Queensland Border Bubble- Changes from October 1st, 2020

Link to apply for Border Pass here

Link to apply for exemption here

COVID-International Travel Restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed Australia and the world around us. Globally, there has been more than 12 million confirmed cases, resulting in half a million deaths.

Here in Australia, our border closures have helped to limit the spread of COVID-19.

I do appreciate that the Morrison Government’s international border closures do have consequences – both social and economic – as families are separated from each other, and businesses that rely on the movement of people struggle to operate.

The Morrison Government has been clear that they will always follow the medical advice in relation to our international borders.

The current border restrictions mean that Australians cannot travel overseas, and only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family can fly into the country. The Australian Border Force Commissioner is responsible for providing exemptions to these rules; however, exemptions are only being granted for the most exceptional of circumstances.

Labor has always sought to be constructive and supportive of the Government as it manages this health and economic crisis.

We will continue to hold the Morrison Government to account to ensure that it is making the best decisions to protect the health of Australians and the health of the Australian economy, based on the best possible evidence.

You can find out more about the Morrison Government’s border restrictions at: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/

The Minister for Home Affairs is responsible for managing Australia’s borders. You can contact the Minister by post, email or phone:

The Hon Peter Dutton MP

Minister for Home Affairs

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel: 02 6277 7860

Email: peter.dutton.mp@aph.gov.au

Three-Step Plan

For each of the major areas of restrictions a three key step plan has been designed:

• Step 1 will focus on carefully reopening the economy, and giving Australians opportunities to return to work and social activities, including gatherings of up to 10 people, up to 5 visitors in the family home and some local and regional travel
• Step 2 builds on this with gatherings of up to 20, and more businesses reopening, including gyms, beauty services and entertainment venues like galleries and cinemas.
• Step 3 will see a transition to COVID safe ways of living and working, with gatherings of up to 100 people permitted. Arrangements under step 3 will be the ‘new normal’ while the virus remains a threat. International travel and mass gatherings over 100 people will remain restricted.

Under the three-step plan, states and territories continue to make decisions to their individual circumstances and local conditions.

Jurisdictions may ease restrictions at a different pace. Individuals and business should look to local authorities for the most up to date information, or visit  www.australia.gov.au to be linked to state and territory resources.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Mental Health Support

Coronavirus Mental Health Support

If you, or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000, visit your nearest hospital emergency or contact a crisis service.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic, or are having difficulty managing self-isolation or quarantine, Lifeline is available for mental health support.

Phone: 13 11 14 (24 hours / 7 days)

Text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight AEDT, 7 nights)

Chat online: https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat (7pm – midnight, 7 nights)

The COVID-19 outbreak may generate a range of impacts on community and individual mental health and wellbeing.

This may include preoccupation with specific details related to COVID-19 in addition to increased anxiety, stress or worry within individual families and communities.

The impact of COVID-19 on mental health and wellbeing may also extend to those who experience quarantine or self-isolation.

To support the community during this period the Life in Mind team at Everymind has worked with the suicide prevention and mental health sectors, and in collaboration with the National Mental Health Commission to provide a comprehensive list of resources below to support those affected:

• Life In Mind: Life in Mind is a national gateway connecting Australian suicide prevention services to each other and the community. More information here: https://www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/
• Australian Government Department of Health: Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert including information and support. More information here; https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/
• Australian Psychological Society:  Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Australians. The APS has prepared a guide for Australians, outlining some useful strategies which can help both adults and children cope with the stress or anxiety experienced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.More information here: https://www.psychology.org.au/COVID-19-Australians
• Beyond Blue
  Looking after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. Beyond Blue is working around the clock to build a dedicated COVID-19 Mental Health Support Service. This is in response to the growing demand for mental health support as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. More information here: www.beyondblue.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  Heads Up: Work and your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak. For general information about looking after yourself during the coronavirus outbreak. more information here: www.headsup.org.au
• Beyond Blue
  Online forum – Coping during the Coronavirus outbreak-Forum membership is open to anyone residing in Australia.More information here: www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/
• Black Dog Institute
  Coronavirus: Resources for anxiety, stress & wellbeing.Feelings of anxiety are common in the uncertainty of COVID-19. Black Dog Institute’s tools and resources can be accessed by anyone, anywhere to help deal with this stress. More information here: https://blackdoginstitute.org.au/COVID-19
• Butterfly Foundation
  COVID-19: Tips and advice for people with an eating disorder. They have put together some advice and useful tips to help with managing eating disorders and general well-being during this significant period of uncertainty. More information here: https://thebutterflyfoundation.org.au/covid-19
• Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health
  Resources, information and support for looking after your mental health during times of adversity. More information here: https://www.crrmh.com.au/covid-19-coronavirus-information/
• Emerging Minds
  Talking to children about natural disasters, traumatic events, or worries about the future. This video introduces ways for parents and carers to manage media coverage of traumatic events, and talk to their children about their worries and fears. More information here: https://vimeo.com/394049129
• eSafety
  COVID-19: keeping schools and learning safe online. As schools around Australia face the prospect of closures and the move towards online learning, it’s important to factor in the online safety of staff, students and the wider school community. eSafety has pulled together our top tips and resources to help school leaders with this mission. While our advice is directed at classroom teachers, parents or carers initiating home schooling activities may also find some of the information relevant and useful. More information here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/blog/covid-19-keeping-schools-and-learning-safe-online
• Head to Health
  COVID-19 support. Head to Health is committed to providing Australians with trusted information and digital supports to help support everyone’s mental health and wellbeing during this pandemic. More information here: https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19
• Headspace
  Support for young people – How to cope with stress related to Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). More information here: https://headspace.org.au/young-people/how-to-cope-with-stress-related-to-covid-19/
• Kids Helpline
  Kids Helpline webpage aimed at teens and young adults, providing information and support on COVID-19.Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. More information here: https://kidshelpline.com.au/coronavirus
• Lifeline
  Mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Mental health and wellbeing tips and strategies to continue looking after ourselves and each other during these difficult times. More information here: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
• MindSpot
  Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Staying mentally and physically well. This website provides information about, and links to 1) Information about COVID-19, 2) Preparation, 3) Maintaining Mental and Physical Wellbeing. More information here: https://mindspot.org.au/coronavirus
• LGBTI ORGANISATIONS AND POLICY: COVID-19
  This is a central place for LGBTI organisations (the full members of the National LGBTI Health Alliance) that are working to support LGBTI people throughout the changing COVID-19 environment.More information here: https://lgbtihealth.org.au/resources/lgbti-and-health-sector-support-covid-19/
• NSW Mental Health Commission
  The NSW Mental Health Commission recognises that people are feeling worried, stressed and anxious in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19). There are many sources of information available, which can also add to a sense of confusion on how to respond. While information will develop to keep pace with the progress of COVID-19, we have gathered the following advice and information for you from our partners.More information here: https://nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au/mental-health-and-the-coronavirus

Managing your mental health at home – Information about working from home during COVID-19

It may start as a bit of a novelty, but working from home for long periods of time can start to affect your mental health. Just as it is important to look after your physical health during the changing circumstances around COVID-19, it’s important to keep on top of how you are feeling.

For more information visit www.blackdoginstitute

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Health Information

The Home Medicines Service is a temporary program, which aims to support and protect the most vulnerable members of our community from potential exposure to novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vulnerable people, and those in home isolation, will be able to order their PBS and RPBS prescriptions remotely and have these items delivered to their homes to reduce their potential exposure to COVID-19.

This temporary measure will protect the most vulnerable members of our community and is available to Patients holding a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Card and are:

• Isolating themselves at home on the advice of a medical practitioner, for confirmed COVID-19 cases; or
• Meeting the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection after consultation with either the national COVID-19 hotline, state COVID-19 hotlines, a registered medical or nursing practitioner or COVID-19 trained health clinic triage staff; or
• Aged over 70; or
• Identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and are aged over 50; or
• People with chronic health conditions or who are immunocompromised; or
• Parents with new babies or people who are pregnant.

Deliveries claimed through the Home Medicines Service Program cannot be made to individual patients more than once per month.

In the case where there are existing contracts in place for the delivery of medicines to residential aged care facilities, Home Medicines Service deliveries cannot be made to residents of residential aged care facilities.  Otherwise, this service is available to all patients meeting the above eligibility criteria.

For more information on theHome Medicines Service Program go online here: https://www.ppaonline.com.au/programs/covid-19-home-medicine-service

For more information regarding Australia Post Policies please view here: https://auspost.com.au/terms-conditions/pharmacy-home-deliveries

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Arts and Entertainment

The arts are the lifeblood of our nation. At a time of crisis, like the one we are currently facing, Australian stories have never been more important in promoting a sense of solidarity and togetherness.

Labor is acutely aware of the devastating impact the coronavirus crisis has had, and continues to have, on the arts and entertainment sector in Australia. Whether it is visual artists who cannot hold exhibitions, musicians who have had their gigs cancelled, lighting technicians and theatre ushers being stood down – there is no part of the arts sector that is unaffected. We know many of you are doing it really tough.

We know that the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme does not meet the needs of everyone in the arts sector. In Parliament, Labor moved an amendment to expand the coverage of the scheme so more workers in the arts and entertainment sector could benefit, and also called on the government to implement a specific relief package for the sector:

That this House:

calls on the Government to recognise that the Australian arts and entertainment sector needs a specific, tailored, fiscal response package to ensure its ongoing viability, given the structure of the JobKeeper payment has been designed in a way that leaves many workers in the sector ineligible.

The government voted against all Labor’s amendments, and this one failed 29 votes to 24.

For more than 100 days, Labor has called for an emergency relief funding package from the government. On June 25, the government finally produced a $250 million package of measures. Many businesses in the arts and entertainment sector will benefit from this package, and Labor accordingly has welcomed its announcement.

However Labor is concerned that nothing in this package will deliver direct relief to arts and entertainment workers themselves, and this is a missed opportunity for the government to extend JobKeeper to more workers in the arts and entertainment sector. We are also concerned that the majority of funds in this package go toward loans – meaning businesses and organisations who currently have no income are being encouraged to take on more debt.

Labor’s commitment to the arts and entertainment sector is undimmed, and where there are gaps in this relief package, we will continue to pressure the government to do better.

We know that the road to recovery will be a complex and long one for this sector, and many organisations are struggling to see a way back at all. Labor understands this, and will do all we can to support you.

The current crisis comes on top of years of public funding cuts which meant the sector was in a vulnerable state even before additional pressures were felt. This is a result of systemic neglect by the current government of the arts and entertainment sector, which Labor has long campaigned against.

This is a rapidly evolving situation, and Labor will maintain constant contact with the sector to ensure we are responding to your needs as they evolve.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC)

Labor opposes the Morrison Government’s attempt to rehash Tony Abbott’s failed 2014 environment bill, which would harm Australia’s natural environment and put jobs and investment at risk.

Australia can’t afford to allow the alarming environmental decline that we have seen under the Liberals and Nationals.

Australia has just experienced a devastating bushfire crisis.  People died, homes were destroyed, 3 billion animals died or were displaced, 12 million hectares burned and populations of Australian icons like the koala are on the brink.

Australia was experiencing an extinction crisis even before the bushfires.

Instead of proposing laws that are in line with their own independent review, led by Professor Graham Samuel, this bill would see more major project job delays, more investment uncertainty, more conflict, less trust in decisions and worse outcomes for the environment.

There are no National Environment Standards in this bill, despite those being the foundation of Professor Graeme Samuel’s proposed reforms. With no proposed standards, no independent ‘cop on the beat,’ and no additional funding for the states despite the extra responsibility, this bill is designed for political conflict.

In his Interim Report, Professor Samuel warned against the exact approach the government is now taking:

“In 2015 the Parliament did not support these amendments, in response to significant community concerns about the ability of states and territories to uphold the national interest when applying discretion in approval decisions.”

Labor has constructively engaged with the Samuel Review from the very start. Scott Morrison has very favourable conditions for reform: an Opposition that has said we will engage constructively, a well-respected Review chair who is working with leaders from agriculture, resources and business, as well as traditional owners, conservationists and academics.

If Scott Morrison was serious about securing broad support and durable reform, he would not be rehashing Tony Abbott’s failed 2014 bill, breaking his promise on national standards or cherry-picked the interim report of one of Australia’s most experienced business regulators.

The Morrison Government should:

• 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.

The Samuel Review is the most significant opportunity for environmental reform in the last 20 years – but Scott Morrison is bungling it.

Labor’s record

Every major achievement in environmental protection in this nation’s history has been delivered by a Labor government.

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 what was, at the time, the largest network of marine parks in the world.

Only Labor has the will and the capacity to protect Australia’s environment.

Liberal and Nationals record of environmental mismanagement

Australia has a jobs crisis and environmental crisis and the Morrison Government is failing on both counts. They have:

• Cut 40% of the funding to the environment department, which predictably led to job and investment delays, mismanagement, and environmental decline;
• Overseen massive delays to jobs and investment, which exploded to 510% under their watch;
• Overseen 79% of decisions being affected by error or being non-compliant. During that time, they have assessed tens of billions of dollars’ worth of projects;
• Overseen unprecedented decline in Australia’s beautiful and precious natural environment.

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.

Royal Commission into veteran suicide

The latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) figures on defence and veteran suicides show we are failing our veterans and we urgently need a Royal Commission into this terrible scourge.

In total, the research shows there were 33 suicide deaths among serving and ex-serving ADF personnel in 2018, and 465 suicides between 2001 and 2018, although many believe the actual figures are much higher.

The report shows that male veterans are 21 per cent more likely to die by suicide than men generally, while the rate of suicide among ex-serving women is twice as high than the general female population.

Alarmingly, the AIHW research found ex-serving men had a 66 per cent higher suicide rate when they discharged for medical reasons compared to men who discharged voluntarily.

This latest update is a wake-up call and shows we are losing the war when it comes to saving our current and former defence personnel.

The data sadly back up the experience of veterans like former special forces officer Major Heston Russell, who has lost more of his mates to suicide than during four deployments to Afghanistan.

It highlights why we urgently need a full Royal Commission into veteran suicide to get to the bottom of these tragic deaths.

Many veterans are concerned the Morrison’s Government’s proposed National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention will not be up to the job – they simply won’t have the resources or independence to ask the hard questions.

We need to do a lot more to support our ex-service men and women and prepare them for life after the military through assistance with mental health and wellbeing, employment and housing.

Labor acknowledges the Government’s release of an interim response to the 2019 Productivity Commission report on the veteran support system.

The response and additional funding for mental health, transition and employment in the Federal Budget are welcome, but more needs to be done.

We need a plan and not a piecemeal approach to tackle veteran suicide.

Now more than ever, we need a Royal Commission and the evidence is overwhelming.

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.

Pension Freeze

For the first time in almost a quarter of a century the pension will not be indexed this September – and Labor is calling on the Prime Minister to end his pension freeze.

The base pension rates are indexed twice a year, in March and September, on the basis of inflation and wages. The Morrison Liberal-National Government has confirmed they will not increase pensions this September.

This means the current payment rates for the age pension will remain at $944.30 for singles and $1423.60 for couples combined per fortnight. Most other payments, including the Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment and JobSeeker Payment, will not be indexed either.

This is the worst possible time to cut the household incomes of our local seniors and those who rely on their pensions.

Across the North Coast there are more than 25,350 age pensioners. There are also 7,415 Disability Support Pensioners and 2,267 locals who receive the Carer Payment who will also have their payments frozen.

Pensioners have been facing rising health, dental, energy and grocery bills for years and now they are set to go a full year without pensions being indexed.

The Liberals and Nationals have tried time and time again to gut the incomes of retirees and pensioners by cutting the pension, trying to increase the pension age to 70, and delaying the long-overdue increase to the Superannuation Guarantee.

This Government have cut $1 billion from pensioner concessions and now they are responsible for cuts for pensioners across the North Coast.

We have a duty, as a nation, to ensure that every older Australian is treated with respect and dignity and this Government must ensure that that our pensioners receive the financial support that they need.

Scott Morrison and his Liberal-National government need to explain why they are cutting the pensions of North Coast pensioners in the middle of the Coronavirus crisis,” Justine said.

JOBKEEPER CUTS (28 SEPTEMBER)

JOBKEEPER CUTS (28 SEPTEMBER)

It makes no sense for the Morrison Government to be withdrawing support from the economy without a comprehensive jobs plan to replace it.

Scott Morrison should reconsider his cuts to JobKeeper which are coming at the worst possible time for many workers, businesses and communities.

The recession will be deeper and the unemployment queues will be longer because Scott Morrison is pulling support from the economy too soon, with no plan for jobs.

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.

National Party Supports Cuts to JobKeeper

Local MP Justine Elliot has called on local National Party branch members to resign in disgust over the National Party’s cuts to JobKeeper payments that have been keeping more than 33,000 local workers employed, and the chaotic NSW government infighting and koala killer agenda.

Justine today revealed evidence which shows more than 33,000 local workers across the Richmond electorate will be worse off and more than $30 million will be ripped out of the North Coast economy every fortnight with the Morrison Liberal National Government cuts to JobKeeper at the end of September.

“The National Party have shown they are nothing but a shameful nasty rabble. At a federal level their only priority is ripping $30 million out of the hands of local workers and families. At a state level their only priority is chaotic infighting and pushing through their koala killer laws.

“Australia is in the middle of the COVID crisis, neck deep in the Morrison recession with mass unemployment at historic highs and all we get from the National Party is more lies, cuts and chaos.

“Any fair-minded National Party branch member must be horrified and disgusted by the antics of both their Federal and State Parliamentary parties. The fact is the National Party have betrayed locals – they are a disgrace,” Justine said

Justine has warned that the National Party’s cuts to JobKeeper on 28 September will make the Morrison recession worse.

“From Monday 28 September, cuts and changes to the JobKeeper scheme will see many local businesses and workers lose all financial support, while others will have their payments slashed by between $300 and $750 per fortnight.

“The Morrison recession will be deeper, and the unemployment queues will be longer because of the National Party. Our community needs and deserves better but instead all we get is the National Party’s lies, cuts and chaos,” Justine said.

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.

Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020

The Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020 was introduced into the House of Representatives on Thursday 14 May 2020.

This Bill was first introduced into the Parliament in 2017, however, the Government never attempted to pass the Bill, nor bring it on for debate in the Senate. At the time, Labor raised concerns about the proposed amendments included in Bill.

Labor successfully referred this new legislation to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, for proper scrutiny, and the Committee released its report into the Bill on 5 August 2020. The Committee’s report into the legislation can be found here.

Labor Senators raised a number of concerns in the report. Importantly, they recognised that detention centres are now holding different types of detainees.

However, Labor Senators were of the view that the Morrison Government has not provided sufficient evidence that detention centres are becoming more dangerous, nor have they tried to change their own management of the centres before reaching for legislative change.

Labor Senators were concerned that a range of submissions and witnesses said that the current Bill is a disproportionate response and the blanket ban of items – like mobile phones – on all detainees regardless of their needs, vulnerabilities, or risk profile was not warranted.

The positive benefits of mobile phones to detainees and their welfare are lost in the generalised accusations of misuse. It was the view of Labor Senators that the current legal frameworks permit the confiscation of a mobile phone from a detainee if there is a reasonable cause.

Detainees use mobile phones to maintain close contact with friends and family and to communicate with legal advisers. This Bill seeks to remove that right without reasonable cause.

It was the view of Labor Senators that the Morrison Government either withdraw the Bill, or significantly amend the Bill to address these concerns and ensure that the Bill is focused on the specific risks and does not impose broad sweeping measures that punish detainees.

Australia’s onshore immigration detention, including alternative places of detention such as the Mantra Preston and Kangaroo Point, are places of administrative detention – not punitive detention or correctional facilities.

This Government has a track record of introducing legislation that is never debated. Labor’s Senators have outlined their concerns with the legislation, and called on the Government to address the weaknesses in the Bill. Labor will await the Government’s response.

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.

Christmas Island

The Prime Minister claims that the re-opening of Christmas Island detention centre  is needed because of ‘pressure’ on Australia’s detention centre network.

This is the third time this Liberal-National Government has decided to reopen the Christmas Island detention centre – costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. Scott Morrison spent $185 million reopening the facility in February 2019, and then decided to close it months later without it being used.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has determined that it is a good use of taxpayers’ money to spend $50 million to hold a family of four on Christmas Island – even though that family is wanted back home in Queensland by the local Biloela community, and even their own LNP Federal Member of Parliament.

Now, Scott Morrison wants to reopen the Christmas Island detention centre again, to cover up his own Minister’s incompetence.

This is just another example of Peter Dutton‘s waste and mismanagement, and Scott Morrison’s attempt to avoid scrutiny.

The Morrison Government needs to explain how moving people facing deportation to Christmas Island is going to make it easier for the Government to be able to deport them.

The Government has stated ‘the cohort being transferred consists of those who have been convicted of violent crimes involving assault, sexual offences, drugs and other violent offences’.

Scott Morrison must guarantee that low risk detainees – such as asylum seekers, refugees or visa overstayers – will not be transferred to Christmas Island. This would be an even bigger cost to the taxpayer.

I encourage you to write to Scott Morrison directly to share your views on this important matter.

The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

https://www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm

Prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery

Regarding the prosecution of a former Australian intelligence officer, “Witness K”, and his legal representative, Bernard Collaery, for breaches of the Intelligence Services Act.

Witness K has stated that he intends to plead guilty to breaching the Intelligence Services Act. Mr Collaery, on the other hand, will face trial in the ACT Supreme Court.

On 26 June 2020, the ACT Supreme Court reportedly determined that at least part of Mr Collaery’s trial will be conducted in closed court. Like you, we await further details about that decision and what it could mean for Mr Collaery and the conduct of his trial.

We also understand from media reports that Mr Collaery will be appealing against that decision.

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.

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, the Attorney-General personally authorised the prosecution of Witness K and Mr Collaery. After the decision by the ACT Supreme Court on 26 June, it is more important than ever that Mr Porter provide a detailed explanation as to why these prosecutions are in the public interest.

The Attorney-General’s unexplained decision to prosecute Witness K and Mr Collaery is 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 under Prime Minister Morrison.

One of the most dramatic illustrations of the Morrison Government’s love of secrecy, and its aversion to accountability and scrutiny, were the extraordinary police raids on the home of News Limited journalist, Annika Smethurst, and the ABC headquarters.

Concerns around the Morrison Government’s attitude towards these matters are currently being examined by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in its Inquiry into the impact of the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press. I encourage you to follow the progress of that inquiry here.

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.

Hong Kong

Labor is deeply concerned by the Chinese government’s implementation of national security legislation in Hong Kong.  The legislation undermines the One Country, Two Systems arrangement to which Beijing is committed under the UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration.

These new laws will diminish Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms, and will see the crime of “subversion” punished with life imprisonment.

Since this legislation emerged, Labor has been calling on the Morrison Government to act with compassion and provide pathways to support the people of Hong Kong, including the approximately 17,000 people in Australia from Hong Kong who hold a temporary visa.

Labor has welcomed the government’s decision to extend temporary visa holders from Hong Kong in Australia by five years, and to provide a pathway to permanent residency.

However, there would still be many people – in Australia and Hong Kong – who would be either be ineligible for the pathways proposed or concerned about the inability to reunite with family members. For example, there is no capacity for family reunion for the 100,000 people from Hong Kong who have settled in Australia, many of whom would still have family members in Hong Kong.

And no clarity has been provided about how Hong Kong citizens applying for visas would, or could, be allowed into Australia given the current pandemic and border restrictions.

Labor believes that helping the people of Hong Kong is the right thing to do and that no Hongkonger should be involuntarily deported. The government must provide clarity to people of Hong Kong and their families of this support.

Following passage of the legislation which effectively ended Hong Kong’s independent legal status, Labor called for the urgent review of Australia’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong. We now welcome the Government’s decision to suspend this treaty.

Labor supports the right of people everywhere to engage in non-violent protest. The people of Hong Kong have shown immense courage in working to uphold Hong Kong’s freedoms.

Labor is a longstanding and consistent advocate for human rights and civil liberties, including the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

Religious Discrimination Bill

Due to the current public health and economic circumstances, the Government’s proposal to introduce a Religious Discrimination Bill has been delayed. However,  Labor  continues to listen closely and carefully to the community on this matters.

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.

Julian Assange

Mr Assange’s arrest and the extradition proceedings are matters currently being considered within the British justice system. While it would be inappropriate to comment on the merits of those proceedings while they are underway, Labor has called on the UK Government to ensure that all proper legal process and procedural fairness is afforded to Mr Assange in those proceedings.

Mr Assange, like any Australian citizen facing legal difficulties overseas, is entitled to consular assistance provided through Australia’s overseas missions.

Under both Australian and UK law, a person cannot be extradited if they may face the death penalty unless an undertaking is given in advance that this will not occur.  In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed in evidence to Senate Estimates on 5 March 2020 that none of the charges faced by Mr Assange in the US carry the death penalty.

Labor nevertheless expects that should these charges change, the Australian Government would ask the UK Government to seek, in accordance with its laws, a guarantee from the United States that the death penalty would not be imposed on Mr Assange, in advance of any extradition request being granted.

Labor has also been very concerned about reports that Mr Assange’s health has been deteriorating while he has been in prison. The Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Foreign Minister wrote to the Australian Government requesting that Australia press the UK Government to ensure Mr Assange receives appropriate medical care.  This is even more important now because of the threat of COVID-19, which is particularly dangerous in institutions with large populations such as prisons.

I understand that Mr Assange has withdrawn consent for his personal information to be provided to Australian officials. While this affects the capacity for Australian officials to monitor his situation and advocate for him, assistance will continue to be offered to Mr Assange through the Australian High Commission in London.

We have been advised that the Australian Government continues to closely monitor Mr Assange’s health, and that officers of the Australian High Commission in London have continued to write to Mr Assange, to liaise with his legal team, and have visited him in prison.

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 almost two-and-a-half years ago.  We maintain that commitment.

In December 2018, the Morrison Government was dragged, kicking and screaming, to announce in that it would move to establish a “Commonwealth Integrity Commission”. This was after it spent almost a year rejecting calls from Labor and the crossbench for such a body and a mere two weeks after Scott Morrison dismissed it as a “fringe issue”.

However, as is so often the case, Scott Morrison was being slippery when he announced his “Commonwealth Integrity Commission”. When you look behind the marketing slogans, the proposal by Mr Morrison is a sham. It is no wonder that integrity experts have described it as the “kind of integrity commission that you would have when you don’t want to have an integrity commission”.

And despite promising to produce legislation to establish a “Commonwealth Integrity Commission” by the end of last year, and claiming that it has been working on the legislation since January 2018, the Morrison Government has yet to produce a bill.

Whether it’s the sports rorts scandal 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 National Integrity Commission – and why Mr Morrison and his colleagues continue to show such little interest in establishing one.

The Morrison Government has said, in light of the current public health crisis, the establishment of a National Integrity Commission is not a priority. But with tens of billions of taxpayers’ money being spent in response to the current unprecedented public health and economic crisis, the potential for corruption is greater than ever.

The COVID-19 pandemic is not a reason to delay the establishment of a National Integrity Commission. For the Morrison Government, it is simply an excuse.

Labor will continue to fight for the establishment of a powerful National Integrity Commission – one that has all the independence, powers and resources of a standing royal commission into corruption in the federal sphere.

Thank you for writing to me about this important issue.

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.

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.

Aurora Australis

Many in our community have contacted me about the future of the Aurora Australis.

There are  a growing number of voices advocating for the Australis to remain in Australia.

The recent bushfires were devastating to many communities across Australia.  They also demonstrated the significant gaps in our capacity to support and rescue communities when our roads are cut and supply chains severely disrupted.

In January this year, Senator Carol Brown wrote to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party outlining a number of suggestions regarding the future of the vessel, including that the Government could consider purchasing the vessel for use in developing and maintaining Australia’s emergency response capability.

Disappointingly, the Government has not responded with anything concrete.

Many other organisations and individuals have joined the campaign to keep the Aurora Australis available to assist Australian communities in need, train maritime rescue personnel, or operate as an experience centre that tells the story of Australia’s history in the Antarctic.

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.

Mandatory Pregnancy Warning

Many have contacted me regarding mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages.

Like the Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (made up of all governments around Australia and New Zealand), Labor is committed to mandatory pregnancy warning labels to ensure Australians are aware of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

The specific proposal to which you refer was recommended by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. It will now be considered by the Ministerial Forum.

Labor respects the independence of the regulator and looks forward to a final decision by the Forum.

As you may be aware, the Federal Opposition does not have any members on the Forum. You may wish to contact the relevant Commonwealth Ministers who do sit on the forum: The Minister for Agriculture The Hon. David Littleproud MP, and Senator The Hon. Richard Colbeck, who serves as Chair.

Press Freedom

Labor strongly welcomes the decision by Australian Federal Police to not proceed with charges against journalist Annika Smethurst.

The criminal investigation into Ms Smethurst should never have happened and the raid on Ms Smethurst’s home should never have happened. That raid, and the separate raid on the ABC Headquarters in June last year, put a spotlight on the Morrison Government’s contempt for press freedom, its contempt for the public’s right to know and its contempt for scrutiny and any notion of accountability.

It has now been over two years since the Government asked the AFP to investigate the unauthorised disclosure of information to Annika Smethurst.

But rather than focusing on the source of the leak, the AFP launched an extraordinary criminal investigation into Annika Smethurst.

For almost a year now, ever since the raid on her home, Ms Smethurst has had the threat of criminal charges hanging over her head.

This raid came with the personal blessing of the Prime Minister who shrugged off the extraordinary assault on press freedom by saying ‘It never troubles me that our laws are being upheld.’ The High Court has since unanimously made clear that our laws were not being upheld – the warrant authorising the raid was unlawful.

While Ms Smethurst is now free of the threat of prosecution, two other journalists still face the very real threat that they will face criminal charges for just doing their jobs.

The Attorney-General should now bring this entire sorry saga to an end by announcing today that he will not consent to any prosecution of the ABC’s Sam Clarke and Dan Oakes.

Unlike the Morrison Government, Labor believes in freedom of the press and the public’s right to know.

For several years now Labor has been voicing concerns about the undermining of press freedom by this Coalition Government and we came out in support of the Australia’s Right to Know campaign as soon as it launched.

Labor believes journalists should never face the prospect of being charged, or even jailed, just for doing their jobs.

Law enforcement agencies should never be raiding journalists just because they are embarrassing the Government.

The Morrison Government can no longer hide behind these legal proceedings, and must now commit to reform of the law that properly protects freedom of the press that addresses the concerns of the Australia’s Right to Know coalition

A strong and independent media is vital to holding governments to account and to informing the Australian public. Labor will continue to fight to defend and to strengthen press freedom and the public’s right to know.

My sincere sympathies are with those whose families and communities have been impacted. It is a tragedy that so many lives and properties have been lost.

This is a national emergency that needs a national response. We have been calling for a national approach to this bushfire emergency since November. We welcome the recent utilisation of the Defence Forces and the announcements of a new Bushfire Recovery Agency, but it shouldn’t have taken this long for the Government to take action.

We have seen unprecedented scenes as drought, unseasonably high temperatures and high winds have combined to wreak havoc on bushland and nearby communities. It is of extreme concern that bushfires of this severity are occurring so early in the year and is more evidence of the need for the Morrison Government to take serious action on climate change.

The Federal Opposition is deeply grateful for the efforts of fire and emergency services personnel and the many volunteers who have assisted in fighting these bushfires. We also commend the residents of affected regions for their cooperation with bushfire authorities.

If you and your family have been impacted by the bushfires and need more information on the emergency assistance available, information on disaster assistance is available at www.disasterassist.gov.au or the below contacts.

Queensland:

Those affected can apply for the Emergency Hardship Assistance grant through the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au.

New South Wales:

For information on personal hardship and distress – contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444 or visit and www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Applications for a concessional loan, grant or freight subsidy – contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or www.raa.nsw.gov.au

South Australia:

For information of Disaster recovery assistance visit www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/recovery/assistance

Victoria:

For information of Disaster recovery assistance visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/

Tasmania:

For information on Emergency Assistance Grants and Recovery and Restoration Grants visit www.alert.tas.gov.au/resources/Pages/DisasterAssistance.aspx

If you would like to make a donation to assist communities affected by bushfires, below are some of the organisations accepting donations to provide much needed support.

Disaster Relief:

• Red Cross – redcross.org.au
• Victorian Bushfire Appeal – vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal
• SA Bushfire Appeal – sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/recovery/donating
• Foodbank – foodbank.org.au
• St Vincent de Paul NSW Bushfire Appeal – donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw

Volunteer Fire Services:

• NSW Rural Fire Service – rfs.nsw.gov.au
• Victorian Country Fire Authority – cfa.vic.gov.au
• SA Country Fire Service – cfsfoundation.org.au
• Tasmania Fire Service – fire.tas.gov.au
• Queensland Rural Fire Service – ruralfire.qld.gov.au
• Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services – dfes.wa.gov.au/contactus/pages/donations.aspx
• ACT Emergency Services Agency – esa.act.gov.au
• NT Fire and Rescue Service – pfes.nt.gov.au

Animal Rescue:

• Port Macquarie Koala Hospital – gofundme.com/f/help-thirsty-koalas-devastated-by-recent-fires
• RSPCA NSW Bushfire Appeal – rspcansw.org.au/bushfire-appeal
• NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service – wires.org.au/donate/emergency-fund
• Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Appeal – wildlifevictoria.org.au

There have been reports of some dodgy scammers trying to take advantage of people’s generosity. If you are aware of any you can report them to the Bushfire Scam Hotline on 1300 795 995.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

It has been over a year since the historic gathering at Uluru and the release of the Statement from the Heart, and over a year since the Referendum Council released its final report into constitutional recognition of the First Australians.

Labor has made clear our view – we cannot call on First Nations people to give us their views on what form of constitutional recognition they want, and then reject those calls.

Yet that is exactly what Liberal Prime Ministers have done.

In the last year, both Turnbull and Morrison have rejected the calls for a Voice to Parliament, repeatedly claiming it will become a third chamber, and that any referendum will not get the support of the Australian People.

Labor has pushed for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to do further work on this issue, in the hope that there can be a return to bipartisanship.

Labor is proud that Senator Patrick Dodson, the father of reconciliation was the co-chair of that committee, continuing to work with patience and respect with First Nations people and the Parliament.

The Joint Select Committee Relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2018, released its report at the end of November, calling for bipartisan recognition of the need for a Voice. The Final Report is available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Former_Committees/Constitutional_Recognition_2018/ConstRecognition/Final_Report

More than a year after the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Final Report of the Referendum Council, the overwhelming evidence to the Committee was that First Nation’s peoples want a Voice, and a more meaningful say in the issues that impact their lives.They have have reiterated their desire for a more meaningful say in the issues that affect their lives. They continue to call for a Voice to Parliament.  And they continue to call for a Makaratta Commission to oversee a process of truth telling and agreement making.

Labor has heard those calls and has committed to deliver.

It is clear that the Government’s handling of the Uluru Statement has set the nation back on the long overdue work of recognition of First Nations people.

Labor’s position is clear: we will work with the Government, but we will not wait for them. First Nations people have waited 250 years to be recognised for who they are, the First People of this country, and for recognition as sovereign peoples whose land was taken by force.

That is why, while the Government remains opposed to the call from Uluru, a Labor Government will legislate the Voice to Parliament as a first step towards constitutional entrenchment. Achieving this goal is the priority task for constitutional change should Labor be elected to office.

Labor is also committed to doing what we can to right the wrongs to the past, and ensure those wrongs are never repeated.

That is why we have committed to a compensations scheme for the Stolen Generations in Commonwealth jurisdictions, as well as the establishment of a Healing Fund. We will also convene a National Summit on First Nations Children, to address the extremely high rates of child removal.

We continue to commit ourselves to working with First Nation’s people every step of the way.

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.

Climate Change

Labor is the only party of government that is committed to real action on climate change.

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.

After the disappointing result of the 2019 election, it is natural and necessary that Labor review all our policies taken to the 2019 election, but this review will not change the values that motivate and underpin our commitment to real climate action.

Labor’s approach to climate change policy will continue to be guided by the best science available, and be underpinned by Labor values of equity and fairness. Our approach will focus on the development of policies that will not only cut pollution, but ensure we maximise the jobs and economic opportunities of modernising our economy.

In contrast, the Liberal and National parties have paid nothing more than lip service to real climate action. Their approach to climate change is best demonstrated not by their rhetoric, but by their actions, including a commitment to provide taxpayer support for coal fired power.

As a result, it is no surprise that Australian emissions are now projected to be essentially the same in 2020 as they were in 2000, and Australia ranked last out of 61 countries, behind Russia, Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump’s USA in terms of climate policy at the latest Paris agreement summit.

While the result of the 2019 election was disappointing for those seeking serious action on climate change, Labor will not walk away from the crucial task of tackling climate change and delivering a prosperous and sustainable Australia to future generation.

Policing

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