The SPEAKER ( Hon. Bronwyn Bishop ) took the chair at 12:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Bill 2014
That the requested amendments be made.
Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2014
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the order of business for Monday, 22 June 2015 in the Federation Chamber being as follows:
(1) the Federation Chamber to meet at 10.30 am and to consider the following business:
(a) Members' three minute constituency statements;
(b) Government Business from 11.00 am to 12.30 pm;
(c) Private Members' Business from 12.30 pm to l.30 pm;
(d) 90 second statements from 4.00 pm to 4.45 pm;
(e) Private Members' Business from 4.45 pm to 6.15 pm; and
(f) the order of business for the remainder of the sitting to be as provided for in the standing orders; and
(2) any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister.
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Bill 2015
When you look at the housing price bubble evidence, it's unequivocally the case in Sydney.
What is happening in housing in Sydney I find acutely concerning for a host of reasons …
Yes I am very concerned about Sydney and some of what is happening is crazy …
As someone who, along with a bank, owns a house in Sydney, I do hope that our housing prices are increasing.
… there will be no overall increase in the tax burden whatsoever.
I am confident that should there be a change of government later in the year, there will be an instantaneous adrenaline charge in our economy. There will be an instantaneous surge of confidence because of an incoming government.
I deeply regret that I didn't get to see the full and final version.
I point to the influence of a change in accounting policy hesitantly because the last time I was critical of a government for the way it accounted for things in the budget the then treasurer, Peter Costello, rang up the chief executive of the bank I was working for, John McFarlane, (of ANZ) and said that he would take regulatory action that ANZ did not like if I repeated those kinds of criticisms.
(But) I don't think Joe Hockey is as glass-jawed as Peter Costello is, so I am not really worried about that in this context.
… what we have flagged is that we are still doing work on other aspects of superannuation policy.
Assuming a real annual return of 5 per cent and an inflation rate of 2.5 per cent, the effective income tax rate on a dollar invested today and withdrawn in 35 years is 40 per cent.
Effective tax rates on long-term savings in our "concessional" regime are therefore more than twice the nominal 15 per cent rate.
And that ignores the impact of volatility in returns and the fact that income from super reduces saver's entitlements to the aged pension.
When those are factored in, effective rates are likely at or beyond the top income tax rate of 46.5 per cent.
… told ABC radio that capital gains tax concessions for investors would also be on the table for consideration, along with stamp duties and negative gearing.
"All of these play into a mix which means when somebody's going to buy a property, they're not simply competing with other home owners, they're competing with a disproportionately high number of investors," he said.
(1) Schedule 7, item 1, page 76 (line 34), omit "*permanent establishment", substitute "permanent establishment (within the meaning of the relevant international tax agreement)".
(2) Schedule 7, item 1, page 77 (line 14), omit "fund", substitute "entity".
(3) Schedule 7, item 1, page 77 (line 33), omit "permanent establishment", substitute "*permanent establishment".
(4) Schedule 7, item 1, page 78 (line 2), at the end of subsection 842‑215(3), add:
; and (e) subsection 842‑225(2) does not apply to the IMR financial arrangement.
(5) Schedule 7, item 1, page 78 (lines 11 to 15), omit paragraph 842‑215(5)(b), substitute:
(b) if the issuer of, or counterparty to:
(i) the IMR financial arrangement referred to in paragraph (a), if it is a *financial arrangement; or
(ii) otherwise—the IMR financial arrangement to which that arrangement relates;
is an Australian resident, or a *resident trust for CGT purposes—during the whole of the year, the interest of the entity in the issuer or counterparty does not pass the *non‑portfolio interest test (see section 960‑195); and
(6) Schedule 7, item 1, page 78 (line 26), omit "a payment from which an amount", substitute "an amount that".
(7) Schedule 7, item 1, page 78 (after line 30), at the end of section 842‑215, add:
(7) For the purposes of subparagraphs (2)(a)(i) and (3)(c)(i), an entity is taken to be a resident of a country that has entered into an *international tax agreement with Australia if the entity is such a resident within the meaning of that agreement.
(8) Schedule 7, item 1, page 79 (line 5), before "A *financial", insert "(1)".
(9) Schedule 7, item 1, page 79 (after line 9), at the end of section 842‑225, add:
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a sub‑underwriting arrangement that is not a *financial arrangement is an IMR financial arrangement if it was entered into by an *IMR entity for the purpose of providing for the entity to invest or trade in a financial arrangement that is an IMR financial arrangement under subsection (1).
(10) Schedule 7, item 1, page 81 (line 9), omit "*independent Australian fund manager", substitute "independent fund manager".
(11) Schedule 7, item 4, page 87 (lines 16 to 27), omit the item.
(12) Schedule 7, item 12, page 90 (line 1), omit "842‑209", substitute "842‑208".
(13) Schedule 7, item 12, page 90 (after line 21), after section 842‑209, insert:
842 ‑209 Residence of corporate limited partnerships
If an IMR entity makes a choice under paragraph 842‑208(2)(c), section 94T of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 as amended by Schedule 7 to theTax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 1) Act 2015 , applies to the entity in relation to the income years in relation to which this Subdivision applies to the entity.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015
Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015
We do not fund urban rail projects; we fund roads of national significance and we fund nationally significant freight rail projects but we don't fund commuter rail.
Mostly there just aren't enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car and cars need roads.
Consideration should be given to the introduction of a power for the Minister for Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians … where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia’s security and it is not in Australia’s interests for the person to remain in Australia.
A law requiring a terrorist conviction would be toothless.
Taking into account Australia's international obligations, and the national security and counter-terrorism risks posed by Australians engaging in acts prejudicial to Australia's security, the INSLM supports the introduction of a power for the Minister for Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians, where to do so would not render them stateless, where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia's security and it is not in Australia's interests for the person to remain in Australia.
The bounce in employment numbers and the fall in the unemployment rate seems to have sent a positive signal, which is being reflected in consumers view towards future financial and economic conditions.
If you take a longer term perspective, confidence is up on a year ago, up on the short-term average reading and up on the long-term average.
Measures of consumer sentiment had picked up noticeably in May to be a bit above average. Much of this had been attributed to the Australian Government Budget and, in particular, the announcement of tax concessions for small businesses.
… for the Minister for Immigration to revoke the citizenship of Australians—
… where the Minister is satisfied that the person has engaged in acts prejudicial to Australia’s security and it is not in Australia’s interests for the person to remain—
I have spoken to Bill Shorten and he is keen to do a deal but is hoping you may be able to move a little closer to Cleanevent rates.
As discussed Cesar (Melhem) will only sign if we are guaranteed membership though some arrangement.
Labor proposes … if you’ve got $2 million in superannuation and you’re in retirement and you’re earning an income of $100,000 … we’re proposing that you pay a reduction in the tax concession.
Members are entitled to expect that, even though politically affiliated, the Speaker will carry out his or her functions impartially.
The government's failure to plan for a fair and sustainable retirement for all Australians.
No cuts to education, no cuts to health, no change to pensions, no change to the GST and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the National Library Act 1960, this House elects Mr Ferguson to be a member of the Council of the National Library of Australia and to continue as a member for a period of 3 years from this day.
Excise Tariff Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015
Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015
If there's an interruption to the fuel supply chain coming in from overseas, after about a week we're going to run into serious problems. Without fuel can't go to work, can't get to school, you can't get food.
Sydney, for example, in one week alone there's about 45,000 truck trips just distributing food. You'd start to see the food run short in the shops probably in three to four days. You start to see the chemist run out of supplies after about three or four days and our services we take for granted; electricity supply, water supply, none of this can happen without fuel for the supporting elements for those functions. So you'd start to see society collapse.
(1) Schedule 1, item 4, pages 4 and 5 (table items 2 to 6), omit the table items, substitute:
That this bill be now read a third time.
Energy Grants and Other Legislation Amendment (Ethanol and Biodiesel) Bill 2015
That this bill be now read a third time.
Customs Amendment (Australian Trusted Trader Programme) Bill 2015
Recognising our role supporting economic prosperity and protecting the community, we also support the World Customs Organisation's framework of standards. This framework focuses on cooperation and collaboration between customs administrations and industry in managing the whole-of-trade supply chain.
… the window of opportunity for Australian service providers to entrench themselves in GVCs throughout Asia’s high-growth economies and beyond will not remain open forever.
… may soon come under pressure, with other international economies wanting to take advantage of the burgeoning Asian economies.
Australian exporters are left looking like Australian travellers waiting in line at Heathrow Airport, waving passports with Her Majesty's request that that they be offered every assistance, while EU passport holders walk straight through.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Airports Amendment Bill 2015
…applying dissimilar conditions to equivalent transactions with other trading parties, thereby placing them at a competitive disadvantage …
The existence of economies of scale, the aim of reducing air traffic noise or air congestion, for example, could be regarded as objective reasons—
However, in the case of landing and take-off services such economies of scale do not exist. The services provided do not depend on the individual owner of the aircraft or whether they are rendered to the first or the tenth aircraft of the same airline.
… has applied dissimilar conditions to its commercial customers for the provision of equivalent services, thereby placing some of them at a competitive disadvantage, constitutes an abuse of a dominant position within the meaning of … Article 82.
… a major problem in the planning of large infrastructure projects is the high level of misinformation about costs and benefits that decision makers face in deciding whether to build, and the high risks such misinformation generates.
In the grip of the planning fallacy, planners and project promoters make decisions based on delusional optimism rather than on a rational weighting of gains, losses, and probabilities. They overestimate benefits and underestimate costs. They involuntarily spin scenarios of success and overlook the potential for mistakes and miscalculations.
The key weapons in the war on … waste are accountability and critical questioning.
The intense economic contribution of CBDs occurs partly because of the concentration of jobs in these areas. But CBD businesses are also much more productive on average than those in other areas. Inner city areas and secondary commercial hubs, such as those around large cities' airports, also tend to be more productive than other locations.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015
… the role that Australian copyright plays as the primary legal framework supporting the creative economy.
Rights holders would be required to meet any reasonable costs associated with an ISP giving effect to an order and to indemnify the ISP against any damages claimed by a third party.
Rights holders would be required to meet any reasonable costs …
If you are asking me is it possible for, say, Pirate Bay to then move to another IP address or another URL for that matter, of course that is true …
The real great news is, in the piracy capitals of the world, Netflix is winning. We're pushing down piracy in those markets by getting the access.
… make Australia a more attractive market for technology investment and innovation.
As representatives of intellectual property creators, Screen Producers Australia strongly supports initiatives that will reduce the incidence of online copyright infringement and we offer in principle support to the proposed amendments in this Bill.
Screen Producers Australia believes that these amendments, along with a Copyright Notice Scheme, will form an important part of a holistic strategy, one that includes public education, promotion of legal alternatives and a pathway to stronger enforcement. It is the view of many rights holder groups that similar site blocking measures have been adopted overseas and have had a positive impact.
EFF believes that censoring content from the Internet through blocking or filtering is never the best approach to take in managing illegal behaviour online, and that it is always much better to address such behaviour at its source.
It is clear that action is needed both to deter piracy, and to encourage access to legitimate content.
Within the Australian television media landscape, a unique industrial, institutional and legislative framework shapes consumers' viewing habits. Australia's commercial media ownership is one of the highest concentrations in the world … and our isolated geographic location as an English-speaking country amongst Asian markets has meant that English and American media companies and local distributors were free to designate price according to demand without competition … This became commonly known under the term, 'The Australia Tax'—
There have been recent demands on the ACCC … to look into the unfair pricing practices of these streamers who charge up to 376% more for digital content when compared to overseas markets …
(1) Schedule 1, item 1, page 4 (line 8), omit "is to", substitute "may".
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bill 2015
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2015
This is one bit of red tape that we can do without.
We all need to be realistic about the fact that livestock are raised for food.
The MRFF legislation is the sort of bold, far-sighted policy we so often seek from our politicians. By preserving the $20 billion fund into perpetuity, the MRFF will provide a secure and stable source of funding for health and medical research … helping safeguard the future health of Australia's ageing population and improving their quality of life for generations to come.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms AE Burke ) took the chair at 12:14.
… you can't go past a day in the bay … Whether you're an art and history buff, a coffee lover …
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016
We were shocked to learn from the budget documents that Australia was planning to establish a diplomatic post in Bougainville. There has been no consultation on this proposal and there is no agreement to proceed.
If we had our time over again, Senator Wong, I think we would have done this differently.
The New Colombo Plan is deepening Australia's relationships in the Indo-Pacific by offering undergraduate students opportunities for scholarships and grants for study and internships/mentorships in the region.
The experiences and relationships we forge through education permeate, inform and shape our future endeavours.
Spending time overseas to study is a life-changing experience, and the positive impact of initiatives like the New Colombo Plan will be felt for years to come.
In addition to the vital scholarly experience, students forge friendships and connections, develop leadership skills, and gain a first-hand understanding of another culture, which is invaluable for their future careers.
This is an opportunity that is guaranteed to enhance our students' personal and professional lives, long after they return home.
I am confident that the New Colombo Plan will play an important role in strengthening our education and people-to-people ties. The New Colombo Plan also reflects the Australian Government's broader focus on enhancing its engagement with Asia.
This will severely hamper the industry's ability to learn, grow and realise its potential.
The Federal Government is to be commended on today's announcement and recognition that tourism is a key player in international commerce …
The funding pledge will assist with ensuring Australia is able to continue to compete in the aggressive global market for international visitors.
Gender equality and women and girls'—
Gender equality and women and girls' empowerment will be addressed across the aid program.
Globally the private sector generates 90 per cent of jobs and funds over 60 per cent of investment. A strong private sector delivers higher growth, more jobs and will help reduce poverty.
DFAT will strengthen the aid program’s engagement with the private sector and its promotion of the empowerment of women and girls.
That debate be adjourned and the resumption of the debate be made an order of the day for a later hour this day.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015-2016
This is an own goal. It is complete incompetence.
"We won the war [on industry assistance] but Macfarlane was an unhappy general," the minister continued in a clear reference to the losing fight Mr Macfarlane led in the early days of the Abbott government to keep Holden and Toyota manufacturing in Australia.