The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Ms AE Burke ) took the chair at 14:00 made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
The current level of funding for independent schools and government schools is appropriate.
It was actually the coalition that instigated work on the emissions trading scheme. … in … a report that I helped author back in 1998 which talks about regulatory arrangements for trading in greenhouse gas emissions—1998!
… … …
The coalition’s commitment to an ETS is demonstrable.
There is widespread acknowledgement that every child should have access to the best possible education …
The Coalition hopes that the Gonski Review will lead to better school systems across Australia …
… differences in educational outcomes should not be the result of differences in wealth, income, power or possessions.
We could close this plant for a period of time in the year … and therefore our total emissions … would … be below 25,000 (tonnes).
… junior development will be the first thing that gets cut - money that we spend in our promotional zones are probably the first things that will have to go."
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for North Sydney moving immediately—
That this House condemns the Government for failing to honour its promises to the Australian people over the past two years, in particular its failure to:
(1) spend money prudently,
(2) balance the federal budget,
(3) control government debt,
(4) contain cost-of-living pressures for Australian families, and
(5) keep its promises to the Australian people.
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [15:15]
(The Deputy Speaker—Ms AE Burke)
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [15:28]
The Deputy Speaker (Ms AE Burke)
I can make the guarantee that no school will be worse off under a Coalition government—
All imputations of improper motives … shall be considered highly disorderly.
The immediate need for bipartisan support to improve our schools and give our children a better future.
The immediate need for bipartisan support to improve our schools and give our children a better future.
The 34 per cent of Australians who attend independent schools get just 21 per cent of government funding … So there is no question of injustice to public schools here. If anything, the injustice is the other way.
I am getting more than a little frustrated with the federal government! We have one of the most significant changes to funding in education on the horizon through the Gonski Report and the states are being informed of federal policies through the media.
… down, down the rabbit hole, talk of fairness, lollipops, teacher quality and promises of a "no loser" policy abound—
That Mr Cheeseman be discharged from the Committee of Privileges and Members’ Interests and that, in his place, Ms Smyth be appointed a member of the committee.
Tax Laws Amendment (Cross-Border Transfer Pricing) Bill (No. 1) 2012
Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012
That the bill be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Registration Fees) Bill 2012
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Bill 2012
An ordinary person would probably think that if somebody is banned from financial services they ought to be banned from being a director of financial services company.
That orders of the day Nos. 2 and 3, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No. 4) Bill 2012
The committee supports retaining the taxation treatment of living-away-from-home allowances wholly within the fringe benefits tax system.
The government held two extensive consultation processes in relation to these reforms.
Such a system is likely to be unworkable in practice, will significantly increase compliance costs for employers and employees and will give rise to uncertainty.
We will have a discussion, I am sure, about which one may be preferable. Let us be honest, the tax system does not need any help in being complex, and this is just a case in point. We do not need to cover both systems for this one.
… such a system is likely to be unworkable in practice, will significantly increase compliance costs for employers and employees and will give rise to uncertainty.
States with greater numbers of temporary workers in the H-1B program for skilled workers and H-2B program for less-skilled non-agricultural workers had higher employment among US natives. Adding 100 H-1B workers created an additional 183 jobs for US citizens. Adding 100 H-2B visa class workers created 464 jobs for Americans.
… a lot of those businesses are waiting for the first application to be approved to see what sorts of concessions the government has approved before they make a decision to proceed.
(1) Schedule 1, page 3 (line 1) to page 13 (line 21), omit the Schedule, substitute:
Schedule 1—Reform of living away from home allowance and benefit rules
Part 1—Main amendment
Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986
1 Subdivision B of Division 7 of Part III
Repeal the Subdivision, substitute:
Subdivision B—Taxable value of living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefits
31 Taxable value—employee maintains a home in Australia
(1) This section applies to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit covered by subsection 30(1) in relation to a year of tax to the extent that the employee satisfies all of the following for the fringe benefit and the period to which it relates:
(a) section 31C (about maintaining an Australian home);
(b) section 31D (about the first 12 months);
(c) section 31F (about declarations).
(2) Subject to this Part, the taxable value of the fringe benefit in relation to the year of tax is the amount of the fringe benefit reduced by:
(a) any exempt accommodation component; and
(b) any exempt food component.
(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply to the extent that the fringe benefit relates to a period during which the employee resumes living at his or her normal residence.
(4) Neither paragraph (2)(a) nor (b) applies to the extent that the period to which the fringe benefit relates happens while the 12-month period referred to in subsection 31D(1) is paused.
Note: The employer may pause that 12-month period (see paragraph 31D(2)(a)).
31A Taxable value—fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out employees
(1) This section applies to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit covered by subsection 30(1) in relation to a year of tax to the extent that the employee satisfies all of the following for the fringe benefit and the period to which it relates:
(a) the requirement that the employee has residential accommodation at or near his or her usual place of employment;
(b) section 31E (about extra requirements for these employees);
(c) section 31F (about declarations).
(2) Subject to this Part, the taxable value of the fringe benefit in relation to the year of tax is the amount of the fringe benefit reduced by:
(a) any exempt accommodation component; and
(b) any exempt food component.
31B Taxable value—any other case
(1) This section applies to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit in relation to a year of tax to the extent that neither section 31 nor 31A applies to the fringe benefit and the period to which it relates.
(2) Subject to this Part, the taxable value of the fringe benefit in relation to the year of tax is the amount of the fringe benefit.
Subdivision C—Related provisions
31C Maintaining a home in Australia
The employee satisfies this section if:
(a) the place in Australia where the employee usually resides when in Australia:
(i) is a unit of accommodation in which the employee or the employee's spouse has an ownership interest (within the meaning of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 ); and
(ii) continues to be available for the employee's immediate use and enjoyment during the period that the duties of that employment require the employee to live away from it; and
(b) it is reasonable to expect that the employee will resume living at that place when that period ends.
31D First 12 months employee is required to live away from home
(1) The employee satisfies this section if the fringe benefit relates only to all or part of the first 12 months that the duties of that employment require the employee to live away from the place in Australia where he or she usually resides when in Australia.
(2) Each of the following paragraphs applies for the purposes of subsection (1):
(a) the employer may pause the 12-month period;
(b) start a separate 12-month period if:
(i) the employer later requires the employee to live at another location for the purposes of that employment; and
(ii) it would be unreasonable to expect the employee to commute to that other location from an earlier location for which the employer provided a benefit of the same kind to the employee;
(c) other changes in the nature of that employment are irrelevant;
(d) treat as one employer any of the employee's earlier employers that is or has been an associate of the current employer.
31E Fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out requirements
The employee satisfies this section if:
(a) the employee, on a regular and rotational basis:
(i) works for a number of days and has a number of days off (but not the same days in consecutive weeks); and
(ii) on completion of the working days, travels from his or her usual place of employment to his or her normal residence and, on completion of the days off, returns to that usual place of employment; and
(b) the basis of work described in paragraph (a) is customary for employees performing similar duties in that industry; and
(c) it would be unreasonable to expect the employee to travel on a daily basis on work days between:
(i) his or her usual place of employment; and
(ii) his or her normal residence;
having regard to the location of those places; and
(d) it is reasonable to expect that the employee will resume living in his or her normal residence when the duties of that employment no longer require him or her to live away from it.
31F Declarations
(1) The employee satisfies this section if the employee gives the employer a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out:
(a) for a fringe benefit to which section 31 (about employees who maintain an Australian home) applies:
(i) the address of the place in Australia where the employee usually resides when in Australia; and
(ii) that section 31C is satisfied for that place; and
(iii) the address of each place where the employee actually resided during the period to which the benefit relates; or
(b) for a fringe benefit to which section 31A (about employees who fly-in fly-out or drive-in drive-out) applies:
(i) the address of the employee's usual place of residence; and
(ii) that paragraph 31E(d) is satisfied for the employee's normal residence; and
(iii) the address of each place where the employee actually resided during the period to which the benefit relates.
(2) The employee must give the employer the declaration before the declaration date for the year of tax during which the benefit was provided.
31G Substantiating related expenses
(1) This section applies to the following expenses incurred by the employee:
(a) an expense for the accommodation of eligible family members during the period to which a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit relates;
(b) an expense for food or drink for eligible family members during the period to which a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit relates, if the total of those food or drink expenses for that period exceeds the amount the Commissioner considers reasonable.
(2) The employee substantiates the expense if the employee:
(a) before the declaration date for the year of tax during which the fringe benefit was provided, gives the employer:
(i) documentary evidence of the expense, or a copy; or
(ii) a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out information about the expense; and
(b) if the employee gives a declaration under subparagraph (a)(ii)—retains documentary evidence of the expense for a period of 5 years starting at that declaration date.
Note: Substantiating expenses increases the exempt accommodation component, and exempt food component, for working out the taxable value of the relevant fringe benefit.
31H Exempt food component
(1) The exempt food component , in relation to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit, is so much of the result of subsection (2) as is equal to the total of the expenses that:
(a) are incurred by the employee for food or drink for eligible family members during the period to which the fringe benefit relates; and
(b) if section 31G applies to the expenses—are substantiated under that section.
(2) Work out the result of the following:
Food component – Applicable statutory food total
where:
applicable statutory food total means the total of the statutory food amounts for eligible family members for the period to which the fringe benefit relates, reduced (but not below zero) by any amount that:
(a) might reasonably be expected to be the total normal food or drink expenses for those eligible family members had they remained living in their normal residence during that period; and
(b) was taken into account in working out the food component.
Part 2—Other amendments
Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986
2 At the end of paragraphs 21(a), (b) and (ba)
Add "and".
3 Paragraphs 21(c) and (d)
Repeal the paragraphs, substitute:
(c) the accommodation is required solely because the duties of that employment require the employee to live away from his or her normal residence; and
(d) the employee satisfies:
(i) sections 31C (about maintaining an Australian home) and 31D (about the first 12 months); or
(ii) section 31E (about fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out requirements); and
(e) the employee gives to the employer, before the declaration date, a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out:
(i) if the employee satisfies sections 31C and 31D—the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(a)(i) to (iii); or
(ii) if the employee satisfies section 31E—the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(b)(i) to (iii);
4 Paragraph 30(1)(b)
Omit "employee is required to live away from his or her usual place of residence in order to perform the duties of that employment", substitute "duties of that employment require the employee to live away from his or her normal residence".
5 Paragraph 30(2)(f)
Omit "employee is required to live away from his or her usual place of residence in order to perform the duties of that employment", substitute "duties of that employment require the employee to live away from his or her usual place of residence".
6 At the end of paragraph 47(5)(a)
Add "and".
7 Paragraph 47(5)(b)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
(b) the unit of accommodation is for the accommodation of eligible family members and is provided solely because the duties of that employment require the employee to live away from his or her normal residence; and
(ba) the employee satisfies:
(i) sections 31C (about maintaining an Australian home) and 31D (about the first 12 months); or
(ii) section 31E (about fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out requirements); and
8 Paragraph 47(5)(d)
Omit "either", substitute "any".
9 Subparagraph 47(5)(d)(ii)
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
(ii) if the employee satisfies sections 31C and 31D—the employee gives to the employer, before the declaration date, a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(a)(i) to (iii);
(iii) if the employee satisfies section 31E—the employee gives to the employer, before the declaration date, a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(b)(i) to (iii);
10 At the end of paragraphs 63(1)(a) and (b)
Add "and".
11 Paragraph 63(1)(d)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute:
(d) the employee satisfies:
(i) sections 31C (about maintaining an Australian home) and 31D (about the first 12 months); or
(ii) section 31E (about fly-in fly-out and drive-in drive-out requirements); and
(da) the employee gives to the employer, before the declaration date, a declaration, in a form approved by the Commissioner, purporting to set out:
(i) if the employee satisfies sections 31C and 31D—the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(a)(i) to (iii); or
(ii) if the employee satisfies section 31E—the matters in subparagraphs 31F(1)(b)(i) to (iii);
12 Subsection 136(1)
Insert:
accommodation component , in relation to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit, means so much (if any) of the fringe benefit as might reasonably be concluded to be compensation for expenses to be incurred by the employee for the accommodation of eligible family members during the period to which the fringe benefit relates.
13 Subsection 136(1) (paragraph (a) of the definition of eligible family member )
Omit "who is required to live away from his or her usual place of residence during a period in order to perform the duties of his or her employment", substitute "whose duties of employment require the employee to live away, for a period, from his or her normal residence".
14 Subsection 136(1) (sub-subparagraph (b)(ii)(A) of the definition of eligible family member )
Omit "recipients allowance", substitute "fringe benefit".
15 Subsection 136(1) (sub-subparagraph (b)(ii)(B) of the definition of eligible family member )
Omit "recipients allowance period", substitute "period to which the fringe benefit relates".
16 Subsection 136(1) (definition of exempt accommodation component )
Repeal the definition, substitute:
exempt accommodation component , in relation to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit, means so much of the accommodation component as is equal to the total of the expenses that:
(a) are incurred by the employee for that accommodation; and
(b) are substantiated under section 31G.
17 Subsection 136(1) (definition of exempt food component )
Repeal the definition, substitute:
exempt food component has the meaning given by section 31H.
18 Subsection 136(1) (definition of food component )
Repeal the definition, substitute:
food component , in relation to a living-away-from-home allowance fringe benefit, means so much (if any) of the fringe benefit as might reasonably be concluded to be compensation for expenses to be incurred by the employee for food or drink for eligible family members during the period to which the fringe benefit relates.
19 Subsection 136(1) (at the end of subparagraph (a)(i) of the definition of living - away - from - home food fringe benefit )
Add "and".
20 Subsection 136(1) (subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition of living - away - from - home food fringe benefit )
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
(iii) the food or drink was for consumption by eligible family members at a time when the duties of that employment required the employee to live away from his or her normal residence; or
21 Subsection 136(1) (at the end of subparagraph (b)(i) of the definition of living - away - from - home food fringe benefit )
Add "and".
22 Subsection 136(1) (subparagraph (b)(iii) of the definition of living - away - from - home food fringe benefit )
Repeal the subparagraph, substitute:
(iii) the food or drink was for consumption by eligible family members at a time when the duties of that employment required the employee to live away from his or her normal residence.
23 Subsection 136(1)
Insert:
normal residence , in relation to an employee, means:
(a) if the employee's usual place of residence is in Australia—the employee's usual place of residence; or
(b) otherwise—either:
(i) the employee's usual place of residence; or
(ii) the place in Australia where the employee usually resides when in Australia.
24 Subsection 136(1) (definition of recipients allowance )
Repeal the definition.
25 Subsection 136(1) (definition of recipients allowance period )
Repeal the definition.
Part 3—Application and transitional provisions
26 Application of amendments
The amendments made by this Schedule apply in relation to an employee who, on or after 1 October 2012, lives away from his or her normal residence (whether a benefit provided for living away from that residence on or after that day was paid before, on or after that day).
27 Transitional—existing employment arrangements
(1) During the transitional period, disregard paragraph 31C(a) and section 31D of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 if:
(a) the employee is neither a temporary resident nor a foreign resident; and
(b) during the entire period:
(i) starting at the Budget time; and
(ii) ending on 30 September 2012;
that employment was covered by an eligible employment arrangement that was neither varied in a material way nor renewed.
(2) During the transitional period, disregard section 31D of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 if:
(a) the employee is a temporary resident or a foreign resident; and
(b) during the entire period:
(i) starting at the Budget time; and
(ii) ending on 30 September 2012;
that employment was covered by an eligible employment arrangement that was neither varied in a material way nor renewed.
(3) In this item:
Budget time means 7.30 pm, by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory, on 8 May 2012.
eligible employment arrangement means an arrangement under which:
(a) the employer; or
(b) an associate of the employer;
commits to provide the employee with an allowance or benefit for the employee's accommodation, food or drink while the duties of that employment require the employee to live away from his or her normal residence.
foreign resident has the same meaning as in theIncome Tax Assessment Act 1997 .
temporary resident has the same meaning as in theIncome Tax Assessment Act 1997 .
transitional period means the period:
(a) starting on 1 October 2012; and
(b) ending at the earliest of:
(i) 30 June 2014; and
(ii) the time the eligible employment arrangement referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (2)(b) ends; and
(iii) the first time that eligible employment arrangement is varied in a material way or renewed.
28 Transitional—first 12 months for existing arrangements
(1) This item applies if, on 1 October 2012:
(a) an employee's duties of employment require the employee to live away from the place in Australia where he or she usually resides when in Australia; or
(b) the employee expects that his or her duties of employment will require him or her to resume living away from the place in Australia where he or she usually resides when in Australia.
(2) Treat the 12-month period referred to in subsection 31D(1) of the Fringe Benefits Tax Assessment Act 1986 as if it were the first 12 months on or after 1 October 2012 that the employee lives away from that place as so required.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012
… the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has recently announced an upward movement in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the past six month period from September 2011 to March 2012. As a result your DFRDB pension will increase by 0.1% on 12 July 2012.
… genuine security rests on cooperation, fair economic and social development, environmental sustainability, and respect for human rights, rather than on military capabilities.
I noticed on your Facebook page that you are claiming that the Greens oppose Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit Pensions indexed to the age pension.
Here is a policy initiative from the 2010 election and it was nothing new for us then either.
I kindly ask that you do the decent thing and correct the record on your page.
In a long-running campaign, current and former federal public servants and defence force personnel have been pushing to ensure their superannuation pensions are indexed fairly and appropriately. It is a campaign the Australian Greens support wholeheartedly.
The government went to the last election with a promise to address the indexation issue. Instead it commissioned the Matthews Review, and subsequently decided against changing the indexation measure. Australian Greens leader, Bob Brown—
wrote to Minister Tanner earlier this year to urge him to re-consider the government's response to the Matthews' review and revise the indexation for Defence Force superannuation pensions. We strongly believe that the government should now act to provide wage-based indexation on the same terms as the aged pension for all Commonwealth and defence force superannuation pensions. The cost for ensuring fair and appropriate wages-linked indexation for Commonwealth public servant superannuation pensions is estimated by the Matthews Review to be around $42 million in 2010-11, increasing in following years. However, the actual cost will be lower when the tax implications are taken into account. The Australia Greens believe these costs are outweighed by the longer term benefits and principle of fairness.
There are many who are frustrated that government, report after report, seems to get the concerns about a lack of purchasing power within the current military superannuation scheme, yet, when it comes to actually doing something about it, the arguments of cost and difficulty in making those changes seem to be directed towards those who have done military service.
… consider introducing a fairer indexation method for military superannuation pension in line with that used to calculate age and welfare pensions.
It is ridiculous to expect people to accept a 0.1 per cent increase. That is unviable, given the cost of living. It is too meagre and it needs to change.
A Coalition Government will deliver fair indexation to 57,000 military superannuants and their families.
The Coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as aged and service pensions. All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit.
A Coalition Government will deliver fair, just and equitable indexation for DFRB and DFRDB pensions.
Australia's veterans and their families will get the fair go they deserve.
… unviable, given the cost of living. It is too meagre and it needs to change.
… many people genuinely believe that prior to the 2007 election, the ALP had committed to determining a "fairer" method of indexation, and a 'review' would provide the direction …
It is entirely appropriate, fair and consistent with our election commitment that the introduction of this improved indexation arrangement should coincide with that for pensions and benefits as announced by Minister Macklin.
We strongly believe that the Government should now act to provide wage-based indexation on the same terms as the Aged Pension for all … defence force superannuation pensions.
The ALP should be condemned for not doing something about it since its election in 2007.
I am the only MP of the Central Coast who is prepared to support them—there are two others who won't.
I should like to discuss with you your opinion of the 0.1 per cent increase retired servicemen got last week. This has provided me with a $0.72 increase per fortnight. On top of this we now also incur the carbon tax for which we receive no compensation. What can be done about the injustice being done to ex-servicemen or don't you care?
It is entirely appropriate, fair and consistent with our—
election commitment that the introduction of this improved indexation arrangement should coincide with that for pensions and benefits as announced by Minister Macklin.
… whether or not you are a Defence Force Retirement Benefits and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits superannuant, you should be concerned about the Senate's latest decision to negate the Fairer Indexation Bill on 16 June. We have always been a team, we have stood by each other, we have defended our mates, especially those who are in difficult situations. We need your help now.
It has long been to me and my colleagues in the coalition verging on the scandalous that defence retirees do not enjoy the same indexation arrangements as other people who have retired.
The coalition committed to addressing the indexation arrangements going into the 2010 election. Sadly, we were not able to form a government after that election but we didn't let that stop us.
We brought private members legislation into the parliament for decent indexation for Defence Force retirees and, I regret to say, that that legislation was not supported.
The Coalition's clear commitment to our veterans:
A Coalition Government will deliver fair indexation to 57,000 military superannuants and their families.
The Coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as aged and service pensions. All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit.
Only a Coalition Government will deliver fair, just and equitable indexation for DFRB and DFRDB pensions.
With your support, Australia's veterans and their families will get the fair go they deserve.
It has long been to me and my colleagues in the Coalition, verging on the scandalous that defence retirees do not enjoy the same indexation arrangements as other people who have retired.
A Coalition Government will deliver fair indexation to 57,000 military superannuants and their families.
The Coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as aged and service pensions. All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit.
Only a coalition government will deliver fair, just and equitable indexation for DFRB and DFRDB pensions.
I received $1.29 increase in my COM Super pension. I retired last December after paying 5% of my wage for the past 32 years 20 into COM SUPER thinking I would be able to survive. I won't be able to do it if that's the yearly CPI increase. I had worked for Defence for 38 years before pulling the pin.
Natasha, please make a stand on our behalf.
A Coalition Government will deliver fair indexation to 57,000 military superannuants and their families.
The Coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as aged and service pensions. All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit.
You can turn this into a huge figure. In any one year, it is bearable and we should bear it.
It has long been to me and my colleagues in the Coalition, verging on the scandalous that defence retirees do not enjoy the same indexation arrangements as other people who have retired.
Art is beneficial for everyone. Parkinson's affects the brain and art and painting is good for the brain. After four sessions, people realise they are more relaxed and they can find their own level of creativity.
The funding will be used to establish five new 'Painting with Parkinson's' groups across the state this year in places such as Mount Martha, Ocean Grove, Warrnambool, Bentleigh and Doncaster.
It's actually pretty hard to do this because carbon dioxide is invisible and it's weightless and you can't smell it.
See, one of the things that people haven't quite twigged to is that carbon dioxide is invisible, it's weightless and it's odourless.
I mean, how are we going to police these emissions? This carbon cop is going to be an extraordinarily intrusive instrumentality, running around trying to make sure that all these businesses aren't actually emitting given that you can't actually see, smell or touch what's going on.
Whether carbon dioxide is quite the environmental villain that some people make it out to be is not yet proven.
The fact that we have had if anything cooling global temperatures over the last decade, not withstanding continued dramatic increases of carbon dioxide emissions, suggests the role of CO2 is not nearly as clear as the climate catastrophists suggest.
This is the unified position of the Coalition premiers. I think it makes a lot of sense.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D'Ath) took the chair at 15:59.
We believe in the sunshine test.
Give him a beard and a snarl, and Oakeshott might have been Kyle Sandilands. Throw him a cravat and he might have been masquerading as Matt Preston.
Forget 15 minutes of fame. If the election result was a (belated) triumph of democracy, as we kept being told, it was also a celebration in shenanigans.
The Australian government has introduced a quite severe disincentive for someone under the age of 18 years to save and invest.
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Slavery-like Conditions and People Trafficking) Bill 2012
Australia is a source and destination country for women subjected to trafficking in persons, specifically exploitation in forced prostitution, and, to a lesser extent, women and men in forced labor and children in commercial sexual exploitation.
As Australia's first female Attorney-General, I am proud to be introducing legislation which makes forcing someone into a marriage illegal.
While the majority of identified victims in Australia have been women trafficked for the purposes of exploitation in the sex industry, law enforcement agencies are increasingly identifying both men and women who have been subjected to exploitation in a range of other industry sectors and … environments.
The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.
(1) In (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10, (e) 2010-11, and (f) 2011 12, what number of frontline staff were employed in the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office.
(2) In (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10, (e) 2010-11, and (f) 2011 12, what number of staff were seconded to work temporarily in other Centrelink offices or sites from the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office.
(3) For (a) 2012-13, and (b) 2013-14, how many frontline staff are predicted to be employed in the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office, and how does this compare with the previous program year.
(4) What is the average length of employment at the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office.
(5) In (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011, and (e) 2012, how many staff left their employment from the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office.
(6) For each case in part (5), how many staff left due to, (a) transfer, (b) redundancy, and (c) dismissal.
(7) In (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-11, (e) 2010-11, and (f) 2011-12, what number of cases were handled by the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office.
(8) For (a) 2012-13, and (b) 2013-14, what number of cases are predicted to be handled through the (i) Sutherland Centrelink office, and (ii) Caringbah Centrelink office, and how does this compare with the previous program years.
(2) The number of staff seconded to work temporarily in other Centrelink offices or sites from the Sutherland and Caringbah Centrelink offices in each financial year between 2006-07 and 2011-12 was as follows:
This information is based on the number of employees that were seconded to work for any period during the financial year (i.e. part or full).
(3) Based on current information, the number of frontline staff employed in the Sutherland and Caringbah Centrelink offices in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 financial years is not predicted to change from the number employed in the 2011-12 financial year, as per the following table:
(4) (i) The average length of employment at the Sutherland Centrelink office is 12.8 years as at 31 May 2012.
(4) (ii) The average length of employment at the Caringbah Centrelink office is 14.8 years as at 31 May 2012.
(7) In the 2011-12 financial year, refined front-of-house practices (electronic recording of customer entry patterns) have led to an increased number of contacts being recorded at the Sutherland (45,406) and Caringbah (29,901) offices than in previous years. Therefore, the yearly figures provided below cannot be compared with 2011-12 financial year figures.
The number of cases handled in each financial year between 2006-07 and 2010-11 was as follows:
Note: Figures provided in the above table are indicative and do not capture all customer demand. These figures represent those customers that had a more complex interaction with a customer service officer. It should be noted that over this period the sites queuing strategies and recording practices have changed several times.
(8) The number of cases forecast to be handled through the Sutherland and Caringbah Centrelink offices in 2012-13 and 2013-14 is as follows:
The number of cases in 2012-13 is expected to increase slightly from the 2011-12 financial year, but remain steady in the 2013-14 financial year.
Note: The forecasted figures in the above table are also subject to the same limitations explained in the note against question 7 (above).