The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Tax Laws Amendment (Small Business Restructure Roll-over) Bill 2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2015-2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2015-2016
That this bill be now read a second time.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand Amendment (Forum on Food Regulation and Other Measures) Bill 2015
That the amendments be agreed to.
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Payment Surcharges) Bill 2015
It's a common trap. Consumers are seduced by the headline price of an airfare or concert ticket only to find themselves slugged with a hefty booking fee for the privilege of paying with a credit or debit card.
The price of convenience is an astonishing $1.6 billion a year. That's how much Australians pay in surcharges for card payments, according to a survey commissioned by MasterCard last year.
If you think it's too much, you are not alone. Consumer organisation Choice has been railing against excessive surcharging for years, while a Change.org petition calling on Jetstar to drop its surcharge of $17 for a return fare has collected about 110,000 signatures so far. Now we might finally see some action—
The Turnbull government, as part of a broader response to an inquiry into the financial system, announced last week it would crack down on excessive surcharges. The government announced it would legislate a ban on surcharges that exceed the "reasonable costs" faced by merchants in accepting cards. The move is likely to have bipartisan support so it's going to happen, it's a question of when, and what it will mean in practice. No one disputes that there is some cost to the merchant of accepting cards, the question is what is the "reasonable cost"? Choice has estimated that MasterCard or Visa transactions cost about 1 per cent of the transaction total to process while Amex and Diners Club are more expensive, up to 2 per cent.
Choice has described Qantas and its low-cost offshoot, Jetstar and Cabcharge as among the worst offenders in excessive surcharging of their customers.
Virgin Australia charges $7.70 a ticket whether paid by credit card, debit card or PayPal. The surcharge can amount to about 8 per cent on top of the typical cost of a Sydney to Melbourne flight. Qantas charges $2.50 for payment for domestic tickets, which includes New Zealand, paid by debit card. It charges $7 for domestic tickets paid by credit card. For international tickets, the surcharge is $30 by credit card and $10 by debit card.
The government has agreed to take action to improve fee and surcharging arrangements for credit card transactions, which could reduce the costs faced by consumers when they buy products at shops and restaurants.
One of the most frustrating shopping experiences will soon be a thing of the past, as the Australian Government flags an end to unfair credit card surcharges. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared that the fee charged at the cash register for using a credit card must be no more than the merchant's cost of processing the transaction—typically a mere 0.5 per cent. Many retailers charge at least double this amount, and in extreme cases the surcharge can be as much as 20 times higher, in a practice that has infuriated customers. Treasurer Scott Morrison said that credit card surcharges 'have to pass the fair dinkum test'.
Improve surcharging regulation by expanding its application and ensuring customers using lower-cost payment methods cannot be over-surcharged by allowing more prescriptive limits on surcharging'.
(1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 3 (after line 27), after subsection (2F), insert:
(2G) In addition to the effect that this Act (other than Parts IIIA, VIIA and X) has as provided by another subsection of this section, this Act (other than Parts IIIA, VIIA and X) has, by force of this subsection, the effect it would have if:
(a) each reference in Part IVD to an ATM transaction were a reference to an ATM transaction that occurs:
(i) by means of a postal, telegraphic, telephonic, or other like service (including electronic communication); or
(ii) by means of an automatic teller machine provided by a bank (other than a State bank), or any other institution engaged in banking, in the course of banking (within the meaning of section 51(xiii) of the Constitution); and
(b) each reference to a corporation included a reference to a person not being a corporation.
(2) Schedule 1, item 3, page 10 (after line 32), after Part IVC, insert:
Part IVD—ATM transactions
Division 1—Preliminary
55N Object of this Part
The object of this Part is to ensure that:
(a) account holders are not charged for ATM transactions made using automatic teller machines owned or leased by the persons with whom their accounts are held; and
(b) amounts charged for other ATM transactions:
(i) are not excessive; and
(ii) reflect the reasonable costs of allowing a person to make an ATM transaction.
55P Definitions
In this Part:
ATM transaction means a cash deposit to, a cash withdrawal from, or an enquiry about the balance of, an account that is made by means of an automatic teller machine.
55Q Part not to apply to State banking
This Part does not apply with respect to State banking that does not extend beyond the limits of the State concerned.
Division 2—Limit on charges for ATM transactions
55R Limit on charges for ATM transactions
No charges for ATM transactions made using own ‑branded ATMs
(1) A corporation must not, in trade or commerce, charge a person an amount (however described) for making an ATM transaction if:
(a) the corporation is an ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution) for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959; and
(b) the transaction relates to an account held by the person with the corporation; and
(c) the automatic teller machine used to make the transaction is owned or leased by the corporation.
ATM transactions made using foreign ATMs must not be excessive
(2) A corporation must not, in trade or commerce, charge a person an amount (however described) for making an ATM transaction that is excessive (see subsection (3)) if:
(a) the corporation is an ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution) for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959; and
(b) the transaction relates to an account held by the person with the corporation; and
(c) the automatic teller machine used to make the transaction is not owned or leased by the corporation.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), an amount charged for making an ATM transaction is excessive if the amount exceeds the amount permitted by a standard determined under section 18 of thePayment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998 .
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3):
(a) the Reserve Bank of Australia must ensure that there are at all times in force standards under section 18 of the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998 permitting amounts for the purposes of subsection (3); and
(b) the making of such standards is taken to be in the public interest; and
(c) an amount permitted for an ATM transaction must reflect the reasonable costs of allowing the person to make the transaction.
55S Acquisition of property
Scope
(1) This section applies to the following provisions of this Act:
(a) section 55R;
(b) any other provision to the extent to which it relates to section 55R.
Effect of provision
(2) The provision has no effect to the extent (if any) to which its operation would result in the acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) otherwise than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph).
(3) Schedule 1, item 4, page 11 (line 2), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(4) Schedule 1, item 5, page 11 (after line 5), after subparagraph (ia), insert:
(ib) section 55R;
(5) Schedule 1, item 6, page 11 (line 7), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(6) Schedule 1, item 7, page 11 (line 9), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(7) Schedule 1, item 8, page 11 (after line 12), after subparagraph (ia), insert:
(iib) section 55R;
(8) Schedule 1, item 9, page 11 (line 14), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(9) Schedule 1, item 10, page 11 (line 16), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(10) Schedule 1, item 11, page 11 (line 18), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
(11) Schedule 1, item 12, page 11 (line 20), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
(12) Schedule 1, item 13, page 11 (line 22), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
(13) Schedule 1, item 14, page 11 (line 24), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
(14) Schedule 1, item 15, page 12 (line 3), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(15) Schedule 1, item 16, page 12 (line 5), after "55B,", insert "55R,".
(16) Schedule 1, item 17, page 12 (line 12), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
(17) Schedule 1, item 18, page 12 (line 19), after "55B", insert "or 55R".
That this bill be now read a third time.
That the order of the day No. 2, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 [No. 2]
Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2]
These aberrations cannot be regarded as isolated. They are not the work of a few rogue unions, or a few rogue officials. The misconduct exhibits great variety. It is widespread. It is deep-seated.
It would be utterly naive to think that what has been uncovered is anything other than the small tip of an enormous iceberg.
That the question be now put.
The House divided. [10:10]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Mitchell)
The House divided. [10:20]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Mitchell)
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the remaining stages being passed without delay.
The House divided. [10:30]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Mitchell)
That the bill be now read a third time.
That the question be put.
The House divided. [10:37]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Mitchell)
The House divided. [10:39]
(The Deputy Speaker—Mr Mitchell)
Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 [No. 2]
That this bill be now read a third time.
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2015 Measures No. 6) Bill 2015
That all the words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
" while not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House condemns this Government ' s failure to pursue real tax reform and instead hit families with a higher GST. "
That this bill be now read a third time.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Budget Repair) Bill 2015
You want to go [overseas] because you want to see someone in the family that's old … My wife had a sister in Italy, she wanted to spend time with her before it was too late.
… excessively punitive and inequitable in its impact on Australians not born in this country and who maintain cultural and familial ties to their place of birth.
… significant and unfairly borne by one segment of our community.
We know from our members and constituency that it is not unusual for older Australians born overseas to take 'the one big trip' to their country of birth when their working lives are over. They make the most of their time there, given the cost of travel, spending an extended period seeing family and friends before returning to Australia. COTA does not see this as unreasonable.
It is unfair that a new Australian from a refugee background, who has had to return to their country of origin for a few months, should have their Pension cut significantly more than someone who has lived in Australia their whole life and then permanently emigrated overseas.
For those in an already difficult financial position who are attempting to improve their education and consequently their employment prospects, these cuts will be significant.
The Social Security program plays an important part in providing for families, children, and older persons in times of stress.
But it cannot remain static. Changes in our population, in our working habits, and in our standard of living require constant revision.
Why should the living standards of future generations be compromised just because we were not willing to make sacrifices to the unsustainable growth of government expenditure?
The real point is the rest of the world has trimmed us down, commodity prices have fallen … and of course with (lower) wages growth, in the budget revenues are falling.
When commonwealth revenue has been so affected, the penny ought to drop that what we should be doing is cutting spending.
The Treasurer has got to sit and go through, line by line, every item of social expenditure—indeed every item of expenditure …
(Then ministers) Peter Walsh, John Dawkins and myself sat in those expenditure review committees 10 weeks a year, 10 hours a day.
In the end I was sitting up at the desk with a tennis shade on and sunglasses because I couldn’t stand the light from the paper, sitting there for so long.
This is a big honour for me as I do what I can to help those living with cancer.
Graeme is easily recognised because he is always smiling. He is dedicated to raising awareness of cancer and is a strong advocate of the support programs provided by Cancer Council NSW.
All of us are here accountable not just to our constituents but to the generations that will come after them and after us.
We cannot afford to allow the science to become a partisan issue as it is in the United States.
It is really important for leaders, for prime ministers, for ministers, for people in the media to talk about the importance of change, to talk about the importance of science, to talk about the importance of technology
The Jobs for Families childcare package will deliver a significant economic gain for our nation by making returning to work more attractive for parents.
… the improvement in the non-mining economy remained well entrenched, while the outlook was generally positive as well.
… … …
It certainly seems like they—
are remaining quite upbeat about the outlook, which suggests good things for the labour market and future investment.
The Government failing students in vocational education.
Labor Senator Kim Carr said Labor introduced VET FEE-HELP with good intentions but the scheme contains 'fundamental weaknesses' that need to be fixed.
Senator Carr said the Gillard government's removal of a requirement for providers to have credit transfer arrangements in place with higher education providers was a mistake.
Although Labor introduced VET FEE-HELP, it is the government's responsibility to restore confidence in the scheme.
… is a unique Australian asset and one which should be protected.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Amendment Bill 2015
Amending Acts 1990 to 1999 Repeal Bill 2015
Statute Law Revision Bill (No. 3) 2015
That:
(1) Ms Marino be discharged from the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities and that, in her place, Mr Hastie be appointed a member of the committee; and
(2) Ms Marino be appointed a supplementary member of the Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities for the purpose of the committee’s inquiry into the role of Smart ICT in the design and planning of infrastructure.
The Treasurer—
has got to sit down and go through, line by line, every item of social expenditure—indeed every item of expenditure …
When Commonwealth revenue has been so affected, the penny ought to drop that what we should be doing is cutting spending.
The Advertiser, before I had got my picture with 2 sons and a PhD on page 3, reported a local Liberal Party secretary had sent a letter advising residents to vote against me as I was ALP. The Advertisertook an interest in party numbers.
I rang my local ALP's federal MP and asked what I should do. 'Lean back and enjoy it' he advised on the grounds that any publicity in local government elections was a bonus. And it probably was. You can never judge the backlash or the frontlash either! The Advertiser probably did me a good turn.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Hon. BC Scott ) took the chair at 9:30 a.m.
Mr Tran and his family are good examples of when cultural integration and assimilation travels in two directions—it is not just the case of the 'outsider' integrating into the local western society, what Mr Tran has provided is an example of local western society being invited into and to a degree moving toward an appealing set of values and ideas.
Our national identity is defined by shared political values, democracy, tempered by the rule of law. A deep belief that each of us owes the other a fair go, the best chance to realise our dreams.
We'll always remember the great losses but we also remember that time of strength following the fires when the people of Canberra and district, friends, neighbours, strangers, reached out in new ways to each other and in our time of recovery, Canberra worked as a community
Simply to blame people in that circumstance … robs us of the opportunity to forgive and move on and we really need to do that. If people are still grieving 10 years later or if they're still angry 10 years later then we do have a problem in society.
1. Government should operate as a coherent whole
2. A uniform set of duties should apply to all resources handled by Commonwealth entities
3.Performance of the public sector is more than financial
4.Engaging with risk is a necessary step in improving performance
5.The financial framework, including the rules and supporting policy and guidance, should support the legitimate requirements of the Government and the Parliament in discharging their respective responsibilities.
The difficulty is that the scope of reforms must encapsulate some $430 billion of annual Australian Government expenditure, covering 'more than 190 separate entities and companies, hundreds of boards and committees, and a large number of subsidiaries and other arrangements'. In addition, consideration must be given to 'cultural change, technology transformation and rethinking the design of many existing programs and services'. The latter requires much more than legislative change as it is these aspects of reform that require significant engagement and 'buy-in' from the wider public service.
(b) to establish a performance framework across Commonwealth entities; and
(c) to require the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities:
(i) to meet high standards of governance, performance and accountability; and
(ii) to provide meaningful information to the Parliament and the public—
(iii) to use and manage public resources properly; and
(iv) to work cooperatively with others to achieve common objectives, where practicable …
Leadership must come from all levels. This includes from all Ministers (especially the Finance Minister); all Members of Parliament (especially parliamentary committees, including this Committee); all central agencies (especially Finance); and from all senior leadership teams within entities. All have a role to play in striving for the success of the Public Management Reform Agenda.
There are a number of additional regulatory and supervisory tools that APRA can apply to address emerging risks, building on the enhanced monitoring and review of recent years. These include additional supervisory monitoring and oversight, supervisory actions involving Pillar 2 capital requirements for individual ADIs, and higher regulatory capital requirements at a system-wide level. Beyond this, there are also more direct controls such as regulatory limits on lending activities, as introduced in other jurisdictions to manage risks emerging in the housing market.
At this stage, APRA does not propose to introduce increases in system-wide capital to address current risks in the housing market, or introduce new regulatory limits, although we will keep these options under active review. Based on our current assessment of the risk outlook, however, APRA considers that it is necessary to further increase the level of supervisory intensity in this area, to reinforce sound lending practices, with a particular focus on some specific areas of prudential concern.
In the current economic environment, prudential risks in the housing market appear to be increasing. Interest rates remain at historically low levels, household leverage remains high, and housing loans represent a large and increasing concentration on many ADI balance sheets. Strong competition in the housing market is also evident, which is accentuating pressure on lending standards. Against this backdrop, housing credit growth has accelerated, with lending to property investors particularly strong; the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has noted that this could be funding additional speculative activity in the market. These forces have contributed to strong house price growth, particularly when viewed against the more subdued growth in household incomes.
… given that we have in Australia in all truth a crowned republic ... [why] inflict upon our country the wound of a divisive debate about a republican form of government?
Many of the operators currently operating under the Australian General Register would likely re-flag their vessels in order to compete with the foreign operators who enjoy the benefit of comparatively lower wage rates. Australian seafarer jobs would be adversely affected as Australian operators re-flag from the Australian General Register.
Ship operators are likely to replace Australian seafarers … with foreign seafarers
Individual businesses can’t afford to see their sales shrink, and neither can the Australian economy. Falling consumption can actually tip a nation into outright recession, as one of our major trading partners recently found out. In 2014 the Japanese government raised their consumption tax from 5 per cent to 8 per cent. Consumption dropped by almost 2 percentage points in the months that followed, taking Japan’s weak economy into recession.
There is a risk that the government’s tax reform may be a hit to consumer confidence, which may already be softening under the impact of falling share prices and softer housing markets.
In respect of catering and hospitality by the Minister's department in 2014–15,
(a) what total sum was spent,
(b) for what functions was the catering and hospitality,
(c) on what date(s) did each function occur, and at what location(s), and
(d) for each function, what sum was spent on (i) meals, (ii) drinks, (iii) hospitality staff, and (iv) other costs.
The figures provided in the response to House of Representatives parliamentary question 1433 that was tabled on 21 October 2015 did not include all items of expenditure on catering, hospitality and other associated costs during 2014-15 due to an administrative error.
Total hospitality expenditure (excluding GST) for the Department of Employment for the period was $172,425.38.
Please refer to the table attached for a breakdown of events with a cost exceeding $1,000. Events costing less than $1,000 are grouped together as to provide details for each item of expenditure would require an unreasonable diversion of departmental resources.
To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Rural Health—In respect of the Minister's appointment on 21 September 2015, will the department provide an itemised account of all associated costs, including (a) signage, (b) stationery, including business cards and letterheads, (c) web design and IT services, (d) vehicular signage and painting, and (e) marketing materials, including logos, pamphlets, and audio-visual materials such as DVDs.
a) Nil
b) Stationery costs were $1613.52 GST Exclusive.
c) Changes to the department's websites were undertaken as business as usual.
d) Nil
e) Nil
In respect of the departmental and agency venue hire in 2014-15, (a) what total sum was spent, (b) what functions were these hires for, and (c) on what dates were these functions held.
(a - c) The Department of Health's corporate systems do not allow for the requested information to be collected in one report. To provide the level of detail requested would involve an unreasonable diversion of resources.
What conditions were in the Medibank Private sale terms about keeping branches open and why is the Blacktown Medibank Private office closing while others, including Parramatta and Castle Hill, are not.
The Medibank Private Sale Act 2006 requires Medibank Private to maintain a substantial business and operational presence in Australia.
As an ASX traded healthcare company providing private health insurance and health solutions, to 3.9 million people in Australia and New Zealand, decisions around how retail store locations (including, Blacktown, Parramatta, and Castle Hill) are optimised for the benefit of customers and shareholders are commercial operational issues that are the responsibility of Medibank Private's management and Board.
12 November 2015:
(1) Why did the Minister not transfer documents relating to the Perth Freight Link to the new Minister with responsibility for this project.(2) Where are the documents that where identified by the Minister's then Chief of Staff as being available for release under Freedom of Information applications AMO 16-01 and 16-02.
(1) The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development is responsible for briefing, and providing relevant documents to, Ministers in the Infrastructure and Regional Development portfolio.
(2) As outlined in part 2.44 of the Australian Information Commissioner's Freedom of Information guidelines, where an FOI request is made to a minister and there is a change of minister in the course of the request or an IC review, the new minister is the respondent. If the requested document is not in the possession of the new minister, the FOI Act will not apply as the document is no longer an 'official document of a minister'.
This approach is entirely consistent with the decision taken by the FOI Commissioner when Philip Morris Ltd had originally sought documents from the then-Treasurer, the Member for Lilley (Mr Swan MP), who was replaced by the Member for McMahon (Mr Bowen MP). This access was denied on the basis that the documents were no longer in the possession of the Treasurer, making them no longer official documents of the Treasurer. Therefore there was no right of access to the documents under the FOI Act.
(1) What are the national reporting requirements for adverse reactions to vaccines that are listed on the National Immunisation Programme Schedule. (2) Which states and territories mandate reporting of adverse reactions to vaccines.
(1) Sponsors of vaccines (drug companies) are required to report to the TGA all serious adverse reactions to vaccines within 15 days of their becoming aware of them, and they must record all adverse events and be able to provide this information when requested by the TGA. Health professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions directly to the TGA, on a voluntary basis.
Most reports of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines are received by the TGA from state and territory health departments under a cooperative agreement for the prompt and regular sharing of information between the Commonwealth and states and territories.
(2) Adverse events following immunisation are notifiable diseases (as a requirement of state and territory legislation), and thus subject to mandatory reporting by health professionals, in the following states and territories: New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Western Australia.
In light of research showing clear links between specific genetic markers and adverse reactions to some vaccines, why is this not listed in the Australian Immunisation Register Immunisation Exemption Form as a medical contraindication.
Expert advice provided by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance has confirmed that there are no genetic markers for which there is a reliable and clinically relevant association with adverse events following immunisation. Based on this advice, genetic markers will not be listed as a valid reason for exemption on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register (ACIR) Immunisation Medical Exemption Form.
In respect of each of the vaccines in the National Immunisation Program Schedule, how many adverse reactions have been reported in the past five years.
Approximately 19 million vaccinations (including National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines and private market vaccines) were provided to children aged 0-4 during the period 1 January 2011 to 19 August 2015 with a total of 11,097 suspected adverse reaction reports or an adverse reaction reporting rate of approximately 0.06%. Approximately 2.8 million vaccinations (including NIP vaccines and private market vaccine) were provided to children aged 10-15 years in the same period with a total of 3,630 suspected adverse reaction reported (approximately 0.13%).
The breakdown by vaccine and age group is as follows:
Table 1: Reports of suspected adverse reactions following vaccinations in children aged 0-4 years from 1 January 2011 to 19 August 2015
Table 2: Reports of suspected adverse reactions following vaccinations in children aged
10-15 years from 1 January 2011 to 19 August 2015
Notes:
What progress has Iran made in respect of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
See the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General's report to the Board of Governors on the IAEA website.
Is it a fact that that Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the National Security Council, announced on 10 November 2015 that Iran had ceased shutting down centrifuges at the Natanz and Fordow plants after 20 Iranian parliamentarians wrote to the Iranian President informing him that deactivating the centrifuges contradicted the directives of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
See the IAEA Director General's report to the Board of Governors on the IAEA website.
Is it a fact that Iran has committed a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution in the past two months, by test-firing the Emad long-range ballistic missile.
The UN Iran Panel of Experts has concluded that Iran's 10 October launch of an Emad ballistic missile was a violation of paragraph 9 of Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929.
Is it a fact that since the signing of the agreement with P5+1, Iran has deployed a further expeditionary force to Syria to fight for President Bashar al-Assad; if so, was this deployment a violation of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
Iran has deployed troops to Syria at the request of the Government of Syria. The issue of violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions involving Iran is a matter for the UN Iran Panel of Experts. They have not made a determination on the issue.
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not. (2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) tablet devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
(1) No. A separate foreign affairs advisory council on deregulatory matters was not required.
(2) N/A
(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) tablet devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
(1) Yes. The Agricultural Industry Advisory Council (AIAC).
(2) (a) The AIAC was established on 29 January 2014.
(b) The list of council members is at Attachment A .
(c) The purpose of the AIAC is to provide the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources with information, advice and recommendations from a cross-section of industries and stakeholders on contemporary issues affecting Australia's agricultural, fishing and forestry sectors.
(d) Since 29 January 2014, the AIAC has met eight times. The minutes from AIAC meetings are not on the public record. Discussions between the Minister and his council are conducted with the expectation of confidentiality in line with the council's terms of engagement.
(e) (i) and (ii) The AIAC met face-to-face on the following dates and locations:
11-12 April 2014—Rutherglen, Victoria
21-22 August 2014—Darwin, Northern Territory
31 October 2014—Sydney New South Wales
1 April 2015—Devonport, Tasmania
15 July 2015—Bunbury, Western Australia
18 November 2015—Brisbane, Queensland
The AIAC also met via teleconference on:
10 June 2014
17 June 2014
17 June 2015
(iii) Attendance records for the eight meetings are at Attachment B .
(iv) Meeting venues are outlined below:
11-12 April 2014—All Saints Winery, Rutherglen, Victoria—Council member (host) business
21 August 2014—Office of Northern Australian Development, Darwin,
Northern Territory—Council member (host) workplace
31 October 2014—Westpac Group, Sydney New South Wales—Council member (host) workplace
1 April 2015—Ghost Rock Vineyard, Devonport, Tasmania—venue was chosen due to the appropriate facilities (Wi-Fi, teleconference and AV) available to conduct meeting and supporting events
15 July 2015—Light House Beach Resort, Bunbury, Western Australia—venue was chosen due to the appropriate facilities (Wi-Fi, teleconference and AV) available to conduct meeting and supporting events
18 November 2015—Pullman Hotel, Brisbane, Queensland –venue was chosen due to the appropriate facilities (Wi-Fi, teleconference and AV) available to conduct meeting and supporting events.
(v) AIAC members are not paid. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources covers travel, accommodation and incidental expenses as outlined in Attachment C .
(vi) Itemised details of hospitality and catering, including the cost of meals, beverages and other costs associated with food and beverages are outlined in Attachment D.
(f) (i) to (vi) No.
ATTACHMENT A
Agricultural Industry Advisory Council members list
Chair
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
Members
David Moon—Queensland
Eliza Brown—Victoria
Stuart Richey—Tasmania
Rob de Fegely—New South Wales
Kevin Sorgiovanni—Western Australia
Susan Bower—New South Wales
Luke Bowen—Northern Territory
Hamish McLaren—New South Wales
Dean Wormald—Western Australia
Lenore Johnstone—Queensland
Andrew Inglis—South Australia (from 14 August 2014)
ATTACHMENT B
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 11-12 April 2014 Rutherglen, Victoria
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
Eliza Brown
David Moon
Luke Bowen
Susan Bower
Lenore Johnstone
Hamish McLaren
Stuart Richey
Dean Wormald
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Paul Grimes, Secretary
Paul Morris, Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper Taskforce
Karen Schneider, First Assistant secretary
Sally Standen, Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Ros Matley, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Brett Chant, Minister's Assistant Media Adviser
Attendance at AIAC teleconference on 10 June 2014
AIAC members
David Moon
Eliza Brown
Stuart Richey
Rob de Fegely
Kevin Sorgiovanni
Susan Bower
Luke Bowen
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Lenore Johnstone
Attendance at AIAC teleconference on 17 June 2015
AIAC members
David Moon
Eliza Brown
Rob de Fegely
Susan Bower
Luke Bowen
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Lenore Johnstone
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 21 August 2014 Darwin, Northern Territory
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
Luke Bowen
Eliza Brown
David Moon
Rob de Fegely
Kevin Sorgiovanni
Susan Bower
Lenore Johnstone
Hamish McLaren
Stuart Richey
Dean Wormald
Andrew Inglis
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Paul Grimes, Secretary
Paul Morris, Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper Taskforce
Lee Cale, Assistant Secretary
Sally Standen, Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Kylie Johnson, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Brett Chant, Minister's Assistant Media Adviser
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 31 October 2014 Sydney, New South Wales
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
Susan Bower
Luke Bowen
Eliza Brown
David Moon
Rob de Fegely
Lenore Johnstone
Hamish McLaren
Stuart Richey
Dean Wormald
Andrew Inglis
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Paul Grimes, Secretary
Paul Morris, Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper Taskforce
Lisa Elliston, Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Kylie Johnson, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Gerard McManus, Minister's Senior Media Adviser
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 1 April 2015 Devonport, Tasmania
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
Stuart Richey
Luke Bowen
Eliza Brown
David Moon
Rob de Fegely
Lenore Johnstone
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Andrew Inglis
Kevin Sorgiovanni
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Phillip Glyde, Acting Secretary
Lisa Elliston, Assistant Secretary
Lee Cale, Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Kylie Johnson, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Brett Chant, Minister's Assistant Media Adviser
Attendance at AIAC teleconference on 17 June 2015
AIAC members
David Moon
Eliza Brown
Rob de Fegely
Kevin Sorgiovanni
Susan Bower
Luke Bowen
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Lenore Johnstone
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Daryl Quinlivan, Secretary
Lee Cale, Acting First Assistant Secretary
Karen Schneider, First Assistant Secretary
Donna Hawkes, Director
Greg Williamson, First Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 14-15 July 2015 Bunbury, Western Australia
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
Kevin Sorgiovanni
Stuart Richey
Luke Bowen
David Moon
Rob de Fegely
Lenore Johnstone
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Andrew Inglis
Susan Bower
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Daryl Quinlivan, Secretary
Lee Cale, Acting First Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Kylie Johnson, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Melinda Hashimoto, Minister's Adviser
Attendance at AIAC meeting on 17-18 November 2015 Brisbane, Queensland
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair)
AIAC members
David Moon
Lenore Johnstone
Stuart Richey
Luke Bowen
Eliza Brown
Rob de Fegely
Hamish McLaren
Dean Wormald
Andrew Inglis
Susan Bower
Guest attendees
John Hewitt (Telstra Corporate Affairs Manager, Queensland)
Channa Seneviratne (Telstra Director of wireless networks)
Marcus Bezzi (Executive General Manager, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission)
Gabrielle Ford (General Manager, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission)
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Daryl Quinlivan, Secretary
Melissa Brown, Acting Assistant Secretary
Bronwyn Edwards, Secretariat
Kylie Johnson, Secretariat
Richard Hyett, Minister's Adviser
Sam Harma, Minister's Assistant Adviser
Gerard McManus, Minister's Senior Media Advisor
ATTACHMENT C
*Estimate as final costs are still being settled.
ATTACHMENT D
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not.
(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council,
(a) on what date,
(b) who are the members,
(c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter),
(d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes,
(e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the
(i) date,
(ii) name of the host city/town,
(iii) attendance record,
(iv) venue and why it was chosen,
(v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation,
(vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and
(f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to
(i) business cards,
(ii) personalised pens and stationery,
(iii) mobile phones,
(iv) laptops,
(v) tablet devices, and
(vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
Question 1: Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not?
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection used existing committees to establish a Ministerial Advisory Council or equivalent consultation mechanism on deregulation/regulatory reform. The inclusion of deregulation/regulatory reform into the terms of reference for these committees has not increased running costs above existing levels. Four different committees have been used, at different times, to act as the deregulation/regulatory reform Ministerial Advisory Council, these include:
1) the Customs and Border Protection National Consultative Committee – 26 March 2014 to 17 November 2015;
2) the panel responsible for the Independent Review into Integrity in the 457 Programme – 4 April 2014 to 30 June 2014;
3) the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration – 17 November 2015 to current; and
4) the National Committee on Trade Facilitation – 17 November 2015 to current.
Question 2 (A): If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, on what date?
1) On 26 March 2014, the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection approved a Terms of Reference change to the Customs and Border Protection National Consultative Committee to include deregulation.
2) On 4 April 2014, the former Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaela Cash extended the Terms of Reference of the panel responsible for the Independent Review into Integrity in the 457 Programme to include providing advice on deregulation measures that go beyond the 457 programme arising as part of the review process. The panel provided their final report titled "Robust New Foundations: A streamlined, Transparent and Responsive System for the 457 Programme" to the Assistant Minister on 30 June 2014.
3) On 17 November 2015, the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration was approved by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection as the stakeholder consultation mechanism on deregulation/regulatory reform for immigration matters.
4) On 17 November 2015, the National Committee on Trade Facilitation was approved by the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection as the stakeholder consultation mechanism on deregulation/regulatory reform for trade matters.
Question 2 (B): If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, who are the members?
The members of each group are as follows:
Customs and Border Protection National Consultative Committee
457 Integrity Review
Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM)
National Committee on Trade Facilitation
1) Commonwealth Government Agencies
2) Industry
Question 2 (C): If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, what are the functions and purpose (mission/charter)?
The function and purpose of each group is as follows:
Customs and Border Protection National Consultative Committee (CBPNCC)
1) The Terms of Reference state that the CBPNCC will: review and make recommendations on:
a. emerging strategic issues in the Customs and Border Protection international trade operating environment;
b. the work program of the sub-committees;
c. where appropriate, proposed changes to the Customs Act 1901 and other related legislation;
d. recent developments in case law in the Customs and Border Protection commercial operating environment;
e. the approach and progress of regulatory reform within the Service; and
f. potential opportunities for deregulation in their representative communities.
457 Integrity Review
1) The Terms of Reference for the 457 Integrity Review were:
a. determine the level of non-compliance by sponsors in the Subclass 457 programme, both historically and under the current regulatory framework;
b. evaluate the regulatory framework of the Subclass 457 programme and determine whether the existing requirements appropriately balance a need to ensure the integrity of the programme with potential costs to employers in accessing the programme;
c. report on the scope for deregulation while maintaining integrity in the programme;
d. review and advise on the appropriateness of the current compliance and sanctions;
e. consider the size, composition and Terms of Reference for a future incarnation of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration; and
f. provide advice on deregulation measures that go beyond the 457 programme arising as part of the review process.
Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration
1) The Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM) is a tripartite body comprising industry, union and government representatives which will provide advice to the Minister and Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection on Australia's temporary and permanent skilled migration programmes and associated matters.
2) The MACSM will advise the Ministers on:
a. programme specific visa and policy settings to optimise the contribution of skilled migration to Australia's productivity and economy.
b. the size and composition of Australia's temporary and permanent migration programmes, and the impacts of these programmes on Net Overseas Migration levels and population growth.
c. The composition of the Consolidated Sponsored Occupations Lists, with a view to increasing the productivity contribution of sponsored migration.
d. Skill shortages in the labour market which cannot be met from the domestic labour force and domestic training and education programmes.
e. opportunities to reduce regulatory burdens and costs on Australian businesses seeking to access visa programmes to fill genuine skilled vacancies.
f. policies to ensure that Australian workers are afforded priority in the labour market.
g. the role of State and Territory governments in skilled and business migration.
h. the adequateness of regulatory powers of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to ensure integrity and detect and prevent practices which are inconsistent with the intent of the programme.
i. the role and regulation of the migration advice industry.
j. the impacts of migration to Australia, including social and settlement matters.
k. potential changes to visa programmes to enhance productivity in the Australian economy, support economic growth, assist employers address genuine skill shortages, and better align Australia's visa programme with domestic training and education policies.
National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF)
1) The charter/mission of the NCTF is as follows:
The NCTF will fulfil the obligations required by the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade Facilitation by providing the forum for the Australian Government and industry to monitor implementation strategies.
The NCTF provides a forum for government and industry stakeholders to discuss strategic issues relating to trade facilitation affecting Australian Industry stakeholders in the international trade environment. The NCTF will discuss opportunities for reform and improvements to Australia's domestic trade facilitation environment and engagement with the international trade environment.
For the purposes of the NCTF, trade facilitation refers to measures designed to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. The NCTF will explore opportunities to improve trade facilitation including the delivery of efficiencies and deregulation at the border and any associated recommendations for policy, regulation or legislative change.
NCTF industry members will serve as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's Ministerial Advisory Committee on Deregulation for trade facilitation issues in accordance with the Regulator Performance Framework.
Question 2 (D): If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, how often has it met and what were the outcomes?
A number of meetings occurred during 2014/15. The meetings include outcomes relating to the committee's original functions and the newly expanded deregulation/regulatory reform responsibilities.
Customs and Border Protection National Consultative Committee (CBPNCC)
1) The CBPNCC met twice during its tenure as the Regulation Reform stakeholder consultation mechanism.
457 Integrity Review
1) The 457 Integrity Review panel met as a group for formal panel meetings 14 times following the extension of its Terms of Reference to include deregulation. In addition to these formal panel meetings extensive stakeholder consultations were undertaken with members of the panel in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
2) The outcome of the 457 Integrity Review was the panel report "Robust New Foundations: A Streamlined, Transparent and Responsive System for the 457 Programme" which was released by Government on 10 September 2014. The report made 22 recommendations to improve the 457 programme. These recommendations included identified a range of deregulatory measures relating to the 457 programme and permanent visa pathways.
Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM)
1) MACSM has met once since incorporating Regulation Reform. Further meetings are planned in 2016.
National Committee on Trade Facilitation (NCTF)
1) The NCTF has not met since it became the stakeholder consultation mechanism on regulation reform for trade matters on 17 November 2015.
Question 2 (E) (i-v) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following:
i. the date
ii. name of the host city/town
iii. attendance record
iv. venues and why it was chosen
v. details of allowance paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation
vi. itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages
The following meetings occurred in 2014/15:
Question 2 (f): has the Minsters department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members?
1) No equipment has been provided to the Advisory Council members.
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not.
(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council,
(a) on what date,
(b) who are the members,
(c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter),
(d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes,
(e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the
(i) date,
(ii) name of the host city/town,
(iii) attendance record,
(iv) venue and why it was chosen,
(v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation,
(vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and
(f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to
(i) business cards,
(ii) personalised pens and stationery,
(iii) mobile phones,
(iv) laptops,
(v) tablet devices, and
(vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
(1) Yes, the former Minister of Health, the Hon Peter Dutton MP, established the Health Ministerial Advisory Council (Health MAC).
(2)(a) The Health MAC was established on 4 April 2014.
(b) The members of the Health MAC are:
(c) The Health MAC was established to provide advice to the Minister for Health on issues relating to the Health Industry, with a specific focus on deregulation.
(d) The Health MAC has met on two occasions. There were eleven action items arising from the two meetings. Of the 11, five are complete and work is underway on the remaining six.
(e) Meeting one
(i) 5 August 2014
(ii) Canberra ACT
(iii)
(iv) Parliament House Canberra ACT due to its central location.
(v)
(vi) Parliament House Catering by the Intercontinental Hotels Group. $624.00. Lunch (Food only). Tea and Coffee.
Meeting two
(i) 17 November 2014
(ii) Canberra ACT
(iii)
(iv) Parliament House Canberra ACT due to its central location
(v)
(vi) Parliament House Catering by the Intercontinental Hotels Group. $539.47. Lunch (Food only). Tea and Coffee.
(f) The Department of Health has not provided members with any equipment.
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not.
(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) tablet devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
As I am not a Cabinet Minister, this is not applicable.
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not.
(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) tablet devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
Clarification:
On 24 November 2015 the Department of Communications and the Arts received the following further clarification from the House of Representatives Table Office, on behalf of Mr Conroy:
Prior to forming Government, the Liberal National Coalition released a policy document titled, ' Our Plan, Real Solutions for all Australians ' . In the subsection titled ' Action Plan to Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation ' , it states, ' The Coalition will establish Ministerial Advisory Councils for each Cabinet Minister to ensure proper consultation ' . My questions relate to this election commitment.
The House of Representatives Table Office indicated:
It is our understanding that this multi-Minister question refers to the time period of the 44th Parliament (November 2013 – current).
In response to Question 1:
The former Minister for Communications, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, established the Ministerial Advisory Council on Communications (MACC) in February 2014.
On 12 November 2015 the Assistant Minister for Productivity, the Hon Dr Peter Hendy MP, announced the Government's proposed transition to a strengthened Regulation Reform Agenda. The advisory mechanisms best suited to supporting this new agenda will be determined by the Minister for Communications and the Arts in due course. No decisions about the future role of the MACC have been made at this point in time.
In response to Question 2:
(a) The MACC was established in February 2014.
(b), (c) and (d) The MACC membership, its functions and purpose, the date of its meetings and the outcome of its meetings can be found in the media release issued by the former Communications Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, on 7 March 2014 titled ' Advisory council meets to discuss reform agenda '1.
(e)(i) The MACC meetings were held on 7 March 2014.
(ii) The MACC meetings were held at the Department of Communications' office in Sydney.
(iii) The MACC membership is listed in the media release issued by the former Minister for Communications on 7 March 2014 titled ' Advisory council meets to discuss reform agenda '. Four members (Andrew Gordon, Greg Hywood, David Buckingham and Inaki Berroeta) were unable to attend the relevant meeting.
(iv) The venue was the Department of Communications offices in Sydney. The venue was chosen as the Department was able to host the meetings at no hire costs.
(v) MACC members did not receive any allowance or any reimbursement for their attendance.
(vi) Catering costs for the meeting were $279.46 including GST, which was for refreshments served at the meetings.
(f) The Department did not provide any equipment to MACC members.
1.www.minister.communications.gov.au/malcolm_turnbull/news/advisory_council_meets_to_discuss_reform_agenda#.Vl5qho2KBD8
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not.(2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) tablet devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
(1) No.
The Minister for Employment uses an existing body, the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council, as the Ministerial Advisory Council to ensure proper consultation with stakeholders.
(1) Has the Minister established an Advisory Council; if not, why not. (2) If the Minister has established an Advisory Council, (a) on what date, (b) who are the members, (c) what are its functions and purpose (mission/charter), (d) how often has it met and what were the outcomes, (e) for each meeting, will the Minister's department provide the following, the (i) date, (ii) name of the host city/town, (iii) attendance record, (iv) venue and why it was chosen, (v) details of allowances paid to Advisory Council members for expenses, including but not limited to travel and accommodation, (vi) itemised details of hospitality and catering, including but not limited to the cost of meals, beverages and any other costs associated with food and beverages, and (f) has the Minister's department provided any equipment to Advisory Council members, including but not limited to (i) business cards, (ii) personalised pens and stationery, (iii) mobile phones, (iv) laptops, (v) table devices, and (vi) email addresses; if so, can an itemised breakdown of these costs be provided.
(1) No. There is a sufficient range of existing engagement and advisory mechanisms with Social Services portfolio stakeholders.
(2) N/A
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1282 ( Hansard , 10 November 2015, page 112), can his department provide a breakdown of the $6,534,703 spent on training departmental staff, and for each training program completed, can his department provide details including (a) the name of the training program, (b) the company that delivered the training program, (c) the number of staff who attended each training module, (d) when and where each training program was held, (e) the cost of (i) meals, (ii) transport, and (iii) accommodation (where provided), and (f) how this training specifically benefited staff and added value to his department.
The Department does not have data collection mechanisms in place to respond to this question without an unreasonable diversion of resources.
In respect of the luncheon and Pacific roundtable for the delegation attending the Commission of the Status on Women held on 9 March 2015 in New York, (a) at what venue was the luncheon held, and why was it chosen, (b) how many people were present and can he provide their names, (c) can he provide a copy of the (i) menu, and (ii) invoice or itemised list of meals and drinks ordered, with a breakdown of costs; if not, just the breakdown of costs for meals and drinks, and (d) for what purpose was the luncheon held.
On 19 March 2015, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Women (then Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women), as head of the Australian Government delegation to the 59th Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59), co-hosted the Pacific Roundtable and lunch1. The details of this event are as follows:
(a) The event was held in the UN Delegates Dining Room, UN Headquarters, New York. The venue was chosen due to its convenience for all attendees, given that the majority of official CSW59 meetings and events take place within the UN building.
(b) A list of all attendees is at Attachment A .
(c) The menu for this lunch was:
Entree—Grilled Seasonal Vegetables
Main—Chicken Paillard
Dessert—Seasonal Fruit with Macerated Berries
The breakdown of costs (in AUD dollars2) for this event is:
(d) The purpose of this event was to enable the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific delegations attending CSW59 to engage in an open discussion on issues relating to gender equality and women's empowerment, in particular in relation to the global review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was the priority theme for CSW59.
ATTACHMENT A
CSW59 Pacific Roundtable and Lunch
Monday 9 March 2015—1.15pm-2.45pm
UN Delegates Dining Room, UN Headquarters, New York
1 This is an annual event that is co-hosted by the heads of delegation from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFs).
2 Converted from US dollars based on exchange rate as at 9 March 2015
3 No alcohol was served at this event
In respect of each meeting of Ministers, senior officials and delegates for the 'Indonesia-Australia Partnership on food Security in the red meat and cattle sector', can he provide the following details: the (a) dates, (b) locations, (c) full itineraries of proceedings, (d) cost of (i) accommodation, (ii) transport, and (iii) social activities, (e) details of meals, including but not limited to the (i) venue, (ii) number of attendees, (iii) cost of food, (iv) cost of drinks, and (v) list of food and drinks provided/ordered, and (f) all other associated costs, including but not limited to miscellaneous items such as (i) souvenirs, (ii) clothing, and (iii) gifts.
On 5 July 2013, the Labor Government through former Prime Minister Rudd announced the Indonesia-Australia Red Meat and Cattle 'Forum' and associated $60 million assistance package at the Indonesia-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting, which was endorsed by the former Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. There was strong bipartisan support from the Australian Government for the initiative.
The original concept for an Indonesia-Australia Industry/Government Red Meat and Cattle 'Forum' was proposed in the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Indonesia strategy, June 2013 developed by the Meat and Livestock Australia-Indonesia Taskforce following disruptions to the trade such as the cessation of live cattle exports in 2011.
Following the Australian federal election of 2013, former Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Abbott MP, reaffirmed the Australian Government's commitment to deliver the initiative of the 'Forum' and rebranded it as a 'Partnership' based on feedback from the Indonesian government, during his visit to Indonesia (30 September to 1 October 2013).
The Partnership initiative responds to calls from the Australian industry and Indonesian Government for greater investment in the bilateral relationship across the beef and cattle sector and it has had a positive impact on strengthening our agricultural cooperation, trade, investment and services relationship.
In November 2014, Indonesia's new President Joko Widodo wrote to former Prime Minister Abbott confirming his support for the Partnership.
The Partnership has met three times on 17 April 2014 (Jakarta, Indonesia), 6-8 August 2014 (Brisbane, Australia) and most recently on 21 August 2015 (Sydney, Australia). The Partnership continues to have strong support from both the Australian and Indonesian Governments and the Australian beef and live cattle industries. It is seen as an important forum to strengthen the government to government, business to business and industry to industry relationship with Indonesia and to advocate for reliable and consistent trade in beef and live cattle between the two countries.
The costs expended by the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio for the Partnership meetings are detailed below:
ATTACHMENT 1
1 st Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in Red Meat and Cattle Sector
( Thursday, 17 April 2014 - Jakarta , Indonesia)
ATTACHMENT 2
Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in Red Meat and Cattle Sector
Second Partnership Meeting Agenda
(August 6-8, 2014 - Brisbane, Australia)
Wednesday 6 August
Field visit – Chairman Siregar to attend
Business networking function (Hosted by Meat and Livestock Australia)
Thursday 7 August – (Hilton Hotel, " Redlands/Lockyer " room, level 5)
Official Dinner (Hosted by Minister Joyce)
Friday 8 August
Ministerial program -
ATTACHMENT 3
5 August 2014
Partnership co-chairs and secretariat dinner – Moda restaurant
Mains
Octopus
Ling Fish
Grain Fed Sirloin * 4
Gnocchi
Duck Breast
Fries * 2, Bread * 7, Olives * 2
Drinks
House Wine Bottle * 1
Apple Juice
Coca cola
6 August 2014
Cha Cha Char Restaurant Brisbane – Field visit lunch
Mains
Scotch Fillet, with Horseradish butter, Soubise, gremolata, thyme and dauphine potato.
Eye fillet with crushed peas Primavera, tarragon, bresola and potato mousse.
Ricotta tortellini with persillade, red onion relish and smoked mushroom " tea:
Plus side to share along the table:
Sides of butter roasted carrots, cumin and fetta.
Baby peas, bacon, shallots, fetta
Drinks package
non alcoholic
7 August 2014
Ministerial Dinner – Moda restaurant
Entrées
Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Mains
Desserts
Spanish Crème Caramel
White Chocolate Mousse
Drinks
Drinks package - $35 per person (2.5 hours)
o Includes house white and red wine, beer and Soft drinks
Hilton Hotel Brisbane – Partnership meeting lunch
Buffet lunch – Halal
Package includes tea, coffee, soft drinks, morning and afternoon tea.
8 August 2014
Hilton Hotel Brisbane – Industry roundtable breakfast
Buffet and continental breakfast – Halal.
Package includes tea and coffee.
Royale Qld Steakhouse – Ministerial lunch
Lunch Package – Included choice of Rib Fillet / Sirloin Steak.
ATTACHMENT 4
Indonesia-Australia Partnership on Food Security in Red Meat and Cattle Sector
Third Partnership Meeting Agenda
(18 - 21 August 2015 – Sydney, Australia)
ATTACHMENT 5
20 August 2015 – Ministerial Dinner - Pier One Hotel
Entrée
Heirloom tomato, buffalo mozzarella, mizuna
Five spiced prawns, sprout and coriander salad, wonton basket
Alaskan crab, spicy cucumber salsa, papaya salad
Main
Red snapper, sun dried tomato, olive risoni, curry oil
Fillet of beef, truffle mash, spinach with béarnaise sauce
Crispy skin chicken, parsnip mash, asparagus, salsa verdi
Dessert
Pavlova with malibu anglaise
Mocha creme brulee with almond biscotti
Apple and berry crumble served with creme Anglaise
Drinks
Drinks package on consumption, includes:
o Red and White wines - Bridge S.B, Helm Riesling, Cape Mentelle Shiraz
o Fat Yak beer
o Lemonade, Pepsi, juice
21 August 2015 - Lunch - Pier One Hotel
Salad
Caprese salad w truss tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic reduction and baby basil
Rocket, pear and walnut salad in vinaigrette dressing
Mains
Asian stir fry
Grilled salmon fillet w lemon beurre meuniere
Roast leg of lamb w thyme jus
Sides
Roasted baby potatoes with herb & garlic butter
Thyme & Rosemary roasted heirloom pumpkin
Minestrone soup
Sandwiches
Roasted chicken, truss tomatoes and pesto sandwiches
Grilled vegetable, hummus and rocket wrap
Platter
Antipasto platter with assorted dips & breads
Cheese platter
Morning and afternoon tea
Onion and sweet potato frittatas
Tomato and mozzarella and pesto skewers
Cheese and tomato croissants
Crudités with cottage cheese, tapenade, tomato relish and chutney
Scones with jam and double cream
Carman's muesli bars
Yogurt and berries
Yogurt with muesli crunch
Pavlova shell with fruit and berries
Fresh fruit
Tea and coffee was available throughout the day
What sum did it cost to have Ernst and Young evaluate the Humanitarian Settlement Services and Complex Case Support programs.
Ernst & Young received a total of $277,776 (GST inclusive) to conduct the evaluation of the Humanitarian Settlement Services and Complex Case Support programmes.
(1) What is the average staffing number at
(a) inbound, and
(b) outbound, immigration counters at Perth International Airport (PIA).
(2) What is the average wait time at (a) inbound, and (b) outbound, immigration counters at PIA.
(3) Can the Minister confirm that queue monitoring takes into account the entire queue at PIA, and is not based on 'cut-off points' in the queue.
(4) Is it a fact that during peak time, often only 4 of 16 outbound immigration counters are staffed at PIA.
(5) When did the Australian Border Force (ABF) initially propose to install outbound SmartGate at PIA, and when is it expected to be installed.
(6) How many staff are on hand to assist with inbound SmartGate at PIA.
(7) What sum of revenue was raised from the Passenger Movement Charge at PIA in (a) 2013-14, and (b) 2014-15.
(8) What steps is the ABF taking to address queues at PIA.
(1) The number of staff deployed to different areas of the airport at any point in the 24 hour period depends on a variety of factors including; flight scheduling, flight loading, flights landing off schedule, compaction of flights, number of ABF officers scheduled for duty and planned training.
a. The inbound Border Force control point has between 1-6 officers, with an average of 4 officers allocated during the 24/7 operational period. This can change subject to the factors outlined above.
b. The outbound Border Force control point has between 1-6 officers, with an average of 3 officers allocated during the 24/7 operational period. This can change subject to the factors outlined above.
(2) Average wait time statistics are measured differently in relation to inwards and outwards ABF control points. In September 2015 statistics on passenger at Perth Airport were as follows:
a. Passenger facilitation rate at inwards saw 96.02% of passengers processed within 30 minutes from the time the passenger joined the queue;
b. Passenger facilitation rate at outwards saw passengers processed on average in 3 minutes 40 seconds from the time the passenger joined the queue.
(3) Queue monitoring includes the time a passenger joins a queue and continues until they are processed through the Border Force control point.
(4) A number of factors determine how many officers are deployed to various functions at Perth Airport, including the Outwards Control Point during peak periods. Factors that impact officer deployment include: operational priorities, flight scheduling, flight loading, flights landing off schedule, compaction of flights, number of officers scheduled for duty, officers attending VIP or off terminal clearance processing and officer training requirements.
(5) Outbound electronic gates (eGates) at Perth Airport were originally due for installation in November 2015. The revised date for installation is now April 2016.
(6) The ABF at Perth Airport do not allocate staff to assist with inbound SmartGate as a routine activity. Perth Airport Pty Ltd (PAPL) has approximately 30 volunteers working 24/7 and 10 Customer Service representatives who assist travellers with using SmartGate.
(7) It is not possible to identify the amount of Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) collected by carriers which relate to specific departure locations. The overall PMC revenue figures are 846.6m for 2013-14 and 881.3m for 2014-15.
(8) A number of measures have been implemented to reduce queues including the more frequent use of a second exit point, training additional staff to process passengers from across the WA Regional Command and investigation of a 'Red / Green' channel option with PAPL and Department of Agriculture.
In respect of the investigation Operation Fides that commenced in December 2013, (a) has the investigation into biotech company Serana WA Pty Ltd (Serana) now concluded; if not, why not, (b) has there been any recommendation to prosecute Serana, (c) hasOperation Fides been concluded in general, and (d) what costs have been incurred since 1 May 2015 in relation to this investigation.
(a) The investigation into Serana (WA) remains ongoing. A brief of evidence has been submitted to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Further information was received by the department on 22 October 2015, during the course of wider investigations. Elements of that new information requires further investigation. Given the nature of the new information it is not appropriate to comment on it.
(b) A brief of evidence regarding Serana (WA), which was submitted to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on 9 April 2015, is currently under assessment by the CDPP.
(c) Operation Fides is an ongoing complex criminal investigation. The investigation involves a number of persons and entities. As at 4 December 2015, the investigation has not concluded.
(d) As at 4 December 2015 the total costs of activities undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources for Operation Fides since May 2015 are as follows:
Airfare costs for a total of 10 return flights to destinations around Australia totalled $2 947.
Accommodation costs for a total of 16 domestic trips to locations around Australia totalled $6 574.
Car hire costs for one vehicle totalled $258.
Staff salary costs are estimated at $126 301.
Analytical testing of serum held in quarantine totalled $17 051.
Storage costs of serum held in quarantine totalled $450.
In respect of the brief of evidence submitted to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) on the investigation into Serana WA Pty Ltd (Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Estimates , 25 May 2015, page 123), (a) did the CDPP recommend prosecution, and (b) has any other brief of evidence been sought by the CDPP.
(a) The brief of evidence in relation Serana (WA) Pty Ltd was submitted to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on 9 April 2015 and is currently under assessment.
(b) No.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1436 (House Hansard , 15 October 2015, pages 11470 to 11476), in respect of the $1,178 cost to his department for the New Zealand Bilateral Engagement—Plant, Dinner on 8 September 2014, (a) for what purpose was it held, (b) how many people attended, (c) who attended, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the menu be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, (g) for what purpose were the 'other costs' (totalling $116), and (h) what was the outcome.
(a) Routine bilateral discussions between officials from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (then the Department of Agriculture) on plant health and technical market access issues.
(b) Ten.
(c) Five officials from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and five from the department.
(d) The Courgette Restaurant, Canberra City.
(e) A standard restaurant menu was used.
(f) An itemised list of costs is provided below:
(g) The other costs covered water and venue fees.
(h) The purpose of the dinner was to improve and build on the important and well established working relationship between officials from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries and the department in a less formal environment.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1436 (House Hansard , 15 October 2015, pages 11470 to 11476 ), in respect of the $20,306 cost to his department for the Coordination Committee meeting of the Regional Plan of Action to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices on 4 and 5 November 2014, (a) for what purpose was it held, (b) how many people attended, and of these, how many were from his (i) department, and (ii) ministerial office, (c) did he attend, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the itinerary be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, (g) for what purpose were 'other costs' (totalling $13,927), (h) what is the total of all costs associated with this meeting, including but not limited to (i) travel, (ii) accommodation, (iii) social activities, and (iv) allowances, and (i) what was the outcome.
a) The Coordination Committee for the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in South East Asia meets annually, and is hosted by member countries on a rotating basis. The RPOA Coordination Committee meets to agree upon a forward workplan for the next year, outlining collaborative work to be completed by member countries on matters related to promoting responsible fisheries governance and combating IUU fishing in our region. The Committee also discusses progress made by each RPOA member country during the past year.
b) 35 people attended this meeting
i. Three from the department, plus four from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority
ii. One from the Parliamentary Secretary's office who attended the first day of the meeting
c) No. However, Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck, the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, attended the first day of the meeting.
d) The Rydges Esplanade Cairns, in Queensland, Australia.
e) A copy of the agenda for the meeting is included at Attachment A.
f) The following includes an itemised list of the costs of:
i. Food – Totalling $6 265, includes:
i. Official Dinner Tuesday 4 November: 50 x $84 per person $4 200
ii. Official Dinner Wednesday 5 November: 35 x $59 per person $2065
ii. Drinks - Total cost of $114
iii. The breakdown of the 'other costs' (totalling $13 927) is:
i. Venue hire: $476
ii. AV equipment hire: $3 420
iii. Two days x Delegate meal package (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) Totalling: $4 505
iv. Field trip to reef for delegates: $5 226
v. Return airport transfers for delegations: $300
g) The purpose of the 'other costs' were, with reference to answers at (f iii):
i. To hire the conference centre at the Rydges Cairns to hold the two day meeting.
ii. To hire AV equipment for the duration of the meeting.
iii. To provide delegates with food during the meeting.
iv. The purpose of this field trip was to for delegates to learn how Australia does multiple use marine planning. The trip went out on the reef to view it in the context of ecotourism benefits from managing the marine environment for fisheries and other economic benefits while protecting world class ecological and environmental assets. Talks were provided by officials who were expert in the subject matter. It is an expectation by RPOA member countries that the meeting host country provides an informative field trip to the member delegates.
v. To provide delegates with transport to and from the Cairns Airport.
h) The total cost associated was $25 955 made up of the costs outlined under part (f) of this response and:
i. $2 476 for travel, including flights, taxis, booking fees and parking for the three departmental attendees
ii. $1 731 for accommodation for the three departmental attendees
iii. There were no social activities expenses for this meeting
iv. $1 314 for travel allowances for the three departmental attendees
v. $128 for other administration costs associated with the meeting
i) The outcome of the Coordination Committee meeting for the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in South East Asia was the successful continuation of Australia's commitment to regional cooperation to promote sustainable fishing practices and to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. RPOA member countries host this meeting on a rotating basis. Specific outcomes of the meeting include:
i. Agreement to the rules and procedures to establish and implement an 'RPOA Vessel Watch List'. The RPOA Vessel Watch List is mainly to combat IUU fishing by RPOA countries in RPOA participating countries' waters. Participating countries also agreed to continue denying port entry to vessels on regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) IUU vessel lists.
ii. Countries agreed to review their ship registers to ensure that any RFMO IUU listed vessel on their registers is deregistered.
iii. Agreement to continue technical training, capacity building and legislative review and reform.
iv. Countries also agreed, consistent with their respective domestic arrangements and legal frameworks, to continue to progress with ratification or implementation of international and regional fisheries instruments including progress with implementing the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures.
Attachment A
THE 7th COORDINATION COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE REGIONAL PLAN OF ACTION (RPOA) TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE FISHING PRACTICES INCLUDING COMBATING ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED (IUU) FISHING IN THE SOUTHEAST ASIA REGION
Rydges Esplanade Resort, Cairns, Australia
4 - 6 November 2014
DRAFT AGENDA AND TIMETABLE
3 November 2014 (Monday)
Arrival of delegates and hotel check-in
4 November 2014 (Tuesday)
0830 – 0900 Registration
0900 - 1000 Opening Session
Opening address: 15 minutes
Senator the Hon. Richard Colbeck
Parliamentary Secretary to the Australian Government Minister for Agriculture
1000 - 1030 Group Photo and Coffee Break
1030 -1130 Agenda 1: Introduction and Adoption of the Agenda
1.1 Background of the meeting – RPOA Secretariat
1.2 Regional outlook and priorities - discussion
1130 – 1300 Agenda 2: Presentation of Reports
2.1 Reports of Key messages and outcomes:
a. RPOA Secretariat
b. Country reports
1300-1400 Lunch
1400-1530 Agenda 2: Presentation of Reports (Continued)
2.2 RPOA MCS Sub-Regional Groups:
a. Arafura – Timor Seas
b. Gulf of Thailand
c. Southern and Eastern South China Sea and
Sulu-Sulawesi Seas
1530-1545 Coffee Break
1545-1700Agenda 2: Presentation of Reports (Continued)
2.3 RPOA Advisory Bodies/Partners:
a. SEAFDEC
b. APFIC-FAO
c. Worldfish Centre
d. Infofish
2.4 Observers: Coral Triangle Initiative, Others (TBC)
1700 Close of session
1900 - 2200 Official Dinner
5 November 2014 (Wednesday)
0900-1030 Agenda 3: RPOA Issues: for consideration/endorsement
3.1 Rules of Procedure for 3rd Parties
3.2 RPOA IUU Vessel Watch List
3.3 The 'Genuine Link' – the vessel and the flag State
1030 - 1100 Coffee break
1100-1300 Agenda 4: 2013 - 2014 RPOA Work Plan Progress and Further
Priorities
Agenda 5: Development of the 2014 – 2015 RPOA Work Plan
1300 - 1400 Lunch (and commencement of Summary Report by Secretariat)
1400 - 1630 Agenda 6: Other business
Agenda 7: Finalization and summary of 2014 - 2015 Work plan and Coordination Committee Report
Agenda 8: Next Meeting
Agenda 9: Address by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) - protected area conservation, zoning and multiple use.
1700 Meeting close
6 November 2014 (Thursday)
Field Trip
Day Reef tour to be accompanied by GBRMPA officers - focus on protected area conservation and multiple use
7 November 2014 (Friday)
Departure of delegates
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1436 (House Hansard , 15 October 2015, pages 11470 to 11476 ), in respect of the $800 cost to his department for dinner with the Director-General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine on 1 October 2014, (a) for what purpose was it held, (b) how many people attended, (c) who attended, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the menu be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and (g) what was the outcome.
(a) To strengthen Australian government and industry ties with the Director-General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).
(b) Ten.
(c) Mr Jean-Marie Aurand, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
Jonathan Breach, Accolade Wines
James Omond, Omond and Co lawyers
Simon Berry, Wine Grape Growers Australia
Peter Hayes, past-President, International Organisation of Vine and Wine
Tony Battaglene, Winemakers' Federation of Australia
Kate Harvey, Australian Grape and Wine Authority
Creina Stockley, Australian Wine Research Institute
Travis Power, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
John Power, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
(d) Jolleys Boathouse Restaurant.
(e) No.
(f) (i) $800.
(ii) Nil.
(g) Nil.
(g) A strengthened relationship with the Director-General, including improving his understanding of:
The Director-General provided information on the OIV and its reform process.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1436 (House Hansard , 15 October 2015, pages 11470 to 11476 ), in respect of the $554 cost to his department for United States Bilateral Engagement—Plant, Dinner on 10 December 2014, (a) for what purpose was it held, (b) how many people attended, (c) who attended, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the menu be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, (g) for what purpose were the 'other costs' (totalling $17), and (h) what was the outcome.
(a) Routine bilateral discussions between officials from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (then the Department of Agriculture) on plant health and technical market access issues.
(b) Eight.
(c) Three officials from the United States Department of Agriculture, two from the Foreign Agriculture Service based at the United States Embassy in Canberra and three from the department.
(d) The Rockwall Bar and Grill, Hobart, Tasmania.
(e) A standard restaurant menu was used.
(f) An itemised list of costs is provided below:
(g) The other costs were for coffee.
(h) The purpose of the dinner was to improve and build on the important and well established working relationship between officials from the United States Department of Agriculture and the department in a less formal environment.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1436 (House Hansard , 15 October 2015, pages 11470 to 11476 ), in respect of the $2,100 cost to his department for the Formal Dinner China-Australia Dairy Talks on 11 December 2014, (a) for what purpose was it held, (b) how many people attended, (c) who attended, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the menu be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and (g) what was the outcome.
a) The dinner is a formality in a diplomatic visit of Chinese officials representing government, the Chinese dairy industry and Chinese research institutions. The aim of the dinner is to welcome the delegation to Australia and introduce them to Australian dairy industry leaders.
b) Twenty people attended the dinner.
c) The delegation members who attended the dinner were:
d) The venue was The Red Emperor Restaurant, Southbank, Melbourne.
e) A copy of the menu is not available.
f) Invoice is attached. The dinner cost $105 per person which covered a banquet meal including drinks. An itemised invoice is not available.
g) The outcome of the meeting was an exchange of information on Australian and Chinese dairy research and development, industry farming practices, and government priorities relating to dairy investment and trade.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1474 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, page 12331 ), in respect of the $571.33 cost for the dinner hosted by him following a meeting with the Papua New Guinean Minister for Foreign Affairs in February 2015,
(a) for what purpose was it held,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
(a) A working lunch (Incorrectly noted as a dinner in PQON 1474) was held with the Australian High Commissioner and senior Australian staff in Papua New Guinea, as part of an introductory visit to meet with senior officials of the PNG Government.
(b) 10 people attended the lunch.
(c) The following people attended lunch:
Australian Delegation
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Commander Operation Sovereign Borders Joint Agency Task Force
Acting Deputy Secretary Immigration Status Resolution Group, Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues for Australia, DFAT
Senior Adviser to the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Australian High Commission
High Commissioner
Defence Adviser
Acting Chief Migration Officer
First Secretary Australian High Commission
AFP Liaison Officer
(d) The lunch was held at Airways Hotel, Aviator Conference Room, Port Moresby.
(e) Not provided.
(f) See attached invoices (Appendix A).
(g) This visit provided the opportunity for engagement with the Australian High Commission and Government of PNG, important for the relationship with PNG in achieving successful outcomes from Operation Sovereign Borders.
Copies of Appendix A can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office
Further to his answer in writing to question No. 1474 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, page 12331 ), in respect of the $1094.42 cost for the dinner hosted by him following a meeting with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister and other key Ministers in May 2015,
(a) for what purpose was it held,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
(a) The purpose of the dinner was to meet key Sri Lankan Government interlocutors on counter people smuggling cooperation. It provided an opportunity to thank these interlocutors for their ongoing support and excellent efforts to counter people smuggling. The dinner also provided an opportunity to gain insights into their work and the priorities of the Sri Lankan government.
(b) 23 people attended the dinner.
(c) The following people attended the dinner:
Sri Lankan Interlocutors
Secretary Ministry of Public Order and Christian Affairs.
Minister of Justice.
State Minister of Defence.
Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.
Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy.
A representative from Chief National Intelligence.
Deputy Inspector-General of the Criminal Investigation Department,
Sri Lanka Police Service.
Controller-General of Immigration and Emigration.
President of Resettlement Authority.
Australian Delegation
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
Commander, Joint Agency Taskforce, Operation Sovereign Borders.
Senior Advisor to Minister Dutton.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Australian High Commission
Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
First Assistant Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Minister-Counsellor, Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Six non SES representatives from the Australian High Commission
(d) The dinner was held at the Australian High Commissioner's residence, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
(e) It was an Indian buffet (selection of salad, hot dishes, rice, condiments and dessert). Invoices are attached.
(f) See attached A, invoices.
(g) There were a number of useful outcomes. The dinner provided an opportunity to discuss how our two countries could better work together to counter-people smuggling. The dinner also helped to build relationships with the Australian Government's key Sri Lankan interlocutors on counter- people smuggling cooperation, including with new appointees following Sri Lanka's parliamentary election in August.
Copies of Appendix A can be obtained from the House of Representatives Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $1,698.12 cost for the official dinner with representatives from other Five Country Conference missions held in Washington DC, United States of America, on 18 August 2014,
(a) for what purpose was it held,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachment can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $3,151.19 cost for stakeholder relationships with various United States officials held in Washington DC, United States of America, on 2 December 2014,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments are available from the T able Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard, 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $4,946.54 cost for stakeholder relationships with various London Government officials held in London, United Kingdom, on 16 December 2014,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $8,130.60 cost for stakeholder relationships with officials from the Government of Nauru and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, held in Nauru on 18 February 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) attendees
Non DIBP Attendees - Australian Government Officials
Australian High Commission and the Australian Federal Police
Government of Nauru
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $1,113.00 cost for stakeholder relationships with the Cambodian delegation, held in Nauru on 21 March 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Further to his answer in writing to question No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $1,108.71 cost for stakeholder relationships with United Nations representatives, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 5 May 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
(a) The purpose of the lunch was to engage with United Nations officials, Non-Government Organisations and other diplomatic colleagues and, discuss some of the challenges Sri Lanka is currently facing.
(b) 16 people attended the lunch.
(c) The following people attended the lunch:
Diplomatic, United Nations and Others
Chief of Mission Sri Lanka and Maldives, International Organization for Migration. Senior Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Head of Delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross, Sri Lanka. Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka.
British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka.
Australian Delegation
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
Commander, Joint Agency Taskforce, Operation Sovereign Borders. Senior Advisor to Minister Dutton.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Australian High Commission
Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka.
Minister-Counsellor, Department of Immigration and Border Protection and Four non-SES representatives from the Australian High Commission
(d) The lunch was held at Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, 65 Rosemead Place, Colombo.
(e) The menu comprised:
Entree
Provencale tomato tart or
Chilled cucumber and avocado soup with prawn or vegetable salsa.
Main
Roasted butternut risotto or
Pan roasted salmon and cauliflower puree or Double lamb cutlets with beetroot mash.
Dessert
Double choc cheesecake or Lemon sabayon tart.
f) See attachment A, invoice.
(g) The lunch provided an opportunity to engage with the United Nations, NGOs and other diplomatic representatives on some of the challenges Sri Lanka faces in relation to the movement of people, including other countries' experiences with returns. The lunch also provided the opportunity to increase participants' understanding of Operation Sovereign Borders policy and Regional Resettlement arrangements and discuss Sri Lanka's continued and positive democratic progress following the successful conduct of elections.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $3,134.00 cost for the official dinner with representatives from the Australian Crime Commission, Australian Federal Police, Western Australia Police and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, held in Perth, Western Australia, on 6 August 2014,
(a) for what purpose was it held,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachment can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $4,489.20 cost for stakeholder relationships with various Indonesian Government officials, held in Sydney and Canberra on 15 September 2014,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments can be obtained from the T able Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $4,091.47 cost for stakeholder relationships with the Burmese Delegation, held in Canberra and Sydney on 25 November 2014,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $2,080.00 cost for stakeholder relationships with the Cambodia Delegation, held in Canberra on 8 December 2014,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachment s can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $15,017.18 cost for stakeholder relationships with the Cambodia Delegation, held in Brisbane, Darwin and Nauru from 12 to 17 January 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the (i) venue, and (ii) itinerary,
(e) can a copy of the menu for all meals be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided,
(g) what is the total of all costs associated with this meeting, including but not limited to (i) accommodation, (ii) air travel, (iii) ground travel, and (iv) other, and
(h) what was the outcome.
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
Official Hospitality related to a visit by a Delegation of Cambodian Officials from the General Department of Immigration, to Nauru via Australia. The proposed delegation will provide the Governments of Australia, Cambodia and Nauru the opportunity to strengthen tri-lateral relations.
(b) how many people attended,
12th January 2015 – 2 DIBP and 6 non-DIBP staff
13th January 2015 – 3 DIBP and 6 non DIBP staff
15th January 2015 – 22 DIBP and 52 non-DIBP staff
16th January 2015 – 9 DIBP and 23 non-DIBP staff
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
12th January 2015
2 x DIBP Officers (Minister Counsellor and State Director Queensland)
2 x IOM (Chief of Mission, Australia and the Pacific and IOM Canberra)
4 x Government of Cambodia (Director of Refugee Department, Deputy Head of Refugee Department General Department of Immigration, Deputy Chief of Refugee Officer of General Department of Refugee, Chief of Section of Computer Crime Investigation General Department of Immigration)
13th January 2015
3 x DIBP Officers (Minister Counsellor and 2 x Northern Territory Regional Office executive)
ACBPS Regional Commander Central
IOM Chief of Mission, Cambodia
4 x Government of Cambodia delegation (Director of Refugee Department, Deputy Head of Refugee Department General Department of Immigration, Deputy Chief of Refugee Officer of General Department of Refugee, Chief of Section of Computer Crime Investigation General Department of Immigration)
15th January 2015
22 x DIBP
Deputy Secretary
Nauru Operations Officers
FAS, Community Programmes & Children Division
Minister Counsellor
5 x Australian Government High Commission
Australian High Commissioner to Nauru
DFAT
DFAT Aid
AFP Liaison Officer
4 x Government of Cambodia delegation
Director of Refugee Department
Deputy Head of Refugee Department General Department of Immigration
Deputy Chief of Refugee Officer of General Department of Refugee
Chief of Section of Computer Crime Investigation General Department of Immigration
3 x IOM
IOM Chief of Mission, Cambodia
IOM Chief of Mission, Australia and the Pacific
IOM Canberra
3 x Government of Australia Delegation
15 x Government of Nauru
Secretary for Justice & Border Control
Deputy Operations Manager Camp 1
Operations Manager Camp 2
Deputy Operations Manager Camp 2
Operations Manager Camp 3
Deputy Operations Manager Camp 3
Settlement Manager
Deputy Settlement Manager
4 x Settlement Team
Director of Police
Inspector Intelligence Unit and Community Liaison Officer
22 x Service providers and business stakeholders
Transfield Contract Manager
Transfield Operations Manager
Transfield Catering Manager
Transfield Logistics Manager
Transfield RPC2 Site Manager
Transfield RPC3 Site Manager
IHMS Medical Centre Service Manager Offshore
IHMS Site Manager
IHMS Health Services Manager
Wilsons Security Manager
Wilsons Security Liaison Manager
SCA Operations Manager
SCA Admin Support Manager
SCA Program Quality Manager
SCA HR Manager
Jacobs SKM
Canstruct
Connect Settlement Services Director
Connect Senior Case Manager
Connect Settlement Services
Connect Settlement Services
CEO Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation
16th January 2015
9 x DIBP
Deputy Secretary
FAS, Community Programmes & Children Division
Minister Counsellor
6 x Nauru Operations Officers
4 x Government of Cambodia delegation
Director of Refugee Department
Deputy Head of Refugee Department General Department of Immigration
Deputy Chief of Refugee Officer of General Department of Refugee
Chief of Section of Computer Crime Investigation General Department of Immigration
3 x IOM
IOM Chief of Mission, Cambodia
IOM Chief of Mission, Australia and the Pacific
IOM Canberra
3 x Government of Australia Delegation
1 x Government of Nauru
GoN Settlement Manager
12 x Service Providers
Transfield Contract Manager
Transfield Operations Manager
IHMS Medical Centre Service Manager Offshore
IHMS Site Manager
2 x IHMS Health Services Manager
Wilsons Security Manager
Wilsons Security Resource Manager
Save the Children (SCA) Operations Manager
SCA Admin Support Manager
Connect Settlement Services Director
Connect Senior Case Manager
(d) what was the (i) venue, and (ii) itinerary,
12 January - Jellyfish Restaurant, Brisbane commencing at 19:00hours
13 January - Char Restaurant, Darwin commencing at 19:00hours
15 January - Bay Restaurant, Nauru commencing at 19:30hours
16 January - Anibare Restaurant, Nauru commencing at 19:30hours
(e) can a copy of the menu for all meals be provided,
Jellyfish Restaurant, Brisbane – menu is available at http://www.jellyfishrestaurant.com.au/
Char Restaurant, Darwin – menu is available at http://chardarwin.com.au/
Bay Restaurant, Nauru – buffet meal provided consisting of roast meats and salads
Anibare Restaurant, Nauru – BBQ meal provided consisting of BBQ meats and salads
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided,
12 January 2015 - Brisbane
i) $904.10 (8 persons at $113 per head)
ii) $197.20
13 January 2015 - Darwin
i) $781.60 (9 persons at $86.84 per head)
ii) $192.50
15 and 16 January 2015 - Nauru
i) $9,355.18 (106 persons at $88.25 per head)
ii) $3,586.60
(g) what is the total of all costs associated with this meeting, including but not limited to (i) accommodation, (ii) air travel, (iii) ground travel, and (iv) other,
i) Accommodation = $4,228.00 (including Cambodia delegation costs of $3,194.00)
ii) Air travel = $60,155.83 (including Cambodia delegation costs of $42,125.44)
iii) Ground travel = $4,788.56
iv) Other = $150.00
(h) what was the outcome.
The visit strengthened tri-lateral relations between the Governments of Australia, Cambodia and Nauru, and further cemented Cambodia's commitment to resettling Nauru-determined refugees in Cambodia.
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $2,492.60 cost for stakeholder relationships with various ethnic community and multicultural interest representatives, held in Perth, Western Australia, on 20 March 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $9,507.00 cost for the World Customs Organisation official dinner, held in Victoria on 5 February 2015,
(a) what was the purpose of this function,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
a) The purpose of this function was to host a dinner for officials from Asia Pacific regional customs administrations.
b) 87 people attended.
c) See Attachment A. Only the organisations and positions are shown.
d) The Hotel Windsor, 111 Spring St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.
e) The menu was a choice of the following:
Entrée:
Smoked salmon, cucumber, radish and crème fraiche salad, sesame and puffed rice
Crisp veal breast, salad of roast carrots, hazelnut cream and crisp sage.
Main:
Fillet of beef, potato and turnip gratin, Worcestershire glazed mushrooms, thyme sauce
Roast chicken breast, agro dolce carrots, Tuscan cabbage and jus gras.
Dessert:
Windsor Tasting Plate: Hazelnut chocolate praline, passionfruit coconut, raspberry lime slice, orange terrine.
f) On review, an error had been made and did not include a deposit paid on 14 October 2014. The deposit of $1,500 was not included in the total cost of this event. The actual cost reported in QON should have been $11,007 (GST inclusive). See Attachment B for a breakdown of drinks and food including the deposit.
g) Officials from Regional Customs Administrations attended this dinner ahead of the Regional Heads of Customs Administrations Conference on 6 February 2015 in Melbourne. The dinner provided valuable networking opportunities for WCO Asia Pacific Regional members in advance of the conference.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Follow up to PQON 1444 - ACBPS Jakarta Post:
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $2,122.58 cost for the Commemorate ACBPS Jakarta Post event—10 years in Indonesia event, held on 11 June 2015,
(a) what was the (i) nature, and (ii) purpose, of this event,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended,
(d) what was the venue,
(e) can a copy of the menu be provided,
(f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and
(g) what was the outcome.
Attachments can be obtained from the Table Office
Further to his answer to question in writing No. 1444 (House Hansard , 22 October 2015, pages 12325 to 12331), in respect of the $38,415.00 cost for the Customs History Book Reception held in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, on 25 June 2015,
(a) what was the purpose of this event,
(b) how many people attended,
(c) what were the (i) names, and (ii) roles, of those who attended, (d) what was the venue, (e) can a copy of the menu be provided, (f) can an invoice or itemised list of (i) food, (ii) drinks, and (iii) other costs, be provided, and (g) what was the outcome.
(a) As t he Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) would cease to exist as a standalone agency from 1 July 2015, the event was arranged to celebrate the history of the customs function, and acknowledge the work of its officers throughout its history. This was also the formal launch of the ACBPS history book, From Federation to Australian Border Force , and associated microsite.
(b) The event included catering for 400 people.
(c) (i) (ii) Those attending the event were primarily ACBPS staff from all levels across the agency, along with Senior Executive Service staff from ACBPS and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. A number of retired customs officers, dignitaries and industry representatives also attended.
(d) The National Arboretum.
(e) There was no set menu; the two-hour catering package included a variety of canapes and drinks (including domestic beer and wine).
(f) (i) $11,800 (inc GST); (ii) $12,800 (inc GST); (iii) Staging/AV services $7584.50; venue hire was $1450; car park hire $750; cloak room $152; design, printing and delivery of holding slide and banners $4444.31; bus charter $1100; photography $1210; packaging of merchandise $1676; fee for guest speaker, historian David Day $687.50 (all inc GST).
Total cost of all goods and services in relation to this event was $43,654.31 (inc GST). Note this is the final cost in relation to this event; further invoices were received and paid after the tabling of question in writing No. 1444.
(g) During this event, the ACBPS history book and microsite was launched.
What advice did the Minister's department provide to the Government about the proposed lease of Darwin Port, who was that advice provided to and when was it provided.
Answer
The Treasury has the lead on matters relating to the Foreign Investment Review Board applications and decisions. Defence and other agencies, provide advice to the Treasury on foreign investment applications that are referred to it by Treasury.
The Northern Territory Government requested that Landbridge be considered under the Foreign Investment Review Board. Defence undertook an assessment of Landbridge as part of the initial Foreign Investment Review Board consideration until the Treasury confirmed that Foreign Investment Review Board approval was not necessary.
Defence's requirements to access the commercial Port of Darwin were agreed in a Deed of License that was concluded in May 2015. The Deed, agreed between Defence and the Northern Territory Government on Defence access to the Port of Darwin, protected Defence's interests irrespective of which company's bid was successful.
Based on the detailed examination and the Deed of License, Defence did not have security concerns with Landbridge operating the commercial Port of Darwin under a lease from the Northern Territory Government. The Treasury were aware of this advice.
Was the lease of the Port of Darwin discussed by Cabinet or the National Security Committee of the Cabinet prior to the lease being approved.
In the Department of Defence's Budget Estimates hearing on 21 October 2015, the Secretary of Defence, Mr Dennis Richardson, stated "in fact, the National Security Committee was aware of it". The matter was discussed at an NSC meeting on
6 October 2015, as outlined by Mr Richardson in his appearance before the Senate Economics Reference Committee on 15 December 2015.
What was the Minister's role in the lease of the Port of Darwin and the associated process.
The Treasurer has the lead for the regulation of foreign investment.
In respect of the security screening process of the 12,000 Syrian refugees that the Government has undertaken to accept,
(a) who will conduct the screening process,
(b) what exact (i) procedures, (ii) questions, and (iii) checks, will be conducted as part of the security screening process,
(c) what assurances is the Government providing to the Australian people that security screening of refugees will be effective, and
(d) what determination will be made if an individual's background is unknown or uncertain.
(a) My Department in coordination with relevant agencies is undertaking the security assessment checking.
(b) Rigorous security checks are conducted prior to arrival in Australia at a number of key visa processing points. This includes the collection and checking of biometric data such as facial images (for all applicants including minors) and fingerprints (applicants 15 years of age and above). The Department of Immigration and Border Protection works closely with relevant Australian agencies and international partners in conducting security checks, including the checking of biometric data. For all offshore humanitarian applicants, these checks are supplemented by an interview with Australian departmental officers where claims for resettlement and identity are assessed. For operational reasons and the integrity of our security checking, it would be inappropriate to provide further detail.
(c) The Government has in place a range of national and international security checking measures so that security screening is as effective as possible. The Government takes our national security extremely seriously and has made clear from the outset that security and character checks of the additional 12,000 humanitarian entrants will not be compromised.
(d) Security checking procedures include processes to manage cases where an individual's background is unknown or uncertain. Again, for operational reasons and the integrity of our security checking, it would be inappropriate to provide more detail on these processes.
In respect of reports of fake Syrian passports being seized,
(a) is the Government aware of any evidence of falsified Syrian background papers being purchased from Syrian officials, and
(b) what measures has the Government implemented for the security screening process to counter fake Syrian background.
(a) While the Government is aware of media reporting relating to this issue, as at 14 December 2015, the Government is not aware of the purchase of any falsified Syrian background papers from Syrian officials.
(b) Rigorous security checks are conducted prior to arrival in Australia at a number of key visa processing points. This includes the collection and checking of biometric data such as facial images (for all applicants including minors) and fingerprints (applicants 15 years of age and above). The Department of Immigration and Border Protection works closely with relevant Australian agencies and international partners in conducting security checks, including the checking of biometric data. For all offshore humanitarian applicants, these checks are supplemented by an interview with Australian departmental officers where claims for resettlement and identity are assessed. For operational reasons and the integrity of our security checking, it would be inappropriate to provide further detail.
In respect of the loss of approximately 60 contact centre services jobs at Serco in Bendigo due to the insourcing of the contract to the Commonwealth, will (a) the Minister's department be employing an additional 60 staff to perform this role, (b) any new departmental jobs created as result of the insourcing be situated in Bendigo, and (c) the workers laid off by Serco due to the insourcing be given first opportunity to accept any additional departmental jobs.
The department's contract with SERCO has run for five years and the department has exercised each of its two options to extend.
SERCO was advised in November 2014 of the department's intention to progressively insource its contact centre work prior to the current contract ending in January 2016.
There are no new departmental jobs planned as a result of the contract ending.
Is it lawful for Australian Government authorities to spray pesticides on public land in urban areas such as footpaths, laneways, medians, shopping precincts, parks, river foreshores, playing fields, sports fields, school grounds, childcare centres and bushland reserves, etc; if so, under which law(s) is this permitted.
Australian Government agencies are required to use pesticides in accordance with the state or territory law that applies to the place at which the pesticide is being used. The state and territory governments are responsible for regulating the use of pesticides. This includes ensuring that these chemicals are used legally and that users are appropriately trained and licensed.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is the independent, national regulator that has responsibility for regulation of pesticides up to the point of retail sale. It approves how pesticides can be used, including: frequency of use, concentration to apply, application methods, occupational health and safety directions and other requirements for applying the chemical. State and territory governments are then responsible for ensuring that pesticides are used in accordance with the uses that have been approved by the APVMA.
Will the Minister consider initiating a Royal Commission as called for in the 2014 federal petition Call for a Royal Commission into the Use of Pesticides and Harm to Public Health , in light of the (a) recent report of Adelaide City Council's decision to test all of its 11 playgrounds for Benzene contamination, (b) evidence of pesticide contamination found in Perth playgrounds and parks, (c) lack of testing for residues of commonly used pesticides in human breast milk and urine, as well as in soil and foliage samples, and (d)World Cancer Report 2014 (International Agency for Research on Cancer) listing the most commonly used herbicide Glyphosate (used in Roundup) as a Class 2 A probable carcinogen; if not, will the Minister release any comparative risk assessments undertaken to justify the risk to public health and the environment from the routine spraying of pesticides for the control of weeds or grass on public land in urban areas.
No. The government's official response to a call for a Royal Commission into the use of pesticides and harm to public health is on the Standing Committee on Petition's website
aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Petitions/List_of_Petitions_presented?item=%7b21C4B16A-3E19-4947-9052-ABCA8CA950AE%7d.
1) In respect of the report By Hook or By Crook: Australia's Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea (Amnesty International 2015), is it a fact that in May 2015 Australian officials working as part of Operation Sovereign Borders intercepted a New Zealand bound vessel of 6 Indonesian crew and 65 asylum seekers, and paid the crew $US32,000 to return the asylum seekers to Indonesia; if so,
a) was this action in breach of international law, and
b) under what authority were these Australian officials acting.
2) Did Australian officials transfer some of these asylum seekers to an Australian Border Force vessel; if so,
a) were these asylum seekers, which included three children and one pregnant woman, kept in inhumane conditions, and
b) were personal medications taken from these asylum seekers by Australian Border Force personnel, and all requests for access to them denied.
3) Is it a fact that some of the asylum seekers and Indonesian crew were put on two less seaworthy boats to Indonesia, initially being escorted by Australian vessels, despite having inadequate fuel and provisions.
Australian officials operate in accordance with Australian domestic law and our international obligations.
Personnel involved in border protection operations conduct their roles with the highest levels of professionalism, integrity and personal courage.
The allegations of mistreatment raised in the report are taken seriously and are being assessed.
The priority of the Australian Government is, and always will be, safety of life at sea for all personnel involved.
In respect of the Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988), (a) how many were granted by the Minister's department in
(i) 2004-05,
(ii) 2005-06,
(iii) 2006-07,
(iv) 2007-08,
(v) 2008-09,
(vi) 2009-10,
(vii) 2010-11,
(viii) 2011-12,
(ix) 2012-13,
(x) 2013-14, and
(xi) 2014-15, and
(b) how many have been granted to date in 2015-16.
Subclass 988 Maritime Crew visas granted between 2004-05 and 2015-16 to 31 October 2015
Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 2015 (BE9017.01)
Note 1: Subclass 988 was introduced on 1 July 2007.
In respect of the Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visa (subclass 400),
(a) how many were granted by the Minister's department in
(i) 2004-05,
(ii) 2005-06,
(iii) 2006-07,
(iv) 2007-08,
(v) 2008-09,
(vi) 2009-10,
(vii) 2010-11,
(viii) 2011-12,
(ix) 2012-13,
(x) 2013-14, and
(xi) 2014-15, and
(b) how many have been granted to date in 2015-16.
Subclass 400 Temporary Work (Short Stay Activity) visas granted between 2004-05 and 2015-16 to 31 October 2015
Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 2015 (BE9018.01)
Note 1: The subclass 400 visa was introduced on 23 March 2013.
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to reduce the centrifuges at Natanz from over 16,000 to 5,060 IR-1 machines.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) See www.un.org/en/sc/inc/pages/pdf/pow/RES 2231 E.pdf .
(2) See JCPOA Annex V, paragraphs 14-18 ( http://www.un.org/en/sc/inc/pages/pdf/pow/RES2231E.pdf ), for the list of agreed nuclear-related measures that Iran must complete.
(3) See the IAEA Director General's report to the Board of Governors on 18 November 2015 (https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/gov-2015-65.pdf).
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to reduce the number of IR-1 machines centrifuges at Fordow to 1,000 and convert the facility to one for radioisotope production.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) See http://www.un.org/en/sc/inc/pages/pdf/pow/RES2231E.pdf Iran is required to maintain no more than 1044 IR-1 centrifuge machines at Fordow, and convert the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant into a nuclear physics and technology centre.
(2) See JCPOA Annex V, paragraphs 14 and 15 (http://www.un.org/en/sc/inc/pages/pdf/pow/RES2231E.pdf ), for the list of agreed nuclear-related measures that Iran must complete.
(3) See the IAEA Director General's report to the Board of Governors on 18 November 2015 ( https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/gov-2015-65.pdf ).
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to conclude testing on advanced centrifuges machines and remove all advanced centrifuges except one IR-4, IR-5, IR-6, and IR-8 machine for testing with uranium.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) Please see the UN website.
(2) Please see the UN website.
(3) Please see the IAEA website.
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to store all dismantled centrifuges under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seal.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) Please see the UN website.
(2) Please see the UN website.
(3) Please see the IAEA website.
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to reduce the stockpile of enriched uranium to less than 300 kilograms (which would require exporting over 9,000 kilograms of enriched uranium to third countries).
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) Please see the UN website.
(2) Please see the UN website.
(3) Please see the IAEA website.
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to remove the core of the Arak reactor and disable it.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) Please see the UN website.
(2) Please see the UN website.
(3) Please see the IAEA website.
(1) Is it a fact that Iran agreed in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), to institute the necessary transparency and monitoring mechanisms to implement the additional protocol of the non-proliferation treaty and the continuous surveillance of key facilities.
(2) Is it a fact that, according to the JCPOA, this measure is to be completed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) satisfaction in order for sanctions to be removed or suspended.
(3) What progress has the IAEA reported.
(1) Please see the UN website.
(2) Please see the UN website.
(3) Please see the IAEA website.