Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill 2020

As Labor’s Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Keneally spoke about this Bill in the Parliament. I invite you to read the speech to learn more about how Labor worked to improve the original Bill the Morrison-Joyce Government proposed.

Labor agrees that the powers in this Bill are extraordinary. Indeed, all members of the bipartisan Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security agreed the powers are extraordinary.

However, Labor does believe the powers have been justified to combat serious cyber-enabled crime – including human trafficking, drug crime, child sexual abuse and terrorism.

Technology is moving fast, and criminals are using technology to commit absolutely vile crimes.

Importantly, because of Labor’s work through the bipartisan Intelligence Committee, this legislation is now more robust and includes better oversight.

In particular, amendments were included to strengthen the issuing criteria for warrants regarding these powers, requiring consideration of privacy, public interest, privileged and journalistic information, and financial impacts. And the Parliament and the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor will have strengthened oversight of the use of these powers.

Labor’s goal in supporting the legislation is so that the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission can stay one step ahead of the vile criminals who are committing the most serious cyber-enabled crimes like child sexual abuse, human trafficking and terrorism.

Afghanistan

The unfolding security and humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is devastating for the people of Afghanistan, for Australian-Afghan communities, for the Afghan staff that supported our military and diplomatic operations for over 20 years – and for our veterans.

And for the women and girls of Afghanistan who now face the prospect of a cruel and brutal regime.

Many Australians – including veterans – are horrified to see the Taliban surge across the country.

Labor is deeply concerned about the stability of Afghanistan and we urge the Morrison Government to work with international partners to help support efforts towards a negotiated settlement and a permanent ceasefire.

Labor will use all avenues to ensure the Morrison Government continues to support the people of Afghanistan, including through Australia’s humanitarian assistance program.

Labor understands that this is a deeply distressing time for Australians of Afghan descent, and Afghan visa holders in Australia who are fearful for the safety of their loved ones.

Evacuations for defence interpreters and local staff

What we are seeing in Afghanistan only underscores the importance of ensuring our friends are brought to safety.

The Afghan civilians who worked alongside Australian soldiers and diplomats, who wore Australian uniforms and who kept our people safe now face increasing threats to their lives and the lives of their families, because of the assistance they provided our nation.

We have a moral obligation to help the people who have helped Australia – and we have a national security obligation to make clear to the world that if you help Australia, we will help you.

It’s an important message of respect for our veterans that we are standing by the people who stood by them.

Our major allies understand the urgency and are ramping up evacuations – including to third countries while processing takes place.

Labor has been calling on the Morrison-Joyce Government to fast-track this process for months. Mr Morrison should have been working with Coalition partners and arranging evacuations months ago – his procrastination is risking lives.

In 2008, in similar circumstances when Iraqis were being given visas to Australia, there was a bipartisan effort to send a team of government officials overseas to assist them to complete their applications.

Former Prime Minister John Howard was right when he said the Morrison Government is hiding behind ‘narrow legalism’, and shirking our profound moral responsibility.

While every case must be considered on its individual merits – including security considerations – the Morrison Government’s bureaucratic delays clearly pale in comparison to what other countries are doing.

This is also a distressing time for many veterans, many of whom are concerned about leaving their mates behind.

All visa processing must be subject to integrity and national security checks, but this should not be an excuse for inaction.

Mr Morrison must stop giving excuses and act.

Labor will continue to advocate for some decency and fairness in Australia’s response.

Humanitarian/partner visas and processing times

We understand this is a heartbreaking time for the Australian-Afghan community. Labor and all Australians stand with you.

We have been calling for the Morrison-Joyce Government to develop a plan to urgently fast-track visas and evacuations for the immediate family members of Australians who are in Afghanistan, along with those who supported Australian operations.

Thousands of husbands, wives, partners and children of Australians have been waiting for years for partner and family visas, and others must now be eligible for refugee and humanitarian visas.

There are thousands unused places in the existing humanitarian visa program and the government should ensure any applications are processed as quickly as possible.

No one should be involuntarily deported to Afghanistan if they don’t want to go back.

All visa processing must be subject to integrity and national security checks, but this should not be an excuse for inaction.

Support for Veterans

We call on the Morrison-Joyce Government to be proactive in reaching out to those veterans who fought in Afghanistan and to the families who have lost loved ones.

Many veterans are horrified to see the Taliban surge across the country.

We know that mental health issues among the veteran community are a serious concern, and more needs to be done now to ensure these issues aren’t exacerbated further.

Many veterans have said this issue is exacerbating their existing trauma because they see it as leaving their mates behind.

Support is available for current and ex-serving defence personnel, and their families through Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling by phone on 1800 011 046 (international +61 8 8241 4546) or via www.OpenArms.gov.au

Closure of the Australian Embassy in Afghanistan

Labor noted the decision of the Government to temporarily close Australia’s embassy in Afghanistan as a result of the deteriorating security situation.

We were disappointed that after 20 years of successive Australian military, diplomatic and development engagement in Afghanistan, there was no bipartisan consultation on this important decision.

The Prime Minister said on 15 April that Australia will continue to support the stability and development of Afghanistan through our bilateral partnership, ‘including our diplomatic presence, development cooperation program, and continued people-to-people links’ and that Australia remained committed to helping Afghanistan preserve the gains of the past 20 years, particularly for women and girls.

The Morrison Government should explain how it will now meet these commitments.

Many Australians are asking whether they will be required to produce evidence of vaccination to enter worksites, businesses, and venues – known generally as vaccine passports.

 Understandably, Australians are going to want to have confidence that the people they’re mixing with or being served by are vaccinated and businesses will respond to those expectations from their customers. 

Labor supports an effective and fair system of vaccine passports. 

The first condition, of course, is that everyone gets the chance to get vaccinated. 

Too many people who want a vaccine still can’t get one. These are supply problems that go back to poor decisions made by Scott Morrison last year. 

Although everyone has the choice whether to get vaccinated, there will eventually be consequences to that choice. 

Scott Morrison also needs to guarantee the system will work. There have already been widespread reports of people’s vaccination status not being uploaded to the register. Also, worryingly, there have been reports of vaccine certificates being able to be forged in under 10 minutes with the Medicare app. 

Given the complete mess Scott Morrison made of the COVIDsafe app, we need strong assurances he’ll do better with this system.

 And, lastly, some people are medically not able to take a COVID vaccine. Their genuine medical needs must be accommodated. 

All of this will work better if Scott Morrison swallowed his pride and just sat down with business, unions and health groups to work through this important issue. 

Labor will continue to monitor the situation.

 

Labor understands that high media ownership concentration is an enduring concern of the Australian public, and that we need media diversity to support the effective functioning of our democracy.

Like you, Labor is concerned about the health and diversity of Australia’s media sector and its impact on our society.

That is why Labor has been fighting Liberal-National Government moves to undermine media diversity.

Labor has long called out the fact that Australia has one of the most concentrated media markets in the world, yet the Liberal-National Government is actively making things worse.

Labor opposed the Government’s repeal of the 2 out of 3 cross-media control rule in 2017 which allowed our media to get even more concentrated, for example by permitting Nine’s takeover of Fairfax.

Labor opposes the Government’s ABC budget cuts, which forced the ABC to shut shortwave radio, cut Australian content and news and current programs and sack hundreds of staff, among other things.

Labor is fighting Scott Morrison’s plan to boot Community TV off air. The Coalition’s plan to move CTV online-only has seen stations in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth close down.  Channel 31 Melbourne and Channel 44 Adelaide remain vibrant local services but their licences expire in June 2021.

Labor is holding the Government to account for its mismanagement of taxpayer funds for public interest journalism. In 2017 the Government announced a $50 million fund for regional and small publishers but failed to get the money out the door. In 2020 the Government re-announced $35 million as part of a new fund that initially failed to cater for AAP and disadvantaged publishers.

Labor supported the passage of the News Media Bargaining Code, which was one of a number of recommendations to support the media made by the ACCC in the Final Report of the Digital Platforms Inquiry, but we never considered the code to be a silver bullet. During the Parliamentary process, Labor expressed concerns that small and regional publishers around the country – those most disproportionately impacted by Facebook’s decision to block the sharing of news in Australia – would not be able to avail themselves of the provisions available under the Code.

However, more needs to be done.

Labor has called for the Government to put concrete, workable proposals to support Australia’s media on the table.

Labor has been calling on Government to reform Australia’s out-dated media laws for years, yet they have failed to do so, despite broad-ranging acknowledgement of the need for reform, the closure of hundreds of newspapers and early warning signs of market failure in regional television broadcasting.

Action is needed to foster media diversity in Australia. However, the fact is the Government still hasn’t acted on the recommendations of a previous Senate Inquiry into the future of public interest journalism and is yet to realise all of the recommendations of the ACCC Digital Platforms Inquiry.

Labor will consider the recent GetUp report and its recommendations, including to inform Labor’s response to the current Senate Inquiry into the state of media diversity, independence and reliability in Australia, which was referred to the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee on 11 November 2020 for report by 4 August 2021.

The state of the media is a matter of deep concern to many Australians and after eight long years, this Government isn’t convincing anyone that it is doing enough to support our media. Only a Labor Government will stop the attacks on media diversity in Australia.

Aged Care

Our entire aged care system is in crisis due to the funding cuts and neglect by the Morrison Government.

Scott Morrison has completely failed our older Australians. This crisis is a national disgrace.

Over the last eight years, the Liberal-National Government have slashed billions of dollars in aged care funding, and as a result our elderly are suffering terribly.

Under the Morrison Government more than 100,000 people are desperately waiting for in-home care packages. Many older Australians needing high level home care are now are waiting almost three years.

Shamefully, the wait for older Australians to enter residential care has now increased to 148 days.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care has heard so many stories of terrible neglect including heartbreaking stories about malnourishment and untreated wounds in nursing homes.

Scott Morrison’s neglect is disgraceful and completely unacceptable. Our older Australians deserve so much better.

We must always remember that our seniors built this nation and they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and they must have access to health and aged care services when they need them.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC)

Labor has consistently stated that we would work constructively on the reform process and consider any sensible proposals. Australia can’t afford to allow the alarming environmental decline that we have seen under the Liberals and Nationals.

But the Morrison Government is more interested in politics than solutions.

This once in a decade review of environmental legislation is calling for urgent reforms to prevent the continued extinction of Australia’s plants, animals and ecosystems.

Instead of genuine reform consistent with the recommendations of the independent review that has been conducted by Professor Graeme Samuel, the Morrison Government has simply rehashed Tony Abbott’s failed 2014 environment bill, which would harm Australia’s natural environment and put jobs and investment at risk.

Unfortunately, Scott Morrison has politicised, compromised and bungled the environment law reform process.

So far, Mr Morrison has:

• pre-empted the findings of their own independent review, after it was revealed they began commissioning legislation before the interim report was even finalised;
• rammed the failed Abbott bill through the lower house and gagged debate;
• ignored and cherry-picked the recommendations of Samuel’s independent review by failing to introduce National Environment Standards as the foundation of reform, and then ruled out a genuinely independent cop on the beat for our environment;
• broken their promise to introduce National Environment Standards at the same time as other changes;
• left the Abbott bill to languish in the Senate for months, without putting it to a vote;
• voted against a Senate inquiry into the impact of the bill on the environment and jobs, and then backflipped to support a sham inquiry, which lasted just hours.

Professor Graeme Samuel handed his review to government in October last year, but the Morrison Government quietly released it on 28 January 2021.

Strong National Environment Standards and a genuinely independent ‘cop on the beat’ for the environment were the foundation of Professor Samuel’s proposed reforms.

The need for reform is urgent because this government’s record on the environment is woeful, given it has:

• slashed 40 per cent from environment department funding, smashing its capacity to protect Australia’s environment;
• presided over Australia’s escalating environmental crisis, with NSW koala populations at risk of extinction and Australia’s threatened species in decline;
• presided over an explosion of 510 per cent in job and investment delays through unnecessary environmental decision blow-outs;
• delivered a staggering 95 per cent of environmental approval decisions late and outside statutory timeframes in 2018-19; and
• made environmental decisions that contained errors or were non-compliant in 79 per cent of approvals.

Labor has called on the Morrison Government to:

• introduce strong National Environmental Standards;
• establish a genuinely independent ‘cop on the beat’ for Australia’s environment; and
• fix the explosion in unnecessary 510 per cent job and investment delays caused by their massive funding cuts.

Labor’s shadow cabinet and caucus will carefully consider the Samuel Review Final Report’s recommendations and any government response.

If Scott Morrison was serious about securing broad support and durable reform, he would not be rehashing Tony Abbott’s failed 2014 bill.

Instead of delivering jobs and protecting the environment, the Morrison Government has focused on spending a billion dollars of taxpayer money on marketing itself, sports rorts, dodgy land deals for Liberal donors, and a dud NBN.

Labor’s record of achievement on the environment

Every major achievement in environmental protection in this nation’s history has been delivered by a Labor government. Only Labor has the will, and the capacity, to protect Australia’s environment.

Labor’s legacy in government is that we protected the Daintree, Kakadu, the Great Barrier Reef, the Franklin and Antarctica. We created Landcare, and we created the largest network of marine parks in the world.

It is critical that Australians  join the fight against the Morrison government’s horrendous record of environmental mismanagement.

Labor will continue to hold the Morrison Government to account. If you’d like to add your voice, I encourage you to contact the Minister. She can be contacted at:

The Hon Sussan Ley MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

or,   minister.ley@environment.gov.au.

EPBC Act & Koalas

Green’s Private Senator’s Bill to amend the EPBC Act.

Like you, I am very concerned about the future of the koala, one of Australia’s most iconic and beloved species.

The failures of the Liberal National Government mean that the koala is could become extinct in NSW by 2050, if immediate action isn’t taken.

Australia’s environment is in decline, national icons like the koala have died in record numbers, environment department funding has been gutted by 40 per cent, the majority of threatened species don’t have a recovery plan and the Morrison Government has no idea whether recovery plans that are in place, are being implemented.

It’s an absolute disgrace.

Australia was experiencing an extinction crisis before an estimated three billion animals were killed or displaced during last summer’s bushfires.

But the Liberals and Nationals can’t even get the basics right:

– the government is years overdue in making a Threatened Species Recovery Plan for the koala, which was initially due by 2015;
– Labor’s National Koala Conservation Strategy ran until 2014 and has yet to be replaced by this government; and
– we are still waiting for the government to make a decision on increasing the threatened listing status of the koala.

That’s why Labor has called on the Morrison Government to cease development in areas where the koala is listed as vulnerable, until:
– the formal assessment for up-listing the koala has been determined;
– a recovery plan for the koala is produced; and
– a new National Koala Conservation Strategy is in place.

Labor has also called for:
• Stronger Protections: the koala, as a national icon, needs federal protection;
• Tougher Penalties: federal environment laws should impose strict penalties for acts of deliberate animal death; and
• A National Approach: the government should work with the states now on a consistent national approach to protecting the koala, and undertake a comprehensive ecological audit to assess the damage to populations from bushfires.

Labor is calling on the government to protect the koala. Add your voice, sign here: https://www.alp.org.au/petitions/we-need-to-protect-the-koala/

The Morrison Government can fix this now. We’ve urged the Greens party to join Labor in our campaign to call for immediate action.

The decisions we take now will impact Australia’s national icons and less charismatic species, and, vitally, our biodiversity, for generations to come.

Private Senator’s bills and motions in the Senate from the Greens political party, that will never be enacted because the Liberals and National are in power, won’t save the koala.

The only way to protect the koala is the election of a Federal Labor Government.

BUSHFIRE FUNDING

The findings from the PerCapita research were appalling, but not surprising.

For months now Labor has been calling on the Morrison Government to deliver the funding they have promised to bushfire communities. We have also called on the Government to introduce monthly reporting requirements from state, territory and local governments and other external agencies, to ensure money is going where it needs to.

Unfortunately Scott Morrison and his Liberal-National Government have failed to deliver. Meanwhile, bushfire victims are living in caravans and waiting for support, over a year on from the bushfires.

We will continue to fight for bushfire communities to receive the funding they need.

If you, or someone you know is struggling to recover from the bushfires, please do not hesitate to get in contact. You can also find your local recovery officer here: https://www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/talk-us

National Integrity Commission

Labor stands for integrity and transparency in government, and we have no tolerance for corruption.

That is why Labor committed to establishing a powerful, transparent and independent National Integrity Commission three years ago. We maintain that commitment to this day.

In contrast, nearly two years after the Morrison Government was dragged, kicking and screaming, to accept Labor’s challenge by grudgingly announcing the Government would establish a “Commonwealth Integrity Commission”, in November 2020 it finally released its draft legislation to create such a body. After two years of delays and pathetic excuses, what the Morrison Government has now proposed is essentially a sham body, so weak, so constrained and so secretive that it has clearly been designed not to reveal corruption in the federal government, but to conceal it.

Integrity advocates and legal experts across the nation have been excoriating of the Morrison Government’s proposed body, and The Centre for Public Integrity has said it would be “the weakest watchdog in the country”. Geoffrey Watson SC, former counsel assisting to the NSW ICAC says the Government’s draft bill “is designed to cover up corruption, not expose it.”

Despite scandal after scandal, all Australians are getting from the Morrison Government are more cover-ups and excuses.

In the meantime, bad behaviour flourishes under this Government as week after week new scandals are exposed. Whether it’s the sports rorts scandal that led all the way to the Prime Minister’s office, the suspicious payment of $30 million to a Liberal Party donor for land at Sydney’s new airport that’s worth a tenth of that, or the fiasco of Minister Angus Taylor using forged documents, the ever-growing list of scandals surrounding the Morrison Government demonstrates the urgent need for a real National Integrity Commission – and why Mr Morrison and his colleagues are doing all they can to prevent one from being established.

Every day they delay is another day corruption flourishes, and another day Mr Morrison tries to sweep wrongdoing by his government under the carpet.

Labor will continue to fight for the establishment of a powerful National Integrity Commission – not a weak and secretive body like Mr Morrison has proposed, but rather a powerful body that has all the independence and resources of a standing royal commission into corruption in the federal sphere.

COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program

Labor has repeatedly called on the Government to fix this grant program which risks seeing businesses close and jobs lost.

This past year has been incredibly challenging for travel agents across the country as they worked to get clients home and refund millions of dollars of bookings which in many cases included commissions long since paid.

And somewhere in between this intense workload, travel agents have taken the time to lobby the Government for support in order to keep customers taken care of,  doors open and staff employed.

Labor is well aware of the problems with this grant program and have been urging the Government to reconsider their criteria which is producing vastly inequitable outcomes that could result in businesses closing down.

Travel agents deserve better than this.

Travel agents play a vital role in our tourism industry, sustaining businesses and employing thousands of people across Australia.

Labor’s Shadow Minister for Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, continues to urge the Morrison Government to listen to the sector and fix this flawed program immediately.

‘Coercive Control’

Labor welcomed the national campaign to criminalise coercive control launched by Are Media last year. Violence against women and their children is a national crisis. All women deserve to live dignified lives free from violence, humiliation and intimidation. The Australian Government should be focussed on working with the states and territories to ensure that women and their children are safe in their homes and in our community.

Labor addressed aspects of the issue of coercive control when we were last in federal Government in 2011, by expanding the definition of ‘family violence’ in the Family Law Act to include patterns of economic abuse constituting coercive control. This expansion of the definition of ‘family violence’ recognised the issue of coercive control and gave it legal relevance in family law matters. The Liberal Party, then in Opposition, tried and failed to prevent these changes to the law in both houses of the Federal Parliament, moving amendments that sought to entirely remove the recognition of coercive control contained in Labor’s legislation.

Clearly, state, territory and national governments, the police, the legal system, frontline services and the community must work together to develop and implement more effective measures to ensure the safety of women and children. While the Family Law Act is federal legislation, the criminalisation of coercive control is a complex matter that would require new laws in the states and territories.

What is happening now is clearly not working, and much more needs to be done to prevent violence against women and their children.

Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) Scheme

As you may be aware, in March 2019 prior to the last election, the Morrison Government commissioned an inquiry into the administration of the DFRDB scheme commutation arrangements and the accuracy of information provided to members about DFRDB commutation. The DFRDB scheme, which was established in 1972 and closed to new members in 1991, allowed members to commute (exchange) part of their pension for a lump sum.

The report of the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s investigation, which was released in December 2019, found that in the past, some DFRDB scheme members were provided with misleading and incorrect advice by Defence with regards to commutation and their expected level of retirement pay. The Ombudsman’s review found this created false expectations with some ADF members believing their retirement pay would increase once they reached their notional life expectancy, and that this constituted defective administration by Defence.

Labor welcomed the fact that the Government and the Department of Defence apologised to current and ex-service personnel for these mistakes, admitting it has caused confusion and distress for scheme members over many years. Despite this, the Ombudsman found it was unlikely that scheme members experienced financial detriment as a result of the maladministration, so did not recommend any financial compensation be paid.

I appreciate that many veterans are unhappy with this outcome. It is clear that defence personnel relied on advice from Defence to make critical decisions about their retirement and were let down.

I would encourage any DFRDB members who believe they have suffered financial loss to seek legal advice and consider applying to Defence for compensation through the Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA) scheme. I understand a number of members have submitted CDDA applications relating to the commutation of their pension.

Individuals seeking information about their superannuation can also contact the Australian Defence Force Financial Services Consumer Centre and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, which administers the DFRDB scheme.

Ultimately, this is a matter for the Government, and I am happy to make representations on your behalf to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon Darren Chester MP. I have passed on your correspondence to the Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Hon Shayne Neumann MP, who recently spoke with the Australian Defence Force Retirees Association about their concerns regarding DFRDB commutation.

Labor has urged the Government to consider all policy issues outlined in the Ombudsman’s inquiry and any necessary changes to the scheme, and we have raised these issues in the Parliament several times. I can assure you Labor will continue to consult with DFRDB scheme members and the veteran community, and consider all options in this area.

First Nations Voice to Government- Interim Report

Labor thanks members of the advisory groups who worked on this interim report under difficult circumstances.

Many will be disappointed with the Government’s refusal to consider a constitutionally enshrined voice to the parliament.

Three and a half years ago, First Nations leaders clearly expressed our desire for a First Nations voice to the parliament enshrined in the constitution – through the Uluru Statement – while the Government banned its advisory group from even considering this.

It is also difficult to see any progress being made before the next election.

It is critical to real and lasting progress for First Nations people that we have a say in the policies and laws that affect us.

A voice must be able to provide full and frank advice. It must be secure and it should not be subject to the whims of the government of the day.

This report fails in that context.

Labor remains committed to all three elements of the Uluru Statement: a constitutionally enshrined First Nations voice to the parliament; a Makarrata Committee to oversee a process for agreement and treaty-making; as well as a process for Truth-telling.

JobKeeper Extension

We’ve always said that any support in the economy should be tailored and responsive to what’s actually going on in local economies around Australia.

 

Some parts of the Australian economy are recovering but some communities, industries and businesses are still struggling and shouldn’t be left behind when the Government cuts off JobKeeper in March.

 

The Government should be considering options to provide targeted support beyond March for the workers, small businesses, industries and communities of Australia which are doing it especially tough.

 

I would also strongly encourage you to contact the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, with your concerns:

           

The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP

Treasurer

PO Box 6022

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: (02) 6277 7340

Email: Josh.Frydenberg.MP@aph.gov.au

News Media Bargaining Code Bill

The recommendation for a Code of this nature arose from the 18 month long Digital Platforms Inquiry, conducted by the ACCC, Australia’s independent competition and consumer regulator.

The Bill was introduced into Parliament in December 2020 and was referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 12 February 2021.

From the outset, Labor has indicated in-principle support for a workable Code to address the imbalance in bargaining power between the digital platforms and Australian news media businesses.

Labor is now scrutinising the Bill and reserves its final position until the report of the Senate Inquiry.

This is important legislation and evidence to the Inquiry shows there are a number of concerns that need to be considered, with a range of stakeholders seeking amendments to the Bill.

It is well past time this Government gave credible responses to the concerns being raised.

The Government needs to do its job and craft a workable code that supports the media without undermining Australia’s digital economy or disrupting millions of Australian citizens and small businesses.

Regulation of 1080 chemicals

In January 2008, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) released the final regulatory decision and review regarding 1080 chemicals.

The review ultimately found that the poisoning of non-target animals does occur with 1080 baiting. However, it also concluded that when appropriate attention is paid to bait density, placement, timing, substrate and other matters, impacts can be localised or limited to individual animals, and thus do not appear to result in significant adverse effects on non-target animals at the population level.

Labor has confidence in the regulatory capabilities of the APVMA, which is the body responsible for the monitoring of all agricultural and veterinary chemical products in Australia. Labor also believes that all decisions should be guided by the science. However, it is also important to listen community concern and seek the appropriate assurances that chemicals are being used in a fit and proper manner.

The Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Ed Husic, has written to the Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, seeking his assurance that the regulatory framework is fit for purpose; and that the Government is satisfied that the use of 1080 chemicals does not unreasonably and disproportionately endanger native wildlife.

If the Minister cannot provide this assurance, it is incumbent on him – and the APVMA as the regulator – to take the necessary steps to ensure agricultural and veterinary chemicals are being used in a safe and proper way.

 Media Freedom

All Australians, as well as friends in democracies around the world, were shocked to see police raiding the offices of the ABC and the home of a respected political journalist.

Disturbingly, Scott Morrison and his senior ministers said that they were “not troubled” by the police raids and the intimidation of journalists trying to do their jobs holding the Australian Government to account. But these police raids on journalists did not come out of nowhere.

Over the last seven years, the Liberals and Nationals have been undermining accountability and promoting a culture of cover-up by:
• refusing to answer even basic questions from journalists or members of the public;
• repeatedly ignoring their legal obligations to provide information under freedom of information laws;
• using the criminal law to intimidate people who embarrass them, including journalists and whistleblowers; and
• trying to sweep scandal after scandal under the carpet.

Scott Morrison and his senior ministers treat “press freedom” as if it were a threat rather than as an essential pillar of our democracy.

When asked about the raids by a journalist the Communications Minister, Paul Fletcher, threatened to end the interview.

Peter Dutton’s Department of Home Affairs did not even know how many covert warrants had been obtained by authorities to investigate journalists.

In August 2020, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security issued a bipartisan report rejecting Scott Morrison’s assertion that nothing needed to change. Instead, the Committee concluded that existing Australian law does not adequately protect freedom of the press and made a series of recommendations to improve it.

The Government claims it accepts the Committee’s conclusions and its recommendations, but, as always with Mr Morrison, talk is cheap. The real test will be whether this was just another announcement with nothing done to follow through.

Labor believes a strong and independent media and effective and powerful freedom of information laws are vital to holding governments – and opposition parties – to account and calls on the Morrison Government to:

• end its campaign to undermine our democracy through intimidatory attacks on those who seek to hold it to account;
• introduce legislation to better protect journalists whose only “crime” is doing their jobs;
• fully comply with its obligations under freedom of information laws; and
• protect whistleblowers.

Labor will continue to fight to defend and to strengthen press freedom and the public’s right to know what is being done in their name.

Royal Commission into veteran suicide

Labor will oppose the Morrison Government’s National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention legislation in the Senate.

When the Government first introduced the legislation for a National Commissioner, Labor was sceptical it was not “bigger and better than a Royal Commission” as the Government claimed. We therefore supported referring it to a Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee inquiry so it could be thoroughly examined, and so veterans and families could have their say.

On 30 November 2020, the inquiry reported back and confirmed the concerns of Labor and many people that the National Commissioner will not have the independence, scope or resources to ask the really hard questions that only a Royal Commission can. The overwhelming feedback from submitters and witnesses to the inquiry was that the scope of the National Commissioner’s role is too narrow and that the recently appointed interim National Commissioner, Dr Bernadette Boss CSC, is not sufficiently independent given her long association with the Australian Defence Force.

Unlike the Government, Labor has consulted widely with veterans and families, veteran advocates, and mental health experts.

When the Prime Minister announced the National Commissioner earlier this year, he ignored the pleas of parents like Julie-Ann Finney and Karen Bird, whose veteran sons tragically took their own lives. These families were very clear – they wanted nothing less than a Royal Commission into veteran suicide to get to the bottom of these needless deaths.

The Government needs to establish a Royal Commission into veteran suicide, so we can tackle this issue in a systemic way once and for all. Our veterans and their families deserve nothing less.

Emissions Targets

EMISSIONS TARGETS

All the Government has when it comes to a zero emissions target is a plan to have a plan, undermining the policy that is supported overwhelmingly by major business organisations.

Labor’s commitment to action on climate change is unshakeable.

We have a 2050 target of net zero emissions; a target that’s supported by scientists, by every state in the country and by the broad business community.

All Labor policies will be informed by science and by consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

The details of Labor’s climate change policies will be determined by Shadow Cabinet and Caucus and released well ahead of the election.

Superannuation Guarantee (SG)

There is a significant risk that the Liberal and Nationals will  cut or delay the legislated increase to the super guarantee from 9.5% to 12% next year. This Liberal-National cut would be immensely damaging to retirement outcomes of ordinary Australian workers, and to our economy more broadly.

Superannuation is a major Labor achievement. Established by Hawke and Keating, universal superannuation is designed to support Australian workers in retirement.

It is one of the three pillars of our retirement income system, alongside the age pension and voluntary savings. Australia’s superannuation system is considered to be world-class by international commentators.

Under legislation, the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) is set to increase from 9.5% of wages to 12%.

That increase will begin next year, going to 10% in July 2021. Over the past two years,Liberal and National backbenchers have campaigned to freeze that increase. Recently, Liberal and Nationals ministers have also indicated that they are considering this action.

This would be breaking an election promise made by Scott Morrison, and would see many local workers worse off in retirement.

Facts and Figures
• Australians have nearly $3 trillion in superannuation savings.
• With 12% super, the average Australian will retire with more than $300,000 in their super account.
• Delaying the super increase would cost an average 30-year old Australian worker more than $85,000.
• Research by actuarial firm Rice Warner shows that superannuation saved the budget more than $17 billion this year, but will save the budget $100 billion by 2058.

Action on Climate Change

Strong action on climate change is essential if we are to safeguard the future for our children. The fact is that Labor is the only party of government that is committed to taking real action on climate change as was seen in our last period in government.

 Unfortunately, over the past nine years we have witnessed the wilful vandalism of the Liberal and Nationals, which is all about politics rather than delivering climate change solutions.

 Action on climate change is good for jobs, good for lowering emissions, and good for lowering energy prices for both businesses and families.

 Labor’s position is clear – under our leadership Australia will have net zero emissions by 2050. Labor will take to the next election a climate change policy that is evidence-based, scientifically focused, and economically focused.

 Locals know we need strong action now if we are to protect our environment, to protect the prosperity of future generations and to deliver prosperity today by modernising our economy and adapting to inevitable climate impacts.

 Renewables are by far the cheapest form of new energy and our nation has the capacity to become a renewable energy superpower.

 We can create jobs here in new technologies and at the same time reduce power prices, which will create hundreds of thousands of jobs right across the economy – especially in manufacturing.

 That’s Labor’s plan. In contrast, Scott Morrison and the Liberals and Nationals have no plan and refuse to act. Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor are the architects of a crisis of uncertainty in Australia’s energy sector.

 Only Labor can form a government to get rid of Scott Morrison. The next federal election will be a choice between Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison as Prime Minister.

 At the next federal election, I urge locals to make your vote count and put Labor first to actually change the government and get real action on climate change. This election is serious – and the only way to get real action on climate change is to vote Labor.

Increase the JobSeeker Payment (Newstart)

Labor believes the Government needs to permanently increase the base rate of JobSeeker Payment (the current name of unemployment benefits).

When the Government introduced the Coronavirus Supplement in April, it was an admission that the base rate of JobSeeker Payment was too low.

Almost two million Australians are on now on the JobSeeker Payment.

Many people are worried about how they will afford essentials, cover rent and pay bills when the Coronavirus supplement ceases in September – when the Government plans to return the payment to its old base rate.

The base rate of JobSeeker is so low that it presents a barrier to finding employment. Many on the payment are unable to afford internet bills or transport costs, which are essential to people looking for work, or attending job interviews.

It also forces people to make impossible choices: between paying for food or paying the rent; between buying clothes for their children or paying for gas and electricity.

Experts have warned that returning JobSeeker to the old base rate – or ‘snapback’ – would place millions of Australians at risk of falling into poverty.

Others say that a snapback of JobSeeker could wreak havoc on the Australian economy.

Labor is calling on the Government not to go all the way back down to the old base rate of JobSeeker Payment in September – and I will keep up the pressure for a permanent increase. In a country like Australia, people should not have to live in poverty.

Labor has sought the Government’s support for a permanent increase to the JobSeeker base rate in the Senate, but the Nationals and the Liberals opposed it. Despite the economic benefits an increase in the base rate would deliver to the communities that need it the most.

With the number of Australians relying on unemployment benefits doubling since the start of the year, this issue is more important than ever.

Changes to Australia Post Regulations

The Morrison Government has decided to amend Australia Post regulations to scale back services, slash jobs and cut wages.

These regulations halve the frequency of postie delivery rounds, leaving the jobs of up to one in four posties in limbo and many other indirect jobs at risk.

Regional communities like ours across the North Coast already wait longer than those in the cities for their mail, and changes recently announced by this Liberal-National  government will push those wait times out even further.

These changes will affect those who reply on Australia Post the most. Our most vulnerable, including pensioners and seniors, the disabled and infirm and those who do not use cyberspace, or the internet, will be the most disadvantaged by these changes.

People in our regional and rural communities still rely on the postal service more than many other types of services.  Australia Post service standards are fundamental and for the benefit of all Australians.

Under the Morrison government’s plan, mail delivery across the North Coast will blow out from as few as 3 business days to 7 full days. And across Australia, any areas that currently receive daily postal deliveries will be cut back to every second day.

Across the North Coast:

• The regulations will slash the frequency of postie delivery rounds by half; and
• Mail delivery time-frames will blow out from 3 business days to 7 full days

These changes will leave the jobs of up to one in four posties in limbo and put many other indirect jobs at risk.

There was no consultation by Government on these regulations before they were announced, and no opportunity to examine the merits and impacts of alternative approaches.

This is disrespectful to the workers of Australia Post who have done so much for the country, and a breach of faith with the community.

If Scott Morrison and Australia Post wanted to make the case for change, they should have fronted up and given an honest account of their plans rather than using COVID-19 as an excuse to cut services and cut jobs by stealth.

The Prime Minister’s actions are not good enough, and that is why Labor will seek to disallow these regulations.

 Our objective is simple: to protect jobs and provide a service that meets the needs of consumers, business and the community at large.

We would like to see Australia Post and its unions working together to support the growing demand for parcels and support jobs in regional communities – not cutting jobs.

Labor will also move to establish a Senate Inquiry to provide the community with a voice and deliver the scrutiny this important issue deserves.

Live Animal Export

Labor created a world class animal welfare system in the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance Scheme (ESCAS). ESCAS is an effective and strong system heralded by animal welfare bodies and other countries around the world. But the system cannot operate on its own. It is the responsibility of the Morrison Government to ensure compliance, and enforce appropriate sanctions where breaches are detected.

It is always distressing to learn about potential breaches of animal welfare standards. That is why the Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Resources, Hon Joel Fitzgibbon, has written to the Agriculture Minister seeking his assurance the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance Scheme standards are being upheld, and query what steps the Department of Agriculture are taking to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards.

I encourage you to continue your engagement by writing to the Minister for Agriculture, Hon David Littleproud, on this issue. The Minister can be contacted by email at Minister.Littleproud@awe.gov.au.

Labor will continue to work the farming sector, research organisations and animal welfare groups to ensure animal welfare is prioritised in Australia.

5G

The Australian Government regulates public exposure to electromagnetic emissions (EME) from communications equipment such as mobile towers, including 5G deployments. Exposure to EME is an important health issue and a highly technical area. For this reason, governments appropriately rely on the advice of their scientific and technical regulators.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is the expert body on the health effects from EME produced by communications equipment. Once ARPANSA set EME limits through a safety standard, these safeguards are then incorporated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) into transmitter licence conditions that apply to mobile and other operators that use the radiofrequency spectrum. The limits are set well below the level at which adverse health effects may occur, and cover the operating frequencies used by 5G technology.

Before building new mobile phone base stations, mobile phone companies must generally consult with the community and produce an EME report. It should also be noted that while the ACMA is responsible for managing spectrum, it is not an expert body on the health effects of EME.

If you have questions about the adequacy of EME limits in relation to 5G, I recommend you contact ARPANSA on 1800 022 333. ARPANSA do offer opportunities for members of the public to speak directly with their scientists. Further information about 5G can be found on the ARPANSA website through this link.

Labor is also aware of claims circulating over digital platforms that purport a link between 5G, coronavirus and the human immune system. We categorically reject this linkage and note it has no basis in fact.

We urge community members concerned about EME to act responsibly and not forward misinformation of this nature, as that could interfere with the Government’s response to COVID-19 as well as create unnecessary anxiety.

ABC Funding Cuts

Labor is concerned that successive cuts to the ABC by the Liberal-National Government are undermining this trusted institution.

This Government ignored the ABC’s warning that the latest cut of $83.7 million will make it difficult for the ABC to meet its Charter requirements and audience expectations.

As the ABC Five Year Plan reveals, Scott Morrison’s cuts are forcing the ABC to choose between quality and quantity – by scaling back its workforce, Australian content and radio news.

Australia is in recession and the media is in crisis yet up to 250 ABC staff now face the sack including 70 staff in the News division. These losses will further undermine the Public’s Right To Know and the strength of our democracy.

Our creative industries are struggling, yet the ABC has been forced to reduce its commissioning budget by $5 million per year. These cuts will have a devastating impact on the small businesses in our screen production sector and mean fewer Australian stories will be told.

ABC workers and services are essential. From emergency broadcasting during the bushfires to trusted education and information during COVID-19, the need for this trusted national platform is greater now than ever.

Scott Morrison is cutting the ABC despite the fact that:

• climate change means there will be increasing need for life saving emergency broadcasting by the ABC;
• public interest journalism is in decline, news outlets are closing and the ACCC found that the ABC is not resourced to fully compensate for the decline in local reporting;
• misinformation and disinformation is on the rise and Australians need trusted sources of information like the ABC;
• Australia’s creative industries are reeling from COVID-19 restrictions and need investment and support from the ABC; and
• Australia should be ‘stepping up’ in the Pacific yet ABC international broadcasting and regional connections are underutilised.

Since 2013, and in breach of an election promise not to, the Liberals have cut general ABC funding as well as reduced funding for local news gathering, including in regional Australia.

The recent report by Per Capita estimates that the cumulative funding cuts to the ABC under the Coalition Government, over the three triennial funding periods from 2013-2022 will be over $783 million.

This estimate matches that figure calculated by Alexander Wake, RMIT and Michael Ward, University of Sydney in their April 2019 article for The Conversation.

Scott Morrison has refused to reverse the latest cuts of $83.7 million, which were first announced back in 2018 as Government attacks on the ABC led to shocking allegations of political interference and the departure of the former Chair and Managing Director.

Labor has called on the Government to reverse these cuts and will continue to hold the Liberals and Nationals to account for seven years of attacks on the ABC.

The ABC is a trusted public service that has been invested in and built up by generations of Australians and dedicated ABC staff.

The ABC needs stable and adequate funding and now is no time to cut the ABC.

When Scott Morrison cuts the ABC, it is Australians who miss out.

Family Court Merge

Over the last seven years, the story of the Australian family law system has been a story of neglect, neglect and more neglect.

Neglect by the Liberal-National Government led by Tony Abbott. Neglect by the Liberal-National Government led by Malcolm Turnbull. And neglect by the current Liberal-National Government led by Scott Morrison.

Now, instead of working to fix the family law system it has neglected for seven years, the Government is pushing ahead with its radical and dangerous proposal to restructure the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court. This will make a bad situation worse for Australian families, including vulnerable children.

Over 110 individuals and organisations, including family lawyers, former and current judges and child protection advocates from across Australia, have pleaded with the Morrison Government to abandon this proposal. They have told the Government that the proposed merger will:
• harm vulnerable children and families in need of specialist family law assistance;
• increase cost, time and stress for families and children who need the family law system; and
• fail to address any of the problems that are currently plaguing the family law system.

But the Morrison Government refuses to listen. Instead, Scott Morrison and his Attorney-General, Christian Porter, are arrogantly pursuing these harmful reforms.

Everyone accepts that there are serious problems in the Family Court at present. The main cause of those problems is not a mystery. As the Australian Law Reform Commission found in its landmark report on the family law system, the system “has been deprived of resources to such an extent that it cannot deliver the quality of justice expected of a country like Australia, and to whose family law system other countries once looked and tried to emulate”.

Just as it has ignored the family law system, the Morrison Government has ignored the Commission’s report and – despite handing down the biggest spending budget in Australian history – it refuses to provide the family law system with adequate resources.

There is no doubt that things in the family law system need to change. Unlike the Government, Labor’s priority is making sure the changes put in place are the right ones, that will genuinely assist families in need.

The Family Court of Australia was established as a specialist court by the Whitlam Government over four decades ago. Ensuring that the family court system works for Australian families is, and always has been, a priority for Labor.

That is why we are fighting against the Liberal-National Morrison Government’s radical and dangerous proposal to effectively abolish the Family Court.
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Biloela Family

The case of Priya, Nades and their two Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharunicaa, has a long and growing history.

Labor – including the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Kristina Keneally – has long advocated for this family.

We are particularity concerned about the family’s ongoing immigration detention, spanning nearly two years. Two children have now spent a significant amount of their lives living in detention, all while the Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton had been claiming that he “got all children out of detention here in Australia” – a claim that is simply untrue.

Recently we have seen media reports that made reference to the health of Priya, including her relocation to Perth due to poor medical facilities on Christmas Island. Priya was subsequently flown back to Christmas Island without notice and under guard by the Australian Border Force.

Nades, Priya and their two children built a life in Biloela in regional Queensland. They have worked hard, paid taxes, contributed to their community and have been supported by their friends and neighbours, even after callously being moved to Christmas Island. These children were born here, the family has contributed to the town of Biloela and their community want them to remain in Australia.

Even their local LNP Federal Member, Ken O’Dowd, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and broadcaster Alan Jones believe that Minister Dutton and the Government have made the wrong decision in detaining this family.

As has always been the case, Minister Dutton could bring this whole process to an end by using his discretion under the Migration Act and allow the family to return home to Biloela.

He is simply choosing not to, and the Prime Minister has refused to intervene, allowing this cruel and inhumane saga to continue at considerable cost to the taxpayer.

Labor has advocated for the family and urged the Government at every step along the way to end this ongoing trauma for a family who have contributed to Australia. Scott Morrison says “if you have a go, you get a go”; so why won’t his Government give this family a go?

The integrity of Australia’s immigration system is an important matter, but we can also show compassion and support for those families and children that are in our care.

Prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery

Witness K has indicated that he intends to plead guilty to breaching the Intelligence Services Act, but no such plea has yet been made. Mr Collaery, on the other hand, is defending himself against the charges, and is currently facing trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

In June 2020, the ACT Supreme Court determined that at least part of Mr Collaery’s trial will be conducted in closed court. That decision has been appealed, and no date has been set down for the actual trial to commence.

Mr Collaery, like any other Australian, has a right to a fair trial. Labor will continue to follow these proceedings very closely to ensure that Mr Collaery is not denied that fundamental right. In particular, Labor strongly supports the principle of open justice, which dictates that judicial processes should be conducted in public unless the presiding magistrate or judge determines that there are compelling reasons to close the court.

For reasons that still remain unclear, Mr Morrison’s Attorney-General, Mr Porter, personally authorised the prosecution of Witness K and Mr Collaery. This is despite Mr Porter’s predecessor, Mr Brandis, declining to provide that authorisation. Labor has been calling for Mr Porter to explain why he suddenly authorised these prosecutions, given the charges relate to events alleged to have occurred in 2004, and which may have involved senior members of the Howard Government. To date the Attorney-General has refused to provide the public with an explanation for his decision to authorise these prosecutions.

Labor is also concerned at reports that Mr Porter has instructed his lawyers to intervene in the pre-trial proceedings against Mr Collaery on multiple occasions in order to press the court to cast a greater cloak of secrecy over the trial. This has reportedly led to considerable further delay and cost, and in so doing increased the stress and financial hardship to the accused.

In June last year, the Morrison Government conceded that it had already spent over two million dollars on the prosecutions, even though they had not even progressed to the trial stage. There are recent reports that the Commonwealth has now expended over three million dollars of taxpayers’ money on these two prosecutions, and yet still no trial date has been set.

Labor is also aware that both Mr Collaery and Witness K claim to be whistle-blowers. If that is in fact the case, then it is very difficult to see how the Morrison Government’s attempt to prosecute them can be in the public interest. To the contrary, the prosecution of whistle-blowers for revealing wrongdoing is likely to intimidate those who would reveal wrongdoing, and in so doing can only encourage corruption and undermine transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. Unfortunately, the Morrison Government has a track-record of responding to revelations of corruption in government by attacking those brave enough to reveal it, rather than investigating the allegations and holding wrongdoers to account.

More generally, the Attorney-General’s unexplained decision to prosecute Witness K and Mr Collaery, and his attempts to have the trial conducted in secret, appear to be part of a broader shift towards more secrecy and less accountability in government. That shift began with the election of the Abbott Government seven years ago and has escalated rapidly under Prime Minister Morrison, who, despite multiple scandals on his watch, has never held any of his ministers to account.

For these reasons, it is more important than ever that Mr Porter provide a detailed explanation as to why these prosecutions are in the public interest. Labor will continue to press the Morrison Government to justify its actions to the Australian people.

More broadly, Labor will also continue to closely scrutinise the actions of the Morrison Government to ensure that, in seeking to keep Australians safe, the Government upholds the rule of law and the rights and freedoms that define us as a democratic nation.

Sheep Live Export-Al Kuwait

Many people have expressed their concerns about the sheep export vessel the Al Kuwait, and the live-animal export regulator’s decision to grant an exemption which allows the exporter to travel during the northern summer months.

While Labor holds concerns for the welfare of the sheep, we respect the decision of the live-animal export regulator to grant the exemption.

The regulator granted the exemption on the basis that the exporter complies to several conditions designed to ensure animal welfare standards are maintained.

It appears the regulator performed its functions in a proper manner having regard to the surrounding circumstances, including animal welfare, trade partnerships and the extenuating circumstances created by COVID-19.

In saying this, Labor maintains animal welfare would be more adequately protected by an independent statutory regulator.

Labor will continue to advocate for a science-based approach to animal welfare, which clearly indicates the moratorium on the northern summer trade is both measured and necessary.

I encourage you to continue your engagement by writing to the Minister for Agriculture, Hon David Littleproud, on this issue at Minister.Littleproud@agriculture.gov.au.

Religious Discrimination Bill

Labor recognises that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and strongly supports a person’s right to manifest their religion or beliefs. As a principle, we believe that religious belief, just like gender, sexuality and race, is an aspect of a person’s identity that deserves protection in Australian law.

One of the great things about being Australian is that we have the freedom to live our lives as we want to live them. We have a diverse society that makes us richer as a nation, in all senses of the word. But fundamentally it is our shared values that unite us and make us strong. Among those values are compassion, fairness and respect for each other.
As with the original exposure draft of the Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill, Labor was not consulted about the second exposure draft before it was released on 10 December 2019.

As you may be aware, many religious and non-religious individuals and organisations criticised the Government’s original exposure draft. The first exposure draft was very complex and included provisions that operated differently to existing anti-discrimination laws. For example, it was suggested that some provisions of the first exposure draft would have actually eroded existing anti-discrimination protections in both federal and state law – despite assurances from the Attorney-General that the bill would do no such thing.

The erosion of existing anti-discrimination protections is an area of concern for Labor. We do not believe that the extension of the federal anti-discrimination framework to ensure that Australians are not discriminated against because of their religious beliefs should remove protections from discrimination that already exist in the law for other Australians, including protections that currently ensure Australians enjoy equal access to healthcare.

It is important to note that the Government has yet to finalise its proposed religious discrimination laws. The Government made substantial changes between its first and second exposure drafts. And, to be clear, the second exposure draft is not a bill before Parliament – any Religious Discrimination Bill introduced by the Government may look very different.
Once the Government has introduced legislation into the Parliament, and once Labor has a further opportunity to analyse the proposed new laws and to consult with the Australian community, Labor will determine its position on the Government’s specific proposal.

Coal-Seam Gas

I continue to stand with our community in opposing the National Party’s agenda for harmful coal seam gas mining in our region.

I do not support coal seam gas (CSG) mining and exploration on the North Coast.

Modified Monash Model – Murwillumbah

Recent changes under the Modified Monash Model have seen Murwillumbah reclassified from a regional to a metropolitan area.

Murwillumbah, which is a regional town of 9,000 people, is now classified in the same category as Australia’s major cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Murwillumbah is not a major city, and my local community have rightly raised their concerns with me about this bizzare reclassification.

This reclassification will have severe implications for Murwillumbah including:
• the reduction of incentives for medical professionals including rural Bulk Billing Incentives, Workforce Incentive Programs and,
• the Bonded Medical Program.

The reclassification to metropolitan also means medical practices in Murwillumbah will only be available to General Pathway registrars and no longer to Rural Pathway registrars.

This means that young doctors who choose the Rural Pathway can no longer train in medical practices located in Murwillumbah.

Incentives that attracted—and maintained—medical practitioners to our area have now been completely removed.

Make no mistake: this decision will mean less bulk billing and fewer doctors in Murwillumbah.

This classification change will make it extremely difficult to attract new GPs to Murwillumbah as there are now no available regional or rural incentive payments for medical practitioners in this community.

GPs are an integral part of rural and regional communities like Murwillumbah and their skills reflect the specific needs of their community.

I have written to the Minister for Health to urgently request that the government revise this classification.

In this case it’s clear that the reclassification of Murwillumbah from regional to metropolitan is an unfair and damaging decision.

I believe that this decision must be revisited, as the complex health needs of the people of Murwillumbah and surrounding areas require incentives to get GPs to the town.

The real concern is that the number of GPs will significantly decline due to the new classification.

Medical specialists are often located too far away for locals to access and this often increases the workload of local GP’s.

The fact is that the workload of GPs in Murwillumbah is vastly different from that in other regional and rural areas.

That is why we need to have incentives in place to attract health professionals to this area.

It really is a case, I think, of the government ignoring the local issues and the local concerns that have been put to the minister.

Murwillumbah needs more GPs, and the fact is, no incentives means fewer doctors.

Tweed Centrelink Closures

The Liberal-National Government plans to close three local Centrelink Service Centres. The Tweed Heads South Centrelink Service Centre, the Tweed Heads South Centrelink Call Centre and the Tweed Heads Centrelink Administrative Office which are all set to relocate to a yet to be determined location.

The Morrison Government intends to consolidate the Centrelink Service Centre currently located on Blundell Blvd, Tweed Heads South, the Centrelink Call Centre currently located on Enterprise Ave, Tweed Heads South and the Centrelink Administrative Office currently located on Wharf Street, Tweed Heads.

I have written to the Minister for Human Services Stuart Robert, on behalf of our community, to seek his urgent commitment that there will be no redundancies or cuts to current staff numbers at any centre, and no further decline in the delivery of frontline services to our local community.

The Centrelink Service Centre, based at Blundell Blvd in Tweed Heads South, provides essential services that our community relies on and it is imperative that these services remain easily accessible by our community.

Pensioners and seniors, veterans, people with disability, families, carers, locals seeking work and students all rely on the essential frontline services that our local Centrelink provides.

The fact is, the National Party’s lies, cuts and chaos are hurting our community.

The letter to the Minister for Human Services reads:

Dear Minister,

I write on behalf of my community concerning the Morrison Government’s plans to close three local Centrelink Service Centres.

I understand that the Morrison Government intends to consolidate the Centrelink Service Centre currently located on Blundell Blvd, Tweed Heads South, the Centrelink Call Centre currently located on Enterprise Ave, Tweed Heads South, and the Centrelink Administrative (Zone) Office located on Wharf St, Tweed Heads into one centre at a yet to be determined location.

I write to seek your commitment that there will be:

1. no redundancies or cuts to current staff numbers at any of the three centres;
2. no adverse impacts on frontline customer contact;
3. no adverse impacts on claim or payment processing times; and
4. no further decline in the delivery of services to our local community.

I also seek confirmation that:

1. any new Service Centre will be located only in the postcodes of either 2485 or 2486;
2. the new Service Centre will not be located on state significant land;
3. the location of the consolidated Centrelink Centre will be easily accessible and close to public transport; and
4. that any land sales or rental agreements entered into by the Commonwealth will undergo a full and transparent tender process.

 The Centrelink Service Centre, based at Blundell Blvd in Tweed Heads South, provides essential frontline services that our community relies on and it is imperative that these services remain easily accessible by our community.

I understand that during the course of 2015-16 the Tweed Heads South Centrelink Service Centre received approximately 20,000 face to face customer contacts per quarter. Currently there are not enough staff to meet customer demand whether as a walk in or trying to phone the call centre, which is concerning for my community.

Pensioners and seniors, veterans, people with disability, families, carers, locals seeking work and students all rely on the essential services that the Tweed Heads South Service Centre provides.

I look forward to your prompt reply to these important matters.

Justine Elliot MP

SCOTT MORRISON ABOLISHES THE ARTS DEPARTMENT

The Liberal-National Party attacks on Australia’s arts sector appear set to worsen following Scott Morrison’s appalling decision to abolish the department responsible for arts policy and funding.

Under Morrison’s public sector restructure, federal arts policy will be subsumed by the new Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications – leaving no department with arts in the title. It’s hard to see this as anything other than a downgrade to arts policy.

Australia’s artists, actors, filmmakers, writers, musicians and broader creative community has every right to be concerned by this decision – apparently made without any consultation with the sector.

And it’s not just the people who make their living from our creative industries who should be worried.

It’s every member of the public who enjoys seeing Australian stories on the screen or stage, enjoys reading Australian stories on the page, or enjoys hearing live or recorded Australian music.

But this is not just about Australian culture and identity. Our cultural and creative industries contribute upwards of $100 billion to the economy a year – and deserve to be supported by our federal politicians.

Given the Liberal-National Party’s shocking record of cutting arts funding, this move is a terrible sign of what’s to come.

Morrison must explain how rolling arts policy into the department responsible for roads and railways can possibly be a good thing. And he must reveal how many arts employees will be culled in this merger.

Even the outgoing head of the soon-to-be-former Department of Communications and the Arts, Mike Mrdak, says he and his team were not consulted about this shocking and short-sighted change.

The government of Australia should back Australian culture. This lot doesn’t.

Cost of Climate Change

Labor is the only party of government that is committed to real action on climate change. Indeed, under Labor, emissions fell almost 15%, compared with just over 1% since the Coalition came to government.

Strong climate action is needed, not only to protect the prosperity of future generations of Australians and to meet our international obligations under the Paris climate change Accords, but also to deliver prosperity today by modernising our economy and adapting to inevitable climate impacts.

As we’ve seen over the last 12 months, climate change is having a real impact on our health, or economy and our way of life. The 2019/20 bushfires in particular have cost lives and livelihoods and the recovery has been slow.

And we need to dispel with the myth that action on climate change comes at the cost of jobs. As the Climate Council outlines in its Clean Jobs Plan, real action on climate change will create jobs.

The CSIRO says it will deliver higher wages and incomes, and lower power costs.

It is a goal that is not only the right thing to do by future generations, but the right thing to do by our economic interests today.

That’s why Labor have adopted a net zero emissions target by 2050 and we are not alone. Every State and Territory in Australia as well as many major business groups around the country and 120 nations around the world have also signed up to this target and are working to meet it. This now includes the United States under a Biden presidency.

It is a shame the Morrison Government does not have the same commitment and can’t show the leadership that Australia so desperately needs.

Labor will continue to hold the Government to account for their lack of action in climate change and reducing emissions. I would encourage you to contact the Minister for Energy, The Hon. Angus Taylor MP to let him know your views as well. His office can be reached at angus.taylor.mp@aph.gov.au

Stop Paid Parking

I have launched a community petition calling on Geoff Provest to honour his election commitment and stop paid parking at the new Tweed Valley Hospital.

Since the recent reports in the Tweed Daily News that Geoff Provest and the Nationals lied about free parking at the new Tweed Valley Hospital, I have been contacted by many locals who are upset at yet another broken election promise.

Locals are rightly outraged by Geoff Provest’s blatant lie about free parking.

Geoff Provest has to honour his promises and meet his promised details on the new hospital.

Prior to the state election Geoff Provest gave a commitment that there would be free parking with no time limits for patients, visitors and staff by saying:

“It’s not going to be paid parking there, I have not heard of any adjacent land being offered or sold, we are going to have free parking here and we’re not closing the old hospital down.” [“Parking will be free at hospital,” Tweed Daily News, 9 February 2019]. 

 That commitment was also confirmed in writing to a local constituent by Geoff’s office who replied:

“Further to your inquiry, there is no specific media release stating that parking will be free at the new hospital, but this commitment was given in media interviews by both the Deputy Premier and the Minister for Health during visits to the Tweed. Geoff has also been quoted confirming that parking will be free.”

[Email correspondence from Office of Geoff Provest MP, 27 February 2019]

In a desperate act to hold his seat, Geoff Provest promised locals free parking with no time limits for patients, visitors and staff at the new hospital.

This is a complete betrayal of locals. Geoff Provest and the Nationals have once again lied to us, this time about free parking at the hospital.

Our community deserves so much better than this.

Geoff Provest and the Nationals have again failed our community and this petition is an opportunity for locals to hold them to account.  I encourage locals to sign the petition either online or in print to send a strong message to Geoff Provest and the Nationals.

The petition reads:

Geoff Provest and the Nationals lied to us about free parking at the new Tweed Valley Hospital

Before the election Geoff Provest promised there would be free parking at the hospital.

Now the Nationals are set to betray locals and impose paid parking at the new Tweed Valley Hospital.

Please sign my petition and send a strong message to Geoff Provest and the Nationals:

Stop Paid Parking at the Tweed Valley Hospital!

Link to petition: https://www.justineelliot.com.au/stoppaidparking/

National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment

Many people have contacted me regarding the  Liberal National Government’s National Radioactive Waste Management Amendment (Site Specification, Community Fund and Other Measures) Bill 2020.

This Bill was recently considered by the Senate Economics Legislation Committee and the report was tabled on the 14^th September and can be found at-https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/RadioactiveWaste/Report

The Committee considered the implications of the Bill relating to several important matters with community access to judicial review among the key matters for consideration.

Federal Labor is now considering the Senate Report. We will determine a position on the Bill on the balance of the report of the committee, but also taking into consideration the consultation that has taken place with stakeholders as well as community views expressed to us in community meetings, committee hearings, and through organised petitions and campaign emails.

I recognise that Australians depend on nuclear technology for medicines used in the diagnosis of heart disease, skeletal injuries as well as a range of cancers. I also note that the community demands assurances that radioactive substances and wastes are handled safely and with care.

The Government must fix the issues it already faces at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and the many other locations around the country where radioactive waste is currently managed. It must stop with cuts to science, research and innovation.

Given the nature of this Bill, Federal Labor need to be assured that issues surrounding indigenous heritage, environmental concerns, access to judicial review, public safety and the necessity of such a facility have been adequately resolved before reaching a position.

Make it Australian-Local content rules for Australian television.

Labor is committed to supporting Australian stories being created and told by Australian creatives and crew in Australian screen productions across all platforms.

Labor has a long-term commitment to a well-supported and funded Australian screen industry. We support settings that create jobs for our talented creative workforce and enable small to medium sized businesses to produce diverse and quality Australian content that local and international audiences love to watch.

Labor understands the growth of our Australian screen production sector has been underpinned by decades of government support, including through local content requirements, to foster both a skilled production industry and a sense of Australian identity, character and cultural diversity.

Labor is aware that the settings that support Australian and children’s screen content need to be modernised to ensure we continue to see Australian stories on our screens, including commercial and subscription TV, as well as newer services like Netflix.

For seven years, the Liberal-National Government has stalled and delayed the modernisation of the policy and regulatory framework for Australian content. They first announced a Review of Australian and Children’s Screen Content back in 2017 yet still haven’t provided certainty to industry or citizens and consumers.

We are aware that the independent screen industry is facing a number of challenges at the moment, including the shutdown of a number of productions in Australia caused by COVID-19. It is important that discussions about support for the industry take this context into account.

Labor is concerned that the Government’s decision to  suspend the sub-quotas for Australian drama, children’s and documentary content for 2020 under the cover of COVID-19, has thrown a struggling industry into further disarray. Labor will hold the Government to account for this decision, which must be treated as a temporary measure only.

The ACMA/Screen Australia Supporting Australian Stories On Our Screens options paper sets out a number of different ways forward for local content rules and government support for the industry. Labor is consulting with the screen industry and stakeholders as we formulate our response but our commitment to the creation of Australian stories is certain, and any future decisions will be guided by this.

NDIS

In government Labor legislated for the NDIS, successfully launched the scheme, and set out a ten-year funding plan to secure its long-term future.

Labor created the NDIS because we understood that the current system of disability support is completely broken.

Across the country, the NDIS is now transforming the lives of people with disability.

For the first time, people with disability have their needs met in a way that supports them to live with choice and dignity.

When fully rolled out, the NDIS will provide support to more than 460,000 people with disability.

NBN

Staying connected is vital for everyone across the North Coast, but time and time again bungled NBN installations are costing North Coast businesses.

As well as the financial impact of an unreliable internet connection, businesses, families and individuals often have to spend time dealing with issues that should be a simple fix – time that would be much better spent focusing on other things.

In 2016-17, there were almost 20,000 complaints about NBN faults in New South Wales to the Telecommunications Ombudsman, while more than 8000 complaints were made about connections.

Overall, there was a 43% rise in complaints about the NBN from 2015-16.

Having more uptime, less downtime, and greater accountability is an important step towards delivering a better NBN for all Australians.

Locals have a right to access fast speeds and services. But the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government have delivered a second-rate NBN that is both $20 billion over budget and four years behind schedule.

I encourage all locals who experience frustrations in dealing with the NBN, including connection drop outs, slow speeds or simply no access at all, to contact my office for assistance

Only Labor understands that real high-speed broadband is essential for jobs, for small businesses, world-class education and health care.

Policing

As a former frontline police officer I will always advocate for more police for our region.