than those outlined in the April 2010 National Health and Hospitals Network … Agreement … The contentious proposal to hold back GST from the states in order to fund reforms has disappeared …Other discarded reforms include plans for a Commonwealth 'take over' of primary health care and to become the majority funder of public hospitals.
The Rudd Government has made a pre-emptive strike on one of its health reforms, even before the measure saw the light of day.
The Federal Government has been accused of axing a health funding watchdog, which was supposed to oversee payments to the states under its new health and hospital network.
… … …
A spokeswoman for the Minister says the decision to scrap the funding authority removes a layer of bureaucracy, and she says the Commonwealth's investments in health will be transparently reported in the Budget papers.
… we've made it … clear we don't want to increase the size of the bureaucracy—it's not appropriate for us to establish an authority where there is not a need to do so.
The indiscriminate creation of new bodies or failure to adapt old bodies as their circumstances change increases the risk of having inappropriate governance structures. This in turn jeopardises policy outcomes and poses financial risks to the taxpayer.
Incorporating a new function within a department is almost always the preferred option because of the difficulties a small body faces in meeting its own needs.
Of the 764 [hospitals], you got about 165 who are the larger hospitals, that is those who are delivering large-scale accident emergency services and surgical services, etc. They'll form the core element of the activity-based funding arrangement. The others are very small hospitals, usually in rural areas and these will be funded by what we call block funding arrangements, enabling those smaller hospitals, … providing lesser levels of service to continue in the future …
….the reform agreement will deliver activity based funding across the country from 1 July 2012. Local Hospital Networks will be paid for the services that they actually provide.
Health experts are warning the federal government to push back its self-imposed 16-month timeframe for the introduction of activity-based funding for public hospitals, saying much more planning is needed.
We have to be able to measure quality outcomes before we can really apply a national approach to funding, and we can't do that until we have better measurements.
That's going to take longer than the (July 2012) timeframe … it will take at least another year, maybe more.
The bill needs to be understood for what it does not do; it does not set a nationally agreed public hospital payment.
It is therefore understood that where as the Authority will determine a national efficient price, it will remain a responsibility of State and Territory Governments to determine the actual amounts paid for hospital services … there may not be certainty on how much the States or Territories will actually contribute.
It is likely that debates about the adequacy of public hospital funding by each level of government will continue for some time.
As a further measure to address cost-shifting, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority will be empowered to make binding determinations about cost-shifting and cross border issues in the health and hospital system.
It—
is silent, however on what actions jurisdictions must take if they are found to be complicit in either cost-shifting or in a cross-border dispute. In the event of a cross-border dispute the IHPA may provide advice to the Commonwealth about funding adjustments to relevant jurisdictions.
The Commonwealth has limited powers with regard to the operation and management of public hospitals and is unable to compel a jurisdiction to make payments to other jurisdictions or alter their policy settings.
This would appear to undermine transparency and the extent to which these disputes can be resolved.
The authority will have strong independent powers: it will be for public hospitals what the independent Reserve Bank is for monetary policy. This is unprecedented for the public hospital system.
The result will be a thorough and rigorous determination without fear or favour to governments. The government is confident that the authority will provide the health system with the stability and robustness that the Reserve Bank has provided for monetary policy for decades.
APHA believes these provisions fall a long way short of the practise of the Board of the Reserve Bank of releasing its decisions and its monthly Minutes publicly with no prior comment by the Executive.
The development of new classification systems invariably translates into additional requirements for the information systems capturing data. The cost of upgrades to systems and staff re-training to capture data consistent with any new classification systems … could be a significant risk for hospitals and will need to be taken into consideration by the IHPA and others.
There is very little integration between the statutory bodies … there is a risk of duplication or even triplication—
create a significant burden for health services … their isolation from each other is counter productive….
Private hospitals have for many years been contracting with private health insurance funds, as well as with the Department of Veterans' Affairs on the basis of funding for activity carried out.
The regime is rigorous and well understood by the private hospital sector.
We believe we have a real contribution to make, given that private hospitals perform 65 per cent of all elective surgery in Australia.
We were disappointed, but not surprised, to see no reference in the Bill to the need to draw on the knowledge held by the private hospital sector.
Nearly all of the evidence presented to this inquiry from organisations will argue, and we are no different, that the operation at both government and operational level of this authority should involve people from outside of the public sector, outside of government.
… compelling reasons why the private hospital sector should be an integral part of developing reform solutions …
That the program of sittings for 2012 be agreed to.
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a third time.
National Health Reform Amendment (Independent Hospital Pricing Authority) Bill 2011
Territories Self-Government Legislation Amendment (Disallowance and Amendment of Laws) Bill 2011
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;
(4) also recognises the campaign of coordinated bombings against northern Australia involving 97 Japanese attacks from Darwin, to Broome and Wyndham in the west, to Katherine in the south, to Townsville in the east over the period February 1942 to November 1943; and
(5) 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.
His has been a shining example of the courage that must be shown by all if we are to beat this determined enemy.
For courage and devotion to duty in action. While seriously wounded, he continued to fire his machine gun on HMAS Kara Kara during a continuous machine gun attack by enemy aircraft, thereby probably saving the ship and many of the ship's company. He eventually succumbed to his injuries.
An unusually large air formation bearing down on us from the northwest.
So Suddenly did the Japanese air fleet appear that Darwin was completely surprised. The alarm on the main battery position near the heart of Darwin brought gunners rushing to their guns—some half clothed, others naked from their showers and quarters … The town was ringed and marked by flashes as the anti-aircraft guns opened fire on the droning bombers. The whistle of the falling bombs reached a shrill crescendo culminating in a terrific blast, as they fell among buildings along the foreshore of Darwin. Wreckage was thrown skywards, walls tumbled in and dust and smoke rose from the devastated area. For the first time bombs had fallen on Australian soil. For the first time Australians had been killed in their own homes by an act of war. War had at last really come to Australia.
… the militia anti-aircraft gunners stood to their guns, and crews which had never done a shoot with full charge ammunition before got away as many as 100 rounds in the crowded 50 minutes of the first raid. The bravery and devotion to duty of those gunners has become legend. All around the harbour men fought back at the enemy with their light automatic machine-guns.
Our forefathers saw what was happening in the rest of the world and came back determined that it would never happen here, perhaps unconsciously they put into place attitudes that give us a different slant on life.
… … …
It is all part of the Anzac spirit, looking after and supporting your mates regardless of where they came from, rejoicing in the fact that they, like you consider themselves Australian.
… … …
For want of a better word, we called it the Anzac spirit, and when you feel it more than once in your life, as I am sure you will, take 30 seconds to remember the fallen and those who built the legend, the legacy they have left us, and the pride that you too are one with them, because you are an Australian.
The instructions by the Chief Publicity Censor, Department of Information, forbidding publication of sensational reports of enemy operations, unless officially confirmed, were noted.
At the meeting of the Advisory War Council on 5 January Mr Hughes referred to reports of the bombing which had recently been published in the press and on press postern in Sydney and Brisbane.
Unauthorised reports of this nature caused needless anxiety, especially to wives and families who had been evacuated from Darwin, and he asked that the Censorship authorities be requested to issue instructions that reports of this nature are not to be published by the press or referred to on press posters, unless they are sanctioned by a responsible authority of the Commonwealth Government.
'When my attention was directed to the dramatised enemy report in the "Sunday Telegraph", Sydney, and the "Truth" Brisbane, of the supposed bombing of Darwin, I immediately (on January 5) issued an interim instruction to Press and Broadcasting Station forbidding publication of sensational reports from enemy sources unless officially confirmed. This has since been simplified, and the current instruction rules (amended).'
That this House:
(1) recognises the need for comprehensive tax reform to maximise the standard of living for Australians for the next 50 years; and
(2) instructs the Treasurer to release a 10 year road-map for comprehensive tax reform as a standalone budget paper as part of the 2012-13 Federal Budget.
Eradicating extreme poverty continues to be one of the main challenges of our time, and is a major concern of the international community. Ending this scourge will require the combined efforts of all, governments, civil society organizations and the private sector, in the context of a stronger and more effective global partnership for development.
… invest $10 billion in businesses seeking funds to get innovative clean energy proposals and technologies off the ground.
… drive innovation through commercial investments in clean energy through loans, loan guarantees and equity investments.
… overcome capital market barriers that hinder the financing, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emissions technologies.
These are the jobs that are going to define the 21st Century and the jobs that are going to allow America to compete and to lead like we did in the 20th Century.
To the extent to which the Clean Energy Finance Corporation is undertaking investments, and that is the government's policy, then the majority of its activities will not impact on the budget bottom line.
That this House:
… … …
(2) condemns the recent attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt;
(3) expresses its sympathy for Coptic Christians who have been victims of recent attacks in Egypt …
With an NDIS I could be far more independent and secure. What the name implies is insurance, but the 'I' means much more than that. For me the 'I' means independence, integration and involvement.
Living each day is full of stress for my parents and myself. Not knowing if tomorrow my mum and dad would still be here to continue to support me is the worst feeling. The fact that this will at sometime occur is really driving me fearful with worry and anger.
The current system provides minimum support and relies on parents, family and charity models to enable me to have a life. The NDIS would give me a means to have hope and be supported to do what I want to do. It would also let mum and dad off the hook and they could then have a life. After 38 years I think they deserve it.
I cannot go anywhere without someone to assist me. My interests include writing and creating art. At the moment mum and dad support me to do this and their skills in these areas need to be transferred to others before they leave this world. The NDIS would enable my personal plan, to live with support in my own place, to become reality. Paying for support people and assisting me to live where I want to and with whom I want to.
For years people with disabilities have been placed into the too hard basket. Locked out of life's joys and treated as oddities by society and government. For too long we had to take it and just be happy that we get anything at all. Society now has a chance to make amends and get behind the NDIS.
This resulted in a need to stop work some 12 months ago and the introduction of a wheelchair and many other aids to my life.
My query to anyone who will listen is why is my wife's life being stripped of the things we have strived for over the last 10 years? This is a woman who gets up at 6 am to get my day started, works 8 to 9 hours a day in an office. She then comes home to take over from my daughters in caring for me and complete the normal chores that most partners would usually share.
She pours her below average wage into my medications, incontinence aids and specialized equipment to make my life easier. She pays our mortgage and household expenses. Add my $254 a month pension and there is little if anything left for basics, let alone for her, the one doing all the work.
When I'm gone and all our resources have been depleted, where does she find herself? Without our home, most likely, perhaps after some years on a carers pension having had to give up her job to care for me? No assets to assist her in that time of grief.
… … …
I accept my lot in life, I don't however accept the inequities that are being forced on my wife and children. The only thing they did wrong was support me, care for me and love me. I haven't just lost the lotto game of health, my family have had to pay for the ticket.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon. Peter Slipper) took the chair at 10:30.
There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead.
But as busy as he was in life, his family always came first. Nothing compromised that.
John has lived a good life based on a strong Catholic faith … He's been a leader, mentor and friend to many.
Meanwhile our members at Qantas are in for their biggest fight ever for their EA … Our members have the power to make Qantas grind to a halt …
While there are differences in the three separate negotiations—with the long-haul pilots, the licensed engineers and the ground staff—there is one core stumbling block. This related to the right of the company to manage its operations, including using contractors and labour hire employees, changing work practices and separating the working conditions of staff across the various parts of the company. Negotiating the wages and conditions of staff is one thing; restricting the ability of the company to remain competitive is another thing altogether.
The key issue is that under the act—
there is essentially no prohibited content in agreements. And because of this, protected industrial action is available for the pursuit of virtually any matter.
It has got to get to a point where it's something more than the ordinary type of industrial action—
But I think, generally speaking, given the perception of Australia overseas at the moment, this would certainly be damaging to Brand Australia …
… risks sustaining reputational damage if the forum goes ahead.
Academics must not be held hostage by ideologies.
3. Freedom in research and training is the fundamental principle of university life … Rejecting intolerance and always open to dialogue, a university is an ideal meeting-ground …
4. A university is the trustee of the European humanist tradition; its constant care is to attain universal knowledge; to fulfil its vocation it transcends geographical and political frontiers …
The document declares a commitment to the fundamental principles of university tradition, including moral and intellectual independence, the inseparability for teaching and research and the task of spreading knowledge to society throughout the world.
… sensitive to the Jewish people (because) in 1937 their businesses in Europe were boycotted.
Good riddance! The two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is finally dead. But someone has to issue an official death certificate before the rotting corpse is given a proper burial …
So where are all those on the fringe left; where are the academics, where are those members from the New South Wales Greens Party who think that boycotting the country of ground-breaking innovations, life-saving medications and grand contributions to man-kind will change the world for the better?
Perhaps these hate-mongers are too busy picking out bits of their computer hardware, invented and manufactured in Israel. Perhaps it is more time consuming than they first thought, removing all the drugs from their medicine cabinets that were created and developed in Israel.
Israel is a democracy with whom we have a long-standing relationship … anyone who stands in the way of that is doing the wrong thing.
… when Israel … is consistently and conspicuously singled out for condemnation, I believe we are morally obligated to take a stand. Demonisation, double standards, delegitimisation, the three Ds, it is the responsibility of us all to stand up to them.
We stand together to defend democracy. We stand together to advance peace. We stand together to fight terrorism.
BDS is a non-violent process and I don't think it is the right of anybody to use BDS as a violent action or to prevent people from buying from any place.
If they—
are trying to equate the campaign against apartheid in South Africa with a campaign against a Jewish chocolate shop, they've got rocks in their head.
Marrickville Council has adopted a resolution that will preclude the purchase of goods or services provided by those organisations or companies that do business in, or with, Israel.
The Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (GBDS) campaign is a world-wide movement that seeks to end human rights violations.
Marrickville Council Mayor Fiona Byrne said …
'The support for the GBDS recognises the role of Council in promoting universal respect for human rights and the protection of democratic principles with a view to ending human rights injustices and violations' …
The PLO recognizes the right of the state of Israel to exist in peace and security. The PLO accepts United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.
These non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by: 1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall; 2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and 3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011
(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 7), omit "first diagnosed", substitute "sustained".
(2) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 10), at the end of paragraph 7(8)(c), add "and".
(3) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 10), after paragraph 7(8)(c), insert:
(d) in the case of a cancer of a kind covered by item 8 of the following table—satisfies the conditions (if any) prescribed for such a cancer;
(4) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 11), omit "is taken to have been the dominant cause of", substitute "is, for the purposes of this Act, taken to have contributed, to a significant degree, to".
(5) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (lines 17 and 18), omit "several periods", substitute "2 or more periods".
(6) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (line 19), omit "period.", substitute "period; and".
(7) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after line 19), at the end of subsection 7(9), add:
(c) an employee is taken to have been employed as a firefighter only if he or she was (disregarding the effect of any declarations under subsection 5(15)) employed as a firefighter by the Commonwealth, a Commonwealth authority or a licensed corporation.
(8) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3, after subsection 7(9), insert:
(10) Subsection (8) does not limit, and is not limited by, subsections (1) and (2).
(9) Schedule 1, page 3, at the end of the Schedule, add (after item 1):
2 Review of amendment
(1) The Minister must cause an independent review of the operation of the amendment made by item 1 to be undertaken and completed by 31 December 2013.
(2) The person who undertakes the review must give the Minister a written report of the review.
(3) The report must be published on the Department's website.
(10) Schedule 1, page 3, at the end of the Schedule, add (after proposed item 2):
3 Application
The amendment made by item 1 applies in relation to a disease that an employee sustains on or after 4 July 2011.
(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 3 (after table item 7), delete table item 8 and insert:
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2011
That this bill be now read a second time.
… the evidence presented to the committee is that the NVR Bills have the potential to undermine national regulation. While Victoria and Western Australia have indicated they are prepared to introduce mirror legislation in their state parliaments to give effect to this aspiration, Western Australia has advised that it is unable to do so on the basis the NVR Bill as currently drafted …
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Fair Protection for Firefighters) Bill 2011
That this House notes the importance of the dairy industry to the health and well being of Australia.
Norco is a name that is synonymous with the manufacture of quality dairy and other food products such as milk, ice cream and stick lines at three factory locations under the Norco Foods business unit. Norco Foods also retails the range of Nimbin Natural cheese—
which is a successful and growing brand for the co-operative. Norco also has a Rural Retail business unit operating 24 rural stores in Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland. This business unit also operates a wholesale division at Darra in Brisbane servicing the needs of other rural businesses along the east coast of Australia.
The government has an ambitious agenda to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of child care because the research is clear that a child's experience in the early years sets the course for the rest of their life.
The Australian government has never had a direct funding relationship with these services …
The Australian Government provides financial support to approved Occasional Care services.
Child care funding is a shared responsibility between the Australian, state and territory governments. Nothing has changed on that front.
The threat of closure could likely lead to increased circumstances of family breakdown as parents find themselves unable to access an affordable short-term, respite, support service that gives them a break from the demands of early years parenting.
We are deeply concerned at the threat of losing what has become a valuable and vital community program. It is the ONLY childcare offered in our community. Losing this service will be devastating to our community, our families and most importantly our children.
TAB funding is critical to the continued provision of affordable occasional childcare for communities serviced by Neighbourhood Houses, particularly those in rural and regional areas. The cessation of TAB funding will have an impact on over 9,000 children and their families , many of whom already experience some form of disadvantage, causing a decrease in childcare services and/or an increase in childcare costs …
These impacts will be most acute where there are no other childcare services at all, and also in areas where there is no alternative occasional childcare service.
The Australian government recognises that child care is an essential enabler of workforce participation, most particularly for Australian women.
At a time when employers are crying out for workers then it is essential that we are supporting parents who want to return to work to be able to participate confidently.
For the first time in a long time I have been able to have a couple of hours to myself once a week because of the take a break program. My youngest 18 months and my 3 year old have started going to the occasional program on Tuesdays. I cannot begin to explain what it feels like to have a couple of hours off to myself (with those couple of hours I do an exercise program run by the community resource centre then I go grocery shopping without screaming children, occasionally get my much needed hair done). This program is so important to our isolated community. My husband works away 2 weeks at a time so those couple of hours for me are so crucial for my independence and sanity. I believe a lot of other mums are in the same situation regarding children and the take a break program.
… cutting this service will hurt us all, all us mums who are trying to find ourselves again, trying to get back on our feet. Whether it's an education course and exercise program for trying to get into shape or an hour to ourselves, mums with very young children need this program.
Please don't take the funding from this much needed service. It's an amazing centre with amazing staff that truly care …
Thank you for listening.
The child is bound and can be reached by law and punished, but the person to whom the child is bound is apparently responsible to nobody. Even the Chief Protector is obliged to admit the injustice of the system where, taking a concrete case, a child of tender years may be indentured to a mistress as a domestic up to 21 years of age, and receives neither education or payment in return for the services rendered.
At Broome … quite half the children from ten years and upwards [were] indentured to the pearling industry and taken out in the boats.
(a) all forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;
(b) the use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances;
(c) the use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties;
… … …
The farmer must have competition in the marketplace. If he has to deal with giant monopolies either buying or selling, he perforce becomes an economic slave.
While it would be simplistic to posit just one or two explanations, if there is one major demographic change in western societies that can be linked to a large range of adverse consequences for many children and young people, it is the growth in the numbers of children who experience life in a family other than living with their two biological parents, at some point before the age of 15. Family conflict and parental separation have a range of adverse impacts on children and young people.
In respect of the media report 'A rails run on the champers' ( Daily Telegraph , 30 November 2010, page 16), is it a fact that chef Mr Tony Bilson was contracted to work at an event held by the Australian High Commission in Bangladesh; if so, (a) on what date and for what purpose was this event held, (b) what sum of money was Mr Bilson paid for his services at this event, (c) did the Government pay for Mr Bilson's airfares and accommodation; if so, what was their combined cost, and (d) what was the total cost to the Government for this event.
No. (a) The High Commission has not held any event involving Mr Bilson, (b) nil, (c) no, and (d) nil.
In respect of the additional capital works, acquisitions, employment and contractual services at schools providing education to children in the Inverbrackie detention centre: what total sum of money (a) has been, and (b) will be, provided to the SA Government to cover associated costs, and what is the itemised breakdown of these costs.
Minors at the Inverbrackie Alternative Place of Detention (APOD) attend a variety of public schools and preschools in the Adelaide Hills area.
The costs incurred by those schools in delivering services to detainee minors (including but not limited to salaries of additional teachers, senior teachers and teachers' aides, teachers' equipment, school fees, school uniform costs, school excursion costs and other related education costs for detainee minors), will be paid to the Government of South Australia on a cost recovery basis.
The fees will be set out in a formal agreement which is currently being negotiated between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of South Australia.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship exchanged letters with the South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet on 17 December 2010, in which the parties agreed to work together in good faith to establish the formal agreement and that, in the meantime, South Australia would provide education (and other) services to people housed at the Inverbrackie APOD.
In accordance with the exchange of letters, approximately $860,000 has been paid to date to the Government of South Australia for education services provided to minors located in the Inverbrackie APOD.
It is not possible to predict the total sum of future costs that will be provided to the Government of South Australia as:
(1) Has his department undertaken any studies into the effectiveness of new social media in its public diplomacy campaigns; if so, when were they undertaken and what were the results.
(2) How many Australian embassies have (a) Facebook, (b) Twitter, and (c) Youtube, accounts, and where are these embassies located.
(1) DFAT is currently trialling the use of social media to promote two major bilateral public diplomacy programs in North Asia: the Imagine Australia Year of Australian Culture in China 2010-11; and the Australia-Korea Year of Friendship 2011.
(a) Imagine Australia Year of Australian Culture in China
The Australian Embassy in Beijing has established a presence, in broadcast mode only, on three Chinese-language social media sites, similar to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. They include:
The three accounts aim to promote the official program of events among Chinese audiences and to reinforce other forms of outreach. The accounts were launched in January 2011 and are accessible through the official Imagine Australia website managed by DFAT https://imagineaustralia.net/en/.
The embassy has reported positively on the trial to date, concluding that social media will potentially become the premier platform for marketing the program. Regional outreach has been significantly stronger than anticipated, with subscriber interest coming from most provinces and regions across China. More detailed analysis of the effectiveness of these tools will be undertaken as the year progresses and the outcome of this trial will help inform future use of social media for public diplomacy campaigns.
(b) Australia-Korea Year of Friendship 2011
The bilateral Year of Friendship program marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Republic of Korea. The Australian Embassy in Seoul is trialling the use of YouTube and a Korean-language i-Phone application to promote events on the official program to audiences in the Republic of Korea.
They include:
The i-Phone calendar application and YouTube account were launched in January 2011 and are accessible through the official Australia-Korea Year of Friendship website http://australiakorea50.com/ managed by DFAT. The effectiveness of these social media tools to promote the achievements of the past 50 years, and to raise public awareness of Australia in Korea and of the importance of the bilateral relationship to both countries, will be progressively assessed over the coming year and will be reported on in full at the conclusion of the program.
(c) Other uses
DFAT established a generic DFAT Twitter account on 7 April 2011. It seeks to complement the department's traditional communication channels, such as media releases and websites, in order to reach a wider and increasingly mobile audience, including people with limited internet access and travellers who may rely on Twitter for information. In times of consular crises, tweets will provide updates on fast-changing situations and will refer followers to the Department's websites, which remain the authoritative source of information. Twitter is an additional way of sharing information with the public about Australia's foreign and trade policies, latest travel advisories, media releases and breaking news, speeches, recruitment and the release of new publications.
The launch of Twitter followed a number of limited, event-specific social media trials for consular purposes, including during the soccer world cup in South Africa, the Commonwealth games in India and the canonisation of Mary MacKillop in Rome. These trials highlighted the potential benefits of social media platforms as public communication tools but also reinforced the need to address a range of technical, resource and administrative issues, as well as associated risks.
(2) (a) Facebook
No Australian overseas mission currently has an active Facebook account.
Two Australian overseas missions established Facebook accounts for specific time-limited consular purposes in 2010. They were the Australian High Commission in Pretoria for the soccer world cup and the Australian High Commission in New Delhi for the Commonwealth games. Both accounts are now closed.
(b) Twitter
One Australian overseas mission has an active Twitter-style account. The Australian Embassy in Beijing established Sina Microblog, a Chinese Twitter-style microblog account for message posts of up to 140 characters, photos and video, to promote the 2010-11 Imagine Australia Year of Australian Culture in China (see Question 1).
Four Australian overseas missions previously established Twitter accounts for specific time-limited consular events. They were: the Australian High Commission in Pretoria for the 2010 soccer world cup; the Australian High Commission in New Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth games; the Australian Embassy to the Holy See for the canonisation of St Mary MacKillop in October 2010 and the Australian Embassy in Chile in response to the earthquake in February 2010. These accounts are now closed.
DFAT launched an official generic Twitter account (@dfat) on 7 April 2011. Its primary purpose is to complement the Department's traditional forms of communication and to accompany information published on its websites in order to reach a wider and increasingly mobile audience.
(c) YouTube
Two Australian overseas missions have active YouTube, or local equivalent, accounts.
The Australian Embassy in Seoul established a YouTube account to promote official events associated with the Australia-Korea Year of Friendship 2011 and the Australian Embassy in Beijing established a Youku account (China's equivalent of YouTube) to promote official events associated with the 2010-11 Imagine Australia Year of Australian Culture in China. Both accounts were established in January 2011 (see Question 1).
In addition, four dedicated YouTube channels have been established since December 2010. These include a DFAT channel and channels for Mr Rudd, Dr Emerson and Mr Marles.
(1) Of the 487 Australian adviser positions in Papua New Guinea that were considered by AusAid's Joint Adviser Review Report, how many are currently filled by former AusAID staff.
(2) How many Canberra-based AusAID officials have travelled to Papua New Guinea since the 2010 election, and what was the total cost of their travel.
(3) In respect of part (2), (a) what was the cost of their travel, (b) where did they stay, (c) what were the names of the hotels in which they stayed, (d) what was the total cost of their accommodation, and (e) were additional security measures required for their travel; if so, at what cost.
(4) How many AusAID officials have visited the Southern Highlands region of Papua New Guinea since the 2010 election.
(1) Six of the 487 adviser positions considered by the Joint Adviser Review in Papua New Guinea are currently filled by former AusAID employees. Of these six, four individuals are Papua New Guinea nationals.
(2) 89 AusAID Canberra-based officials have travelled to Papua New Guinea between 21 August 2010 and 30 June 2011. The total cost of this travel, including accommodation, meals and incidental costs, was $495,031.
(3) (a) The total cost of this travel was $495,031, including accommodation, meals and incidental costs.
(b) (c) and (e) Consistent with the practice of successive governments, AusAID does not comment on the nature of specific security measures, personnel movements or locations where this information may put staff at risk. AusAID has put in place some new measures to protect our staff in Port Moresby and we are providing our staff with a higher level of security than before. AusAID closely monitors the security environment in Papua New Guinea and ensures all necessary protective security measures are in place to mitigate the risk to AusAID officials when travelling to PNG.
(d) The total cost of their accommodation was $115,162.
(4) Four AusAID officials have visited the Southern Highlands region of Papua New Guinea since the 2010 Australian election.
In respect of the Youth Allowance in the electorate of Murray for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 (to date) calendar years: by postcode, then secondary students, tertiary students and other, what total number of applications were (a) received, and (b) approved, and how many of the approved recipients are in receipt of full payment.
The following tables provide the requested information on Youth Allowance recipients in the electorate of Murray for the calendar years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011). Full-rate refers to the recipient's payment rate when Youth Allowance was granted.
In order to protect the privacy of individuals, populations less than twenty are reported as "<20". Data includes postcodes where the majority of the postcode falls within the Murray electorate. (Source: Centrelink administrative data)
Youth Allowance - Claims by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2007
Youth Allowance - Claims by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2008
Youth Allowance - Claims by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2009
Youth Allowance - Claims by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2010
Youth Allowance - Claims by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray from 1 January 2011to 30 June 2011
In respect of Independent Youth Allowance in the electorate of Murray for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 (to date) calendar years: by postcode, then secondary students, tertiary students and other, what total number of applications were (a) received, and (b) approved.
The following tables show the number of people in the electorate of Murray whose claim for Youth Allowance was approved with independent status in the calendar years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011). (Source: Centrelink administrative data)
There is not a separate application process for Independent Youth Allowance. The response to Question Number 398 provides information on the total number of applications for Youth Allowance received for the same periods.
In order to protect the privacy of individuals, populations less than twenty are reported as "<20". Data includes postcodes where the majority of the postcode falls within the Murray electorate.
Independent Youth Allowance - Approved Applications by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2007
Independent Youth Allowance - Approved Applications by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2008
Independent Youth Allowance - Approved Applications by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2009
Independent Youth Allowance – Approved Applications by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray for the Calendar Year 2010
Independent Youth Allowance - Approved Applications by Postcode in the Electorate of Murray from 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011
In the electorate of Murray for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 (to date) calendar years, how many people were/are receiving (a) Rent Assistance, or (b) the Living Away From Home Allowance.
(a) The following table provides the number of people who were receiving payments administered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations during the specified period and who received or were receiving rent assistance in the calendar year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011) in the electorate of Murray.
Source: Centrelink administrative data - Rent Assistance for recipients of Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Sickness Allowance, Widow Allowance, Partner Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY
(b) As the Living Away from Home Allowance is administered by the Australian Tax Office, the Minister is unable to provide the data requested.
In respect of the Pacific Island Workers Program, (a) how many people have participated to date, (b) what is the breakdown by (i) post code, and (ii) agricultural areas, of where these people worked, (c) what is the anticipated duration of the program, (d) what funding has been provided by his department for this program, and (e) did all workers under the program leave the country when their visas expired.
In respect to the Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme (the Pilot) and as of 15 July 2011:
(a) 550 workers have participated in the Pilot.
(b) Table 1 contains the number of Pacific seasonal workers who have participated in the Pilot by agricultural location, mapped to postcode level.
Please note that some Pacific seasonal workers have worked in more than one location. Pacific seasonal workers are mapped against each location they have worked in.
Table 1.
(c) The Pilot will run to 30 June 2012.
(d) The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements for the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Portfolio, 2008–09, p.19, displays both the Administered and Departmental funding estimates for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to establish the Pilot—see Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Visa compliance is the responsibility of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). DIAC advises that visa compliance by Pacific seasonal workers has been very high with only one worker not departing before their Special Program (Subclass 416) visa expired in November 2010. Requests for information about the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's compliance activities in locating visa overstayers should be referred to the Minister for Immigration and Citizen
How many Treasury staff have been involved in the development of the proposed carbon price scheme.
The Climate Change Policy Unit within Industry Environment and Defence Division (IEDD) of Treasury had 13 people involved in the development of the Clean Energy Future Package.
Other areas of IEDD and the Department that were involved in the development of the package include Macroeconomic Modelling Division, Social Policy Division, Indirect Tax Division, Infrastructure Competition and Consumer Division, Personal Retirement Income Division and Tax Analysis Division. These divisions have broader responsibilities but around 87 people had some level of involvement in developing the package.
In respect of hip replacement operations utilizing now recalled products manufactured by DePuy Orthopedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., (a) how many of these operations were funded by Medicare, and at what cost, (b) what was the cost to the Government of patients who have or will have revision surgery, and (c) what is the Government doing to recoup, from DePuy Orthopaedic, the money it has invested in the use of these products, including revision surgery.
(a) According to National Joint Replacement Registry data, approximately 4800 hip replacement surgeries occurred in Australia using ASR devices. As Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for hip surgery do not identify which prostheses are used it is not possible to identify how many of these surgeries were funded by Medicare using MBS data.
(b) It is not possible to answer this question - see (a) above.
(c) The Government will continue to consider any options it may have.
Are there any restrictions on Mr David Hicks as a free citizen of Australia; if so, can he indicate what these restrictions are, and specifically why each one is in place.
Mr David Hicks is not subject to any restrictions as a 'free citizen of Australia'. Like all citizens, he is entitled to the same rights and freedoms, and is bound by the same obligations under Australian law.
In respect of Program 4 of his department:
(1) As at 1 July 2011, what total number of staff were employed under this program.
(2) What total number of staff are forecast to be employed under this program in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, and (d) 2014-15.
(3) As at 1 July 2011, in respect of (a) APS 1, (b) APS 2, (c) APS 3, (d) APS 4, (e) APS 5, (f) APS 6, (g) EL 1, and (h) EL 2, officers under this program, what number were (i) ongoing, (ii) non-ongoing, (iii) full-time, and (iv) part-time, and based in (v) Canberra, (vi) Sydney, (vii) elsewhere in Australia, and (viii) overseas.
(4) As at 1 July 2011, what number of SES Band (a) 1, (b) 2, and (c) 3, officers were (i) ongoing, and (ii) non-ongoing, and what were their (iii) job titles, (iv) common law agreement start and end dates, (v) office locations, and (vi) salary ranges.
(1) As at 1 July 2011, a total of 64 staff were employed by Tourism Division.
(2) Staff levels in Tourism Division are forecast to increase slightly in 2011-12 to around 6 additional budgeted staff. Staffing budgets and levels beyond 2011 12 are yet to be determined.
(3) As at 1 July 2011, there were 59 non-SES staff employed by Tourism Division. A breakdown is provided in the table below.
1 EL2 staff member was based in Perth; all other staff were based in Canberra.
(4) As at 1 July 2011, there were 5 SES staff employed by Tourism Division. A breakdown is provided in the table below.
All SES staff were based in Canberra and employed on an ongoing basis.
The salary ranges for SES Band 1 and SES Band 2 staff employed by the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (as at 30 June 2011) are provided below.
- SES Band 1: $160,000 - $234,000.
- SES Band 2: $225,000 - $255,000.
In respect of Program 4 of his department in 2010-11:
(1) What sum of program expenditure was spent on (a) advertising, (b) hospitality or entertainment, (c) information and communication technologies, (d) consultants, (e) staff training and education, (f) external accounting services, (g) external auditing services, and (h) external legal services.
(2) What are the details of all grants paid, including the (a) recipient, (b) date announced, (c) date that the first payment was dispatched, and (d) date that the last grant payment was due.
(3) What was the total travel expenditure for staff employed under this program.
(4) What was the travel expenditure for (a) first class, (b) business class, (c) premium economy class, (d) economy class, and (e) in total, for (i) domestic, and (ii) international, travel.
(1) A breakdown of direct expenditure by Tourism Division in 2010-11 is provided below.
Note 1: Figures exclude GST.
Note 2: Figures exclude general corporate overhead costs (e.g. in relation to ICT) which are funded centrally through the Department's Corporate Division.
Note 3: Figures include expenditure for initiatives that are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and States/Territories using funds allocated for implementation of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.
(a) Advertising – $28,386.
(b) Hospitality or entertainment – $4,640.
(c) Information and communications technologies – $184,978 (most of this expenditure is for costs relating to the development of the National Tourism Accreditation Framework database).
(d) Consultants – $6,040,761 (most of this expenditure is for costs relating to the Tourism Research Australia work program).
(e) Staff training and education – $43,582.
(f) External accounting services – nil expenditure.
(g) External auditing services – nil expenditure.
(h) External legal services – $41,903.
(2) Details of grants payments made by Tourism Division during 2010-11 are provided below.
TQUAL Grants
During 2010-11, Tourism Division made milestone payments for the TQUAL Grants projects announced by the Minister on 15 December 2009. Payments made during 2010-11 totalled $2.911 million (excluding GST). Details of these projects, including grants recipients, are available at http://www.ret.gov.au/tourism/tourism_programs/tq/tgrants/Pages/default.aspx. Payments for these projects were made over the period from January 2010 to June 2011; final payments were completed in June 2011.
Regional Tourism Project - Wonthaggi State Coal Mine Visitor Centre Upgrade
During 2010-11, Tourism Division made the final milestone payment for the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine Visitor Centre Upgrade project, which was announced by the Government during the 2007 election. The total value of this grant was $1.5 million; the final payment made during 2010-11 was $0.3 million. The grant recipient was Parks Victoria. The funding agreement for this project was signed in December 2008 and payments for this project were made over the period from February 2009 to December 2010.
Economic Impact Assessment of the Cruise Shipping Industry in Australia
During 2010-11, Tourism Division provided a grant of $14,850 (including GST) to Cruise Downunder Incorporated as a contribution towards a survey of cruise ship passengers. The funding agreement was signed in March 2011; payment was made in April 2011. This grant was jointly funded by the Commonwealth and States/Territories using funds allocated for implementation of the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy.
(3) Total travel related expenditure for Tourism Division staff in 2010-11 was $288,304.
(4) (i) Total domestic travel expenditure by Tourism Division in 2010-11 was $203,082 – including expenditure of $124,749 on airfares. A detailed breakdown of domestic airfare expenditure by class of travel is not readily available. Domestic air travel undertaken by Tourism Division staff is generally economy class, wherever possible utilising the lowest fare available on the day the travel is booked which suits the practical business needs of the traveller. While SES officers have an entitlement to business class domestic travel, the established practice in Tourism Division is for SES to travel economy class on short flights (e.g. for travel to Sydney and Melbourne).
(ii) Total international travel expenditure by Tourism Division in 2010-11 was $85,222 – including expenditure of $65,503 on airfares. A detailed breakdown of international airfare expenditure by class of travel is not readily available. Employees required to travel on official business overseas are entitled to business class travel on international flights.
In respect of Program 4 of his department in 2010-11:
(1) What are the details of all memberships with organisations that are funded by this program, including the (a) name of the organisation, (b) cost of membership, (c) duration of membership, and (d) reason for membership.
(2) What are the details of all sponsorships, including event sponsorships, funded by this program, including the (a) name of the recipient, (b) cost, (c) duration, and (d) reason.
(1) Details of Tourism Division memberships in 2010-11 are provided below.
(a) United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
(b) $319,718 - costs shared between Tourism Division ($164,887) and Tourism Australia ($154,831), as set out in the answer to Parliamentary Question number 479 where Tourism Australia's contribution to the cost of Australia's membership was rounded up to $155,000.
(c) Annual membership
(d) Engagement with other countries on tourism issues, including to influence policy directions and outcomes. UNWTO membership: expands Australia's network of contacts in specialised areas and our knowledge of key international tourism developments; allows access to tourism research and statistical data accumulated by the UNWTO; and facilitates the ability of Australian consultants and research organisations to successfully tender for UNWTO projects.
(a) OECD Tourism Committee
(b) $20,107
(c) Voluntary contribution to the annual OECD Tourism Committee work program.
(d) Engagement with developed countries on tourism issues, including to influence policy directions and outcomes; access to tourism related research and statistical data.
(a) APEC Tourism Working Group
(b) Australia's APEC membership is funded through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
(c) Ongoing membership
(d) Engagement with regional partners on tourism issues, including to influence policy directions and outcomes; access to tourism related research and statistical data.
(a) Australian Services Roundtable
(b) $550
(c) Annual membership
(d) Stakeholder engagement; access to tourism related research.
(a) Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research Incorporated (ACSPRI)
(b) $1,210
(c) Annual membership for Tourism Research Australia
(d) Participation in non-standard technical courses related to research and statistics.
(a) Council for Australian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE)
(b) $350
(c) Annual membership
(d) Stakeholder engagement, primarily in relation to tourism research.
(2) Tourism Division did not provide any sponsorships during 2010-11.
In respect of the Government's insulation inspection and remediation program, how many inspections have been carried out under the program to date, and how many (a) 'safety-related' payments have been made under the program, (b) problems were identified as 'non-safety', and what was the average estimated cost to individual households to rectify these problems, and (c) problems were identified as 'pre-existing'.
The Australian Government has undertaken safety inspections in over 232,000 homes fitted with insulation under the Home Insulation Program (HIP), as at 31 July 2011.
Inspections and rectification of HIP related safety issues are completed at no cost to the householder.
There have been approximately 24,000 claims for reimbursements made by householders under Stage One of the Foil Insulation Safety Program (Interim FISP). Interim FISP ran from 10 February 2010 to 5 July 2010.
There have been 23,666 non-foil households identified as having pre-existing (that is non-HIP) related safety issues. These issues have been referred to the householder for action.
The cost of rectifying these pre-existing issues is unknown to the Department and is outside the scope of the Home Insulation Safety Program.
On 20 April 2011, I made a policy committment to continue to notify householders of pre-existing safety issues so they are able to make an informed decision regarding rectification at their own cost.
In respect of my letter to him dated 22 April 2010 about a claim of alleged fraud under the Home Insulation Program at a property in Killara, (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (c) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.
I can advise that the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is treating all allegations of fraud very seriously.
When allegations of fraud or non-compliance are received (such as the concerns raised by the residents at the Killara property) a review process is conducted to consider both the specifics of the allegation and the profile of the insulation installer to fully assess the matter and inform an appropriate response. Depending on the results of this review, the response may include compliance action, referral to the Australian Taxation Office, or the investigation of the alleged fraud.
It is not the policy of the Department to provide feedback or progress reports on the status of matters undergoing compliance or investigation, as this may compromise the integrity of those processes.
In respect of the report made to his department (ref no. 4301199) of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Turramurra, (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.
I can advise that the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is treating all allegations of fraud very seriously.
When allegations of fraud or non-compliance are received (such as the concerns raised by the residents at the Turramurra property), a review process is conducted to consider both the specifics of the allegation and the profile of the insulation installer to fully assess the matter and inform an appropriate response. Depending on the results of this review, the response may include compliance action, referral to the Australian Taxation Office, or the investigation of the alleged fraud.
It is not the policy of the Department to provide feedback or progress reports on the status of matters undergoing compliance or investigation, as this may compromise the integrity of those processes.
In respect of the report made to his department of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Hornsby (referenced in my letter to him dated 5 October 2010), (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.
I can advise that the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is treating all allegations of fraud very seriously.
When allegations of fraud or non-compliance are received (such as the concerns raised by the residents at the Hornsby property), a review process is conducted to consider both the specifics of the allegation and the profile of the insulation installer to fully assess the matter and inform an appropriate response. Depending on the results of this review, the response may include compliance action, referral to the Australian Taxation Office, or the investigation of the alleged fraud.
It is not the policy of the Department to provide feedback or progress reports on the status of matters undergoing compliance or investigation, as this may compromise the integrity of those processes.
In respect of the report made to his department of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Hornsby (referenced in my letter to him dated 11 July 2010), (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.
I can advise that the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is treating all allegations of fraud very seriously.
When allegations of fraud or non-compliance are received (such as the concerns raised by the residents at the Hornsby property), a review process is conducted to consider both the specifics of the allegation and the profile of the insulation installer to fully assess the matter and inform an appropriate response. Depending on the results of this review, the response may include compliance action, referral to the Australian Taxation Office, or the investigation of the alleged fraud.
It is not the policy of the Department to provide feedback or progress reports on the status of matters undergoing compliance or investigation, as this may compromise the integrity of those processes.
(1) What number of Government advisors is providing supporting documentation for the Clean Energy Plan, what departments do they work for, and what are their salaries.
(2) What sum is allocated for the establishment and/or expansion of the bureaucracy to develop and implement the Clean Energy Plan.
(3) What expenditure has the Government incurred to date for the development of the Clean Energy Plan.
(1) The Plan for a Clean Energy Future (the Plan) contains a number of different policies and programs which are designed to move Australia towards a clean energy future. These policies and programs have been designed and will be implemented across a number of government departments. For the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the provision of advice to government leading to policies such as the Plan and developing supporting documentation come under the Department's Program 1.1 (Reducing Australia's Greenhouse Gas Emissions) and Program 1.2 (Improving Australia's Energy Efficiency). Given that the advice that the Department provided to the Government to develop the Plan was a core departmental function, no additional funds were allocated to the Department for this purpose. The Department was allocated funds to run the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee and to run the Garnaut Review Update (including secretariats in both cases), details of which were provided in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook in 2010.
(2) Financial costs associated with policies and programs under the Plan can be found in Appendix B of Securing a Clean Energy Future – the Australian Government's Climate Change Plan at: www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/clean-energy-future/securing- a-clean-energy-future.
(3) See (1).
(1) What number of Government advisors is providing supporting documentation for the Clean Energy Plan to save the Great Barrier Reef, what departments do they work for, and what are their salaries.
(2) What sum is allocated for the establishment and/or expansion of the bureaucracy to develop and implement the Clean Energy Plan to save the Great Barrier Reef.
(3) What expenditure has the Government incurred to date for the development of the Clean Energy Plan to save the Great Barrier Reef.
Please see the response to Question No. 503.
(1) Is the Minister aware of the department's decision on 10 August 2011 to cease honouring the farm exit grant package previously extended to 30 June 2012.
(2) Will the Minister consider reinstating this package for the many families pre-assessed as eligible by Centrelink and already in the process of selling or awaiting the sale of their farm asset on the strength of this grant offer.
(1) On 10 August 2011 the Government announced the closure of the Exceptional Circumstances (EC) Exit Grant program to all new applicants. As the program guidelines clearly stated the EC Exit Grant program would close on 30 June 2012 or if all funds were expended. Closing the program earlier than anticipated hasn't reduced the number of people assisted; the same numbers of people have been assisted. The Government initially allocated $9.6 million to this program. At the time of closure this had been boosted to almost $14 million. The Government will continue to stand by farmers, as it did during the drought and now in a period of improved conditions.
(2) The Government will not re-open the program to new applicants. Anyone who was eligible for payment under the scheme will have their application assessed in line with the guidelines.
How many staff were employed by the Minister’s department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July (a) 2008, and (b) 2011.
This information as at 30 June in the years requested is available in:
(1) the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Annual Report 2007-08; and
(2) the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Annual Report 2010-11.
Both reports are available on the department’s website at http://www.dpmc.gov.au/annual_reports/index.cfm.
How many staff were employed by the Minister's department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July (a) 2008, and (b) 2011.
(a) Refer to the 2008-2009 Department of Finance and Deregulation Annual Report.
(b) Refer to the 2010-2011 Department of Finance and Deregulation Annual Report.
How many staff were employed by the Minister’s department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July (a) 2008, and (b) 2011.
There were 192 Senior Executive Service employees in the Department on 1 July 2008.
There were 177 Senior Executive Service employees in the Department on 1 July 2011.
How many staff were employed by the Minister's department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July (a) 2008, and (b) 2011.
(a) The SES figures as at 1 July 2008 can be found in Tables 7 and 8 of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Annual Report 2007-08.
(b) The SES figures as at 1 July 2011 can be found in Tables 16 and 17 of the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Annual report 2010-11.
How many staff were employed by the Minister's department in the Senior Executive Service (ie, SES) on 1 July (a) 2008, and (b) 2011.
According to the Attorney-General's Department Annual Report 2007-08, on 30 June 2008 there were 78 Senior Executive Staff employed by the Attorney General's Department.
According to the Attorney-General's Department Annual Report 2010-11, on 30 June 2011 there were 81 Senior Executive Staff employed by the Attorney-General's Department.
(1) In respect of Renewable Energy Certificates, can he indicate what measures, if any, are in place to protect customers who have paid up-front for solar panels, but not received them because the installer is in receivership.
(2) To qualify for Renewable Energy Certificates, are installers of solar panels required to (a) demonstrate that they have Clean Energy Council accreditation, and (b) lodge a bond or provide surety or insurance to cover any financial or workmanship default.
(3) In the case of Solar Shop Australia, can he indicate whether the Government is requesting that the receivers honour the installation of unfinished works.
(1) The Renewable Energy Regulator (the Regulator) and the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator (ORER) were established by the Howard Government in 2001, under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 , to administer the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme. The RET is not a Government rebate scheme and does not provide public funds. The RET provides for registered persons to create certificates and sell those certificates privately to liable parties. There is no role for the Regulator or the ORER in settling the sale of these certificates or monitoring contracts which relate to those certificates.
The RET does not prescribe the market models employed by participants. The onus is on contractual parties to undertake their own due diligence around the ability and commitment of their counterparty to abide by contractual conditions. As the Regulator and the ORER have no enforcement powers in relation to market conduct or enforcing contracts, their standard practice is to advise anyone with an issue about marketing or payment issues to contact their relevant Fair Trading Office, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as appropriate to the complaint. This advice was given to all those who contacted the ORER. In the case of companies that are in receivership or administration they should also contact the appointed receiver or administrator.
Once the Clean Energy Future legislation is passed, the RET will be administered by the Clean Energy Regulator which will have additional powers to deal with this type of behaviour. In particular, the Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 includes specific provisions to increase the Regulator's powers to refuse registration or suspend registration.
(2) (a) Yes, to be eligible to create certificates for solar panels systems under the RET they must be installed and designed by a Clean Energy Council (CEC) accredited installer. The CEC installer must also sign a range of written statements before certificates can be created, including a written statement that they installed the system to meet the requirements of the local/state/territory government, that they completed the installation along with their CEC accreditation number. Further details are available on the ORER website at: www.orer.gov.au/sgu/index.html.
(b)There is no requirement in the RET scheme that the installer must have surety or insurance to cover any financial or workmanship default. However, there are requirements as part of their CEC accreditation to have insurance requirements including Certificate of Currency/Proof of Public Liability Insurance cover that have a minimum $5 million coverage.
(3) As stated in the response to part (1), the ORER does not have legal power to intervene in contractual matters. This is a matter for the contracted parties and the receivers.
Does the Government have plans to upgrade the McEwen Highway to include making it multi-lane; if so, by what date.
The McEwen Highway, which forms a section of the Gregory Developmental Road, is part of the state road network and is therefore the responsibility of the Queensland Government.
I understand the Queensland Government has a widening program in place for the highway and additional reconstruction works are to be carried out on flood damaged sections through the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
(1) Is the Proposed Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Facility, Northern Territory: Transport Assessment Report (Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Pty Ltd and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, 13 March 2009) the most recent publication on this topic; if not, what is, and from where is it available.
(2) Can he confirm reports that his department has recommended that radioactive waste be transported from Sydney to a proposed Northern Territory waste management facility along highways through the Murray Valley, including Mildura; if so, (a) why is the Murray Valley and Sturt Highway route through Mildura preferred over a more direct and quieter route from Sydney via Broken Hill and Peterborough in South Australia, and (b) would he consider using rail transport instead.
(1) The Parsons Brinckerhoff report commissioned in 2006 is the most recent publication on this topic.
(2) The Parsons Brinckerhoff report puts forward a range of possible transport options to potential Commonwealth radioactive waste management facility sites then under consideration by the Howard Government. The Department has made no recommendation on transport routes and is not in a position to do so given that a national radioactive waste management facility site has not yet been selected and the site subjected to regulatory assessment.