The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Stephen Parry) took the chair at 9:30, read prayers and made an acknowledgement of country.
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Stronger Penalties for Serious Failures) Bill 2014
It is my very strong view that some of our young people just need an extra prod.
Some people will cry a little longer than others but it is for their own good in the long run.
Statements like that reflect the degree to which people who make them are out of touch. It reflects a blinkered view and predetermined attitudes.
These measures will not help people into jobs but they will force people into poverty. You don't help someone into a job by making them poor, whether you're young, old, a person with a disability, a single mum, you're not going to be helped into a job by being put down. You don't build people up by putting them down.
... the measures contained in the bill seek to resolve a problem that does not really exist, that the levels of compliance in the existing system are very good, and the levels of noncompliance are very low.
Fundamentally, the system that we have now is very effective in ensuring that people re-engage immediately and in stopping people from falling through the cracks ...
The system as it is at the moment is actually working extremely well—certainly from our perspective and our on-the-ground casework.
The existing measures whereby waivers enable and encourage and incentivise people to re-engage immediately are likely to be much more effective in terms of getting them engaged in the system and getting to work
The majority of recipients of unemployment payments have few savings, little access to credit, and many receive little or no support from family. A period of eight weeks without income support is very likely to cause hardship in these circumstances, including homelessness in some cases.
For a range of reasons under the penalty system, Indigenous job seekers have higher numbers of penalties. It is not because they are not seeking work or do not want to comply but because there might be issues of remoteness or lack of understanding of the actual system—a whole range of issues—that result in that.
When you look at the rates of penalties and the rates of appeals in Indigenous communities, not only do they get more penalties; they generally do not exercise their rights. So removing the ability to work off a penalty, we think, will result in more Indigenous people just falling away from the system and disengaging entirely, ending up without income support.
We feel greatly pained by that proposal—
particularly if you add the eight-week waiver to it. I guess we start with the premise that these young people are our country's future, that they are going to make a significant investment in the economy as well as in the society as a whole and that we risk losing their contribution to the community, with both economic and social consequences as well as, of course, dire individual consequences for them. So we think that is of great concern.
It seems to assume that young people will have family support and that if they lose income they will have a family to fall back onto. However, if you look at the data there are some 45,000 people receiving the youth allowance who are not living at home and many of those can't move back home and don't have family support. So if you cut the income off to those people they become destitute.
The Employment Provider will also determine whether the Job Seeker had a reasonable excuse for non-attendance at their initial appointment in accordance with legislation and guidelines.
… that means that the DHS powers would be delegate to numerous employment service providers across the nation to make these original decisions which will then have appeal rights from there. But we are concerned about pressure on the employment service providers, the change in the nature of the relationship between them and the job seeker and the almost certainly inconsistent application of the law across the land as a result of outsourcing that decision-making power from the Department of Human Services to employment service providers.
We believe that it will have harsh unintended consequences for job seekers, so we do not believe it will achieve the outcomes. We know that the evidence suggests that rapid re-engagement is absolutely crucial to achieving positive employment pathways. But what this will do is delay that re-engagement, and in such a moralising way that people could feel defeated by these sorts of measures, because it will have dire consequences for their housing stability and basic living standards.
It is severe not only for the people who are being subjected to this … I would put it to you that what we are seeing is a cumulative desensitisation of mainstream Australia, led by the government, in disregarding the humanity and the basic fundamental human rights of a section of the population on the basis that they are unemployed.
The Bill will help restore the integrity of our welfare system and ensure available resources are used effectively and efficiently…
… Brotherhood of St Laurence contended that the Bill created a high risk of unintended consequences, by impacting on jobseekers who may find themselves in breach of their obligations due to circumstances beyond their control, such as mental illness, domestic violence or homelessness.
The committee notes the concerns raised by witnesses and submitters
However—
However, the committee also notes that the Bill will only impact the small proportion of jobseekers who have received but nevertheless refused an offer of suitable employment without a reasonable excuse or who have persistently and wilfully failed to comply with their participation obligations.
… appropriate safeguards exist such that no penalty will be applied for a failure that was directly attributable to a jobseeker's vulnerability.
Fundamentally, the system that we have now is very effective in ensuring that people re-engage immediately and in stopping people from falling through the cracks. There are still some people who fall through the cracks, but we consider it to be likely that there will be a lot more should this bill go through. In the end, you only have less than one per cent of people incurring multiple penalties. The system as it is at the moment is actually working extremely well—certainly from our perspective and our on-the-ground casework.
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
The Senate divided. [11:56]
(The President—Senator Parry)
Migration Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014
… the Commonwealth government consider whether additional safeguards are necessary to ensure that children and people with a mental impairment are not unfairly prevented from making a subsequent visa application in circumstances where they are unaware of a previous application having been made on their behalf.
I confirm that there are existing safeguards in place to address the concerns of the committee. These include my personal powers to intervene under Section 48B of the Migration Act to lift the legislative bar and allow further application for a protection visa. I also have powers under the act to intervene and grant visas to non-citizens if I believe it to be in the public interest. I am of the view that these safeguards are appropriate to deal with the very small number of genuine cases that may arise where a child or a person with a mental impairment has been significantly disadvantaged as envisaged by the committee.
…the … government consider whether additional safeguards are necessary to ensure that children and people with a mental impairment are not unfairly prevented from making a subsequent visa application in circumstances where they are unaware of a previous application having been made on their behalf.
The amendments would not further extend coercive powers or administrative responsibilities, [they would] simply to provide further information to administrative officers for more effective decision making. This will enhance decision-making and as a result, will enhance the integrity of the migration and citizenship programmes. This enhancement will be particularly prevalent where persons have provided false, misleading or fraudulent information to the Department and have acquired, or will acquire, a visa or citizenship as a result.
The Senate divided. [12:45]
(The Acting Deputy President—Senator Lines)
That this bill be now read a third time.
We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia. Now why ASC? Right across Australia there is only one place that has all of the expertise that’s necessary to complete one of the most complex, difficult and costly capital works projects that Australian can undertake. It’s ASC here in Adelaide.
The Coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide, we will get that task done, and it is a really important task, not just for the Navy but for the nation. And we are going to see the project through, and put it very close after force protection, as our number priority if we win the next Federal Election.
Most of the more recent evidence tends to support the view that the use of non -parental care/child care (usually necessitated by maternal employment) when initiated within the first year of a child’s life can contribute to behavioural problems and, in some contexts, delayed cognitive development.
Taking stock of the evidence, it seems that child development is negatively affected when an infant does not receive full-time personal care (breastfeeding issues aside…) for at least the first 6 to 12 months of his/her life.
I write on behalf of the students to plead to your sense of compassion and care for the most vulnerable in our world. Surely your heart is touched by the images of those who have had to flee terror and persecution; have had to flee without loved ones.
As Australians, we are ashamed that we cannot give from what we have; that we cannot open our doors with a welcome; that we are not providing the care that prevents emotional, mental and physical distress.
We pray daily that those in leadership positions in our country will have the courage to lead with compassion, a sense of justice and equality.
We try to live by the message of Mary MacKillop and Jesus. You know that message. We plead with you to bring it to life.
The secrecy worries me, and makes me wonder why there is not openness. I have heard harrowing stories of conditions in detention centres and I request that as a matter of urgency, the conditions under which the detained people have to live, are improved to a standard that would be acceptable to the Australian community as a whole.
I was a boat person, arriving in 1954 at the age of 7 with my family from England. I am also a proud Australian citizen.
No government has the right to inflict deliberate harm and suffering on any asylum seeker, but this is what you are doing. This is the example and the leadership that you are imposing on my children and grandchildren. You are showing them that cruelty, bullying and injustice prevail over kindness, care and generosity. You are showing them how to divide a nation and how to instil prejudice, hate and fear.
This is not the Australia that I desire for my grandchildren. They do not deserve to inherit the consequences of your wrong and immoral actions towards asylum seekers. Your policies are leaving a disturbing legacy.
My heartfelt plea, my very serious demand as an Australian citizen is simple: Just stop the cruelty. Stop the harm and suffering.
Australia will never be a great country while we continue to leave the burden of dark legacies of suffering for future generations to carry.
You have the power, skills and knowledge to lead all Australians in changing their attitudes and beliefs about people seeking asylum in Australia.
You have the power, skills and knowledge to lead Australians in our understanding of, and our respect for, human rights.
I expect more and I expect you to end the policy of indefinite detention of people who have not been charged with, or found guilty of, committing any crime.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
It is about people, very innocent people, young people, women and girls and old people who do not have much capacity. …
… … …
… without addressing this issue through certain means, including military and counter-terrorism actions, we will just end up allowing these terrorist activities to continue. … we have to be firm and address the issue.
I am absolutely determined not to increase the overall tax burden on anyone.
… the rebate for most GP and out-of-hospital pathology and diagnostic imaging services will be reduced by $5.
That the Senate take note of the answers given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Cormann) to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today relating to measures contained in the Minerals Resource Rent Tax Repeal and Other Measures Bill 2014.
Compulsory superannuation is one of the biggest con jobs ever foisted by government on the Australian people.
Our clear categoric commitment to the Australian people is that we are not going to make unexpected, adverse changes to superannuation.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Employment (Senator Abetz) to a question without notice asked by Senator Milne today relating to Australia’s involvement in Iraq.
That leave of absence be granted to the following senators: Senator Ryan from 1 September to 4 September 2014 for personal reasons; Senator Mason from 1 September to 4 September 2014 on account of ministerial business; and Senator Johnston from 2 September to 4 September 2014 on account of ministerial business.
That the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for inquiry and report by the last sitting day in March 2015:
Australia‘s transport energy resilience and sustainability, with particular reference to:
(a) options for introducing mandatory oil stockholdings;
(b) the role of Government in ensuring Australian energy for Australians, including maintaining refinery capability; and
(c) Australia‘s role and responsibility regarding energy security as a member of various multilateral fora.
That the time for the presentation of the report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (2014 Budget Measures No. 1) Bill 2014 and a related bill be extended to 10 September 2014.
Question agreed to.
That the Senate notes:
(a) that 3 September is Australian National Flag Day which commemorates the first time the Australian national flag was flown in 1901;
(b) that Australian National Flag Day is an opportunity for Australians to express their pride in our national flag; and
(c) the continuing community support for the values the Australian national flag has come to represent.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) 2014 is the centenary year of Red Cross in Australia – a significant milestone in the history of our nation – commemorating 100 years of humanitarian service to the people of Australia,
(ii) for 100 years the Australian Red Cross has enjoyed a unique auxiliary status to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, working in partnership with governments of all political persuasions, both in Australia and internationally, to alleviate human suffering while adhering to the principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality,
(iii) many Australians have a personal connection with the Red Cross: from its humanitarian role during two World Wars and other significant conflicts; to preparing, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters; to helping vulnerable people and communities overcome difficulties; or, through the world class national blood service,
(iv) today, the Red Cross has a network of over one million volunteers, members, staff, donors, aid workers and supporters in Australia,
(v) through this network, the Australian Red Cross mobilises the power of humanity to help transform the lives of people in need right across the country, and
(vi) the Australian Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian movement, with tens of millions of volunteers working in 189 countries, united by the fundamental principle of preventing and alleviating human suffering wherever it may be found, without discrimination;
(b) joins with the Australian Red Cross in celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding on 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War One;
(c) congratulates generations of Australians for their extraordinary contribution to the everyday work of the Red Cross; and
(d) recognises the independent humanitarian mission of the Red Cross to work with and assist the most vulnerable people in need, both in Australia and internationally.
That the Senate supports the building of a high speed rail network in eastern Australia.
That the Senate—
(a) notes that:
(i) 31 July was World Ranger Day, which celebrates the work of park rangers around the world and commemorates those who have died in the line of duty,
(ii) park rangers, their ranger associations, and the International Ranger Federation ensure the world's terrestrial and marine parks, and the flora and fauna that live in them, are protected from vandalism, poaching, theft, exploitation or destruction,
(iii) over 1 000 rangers worldwide have lost their lives over the past 10 years, 80 per cent of whom have been murdered by poachers and armed militias, and
(iv) the International Ranger Federation raises awareness of, and support for, the critical work That the world's park rangers do in conserving our natural and cultural heritage;
(b) calls on the Government to consider:
(i) providing practical support to The Thin Green Line Foundation's work in protecting park rangers and supporting the families of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and
(ii) assisting international efforts to control poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife and timber products; and
(c) expresses its condolences to the family, friends and work colleagues of Mr Glen Turner, a park ranger killed in northern New South Wales in July 2014.
That the Senate—
(a) recognises that 1 September to 7 September 2014 is National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week;
(b) notes that in 2012 there were more than 913 000 people in Australia living with a clinical eating disorder, and that more than 1 800 people die each year because of these deadly mental illnesses;
(c) recognises the significant social and economic costs of eating disorders and the strength and contribution of those who care for people experiencing eating disorders; and
(d) calls on the Federal Government to take a lead in prioritising eating disorders as an urgent mainstream health issue in Australia, and to work with all state and territory governments to:
(i) support the development and education of a health workforce proportional to the need, which is able to identify and treat eating disorders,
(ii) fund integrated treatment facilities and programs in hospitals and the community, with appropriate specialist care,
(iii) ensure an appropriate proportion of the health budget is available for the development and establishment of community based recovery support and prevention services, and
(iv) provide funding and support for the necessary education and prevention programs for young people.
That the Senate—
(a) expresses its concern over the Federal Government's budget cuts to the Red Cross Migrant Support Program that will result in 500 job losses across South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria;
(b) notes the negative impacts that these job losses will have on the welfare and health services available to refugee and asylum seeker families living in the community; and
(c) calls on the Government to reverse these cuts.
That in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
The need for the Abbott Government to keep its pre-election promise to design and build Australia's Future Submarine Fleet in Adelaide and to justify why it's planning to destroy Australia's strategically vital shipbuilding capability.
… I want to confirm that the 12 submarines as set out in the 2009 Defence White Paper and then again in last Friday's Defence White Paper are what the Coalition accepts and will deliver.
We will deliver those submarines from right here at ASC in South Australia.
… work on the next generation of submarines should focus here on the South Australian ship yards.
The coalition today is committed to building 12 new submarines here in Adelaide.
I get really fired up when I find us giving away our manufacturing base in the Defence space—
Successive Australian governments have accepted that building the DDGs in Australia would involve a premium over and above the cost of building them overseas. The decision to build locally is based on a desire to retain shipbuilding jobs and facilities, project management and design skills, and experience with sophisticated naval combat systems, so as to enable through-life support in Australia and a continuing naval shipbuilding industry.
A Labor government would … ensure the submarines were built by ASC at its Port Adelaide site, with construction to begin in about 2017.
…$6 billion air warfare destroyer project in Adelaide at that time would be tapering off.
Starting the process this year will guarantee continuity of work for South Australia's defence industry and those employed in the sector ... a Labor government would make it a priority to ensure that the necessary preliminary work on Australia's next generation of submarines was carried out in time for consideration and initial approval in 2011.
Work on the production of new submarines is a task essential to Australia's national security that the Howard Government has failed to tackle.
I get really fired up when I find us giving away our manufacturing base in the Defence space to foreign manufacturers, it’s just not on.
That the Senate take note of the reports.
We must not lose sight of the essential condition that Australia is to be a federation of States, not a single government of Australia. The separate States are to continue as autonomous bodies, surrendering only so much of their power as is necessary to the establishment of a central government to do for them collectively what they cannot do individually for themselves.
That the report be printed.
That the report be printed.
That the Senate take note of the report.
We seek to do more than just develop a number of iron ore mines. Our objective is to develop a great region with all the complex infrastructure and associated developments that are necessary to have a permanent, contented, well-housed, well-education and well cared for community.
Putting the boot into young people who are unemployed might be therapeutic for the welfare-bashers but it will not create a single job.
…it isn't charity they should have to depend on, it's justice they should be able to count on …
You certainly don't help young people into a job by … forcing them rely on charities …
There is no right to demand from your fellow Australians that just because you don't want to do a bread delivery or a taxi run or a stint as a farmhand that you should therefore be able to rely on your fellow Australian to subsidise you.