Nigel Scullion's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2019-07-02T23:05:25+00:00
items: Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | Senate debates
items: Indigenous Housing | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
items: Closing the Gap; Consideration | Documents | Senate debates
items: Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
items: Closing the Gap | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
items: Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
items: Climate Change | Matters of Urgency | Senate debates
items: Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Corporate and Financial Sector Penalties) Bill 2018; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates

Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | Senate debates
type: item
description: Mr President, as I rise I acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples on whose traditional lands this Parliament House stands. I also acknowledge their elders, both past and present, and I'd...
encoded: Mr President, as I rise I acknowledge the Ngunawal and Ngambri peoples on whose traditional lands this Parliament House stands. I also acknowledge their elders, both past and present, and I'd like to particularly recognise one such elder in the gallery—Matilda House. Matilda was also in the gallery nearly 18 years ago to hear my maiden speech. Thank you, Matilda, and your extended family, for making me so welcome on your country. I rise in this place today to offer my thanks and acknowledgement to those individuals and communities that have supported me in my time as the Country Liberal senator for the Northern Territory and to also offer some observations about my time in this place. First, and most importantly, could I offer my thanks to all those Territorians from all walks of life who supported and, in fact, voted for me in the last six elections. You can always rely on Territorians for good judgement. I thank the Country Liberals for their unwavering support. I'm proud to belong to a political movement that always puts Territorians first. I acknowledge how tough it is for so many Territorians at the moment, and I hear your cries for change. I must say that it has been a real honour to have been the first-ever conservative cabinet minister to hail from the Northern Territory, and I genuinely hope I'm not the last. I simply can't overstate how critical it is to the governance of our nation to have representatives from north Australia sitting around the cabinet table. Mr President, I thank you and acknowledge your professional and impartial leadership of the Senate. It's an absolutely crucial role, and I acknowledge all the Presidents since I arrived in this place. They've done a remarkable job in often difficult circumstances in maintaining peace and good order, particularly with those on the other side. I'd also like to thank the Nationals for their support during my time in the Senate. I've been supported by such great leaders—John Anderson, Mark Vaile, Warren …
date: 2019-04-03T17:51:00+00:00

Indigenous Housing | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: I thank the senator for the question. We are changing the way we do business by insisting that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and workers get the opportunity to win government...
encoded: I thank the senator for the question. We are changing the way we do business by insisting that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and workers get the opportunity to win government contracts. This is how we're doing it across the government already through our game-changing Indigenous Procurement Policy, and now we're starting to demand that projects we fund via the states also include strong Indigenous participation requirements. Labor have been silent on this. They've made announcements on a whole range of procurement policies but said absolutely nothing about Indigenous involvement. The record speaks for itself. Under Labor, only $6 million worth of government contracts went to Indigenous businesses in the last year of government. Under the coalition, we're now up to $1.8 billion under the Indigenous Procurement Policy. If you're an Indigenous Australian and you want to have the dignity of work and being able to provide for your family and your community, what I say is: don't vote for Labor, because Labor would rather give you a welfare cheque than a well-paid job. (Time expired)
date: 2019-04-02T14:40:00+00:00

Indigenous Housing | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: The Commonwealth will ensure that all of the housing we are funding will employ and train Aboriginal workers and procure goods and services for Aboriginal businesses. Ensuring more Indigenous...
encoded: The Commonwealth will ensure that all of the housing we are funding will employ and train Aboriginal workers and procure goods and services for Aboriginal businesses. Ensuring more Indigenous participation in delivering government projects has been a key priority for this government. While the Territory Labor government and those opposite don't appear to want to give Aboriginal people jobs and to build their own houses, this government disagrees. We're committed to ensuring that the hundreds of millions of dollars we're investing in remote housing and other projects deliver a long-term legacy of economic development and capacity building to truly sustainable rural and remote communities. That's why our economic and employment policies absolutely leave Labor for dead. Only a coalition government can be trusted to deliver better economic opportunities for our first Australians.
date: 2019-04-02T14:38:00+00:00

Indigenous Housing | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: I thank Senator Williams for that very important question. Senator Williams in his 12 years in this place has fought very hard for the bush and the regions, and I would particularly like to...
encoded: I thank Senator Williams for that very important question. Senator Williams in his 12 years in this place has fought very hard for the bush and the regions, and I would particularly like to acknowledge that record of service. Thanks to the coalition bringing the budget back under control—we're in surplus for the first time in 12 years—we're able to reinvest in the vital services that Australians rely on. This has meant we were able invest $550 million in remote Indigenous housing in the Northern Territory, which, combined with matched funding from the Northern Territory government, means there will be record funding in remote Territory communities. Unfortunately for remote Territory communities, the Gunner Labor government refused and resisted signing the national partnership agreement we proposed. However, due to the immense pressure placed on the Territory government by the four land councils, common sense has prevailed and Michael Gunner has performed yet another backflip. The deal the Morrison government has delivered will ensure Aboriginal people and their representative bodies get a genuine say in the delivery of this housing, in setting employment targets and in making sure that the houses deliver what communities need and want. But did senators opposite speak up once in support of the land councils? Not a word. Senator McCarthy, and in the other place the member for Lingiari and the member for Solomon, did not stand up for their Territory constituents; they merely listened to their weak Labor leadership. They all ignored the calls from the land councils to be involved in the delivery of housing. They never once refuted Michael Gunner's statement that Aboriginal land councils were not representative of Aboriginal people—divisive and hateful commentary from the Chief Minister. I'm pleased to report that, despite the inaction from the Territory's Labor representatives in this place, we have got a deal done and Aboriginal people are now at the table in the deliv…
date: 2019-04-02T14:36:00+00:00

Closing the Gap; Consideration | Documents | Senate debates
type: item
description: Yes.
encoded: Yes.
date: 2019-02-14T17:03:00+00:00

Closing the Gap; Consideration | Documents | Senate debates
type: item
description: I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, and I would like to pay my respect to their elders past, present and...
encoded: I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, and I would like to pay my respect to their elders past, present and future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many local Aboriginal elders who I have got to know during this role—Tyrone and Wally Bell, Matilda House, Paul House, Tina Brown—who take on the role of welcoming us to their country. I have learnt so much from you and I thank you for your generosity in welcoming us to your land. I want to acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have welcomed me onto their country and into their communities and families. I have been privileged to serve in the past five years as Minister for Indigenous Affairs. I would like to acknowledge Senators Dodson and McCarthy. I acknowledge your leadership, both as senators and as Aboriginal people. We may not agree on a range of matters, but I certainly value the contribution you make and I do listen closely. I am pleased that the annual Closing the Gap report brings Indigenous affairs to the forefront of our parliament. It is an opportunity to highlight the issues Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have told me matter to them most—getting a job, getting kids to school and keeping communities safe. Unfortunately, many in our nation will limit their discussion to a snapshot of progress, or lack thereof, against the targets—an assessment of failure in Indigenous Australia. But, as Roy Ah-See, Chair of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, said, 'We need to move from a deficit discussion to one that acknowledges where more work is needed but celebrates the outstanding contribution Indigenous people make and the success of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders in every community.' I for one would like to stand here and declare that all of the targets are on track, and to stand before the chamber and declare there is no longer a gap between outcomes for Ind…
date: 2019-02-14T16:31:00+00:00

Closing the Gap; Consideration | Documents | Senate debates
type: item
description: On behalf of the Prime Minister, I table the annual report on Closing the Gap and accompanying ministerial statement. I move: That the Senate take note of the documents.
encoded: On behalf of the Prime Minister, I table the annual report on Closing the Gap and accompanying ministerial statement. I move: That the Senate take note of the documents.
date: 2019-02-14T16:31:00+00:00

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
type: item
description: I'm just translating for you.
encoded: I'm just translating for you.
date: 2019-02-14T15:19:00+00:00

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
type: item
description: The term 'straight', by the way, is truthful. It's in the Australian vernacular.
encoded: The term 'straight', by the way, is truthful. It's in the Australian vernacular.
date: 2019-02-14T15:19:00+00:00

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
type: item
description: If that last comment wasn't a reflection on the senator's honesty, I don't know what is. I ask that you, Deputy President, ask the senator to withdraw that last comment.
encoded: If that last comment wasn't a reflection on the senator's honesty, I don't know what is. I ask that you, Deputy President, ask the senator to withdraw that last comment.
date: 2019-02-14T15:19:00+00:00

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education | Questions without Notice: Take Note of Answers | Senate debates
type: item
description: Which she did.
encoded: Which she did.
date: 2019-02-14T15:19:00+00:00

Closing the Gap | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
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description: No matter where you live in our nation, we know the best approach is one of partnership. That's why we're working with remote communities to develop solutions that ensure we can all benefit from...
encoded: No matter where you live in our nation, we know the best approach is one of partnership. That's why we're working with remote communities to develop solutions that ensure we can all benefit from a strong economy. From next month, we will begin reforms on the Community Development Program, which has already supported remote jobseekers into almost 30,000 jobs. We've listened to Indigenous organisations which support the CDP—Northern Land Council, Arnhem Land Progress Association, New South Wales Land Council, Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation—the list goes on. We are giving communities greater control over how the program is administered, shifting the focus to flexible, locally led support for jobseekers by increasing partnerships with Indigenous organisations to deliver these services. We've put forward reforms to create even more jobs and to cut Centrelink out so breaches would be reduced. But unfortunately, those opposite are not interested. They say it's just too close to an election. We're listening to the people in remote communities and doing what they want. That is the difference between words and action.
date: 2019-02-14T14:12:00+00:00

Closing the Gap | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: I thank the senator for the question. For the last two years, we have been working with communities across the country to refresh the Closing the Gap targets and frameworks. We know the 2008...
encoded: I thank the senator for the question. For the last two years, we have been working with communities across the country to refresh the Closing the Gap targets and frameworks. We know the 2008 Closing the Gap targets, as well intentioned as they were, were not developed in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. In fact, they were developed over a four-week period, largely by bureaucrats in Canberra. Responsible governments—Commonwealth, state and territory—were not accountable for their areas of responsibility and the targets were not based on evidence about what could be achieved in that timeframe. We've adopted a different approach. Between November 2017 and August 2018 there were 29 roundtables across the country with 1,200 participants and 170 submissions received, and two peak body forums were held, on 5 April and 24 July. We convened a special gathering of Indigenous leaders who, for the very first time, reported to the Council of Australian Governments. We're committing to a formal partnership with a coalition of peak bodies.
date: 2019-02-14T14:10:00+00:00

Closing the Gap | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: Thank you very much, Senator Smith, for that question. Can I say that the Prime Minister's speech today in delivering the Closing the gap:report2019 will mark a particular turning point in the...
encoded: Thank you very much, Senator Smith, for that question. Can I say that the Prime Minister's speech today in delivering the Closing the gap:report2019 will mark a particular turning point in the way I hope all governments do business with Aboriginal and Torres Strait and Islander Australians. As the Prime Minister said, 'Together, we can achieve anything.' I'm pleased that in nearly every area we've seen positive trends and progress, despite that only two of the seven national targets are on track. More children are getting the benefits of an early education. More mums are accessing antenatal care, not smoking during pregnancy and getting their children immunised. More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are living longer. More Indigenous people are in work—especially, more women are employed. More Indigenous people have year 12 qualifications. But the rate of change has not been what is necessary, which is because of a number of reasons, but particularly because the basis of the original targets was flawed. They were not designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait and Islander people, and reflected a way of thinking in those days that Canberra had the answers. So when a coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies came to us asking for a different approach, I would like to commend the leadership of the Prime Minister for embracing that partnership model and for bringing that commitment to the Council of Australian Governments. Partnerships work—for example, the Empowered Communities initiative and Western Sydney Indigenous Business Hub. In fact, 100 per cent of our CDP providers are now Indigenous organisations. I'm very pleased that we are taking this partnership model and applying it right across government. As a down payment on these reforms, we've announced an additional $200 million for scholarships, Indigenous student academies and mentoring support, and we are waiving HELP debt to get more teachers into remote communities.
date: 2019-02-14T14:08:00+00:00

Valedictory | Parliamentary Representation | Senate debates
type: item
description: I'm absolutely delighted to rise today to say a few words today about Senator John Williams the Nationals senator for New South Wales, better known, of course, as 'Wacka'. When you're standing in...
encoded: I'm absolutely delighted to rise today to say a few words today about Senator John Williams the Nationals senator for New South Wales, better known, of course, as 'Wacka'. When you're standing in this place at these times it's always a bit of a tears and beers moment. We're having a bit of a celebration about what Wacka Williams, in this case, has achieved, but we're always a bit sad to see them go. We've just heard a valedictory from a quintessential Australian. He could've been regaling his mates in the pub about what had happened. That's his style, that's what he sounded like and that's what he has always been. I recall his maiden speech, when he described the mob he was from and his home town of Jamestown, where he grew up, and that community. He said they were the salt of the earth. Of course! We need no better description than to have listened today and to have worked with someone who was quintessentially Australian and absolutely the salt of the bloody earth, as he would tell you. Most people who have experienced Wacka know that he brings a particular element, that element of his life experience—growing up in Jamestown, shifting to Inverell, going into business with his brother, going through all of that angst about losing the family farm and all of that. Much of that he's brought to this place: that rich experience of being everything from a penciller at the races to being a truck driver and a shearer, to knowing how to set a rabbit trap, he tells me, with all his fingers still there. He's just a fantastic guy with lots of what I consider to be real-life experience, but I guess in the context of the real world that's just different life experience. I think we should be so grateful he brought that to this place. The other element he would see in his pub as an element of value and respect is hard work. Now Wacka worked hard. He got here earlier; he went home later; if there was a job to done, he went and did it. As we've heard from the Greens, he didn't have t…
date: 2019-02-13T18:17:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: Not being the minister, I can't give you a definitive answer on that. We have asked the colleges how they would wish us to respond. It is only my view—and I have listened carefully and read...
encoded: Not being the minister, I can't give you a definitive answer on that. We have asked the colleges how they would wish us to respond. It is only my view—and I have listened carefully and read much of what you've put forward—that it's not a matter for the producers of the devices; it's their use in Australia that should be on a mandatory register, and any failings of that should be subject to mandatory reporting. We are waiting to hear back from industry, not from the device manufacturers or owners of those patents. I'm not the minister, so I can't guarantee how that will be, but we will take their recommendations seriously on whether to legislate or regulate, and we'll take that into consideration.
date: 2018-12-05T14:28:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: We're asking them to provide a recommendation on whether we regulate or legislate or leave it to them to mandate through the normal college process. We are expecting a response. We haven't got a...
encoded: We're asking them to provide a recommendation on whether we regulate or legislate or leave it to them to mandate through the normal college process. We are expecting a response. We haven't got a response yet but, when we get that response, if that response is 'we think you should mandate in the way you're suggesting by either legislation or regulation' that might well be the case. But we're awaiting their response. I don't think it will be too far away. And I will ensure that, as soon as the government understands what the answer from the Chief Medical Officer is, we'll respond to your office in kind.
date: 2018-12-05T14:27:00+00:00

Health Care | Questions without Notice | Senate debates
type: item
description: I thank the senator for the very important question. I understand that you and the office have had some discussions—I hope they were fruitful—with both representatives of Mr Hunt's...
encoded: I thank the senator for the very important question. I understand that you and the office have had some discussions—I hope they were fruitful—with both representatives of Mr Hunt's office and the TGA. I understand there are a number of questions being considered and that we will be getting back to you on this matter. Australia is not a dumping ground for therapeutic devices. That part of your question, I have to refute. I don't think that is the case, but I am more than happy to answer the other elements of your question. I think it is quite proper to point out the analogy of why is it that when my car looks like it might hurt me there is process under which there are mandatory legislative and regulatory requirements to ensure the owners of other cars are alerted? We do have a very important process under which the colleges of medical practice are informed about these matters, because it is actually their responsibility to ensure that doctors are required and mandated to report on a device or a failure of a device. The Chief Medical Officer has in fact written to that particular college, to the medical groups and to professional bodies to encourage them to consider the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into transvaginal mesh implants, which dealt with devices and the mandatory reporting more generally. (Time expired)
date: 2018-12-05T14:24:00+00:00

Climate Change | Matters of Urgency | Senate debates
type: item
description: Goldfish.
encoded: Goldfish.
date: 2018-12-04T17:19:00+00:00

Treasury Laws Amendment (Strengthening Corporate and Financial Sector Penalties) Bill 2018; Second Reading | Bills | Senate debates
type: item
description: I table the revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave...
encoded: I table the revised explanatory memorandum relating to the bill and move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— TREASURY LAWS AMENDMENT (STRENGTHENING CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL SECTOR PENALTIES) BILL 2018 The Government is committed to arming our financial services regulator with the powers it needs to take strong action to protect consumers and to deter and prosecute corporate and financial sector misconduct. This is not only necessary to ensure that individuals and corporations who do the wrong thing are appropriately punished but it is also an essential part of rebuilding community trust in the financial services industry. It is clear, through the work of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, that some financial institutions have engaged in conduct that falls well short of community expectations. This is not acceptable. This Bill delivers a clear message to those financial institutions and individuals that complying with the law is not negotiable. If the law is breached, the Courts will have a broader range of penalties to impose, which will act as a significant deterrent. The Bill amends the Corporations Act 2001 (Corporations Act) to more than double maximum imprisonment penalties for some of the most serious 'white-collar' crimes, bringing Australia's penalties in closer alignment with leading international jurisdictions. This Bill will increase civil penalties for individuals by more than five-fold and increase civil penalties for corporations by more than ten-fold. Courts will also be empowered to consider even greater penalties where the profits from misconduct are high or where a company's annual turnover exceeds $105 million. For example, in circumstances where a financial institution breaches its licence to provide financial services efficiently, honestly and fairly — at the mo…
date: 2018-12-03T18:09:00+00:00