The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 9:30, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Combating Multinational Tax Avoidance) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Diverted Profits Tax Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Parliamentary Entitlements Legislation Amendment Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Enhancing Online Safety for Children Amendment Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Health Insurance Amendment (National Rural Health Commissioner) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2016-2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2016-2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Bourke Street Fund) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Country of Origin) Bill 2016
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, Mr Leeser be appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Migration Amendment (Visa Revalidation and Other Measures) Bill 2016
The affect of making such a determination that bypasses parliamentary disallowance increases the potential harm the legislation can do to both individuals and to Australia's reputation.
This 'revalidation' will be used to ensure that visa holders continue to meet genuine temporary entrant, identity, health, character, passport, national security and other criteria over the 10-year period.
… schedule 1 of the bill also introduces a 'public interest' revalidation check to manage specific, serious, or time-critical risks in relation to an identified cohort of visa holders. In such circumstances, issuing a personal ministerial revalidation requirement will immediately prevent specified visa holders from being able to travel to and enter Australia until they successfully revalidate their visa. This will ensure that we have up-to-date information on an individual's circumstances and we can effectively mitigate potential risks to the Australian public, while providing a streamlined mechanism to facilitate travel as appropriate.
Adverse information … is to be given its ordinary general meaning when considering whether the information relating to the person is adverse. Whether the information is adverse will also depend on the circumstances of each particular case and depend on the visa held by the person as a revalidation check will generally be directed to determining whether the person continues to meet the criteria for the visa that has been granted.
potentially impacting upon all persons residing in Australia as temporary or permanent residents; …
As the power to prescribe the type of visa is unlimited, it appears that it could enable the minister to prescribe any type of visa … This measure therefore has the potential to engage a number of human rights, including Australia's non-refoulement obligations, the right to an effective remedy, the right to liberty and the right to protection of the family.
Australia has had a non-discriminatory immigration policy for more than four decades. It's made us stronger. We don't just tolerate diversity, we embrace it. We are the home of the fair go for all. All races, all faiths, all cultures.
The Law Council queries whether the Bill is necessary, justified and proportionate to achieving a legitimate purpose.
That this bill be now read a second time.
The House divided. [12:11]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
The Collins class submarines are a great Australian engineering accomplishment and to go from no background in submarine production to building one of the best conventional submarines ever produced was a genuine national achievement.
That:
Mr Goodenough and Ms Ley be appointed members of the Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement;
Ms Ley be appointed a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Broadband Network;
Mr Hastie be discharged from the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, and Ms Ley and Mr Morton be appointed members of the committee, and
Mr Morton be discharged from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, and Ms Ley be appointed a member of the committee.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016
That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“the House declines to give the bill a second reading as the:
(1)Government has failed on fiscal policy, tripling the deficit and increasing net debt by $100 billion, and putting our hard-earned and coveted triple A credit rating at risk;
(2)Prime Minister and the Treasurer have failed to deliver the economic leadership that this country needs and deserves; and
(3)Government’s plan to give a $50 billion tax cut to big business is not affordable in the current fiscal and economic circumstances.”
It's a Labor thing to have the ambition of reducing company tax, because it promotes investment, creates jobs and drives growth.
I'd like to see it lower over time. I think we've had 14 years of having the corporate tax rate stable. That's too long. Over time, I'd like to see is lowered.
I think we should have the ambition of lowering company tax. … it would be the approach that we would take that our ambition would be lower company tax rates … because it does improve our overall international competitiveness.
I would like to see the corporate tax rate come down over time. I'd previously said that our nation should be aiming for—
a 25 per cent corporate tax rate.
Only in a perfect world.
The government's target is to bring it to 25.
If you are against cutting company tax, you are against economic growth.
If you are against economic growth, you are against jobs.
More capital means higher economic activity and higher wages.
As Australia is buffeted by the economic affairs overseas, we understand that lowering corporate tax assists the creation of jobs. And what can be more important in this country than the creation of jobs.
Friends, corporate tax reform helps Australia's private sector grow, and it creates jobs right up and down the income ladder.
Are you on the side of working men and women, or are you on the side of Annandale?
Canning is a thriving ecosystem with hardworking Australians who enjoy their freedom and lifestyles unique to each township. The people of Canning generally want to get about their business without undue interference from government.
Packer's friend and legal adviser Malcolm Turnbull brought along some US junk-bond holders who were hoping to get at least some of their money back after a catastrophic attempt at privatising the Fairfax group by 'Young' Warwick …
Initial challenges are more acute in South Australia, due to the combination of its generation mix …
We’ve kept our power prices high, which lowers the standard of living, and if we keep our tax rates high we will jack up unemployment and keep people out of work.
The second unit … at Pelican Point is not able to provide a market response under the current rules of the … NEM unless directed by the market operator.
… we have invested all of the money that we are saving from the family tax benefit system.
Access to high-quality and affordable child care can be an important factor in a parent's decision to remain in or return to the workforce. … Assistance with child care costs recognises that child care is a cost of employment and thereby reduces the disincentives to participate that are created by the tax and transfer system.
Access to quality child care also plays a role in early childhood development, particularly of children from families experiencing, or at risk of, social exclusion.
Increasing the age pension age is a responsible reform to meet the challenge of an ageing population and the economic impact it will have for all Australians.
… … …
Australia must move towards a higher pension age over the next decade.
A better approach would be to index upper age limits in all laws, …
… … …
How might age indexation operate in practice? One approach would be to mandate that all elderly age limits should increase by 3 months every year (approximately the rate at which life expectancy is presently rising).
That leave of absence from 9 February 2017 until 2 March 2017 be given to Mr Chalmers for parental leave purposes
The Government’s $30 billion of cuts to schools hurting Australian children.
… we should think of inequality as a race between technology and education. In eras when technological advances outpace schooling attainment, the gap between rich and poor widens. But in times when the quantity and quality of education increases, so too does equality.
Someone who completes 12 years of high school is nearly 20 per cent more likely to have a job than someone who drops out in year 9 … a diploma boosts earnings by nearly 20 per cent, while a bachelor's degree boosts earnings by around 50 per cent.
Now, this was not what the Gonski review recommended. It was not sector-blind, needs-based funding. It continued to discriminate between government and non-government schools.
It puts a lot of our programs and a lot of our students at risk ...
For us, we have introduced a study schools program, we run a netschool program to re-engage young people, we would like to be doing more in terms of literacy programs and some enrichment opportunities for our really gifted students.
It creates uncertainty for parents as well, they need to know what we are able to deliver ...
Megan is 17, lives in the city and works in a local cafe. She has had 15 sexual partners and describes herself as bisexual. She has casual sex and some short-term partners, including two women. She rarely practises safe sex. She forgets to protect herself because she is often drunk when she has sex.
Grace is 16 and in year 10—
She has been sexually active since she was 13.
Kelly is 14, in year 9 and is very interested in girls. She is not sure but thinks she might be a lesbian.
I think I'm a lesbian, but I'm not sure because I've also been attracted to a boy. I guess this gives me more options than most.
One of the more controversial reforms by Paul Keating as Treasurer was slashing the corporate tax rate from 49 per cent to 39 per cent in 1989 … I was a fresh-faced—
Labor Party branch member at the time, and I recall the party as a whole being incredulous that a Labor government would cut the tax rate for 'fat-cat companies'. I remember a motion by the Young Labor conference calling for the corporate tax rate to be lifted to 60 per cent to pay for a program for social reform.
The state spending—
on public schools fell from $2.450 billion to $2.394 billion in 2014-15 when adjusted for inflation, while federal money increased—
$12 million to $385.5 million.
State funding per public school student dropped from $14,682 to $14,312, while federal funding rose from $2237 to $2307.
The figures come just days after it was revealed the state government gave a $757,500 grant to the group of community organisations to run a campaign against the federal education funding policies.
Corporations Amendment (Life Insurance Remuneration Arrangements) Bill 2016
Corporations Amendment (Professional Standards of Financial Advisers) Bill 2016
Tax and Superannuation Laws Amendment (2016 Measures No. 2) Bill 2016
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Amendment Bill 2016
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Levy Bill 2016
Statute Update (A.C.T. Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Regulations) Bill 2016
Regulatory Powers (Standardisation Reform) Bill 2016
Treasury Laws Amendment (Enterprise Tax Plan) Bill 2016
While this is a common modelling assumption, it ignores the fact that: government spending provides goods and services that would otherwise not be provided by the market sector; households derive direct utility from government spending; and infrastructure spending can improve market sector productivity.
If you wanted to create jobs, cutting the tax on foreign investors isn't the way to do it.
It could be the greatest tax avoidance scam ever perpetrated …
Government's plan to give a $50 billion tax cut to big business is not affordable in the current fiscal and economic circumstances.
Today capital is even more mobile than it was then and it is important that our corporate tax rate is competitive.
At 30 per cent, our company tax rate is now above the OECD average … it is how the rate compares to that of our competitors that counts.
… it's a Labor thing to have the ambition of reducing company tax, because it promotes investment, creates jobs and drives growth.
The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.
I am a Liberal because I support freedom and liberty, including freedom of thought, religion, worship, speech and association.
… that we are gradually becoming an illiberal society, with people increasingly afraid to express their views or to critique other faiths for fear of public ostracism, being silenced through ad hominem attacks or being caught by such laws.
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Vamvakinou ) took the chair at 10:01.
We support … A plan that focuses on achieving social, economic and environmental outcomes. Not a plan that focuses on numbers and water recovery at all costs.
… the party of increasing electricity prices and reduced energy security.
Put simply, you cannot finance coal.
Ever since I first came here in 1954, I have watched Australia grow and develop at an extraordinary rate. This country has made dramatic progress economically, in social, scientific and industrial endeavours and, above all, in self-confidence.
We must not be daunted by the anxieties and hardships that the war has left behind for every nation of our commonwealth. We know that these things are the price we cheerfully undertook to pay for the high honour of standing alone, seven years ago, in defence of the liberty of the world.
We ... have ... a long and proud history. This not only gives us a trusted framework of stability and continuity to ease the process of change, but it also tells us what is of lasting value. Only the passage of time can filter out the ephemeral from the enduring.
May the supreme King of kings, who in His mercy, has seen fit to preserve the Queen in life and good health beyond her ninetieth year, continue to guard her and deliver her from all trouble and sorrow. May He bless and protect Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. May He put a spirit of wisdom and understanding into her heart and into the hearts of all her counsellors—
We offer our gratitude for the blessings You have bestowed upon our gracious and noble Sovereign throughout the ninety years of her life. In Your infinite wisdom, You have guided the hand of Her Majesty the Queen and made her a worthy Monarch who loves peace, inspires loving-kindness and champions the finest values of our society. May she continue to reign in good health for many years to come. …
We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war.
We know, everyone of us, that in the end all will be well …
In a speech to the UN five years ago, she observed a truth that few politicians acknowledge: the greatest achievements are not guided by leaders, but by people being left alone to achieve what they can. 'Remarkably, many of these sweeping advances have come about not because of governments, committee resolutions, or central directives — although all these have played a part — but instead because millions of people around the world have wanted them.'
Stability is one of the greatest arguments for monarchy, and one to which republicans tend to blind themselves. … Even the US, which can claim to be one of the world’s finest democracies, might benefit from having a non-political head of state—
The hopelessness of the republican cause in Britain was underlined when, two decades ago, an opinion poll asked the public whom they would like to be their first—
… Defence will only purchase land from willing sellers around Shoalwater Bay Training Area …
… it is clear that the community have significant concerns and it is important forced sales are ruled out to alleviate these concerns.
We are asking the Australian government to publicly commit to a set of bi-partisan, fundamental values that should underpin the Australia-US relationship: tolerance, respect, international cooperation, non-discrimination, democracy and the rule of law. We endeavour to do this in a non-partisan way conscious of the need for diplomacy and the importance of Australia's relationships with the U.S.
We believe shared Australia-U.S. values should include support for:
These shared values must be the starting point as our two nations seek to respond to global challenges, including economic recovery, international trade, terrorism, climate change, global health and food insecurity.
(1) In respect of the Government's announcement on 25 June 2015 that it would construct mobile phone base stations at (a) Elliot, (b) Gawler, (c) Loyetea, (d) Melrose, (e) Sisters Beach, (f) South Riana, and (g) Takone, in Tasmania, when will these become operational.(2) In respect of the Government's election commitment to construct mobile phone base stations at (a) Gunns Plains, (b) Sulphur Creek, (c) Devonport, and (d) Yolla, in Tasmania, will this be honoured; if not, why not; if so, (i) when will these become operational, and (ii) where in Devonport will the mobile phone base station be located.
(1) Information regarding the expected rollout timing for all 499 round 1 base stations is available on Telstra's and Vodafone's websites (www.telstra.com/blackspots and www.vodafone.com.au).
(2) The Government has announced that Gunns Plains, Sulphur Creek, Devonport, and Yolla are priority locations for funding under round 3 of the Mobile Black Spot Program. A competitive process to allocate round 3 funding, including identifying suitable base station locations, is expected to commence in 2017.
On 1 December 2016, Yolla was announced as one of the 266 locations across Australia to receive a mobile base station under round 2 of the program. The first round 2 base stations are expected to commence rolling out in 2017. The successful applicants (Telstra, Optus and Vodafone) will release indicative rollout schedules on their websites shortly which will be regularly updated as the rollout progresses.
In respect of the Australian Government's election commitment to provide $250,000 to construct an Eastern Foreshore Rockwall in Smithton, Tasmania, to help develop the area as a community recreation spot, will this be honoured; if not, why not; if so, (a) what will be the process for either the Circular Head Council or Tasmanian Government to receive this funding, and (b) when will the funding be delivered.
During the 2016 election, the Government made a series of election commitments as part of the Improving Your Local Parks and Environment program. Under this program, Circular Head Council has been invited to apply for $250,000 to construct the Eastern Foreshore Rockwall. Applications close on 14 March 2017. Funding agreements for all grants are expected be finalised and the first round of payments made by mid-June 2017.
Were there any instances of fraud or theft detected by departments or agencies within the Minister's portfolio from (a) internal sources, or (b) external sources, that resulted in cost to the department or agency in 2015-16; if so (i) what fraud or theft took places, (ii) when did the fraud or theft take place, (iii) what was the cost to the department or agency of this fraud or theft, and (iv) what action has been taken to prevent such theft or fraud occurring again.
o Nil
o One incident of theft occurred from an external source in 2015-16. On 23 February 2016, at approximately 7pm, an individual gained access to an office located at the AAT Registry at City Road Melbourne and removed a mobile phone from a desk. There was no cost to the agency as the phone was of negligible value. A police report was filed. A faulty access control locking mechanism was repaired to prevent any future unauthorised entries and security awareness procedures were reviewed with all employees.
o Nil
o Australian Institute of Criminology: Nil
o Australian Crime Commission: Nil
o CrimTrac, (a) (i) – (v):
CrimTrac had one documented instance of suspected fraud that was documented in CrimTrac ' s 2014-2015 Annual Report to the Minister on Fraud and Corruption Control involving a contractor falsifying timesheets. While the cost to the CrimTrac Agency was not considered significant, the matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police for consideration. The contractor was terminated on 23 July 2015.
o The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is currently in the process of reviewing and updating its planning documentation related to fraud control, and continues to provide ongoing fraud awareness training to staff and contractors.
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
o Nil
1. In respect of staff in departments and agencies within the Minister's portfolio:
a. How many redundancies were made in 2015-16
b. From what department or agency were these redundancies
c. What was the cost of payments associated with these redundancies
Attorney-General's Department
1. a. 79
b. Attorney-General's Department
c. $5,181,846
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
1. a. 18
b. Administrative Appeals Tribunal
c. $997,354.44
Austrac
1. a. 5
b. Austrac
c. $454,128
Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
1. a. Less than 5 – for privacy reasons, the department can provide a private briefing if the Member requires further information on this item.
b. Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
c. $78,905.60
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Australian Crime Commission & Crimtrac in 15/16)
1. a. 9
b. Australian Crime Commission (6) and Crimtrac (3)
c. $546,632
Australian Financial Security Authority
1. a. Less than 5 – for privacy reasons, the department can provide a private briefing if the Member requires further information on this item.
b. Australian Financial Security Authority
c. $126,738
Australian Federal Police
1. a. 89
b. Australian Federal Police
c. $17,932,340.93
Australian Human Rights Commission
1. a. Less than 5 – for privacy reasons, the department can provide a private briefing if the Member requires further information on this item.
b. Australian Human Rights Commission
c. $40,949.26
Australian Law Reform Commission
1. a. Nil
b. Not applicable
c. Not applicable
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
ASIO's separation rate at 30 June 2016 was 4.44 percent.
ASIO does not provide detailed information on staff separations to avoid prejudice to ASIO's activities.
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
1. a. 31
b. Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
c. $2,247,265.35
Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia
1. a. 5
b. Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia
c. 691,120.43
Federal Court of Australia
1. a. 13
b. Federal Court of Australia
c. 794,369.82
High Court of Australia
1. a. Nil
b. Not applicable
c. Not applicable
National Archives of Australia
1. a. Nil
b. Not applicable
c. Not applicable
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
1. a. Less than 5 - for privacy reasons, the department can provide a private briefing if the Member requires further information on this item.
b. Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
c. $134,366.38
Office of Parliamentary Counsel
1. a. Less than 5 - for privacy reasons, the department can provide a private briefing if the Member requires further information on this item.
b. Office of Parliamentary Counsel
c. $142,105
1. In respect of recruitment, training and service contracts undertaken by the departments and agencies within the Minister's portfolio in 2015-16:
a. How many new staff contracts were entered into, and of those, what are the relevant staffing levels, and;
b. What total sum was spent on recruitment, and of this, what is the breakdown for:
i. Recruitment agency fees
ii. Advertising
iii. Assessment processes
iv. Other associated costs
Attorney-General's Department
1. a. Please see Table 1. These figures include the engagement of ongoing and non-ongoing employees, permanent transfers from other APS agencies and temporary transfers from other APS agencies.
b. To provide this level of detail would require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Austrac
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new employees commenced 2015-16 by relevant classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Australian Crime Commission & Crimtrac in 15/16)
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. To provide this level of detail would require an unreasonable diversion of resources
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Australian Financial Security Authority
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Federal Police
1. a. Table 1 below identifies the number of new staff contracts entered into by the AFP during the financial year 2015-2016 and the Band levels they commenced in
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant AFP classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Human Rights Commission
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Law Reform Commission
1. a. Nil
b. Please see Table 1
Table 1 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
1. a. ASIO does not provide detailed information on staffing contracts to avoid prejudice to ASIO's activities.
b. ASIO spent $791,016 on recruitment advertising in 2015-16. In addition, ASIO spent $4,056 on promotional materials for recruitment activities. ASIO does not fall within the definition of agencies covered by the reporting requirements of s311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 .
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Family Court of Australia and Federal Circuit Court of Australia
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Federal Court of Australia
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
High Court of Australia
2. a. Please see Table 1
b. Nil
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant classification
National Archives of Australia
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
Office of Parliamentary Counsel
1. a. Please see Table 1
b. Please see Table 2
Table 1 – Breakdown of new staff contracts 2015-16 by relevant APS classification
Table 2 – Breakdown of cost of recruitment 2015-16
In respect of venue hire by the Minister in 2015‑16, (a) what total sum was spent, (b) what functions were these hires for, and (c) on what dates were these functions held.
The answer to this question has been incorporated as part of my answer to question 456.
Did the Minister host any conferences in 2015‑16; if so (a) on what date(s) did each conference occur and at what location(s), (b) what total sum was spent on each conference, and of this, what sum was spent on (i) meals and accommodation, (ii) travel, and (iii) social events.
(1) Can the Minister provide assurance that there will be funding for a round 3 of the Mobile Black Spot Program (MBSP).(2) Will his department address criticisms raised by the Australian National Audit Office about the MBSP, including inadequate (a) coverage, and (b) infrastructure (ie, base stations, towers, backhaul operations and optic cable infrastructure), in rural and remote regions, especially in Far North Queensland.(3) What is the Minister doing to encourage service providers for rural and remote areas to better utilise Government funding so that locations such as the Adels Grove Camping Ground (within the Boodjamulla/Lawn Hill National Park in the electoral division of Kennedy), attracting 30,000 to 40,000 tourists, campers and grey nomads each dry season, in addition to the 5,000 to 10,000 that visit the Boodjamulla/Lawn Hill National Park, Riversleigh district and the Gregory area, have adequate mobile phone coverage.(4) Given Telstra could re-utilise the nearby closed Century Mine's existing tower, Repeater Towers and backhaul/optic cable infrastructure, can the Minister indicate whether the Adels Grove Tourist Park will be included in round 2 of the MBSP that is being announced by the end of 2016.
(1) The Government has announced that it will commit $60 million (GST exclusive) towards a third round of the Mobile Black Spot Program.
(2) The formal agency response from the Department of Communications and the Arts to the Australian National Audit Office's audit report ' Award of Funding under the Mobile Black Spot Programme ' is available at www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/award-funding-under-mobile-black-spot-programme
(3) The Government worked closely with Telstra, Optus and Vodafone to develop guidelines for both rounds 1 and 2 of the Mobile Black Spot Program. The key objective of the program is to improve mobile coverage and competition in regional and remote parts of Australia.
The program has been highly successful in maximising co-contributions from third parties, including state and local governments and local communities. Together rounds 1 and 2 are delivering almost $600 million in new investment towards improving mobile coverage in regional and remote Australia.
Gregory in Queensland is one of the 499 locations across Australia receiving a mobile base station under round 1 of the program. Telstra is expected to commence delivering services at Gregory in 2018.
Optus has received funding under round 2 of the program to deploy a mobile satellite small cell at Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill) National Park under round 2 of the program.
(4) Adels Grove is not receiving a mobile base station under round 2 of the program.
Why has the Government so far refused to commit to deliver criminal sanctions and penalties for the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images, as recommended by the recent Senate inquiry into 'revenge porn' and by other bodies such as the COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children, chaired by former police commissioner Ken Lay.
The Government is pursuing a comprehensive range of measures to combat the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images, including education, victim support, civil penalties and criminal sanctions.
The non-consensual sharing of intimate images can be prosecuted under s 474.17 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. Section 474.17 makes it an offence to use a carriage service in a way that reasonable persons would regard as being menacing, harassing or offensive. If the matter involved a victim that was a minor, the child pornography offences in the Criminal Code may also be relevant. There are also state and territory laws criminalising this conduct.
Several states and territories have introduced or announced an intention to introduce offences that specifically criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The Government is engaging with states and territories to ensure national consistency in addressing the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images. On 9 December 2016, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to the development of principles for nationally consistent criminal offences relating to non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The Government is leading the development of these principles through the National Cybercrime Working Group for consideration by the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council this year.
Why has the Government so far refused to commit to deliver criminal sanctions and penalties for the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images, as recommended by the recent Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee's report on the inquiry into 'revenge porn' and by other bodies such as the COAG Advisory Panel on Reducing Violence against Women and their Children, chaired by former police commissioner Mr Ken Lay.
The Government is pursuing a comprehensive range of measures to combat the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images, including education, victim support, civil penalties and criminal sanctions.
The non-consensual sharing of intimate images can be prosecuted under s 474.17 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. Section 474.17 makes it an offence to use a carriage service in a way that reasonable persons would regard as being menacing, harassing or offensive. If the matter involved a victim that was a minor, the child pornography offences in the Criminal Code may also be relevant. There are also state and territory laws criminalising this conduct.
Several states and territories have introduced or announced an intention to introduce offences that specifically criminalise the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The Government is engaging with states and territories to ensure national consistency in addressing the non‑consensual sharing of intimate images. On 9 December 2016, the Council of Australian Governments agreed to the development of principles for nationally consistent criminal offences relating to non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The Government is leading the development of these principles through the National Cybercrime Working Group for consideration by the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council this year.
(1) Why does it take eight days for a letter posted at the Wodonga Post Office to be delivered to a Post Office Box in the same building.(2) Where and how is mail, which is posted in Wodonga for a Wodonga address, sorted.(3) Is it a fact that mail posted in Wodonga to go to Sydney, is sent via Melbourne.(4) What modelling has Australia Post done on the costs of centralising mail sorting.
(1) Australia Post's customers have a choice of Priority and Regular letter services for sending their letters within Australia. This allows them to pay for the delivery speed and service that best suits their needs. All items are delivered according to the delivery timetables for Priority and Regular mail, which Australia Post publicly advertises.
Australia Post advise that for a letter posted in Wodonga that is addressed to a Wodonga Post Office Box, the Priority service offers a usual delivery time of one business day after the day of posting, while the Regular service is up to two business days longer than Priority. While Australia Post recognises there may be isolated incidents of delayed mail, it delivers more than three billion items every year and the vast majority arrive safely and on time.
Australia Post closely monitors its delivery service to ensure it meets its service performance targets. In 2015-16, 96.2 per cent of reserved services letters were delivered early or on time, which is above Australia Post's required Community Service Obligation of 94 per cent.
(2) Letters that are carried by the Priority service are retained and processed in the local area and delivered next business day.
Letters carried by the Regular service are separated from the Priority letters and are sent to Australia Post's facility in Melbourne for machine processing and delivery in line with its Regular timetable. Transferring Regular letters to relevant regional and state mail processing centres allows Australia Post to make better use of advanced automation technology at major mail centres and more efficiently and accurately process mail. Australia Post's machines process on average 400,000 items each per day, which is far more efficient than manual processing.
(3) Yes. Transporting mail to key processing facilities for faster and more thorough sorting is done using existing transport routes and items are delivered in line with Australia Post's Regular and Priority timetables.
(4) The centralised processing of mail enables Australia Post to make better use of best-practice automated mail processing technology at its larger facilities. Diverting the processing component to Australia Post's major facilities enables it to sort large volumes of mail more efficiently and accurately. These changes enable Australia Post to realise significant cost benefits through the use of available capacity on both existing transport routes and processing machines. Australia Post has introduced these changes while maintaining its Community Service Obligations and meeting its customer service promise.