The SPEAKER ( Hon. Bronwyn Bishop ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the debate on the Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014 proceeding immediately.
That the member no longer be heard.
The House divided. [09:12]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
That the member be no longer heard.
Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014
The Government’s decision to allow a single foreign investor to own 49 percent of Qantas would deliver effective control to a foreign investor, including possibly a competitor airline. Lost of effective Australian control could leave Australia without an airline primarily committed to our interests. What safeguards will be put in place for the Australian flying public, particularly those in regional areas?
Well this is something I have previously been on the record about. Very concerned about any dilution of Australian control of Qantas. Qantas has, over the years, tried to increase foreign investment in the airline. We have been very concerned for a number of reasons. First and foremost, Qantas is an Australian icon and Qantas undertakes significant tasks in the national interest and there have been numerous examples where Qantas—an Australian-owned airline and an airline that relies heavily on government regulation has undertaken tasks in the national interest. Our experience has been that when companies have majority foreign ownership or majority foreign control—not necessarily the same thing—but when they have majority foreign control, then it actually has an impact on the social responsibilities of those companies here in Australia. So, in short, we’ll see where we’re going.
… has the Parliament and the Government imposed restrictions on that … business that are not imposed on other businesses in the same industry?
The answer in relation to Qantas is yes.
Secondly, is that business fundamental to the economy, is it providing an essential service to the economy, such that if it were to have significant issues that inhibited its day to day operations, it would have a detrimental impact on the economy?
In the case of Qantas, the answer is yes.
The third factor that needs to be considered is; are other Governments actively supporting other players in that industry?
The answer in relation to Qantas is yes. These are crucial tests we apply.
The fourth hugely important test is, is the enterprise trying to fix up its own balance sheet? Quite obviously Qantas is trying to do it.
The government recognises that the best possible way it can assist Qantas is by removing the regulatory imbalance in Australia's aviation industry—in effect, to free Qantas from the regulations that hold it back and which are a remnant of the previous century.
The Government’s decision to allow a single foreign investor to own 49 percent of Qantas would deliver effective control to a foreign investor, including possibly a competitor airline. Lost of effective Australian control could leave Australia without an airline primarily committed to our interests.
What safeguards will be put in place for the Australian flying public, particularly those in regional areas?
… this is something I have previously been on the record about. Very concerned about any dilution of Australian control of Qantas … We have been very concerned for a number of reasons … Our experience has been that when companies have majority foreign ownership or majority foreign control … then it actually has an impact on the social responsibilities of those companies here in Australia.
A detail-stage regulation impact statement has not been completed. An exception has been granted by the Prime Minister.
Under Tony Abbott, Qantas will be Australian no more. Under Tony Abbott we will see thousands of jobs go overseas; cabin crew, flight attendants, maintenance workers, the majority of the board of director positions, the head office, even the chairman.
There's a reason why around the world national governments have carriers that they support, either directly through government ownership—
and eight out of 10 are majority government-owned of the world's top 10 airlines …
The verdict: None of the top 10 rankings of airlines based on passenger traffic, capacity, financial results, fleet size, employee numbers and customer feedback consistently include a majority of government-owned airlines. Mr Albanese is wrong.
Mr Albanese is wrong.
Labor is on the record as having an open mind on the relaxing of the 49% foreign ownership cap on Qantas as we recognise that without significant capital investment the airline is putting at risk its future international and domestic competitiveness.
The House divided. [11:33]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Broadbent)
That the question be now put.
The House divided. [11:52]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
The House divided. [12:01]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [12:09]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
That the question be put.
The House divided. [12:20]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
The House divided. [12:27]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
Qantas Sale Amendment Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a third time.
That the question be now put.
The House divided. [12:31]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
The House divided. [12:37]
(The Speaker—Hon. Bronwyn Bishop)
Civil Aviation Amendment (CASA Board) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Farm Household Support Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Farm Household Support (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Quarantine Charges (Imposition—General) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Quarantine Charges (Imposition—Customs) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Quarantine Charges (Imposition—Excise) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Quarantine Charges (Collection) Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2014
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014
The Nuffield Australia Farming Scholars’ mission is to develop potential and promote excellence in all aspects of Australian agricultural production, distribution and management through the adoption of local and international best practice, and continuous development of a unique network of industry leaders and innovators.
Australia’s carbon tax is one of the highest in the world.
It is making our key industries less competitive every day it stays in place.
For small business especially, this has been a major burden that has reduced profitability, suppressed employment and added to already difficult conditions.
Loss of effective Australian control could leave Australia without an airline primarily committed to our interests.
Acting now to repeal the carbon tax would boost business confidence and should be part of a broader national push to reduce high energy costs.
Australia’s carbon tax is one of the highest in the world. It is making our key industries less competitive every day …
We ask that the Senate promptly passes the Bills to remove the carbon tax, as it is in our national interest …
It is clearly the Government’s intention—and a position that the Australian Aluminium Council (AAC) supports—that this legislation be passed …
… pass the carbon tax repeal bill without delay.
… our Plan B is our Plan A …
The effect of the Government’s harsh budget cuts on infrastructure investment in Western Australia and on Western Australian families.
I think there were many aspects of our story, I think the fact that we vacated the field on the mining tax, you know I actually think the mining tax is a bloody good thing and we should have gone out and told people why it was good, why we needed to do it …
We will make sure that no school is worse off.
We are committed to the student resource standard, of course we are. We are committed to this new school funding model.
I know that the former Labor government in the election campaign made a whole series of promises, including promises in this area. We made it very clear that we were not bound by them. It is as simple as that.
Anyone who was expecting Alannah MacTiernan to stand up for WA's interests will now be sorely disappointed with the confirmation she will simply toe the line for the Labor party and its anti-WA policy agenda.
Governor-General Amendment (Salary) Bill 2014
Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Amendment (Dairy Produce) Bill 2014
Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014
Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2014
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Bill 2014
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2014
… an employer with a defence to an alleged contravention of a flexibility term provided that the employer's belief that it had complied with the requirements … based on the facts and circumstances in existence at the time of making the individual flexibility arrangement, was reasonable.
… a Greens Minister forms the opinion that he or she could not support the decision without potentially compromising his or her standing within Tasmanian Greens party—
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Hon. BC Scott ) took the chair at 09:31.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said this is a significant investment in the future of the Territory, and will encourage growth and development in a number of communities and local industries.
The Federal Labor Government is committing $90 million towards a new Regional Roads Productivity Package and the Northern Territory Government will contribute $16 million towards the package.
Among the identified projects are upgrades to six regional roads:
These regional roads are major arteries connecting and providing access to communities, supporting tourism, the cattle and resources sector as well as improving the economic opportunities for Territorians living in remote areas.
NT’s economy to be boosted through upgrades to six remote roads
The six projects are expected to involve the following works—
Some Albany Highway businesses are seeing red following the installation of parking meters which they say will dissuade customers from shopping and dining in the area. They fear a drop off in trade as potential clients go elsewhere to avoid paying for parking and the possibility of being stung with fines for overstaying their welcome.
The proposed closure is being justified—
… the provision of health services for children has changed and new treatments mean more are being cared for at home.
In light of the $3 billion in cuts to health in NSW, will you confirm the Northern NSW Health District this morning met with staff and announced that they had plans to close the children's ward at Murwillumbah Hospital?
… the Murwillumbah community will not accept any cutbacks and will continue to fight them by marching in support of Murwillumbah Hospital.
"This is a day that Murwillumbah stood up and said they have had enough," he said. "It is going to be a long and hard battle but our hospital deserves it."
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition by citizens and taxpayers of Australia draws the attention of the House to large sums of Government income that are being spent on programs, subsidies, compensations, commissions, etc. with the aim of achieving a national target of a 5% reduction in the human production of carbon dioxide from that of the year 2000 by 2020, without a high-level, incisive cost/benefit study having been conducted.
We the undersigned, being citizens of Australia, request The House to do all in its power to establish an inquiry to determine the real benefits and the total costs to this nation from Government spending to reduce human production of carbon dioxide and from subsidies for renewable energy and regulations limiting the use of carbon-based fuels.
We will honour the agreements that Labor has entered into. We will match the offers that Labor has made. We will make sure that no school is worse off. We think that money is important.
You can vote Liberal or Labor and you'll get exactly the same about of funding for your school
As far as I am concerned, as far as Christopher Pyne is concerned, as far as the coalition is concerned, we want to end the uncertainty by guaranteeing that no school will be worse off.
We have agreed to the government's school funding model.
We are committed to the student resource standard, of course we are. We are committed to this new school funding model.
… [this] will be used to deliver more funding for people with disability through the ‘disability loading’ in 2015.
Greetings,
Tony Abbott: Please respect our sacrifice
Please respect the sacrifices of hard-working Australians and withdraw your new laws allowing penalty rates to be stripped and traded away.
Australians trusted you when you promised that you would not touch our penalty rates.
These new laws are a betrayal of that commitment.
since 1910, and the frequency of extreme weather has changed, with more extreme heat and fewer cool extremes.
The Abbott government has vowed to scrap the carbon price and replace it with a so-called direct action plan to pay polluters to curb emissions. Whether the program can succeed in cutting Australia's total emissions by 5 per cent on 2000 levels by 2020 remains in doubt as emissions continue to rise, deforestation rates increase and the mining industry prepares for a major expansion of coalmining and liquefied natural gas production.
In what amounts to Abbott’s most in-depth comments about the environment since forming government, the prime minister outlined a philosophy based largely on what people can derive from natural resources.
"When I look out tonight at an audience of people who work with timber, who work in forests, I don’t see people who are environmental bandits, I see people who are the ultimate conservationists," he said.
We have quite enough National Parks, we have quite enough locked up forests already. In fact, in an important respect, we have too much locked up forest.