Julian Simmonds's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2022-07-06T23:05:43+00:00
items: New South Wales: Floods, Queensland: Floods | Statements on Indulgence | House debates
items: Employment | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Type 1 Diabetes | Adjournment | House debates
items: Morrison Government | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Defence, National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
items: Member for Boothby, Ryan Electorate: University of Queensland | Adjournment | House debates
items: Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: National Security | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Australian Defence Force Cadets | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Ryan Electorate: headspace | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Education | Private Members' Business | House debates
items: Powering Communities Program | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Economy, National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Ryan Electorate: Infrastructure | Statements by Members | House debates
items: Aukus | Questions without Notice | House debates
items: Online Safety | Statements by Members | House debates
items: COVID-19: Economy | Private Members' Business | House debates

New South Wales: Floods, Queensland: Floods | Statements on Indulgence | House debates
type: item
description: I rise today to speak about some of our heroes of the 2022 floods in the electorate of Ryan. I was in my community in the 2011 flood event as well. It was difficult to see many of the same people...
encoded: I rise today to speak about some of our heroes of the 2022 floods in the electorate of Ryan. I was in my community in the 2011 flood event as well. It was difficult to see many of the same people who had gone through the earlier flood event going through it again in 2022. The electorate is diverse and people were affected in different ways. The communities of Moggill, Bellbowrie, Pullenvale and Brookfield were cut off by floodwater for a number of days. People in Fig Tree Pocket, Indooroopilly, St Lucia, Toowong and Auchenflower were inundated by the river as well as by the rising creek levels. People in The Gap, and further afield in Mitchelton, were inundated by fast flowing creek water while the rain was falling. No matter how residents were affected, they have shown tremendous spirit and resilience. It has been a sincere pleasure, during my time as the member for Ryan, to be able to join them in their community spirit as they seek to rally around those residents who have been badly affected by the flood. In doing so, I want to pay testament to some of those community members who went above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow residents during the flood. I put out the call to the community to ask them to nominate people who had particularly assisted them but perhaps hadn't sought any credit. Of course, they don't do it for the recognition, but they rightly deserve it all the same. These were people who saw a need and, rather than waiting for somebody else to do it, simply pitched in and got it done themselves. So I would like to acknowledge a few of those. First of all, there is Damian Reynoldson. He is described by his neighbours as a family man and a quiet achiever. He has a friendly and compassionate nature, with many practical skills. With the support of his wife, Christie, Damian became known as 'the Witton Island hero.' His skills supported and enabled many in the flood-affected Witton Road-Twigg Street area to deal with the challenges thrown at the…
date: 2022-03-30T16:34:00+00:00

Employment | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is also to the Treasurer. Well he remind the House of the Morrison government's strong record in creating jobs and reducing unemployment, particularly through our investments in...
encoded: My question is also to the Treasurer. Well he remind the House of the Morrison government's strong record in creating jobs and reducing unemployment, particularly through our investments in skills and apprenticeships, and how this will help secure a stronger future, delivering on our long-term economic plan?
date: 2022-03-30T14:41:00+00:00

Type 1 Diabetes | Adjournment | House debates
type: item
description: It's budget season, of course, and there are always a lot of requests and calls made on the public purse. But there's one particular request that I am passionate about, many members of my...
encoded: It's budget season, of course, and there are always a lot of requests and calls made on the public purse. But there's one particular request that I am passionate about, many members of my community of Ryan are very passionate about and I know many of my colleagues are passionate about. As we head into the next few weeks and into the budget, I want to put in a particular plug for this government to consider further funding as part of the upcoming budget to assist people with type 1 diabetes. At the end of 2021, there were 129,211 people registered with type 1 diabetes in Australia. As people would know, type 1 diabetes is often developed quite young, as a child, and is quite different to type 2 diabetes, which is more based on lifestyle factors. In October last year, I, along with 12 other coalition colleagues—and, between us, we represented every state of this great nation—wrote to the health minister asking for support to increase access to type 1 diabetes technologies. Our ambition is that all people living with type 1 diabetes have equitable access to the most effective diabetes management systems, regardless of age or income. This means increasing coverage of insulin pumps and glucose monitors. That's the good news out of this. The good news is that, despite how difficult it is for young people, and people of all ages, to manage type 1 diabetes, the advances of technology are giving them that option. The technology that we have available now through continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps allows a set-and-forget response where people can just get on with their lives without having to worry about constant testing or the constant highs and lows. I'm so very proud to have been part of this government and particularly initiatives led by the health Minister, Greg Hunt, that have seen this government go further than any before it, making important, groundbreaking initiatives accessible for people with type 1 diabetes. With a little bit of further investment, we …
date: 2022-02-17T16:34:00+00:00

Morrison Government | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
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description: I'm pleased that Labor members have seen fit to bring forward this matter of public importance, because it talks about the plans that both of our parties have for the future. They're quite right:...
encoded: I'm pleased that Labor members have seen fit to bring forward this matter of public importance, because it talks about the plans that both of our parties have for the future. They're quite right: at the next election, coming up in the next few months, Australians will face an incredibly stark choice. There is a gulf of difference between the plans that this government have for the prosperity of our nation and the plans that Labor have for Australians, and Australians need to know the difference. I think Australians understand what this government are about. They have seen us in the trenches over the last three years, keeping them safe from a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. They have seen us keep people in aged care safe. They have seen us roll out vaccines to vulnerable communities. They have seen us roll out booster shots. They have seen us close the borders quickly. And they have seen us take the hard decisions when needed so as to keep Australians safe. They have seen us support hundreds of thousands of jobs through the JobKeeper program, a program that has enabled us to have the economy firing as we come out of the pandemic, including heading towards a record low unemployment rate. They have seen us keep Australians safe when it comes to standing up to the coercion of other nations. And they have seen us tackling the difficult security environment that we face—one of the most difficult security environments faced by any government in a long, long time. Meanwhile, Labor's plan for the future, Labor's plan for Australians, is a dark and depressing one. It's one where Australians don't feel safe. They don't feel safe to make choices for their families. They don't feel safe to plan for their future. They don't feel safe that their kids will have opportunity and hope. It's a future where a future Labor government have lost control of our borders, just like they did the last time they were in government because the opposition leader doesn't have the ticker to personally …
date: 2022-02-17T15:57:00+00:00

Defence, National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Defence: Will the minister please inform the House how the Morrison government's strong and certain record on defence and national security keeps Australia and...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Defence: Will the minister please inform the House how the Morrison government's strong and certain record on defence and national security keeps Australia and Australians safe and secure, and is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?
date: 2022-02-17T14:28:00+00:00

Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
type: item
description: On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report entitled Vaccinerelated fraud and security risks. Report made a parliamentary paper in...
encoded: On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report entitled Vaccinerelated fraud and security risks. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—I present the final report of the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement's inquiry into COVID-19 Vaccine related fraud and security risks. The report builds on the committee's interim report for this inquiry, which was tabled in August 2021. This inquiry was conducted in response to concerns that as part of the COVID-19 pandemic and as part of the vaccine rollout and the rollout of vaccine certificates that this may be open to individuals or organised crime gangs to perpetrate fraud against the Australian populous or to otherwise coerce individuals by means of corruption or crime. The interim report last year found that, due to the early, strong and coordinated action from law enforcement agencies across all jurisdictions, Australia, pleasingly, did not experience the anticipated levels of scam or fraud activity related to the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. In particular, the government's decision to make the vaccine available for free in a timely manner to all Australians limited the ability of fraud or coercion to take place. The interim report also highlighted concerns vaccination status fraud could manifest in the future as we move past the initial vaccination stage and as individuals sought to avoid, potentially, the consequences of not being vaccinated. So the final report contains the committee's considerations, particularly on this matter and its investigations as such. I'm pleased report to the House that the committee has found that although there have been some instances—widely reported in the media—of fraud, these are extremely limited and the total amount of vaccination related fraud conducted has been extremely small. I am further pleased to report that although Australia's vaccination registration system was tested during the …
date: 2022-02-17T12:56:00+00:00

Member for Boothby, Ryan Electorate: University of Queensland | Adjournment | House debates
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description: I just want to comment on the issue of the day in the time I have remaining. It was an absolute privilege today to watch the valedictory speech of my colleague the member for Boothby, Nicolle...
encoded: I just want to comment on the issue of the day in the time I have remaining. It was an absolute privilege today to watch the valedictory speech of my colleague the member for Boothby, Nicolle Flint, in this chamber. She is a courageous and tenacious member of the House, and as a new member I have learnt so much from the upstanding way she has carried herself. I've worked with her on issues involving funding for endometriosis treatment and research and seen the effective way she advocates and secures real change in the place. I've also seen the way she holds her head high and refuses to be diminished by the abhorrent behaviour that has been directed at her by political opponents. Nic, thank you for the service you have given your community and this place and for your support of colleagues like me. You are a great loss to our parliamentary party room. In her speech, the member for Boothby called out commentators, political operators and activists of the Left who preach tolerance and support for women in politics but then direct at their female political opponents the most horrendous and vile abuse. Lo and behold, the Left were at it again today. We saw a terrible display of vandalism and violence from members of the Left at the University of Queensland in my electorate of Ryan. Today was market day, and young volunteers including young women were volunteering at the UQ Liberal National Club tent. They were attacked and had their property defaced with red paint and were labelled Nazis for simply expressing their political opinions on campus. Members of our Australian Defence Force also had their own tent at UQ's market day, and the same thugs were videotaped spray-painting the front of the ADF tent and hurling expletives at these service men and women. I am a fierce defender of free speech, but time and again we see the Left seeking to silence conservative men and women on university campuses through the use of violence and intimidation. Shame on these leftist criminal…
date: 2022-02-16T19:57:00+00:00

Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I'm very pleased to rise to speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021. Unfortunately what those watching will have just seen from the member for...
encoded: I'm very pleased to rise to speak in support of the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021. Unfortunately what those watching will have just seen from the member for Scullin is a classic example of Labor having an each-way bet when it comes to protecting Australians and keeping Australians safe. There are no such wobbles on this side of the chamber; we will continue to stay strong and make sure that we employ the powers needed in order to keep the Australian community safe. The member for Scullin rightly pointed out that Senator Keneally was only telling half the story when she went on Sky News this morning and claimed Labor would be supporting the bill. It was a bit of a fib; while they might be supporting the bill in the House, they're going to try to amend it in the Senate. As a government, we have made it really clear that this bill is required in order to deport people who do serious harm to Australian citizens. These are convicted criminals. These are not just people we think might be of bad character; they have been convicted of a serious offence. Yet the Labor Party, in the amendments they're going to put into the Senate, are saying: 'We think it goes too far. We think somebody can be convicted of a serious offence but still not meet the threshold for deportation.' It goes to show that they simply can't be trusted to make the hard decisions required to keep Australians safe. We heard from the member for Scullin a couple of examples where Labor take issue with this bill and think the powers are out of step with what is required. He said Labor was worried that this bill would catch up low-level offenders. Let's just think about which offences this bill deals with. These are people who have been convicted of an offence punishable by jail time of over two years. They have been convicted of offences like stalking, domestic violence, assaulting police officers, breaching AVOs, possessing weapons, concealing child abuse offences, and date …
date: 2022-02-16T18:11:00+00:00

National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is the outstanding Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government's Operation Sovereign Borders is continuing to keep our borders secure...
encoded: My question is the outstanding Minister for Home Affairs. Will the minister update the House on how the Morrison government's Operation Sovereign Borders is continuing to keep our borders secure and people smugglers out of business, and is she aware of any alternative policies?
date: 2022-02-16T15:05:00+00:00

National Security | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: NDS () (): It's very clear to me that the biggest threat to Australia's security and the safety of Australians is the Leader of the Opposition and his very good mate the member for Melbourne....
encoded: NDS () (): It's very clear to me that the biggest threat to Australia's security and the safety of Australians is the Leader of the Opposition and his very good mate the member for Melbourne. Last time Labor were in government, they were in bed with the Greens and, together, they cut Defence spending to its lowest level since 1938. And now, as they look to rekindle their love affair and weave friendship bracelets together, their plan is clear—rinse and repeat. The Greens have already announced that they will cut our Defence spending in half. The Greens also don't believe in protecting our borders, and they have a fellow traveller in the Leader of the Opposition. This is a Leader of the Opposition who proudly declared in between shedding tears for Kevin Rudd—what a loss that was!—and declaring that he wanted to fight Tories that he could never personally turn back a boat. He's a Leader of the Opposition that when he was last in government was part of a team that cut funding to ASIO, the AFP and the Criminal Intelligence Commission. Along with cutting funding to Defence, it cut funding to every major organisation that keeps Australians safe. The member for Melbourne proudly produces his videos outlining how he would dictate terms to a Labor government and how he would play with them like a puppet master. At a time of increasing global threat and uncertainty, Labor and the Greens would together endanger Australians. I want to thank the members of the Defence Force and law enforcement community in my electorate. They have my support. The Leader of the Opposition may have the support of the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, but he doesn't deserve the support of Australians.
date: 2022-02-16T13:56:00+00:00

Australian Defence Force Cadets | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: It is a great pleasure to speak on this motion this evening. Firstly, I'd like to thank the member who moved the motion in my absence in a previous sitting week, because debating this motion...
encoded: It is a great pleasure to speak on this motion this evening. Firstly, I'd like to thank the member who moved the motion in my absence in a previous sitting week, because debating this motion gives me a great opportunity to express my unwavering support for the Australian Defence Force Cadets, their vital service to the country and the work that they do instilling values into our young people. Service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence—these are the values of the ADF Cadets that underpin their mission to lead and serve our local communities and our nation. In particular, I'm very proud that the Ryan electorate has a number of ADF Cadet units, including at the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera but also located in a number of schools within the electorate. It's of course a community based youth development program, which focuses on preserving the customs and traditions of the Australian Defence Force. That's incredibly important for the Ryan community, because the Ryan community is, as I said, home to the Gallipoli Barracks, so it is home to many serving Defence personnel but also ex-Defence personnel and veterans who have chosen to stay located in the local area and those who have located there as part of their service at the Amberley barracks, further down the highway. We have a very proud tradition in the Ryan electorate of supporting our service men and women and veterans, and promoting the values and the ethos of the Australian Defence Force in the cadets is a tremendous way to do that. Last year in May—I'm just trying to get my dates right; with COVID, things tend to blend together—I was very pleased to have the Assistant Minister for Defence, Andrew Hastie, come to the electorate. It was one of the few visits that he was able to successfully complete given the on-and-off border openings in Western Australia. He came to look at the site and to have discussions with those who are helping me lead the charge for the new Brookfield cadet unit in the electorate …
date: 2022-02-14T18:12:00+00:00

Ryan Electorate: headspace | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: I rise to update the parliament on a very important day for the young people of the Ryan electorate, and I talk not about St Valentine's Day but the fact that today we have a brand-new headspace...
encoded: I rise to update the parliament on a very important day for the young people of the Ryan electorate, and I talk not about St Valentine's Day but the fact that today we have a brand-new headspace centre opening its doors—a new, expanded centre. Headspace Taringa was one of the busiest centres in the country—the second-busiest in the whole nation, in fact—throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and demand for the support centre has skyrocketed. Now, they had a fantastic team there, but the simple fact was that, because they had outgrown their facilities, they were faced with the problem of having to cut off their waiting list because they had a wait time of over eight weeks. Thanks to a $780,000 contribution that I secured from the federal government, headspace Taringa has now been able to relocate to a brand-new, much larger facility in Indooroopilly. It's far more fit for purpose, not only for the staff but also for the numbers of young people who they need to service there. Those staff have worked tirelessly to keep up with the additional demand, and I know that the new larger facility will help them to reach even more young people in the Ryan electorate. Its doors are open today for young people to visit, and I encourage anybody who needs a hand to reach out to headspace Taringa. I want to congratulate Jamie and the whole team—now, headspace Indooroopilly; formerly, headspace Taringa. I can't wait to visit the new centre and officially launch it, but, in the meantime, I'm delighted that the doors are open and it's servicing and helping young people in the Ryan electorate.
date: 2022-02-14T16:36:00+00:00

Education | Private Members' Business | House debates
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description: I rise to speak against the motion today, obviously, and I'd like to pick up where the member for Dunkley left off, speaking particularly on apprenticeships. This motion is yet another example of...
encoded: I rise to speak against the motion today, obviously, and I'd like to pick up where the member for Dunkley left off, speaking particularly on apprenticeships. This motion is yet another example of how Labor will disregard the facts in order to try and fit their political narrative. We see them do it time and time again. Nowhere is it more evident than in this motion when it comes to apprenticeships, because this government has long been a very keen supporter of apprenticeships. We understand that it's a vital part of education and skills training out there in the community. It's also a recognition that we, unlike the Labor Party, understand that it's not the government that is creating jobs in Australia. Rather, it is Australian businesses, and we need supportive policies that will help Australian businesses to grow their workplaces and grow job opportunities, especially when it comes to apprenticeships. I had a look at the member for Dunkley's own electorate because I thought this motion must be driven from someplace. How bad is it on the ground in Dunkley that the member is so concerned particularly in terms of the way she was talking about apprenticeships? I had a look. In Dunkley, trade training apprenticeships are up 41 per cent since Labor was last in office. Apprenticeships are up 41 per cent in the member's own electorate, and such is her disgust that she has come in and moved this motion. We can only assume that, if we were to go back to a Labor government, as she would wish, we would see those apprenticeships fall again because those are the policies of the party of which she is a part; whereas, under the coalition government, there are 41 per cent more apprenticeships in her own electorate, for the young people in the area of Dunkley, than there were when Labor last left office. It's part and parcel of our government's JobTrainer fund: a $2 billion investment in skills supporting over 463,000 low-fee or no-fee courses in areas of skill shortages through TA…
date: 2022-02-14T11:41:00+00:00

Powering Communities Program | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: An important part of my plan for Ryan is protecting our local lifestyle, protecting our community so my kids and their kids grow up enjoying everything I did and more. The local environment is...
encoded: An important part of my plan for Ryan is protecting our local lifestyle, protecting our community so my kids and their kids grow up enjoying everything I did and more. The local environment is one of the most important aspects of this incredible lifestyle that we enjoy in Brisbane's western suburbs. Over the last few years I have worked to keep our local environment clean and green as well as contribute to our national targets to transition to renewable energy. Investing in clean energy sources is an important part of Australia's long-term emissions reduction plan to deliver net zero emissions by 2050. Australians are already playing their part in that. We have the highest rooftop solar uptake in the world. One in four Australians have solar on their home, and I am pleased to be one of them. We're also putting practical solutions into the hands of local community groups and businesses as well as households—solutions that not only reduce our carbon footprint but also lower electricity costs so that Australians can get back to the things that matter most and not worry about their power bills. Local not-for-profit organisations are the heart of our community in the Ryan electorate. I am proud to have secured $67,000 for these organisations to improve their energy-efficiency practices and technologies. The Morrison government's Powering Communities Program provides funding to not-for-profit organisations to reduce their energy use, improve energy productivity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. These organisations can use these funds to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption, to invest in energy monitoring and management systems and to invest in on-site renewable energy and solar connected batteries. These are some of the upgrades that I have fought hard to see funded in our local area. The West Toowong Bowls Club has purchased energy-efficient equipment. The Bellbowrie Moggill Men's Shed, the Pullenvale Progress Association, the Riverside family church, the To…
date: 2022-02-10T10:15:00+00:00

Economy, National Security | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: Will the Prime Minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is securing our recovery and building a stronger Australia by delivering on our plans to grow the economy, securing...
encoded: Will the Prime Minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is securing our recovery and building a stronger Australia by delivering on our plans to grow the economy, securing jobs and strengthening our ability to counter threats to our national security?
date: 2022-02-10T14:19:00+00:00

Ryan Electorate: Infrastructure | Statements by Members | House debates
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description: At the last election I made a commitment to fix our local roads and I'm happy to report on important milestones for these key projects in the electorate of Ryan. This week I visited Sir Fred...
encoded: At the last election I made a commitment to fix our local roads and I'm happy to report on important milestones for these key projects in the electorate of Ryan. This week I visited Sir Fred Schonell Drive and Coldridge Street in St Lucia where work is underway to fix this notorious black spot. With the funds I secured from the government's Black Spot Program, this dangerous intersection will now be made much safer. The works underway will see improved safety by upgrading the existing right turn from a Sir Fred Schonell Drive into Coldridge Street from a filtered arrangement to one with a dedicate the turning lane. The northbound turning lanes on Coldridge Street will also change to improve bus movements and create a better traffic flow. I move now to The Gap, where next week we will see the decking laid on the new Gresham Street bridge. Late last year we saw the temporary bridge put in place as part of the works to rebuild the existing 90-year-old original bridge. I committed $700,000 to this jointly funded project with Brisbane City Council to improve flood immunity, upgrade the vehicle load limit and improve safety for all road users at the Gresham Street and Waterworks Road intersection. Finally, at the Indooroopilly roundabout site, residents driving Moggill Road every day will see work well underway on this vital corridor. The car dealership is removed and work is occurring to prep the site. These projects are game changers for our local community, for too long put in the too-hard basket but, with my and the federal government's support, we're getting on with the job of fixing up these roads and getting you home sooner and safer.
date: 2022-02-10T13:54:00+00:00

Law Enforcement Joint Committee; Report | Committees | House debates
type: item
description: On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report entitled Criminal Code Amendment (Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material) Act 2019. Report made...
encoded: On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report entitled Criminal Code Amendment (Sharing of Abhorrent Violent Material) Act 2019. Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e). by leave—Thank you to the opposition for the opportunity to speak to the report. This inquiry was undertaken at the request of the Attorney-General. The law enforcement committee has been examining the effectiveness of the AVM Act in reducing the exploitation of digital platforms by extremists and terrorists. The act was originally introduced, as members would know, as an immediate response to the live streaming of the Christchurch massacre. The committee has heard from law enforcement agencies that, since that event, the risk of harm to the community from AVM remains as prevalent as it did then and that the growth of AVM in online environments continues to challenge law enforcement and industry participants alike. This threat environment necessitates a robust online safety framework, such as this one, to help prevent extremists and terrorists from using online platforms to advance their objectives and their hideous ideologies and to protect Australians from exposure to abhorrent violent material and extremist propaganda. The legislation provides an effective framework for ensuring that quick action is taken in relation to AVM, both by deterring misconduct by industry and by providing regulators and law enforcement with the appropriate tools in their efforts to respond to cases where extremists or terrorists have sought to exploit online platforms to promote violence. The committee determined that the AVM legislation continues to play a vital role within Australia's broader online safety framework. The legislation has also encouraged the development of safer systems and helped foster valuable working relationships between the eSafety Commissioner, law enforcement and the tech industry. The committee concluded tha…
date: 2022-02-08T17:15:00+00:00

Aukus | Questions without Notice | House debates
type: item
description: My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison governments partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom is ensuring that...
encoded: My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison governments partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom is ensuring that Australia can meet the threats posed by the changing strategic environment, and is the minister aware of any alternative approaches?
date: 2021-11-30T14:48:00+00:00

Online Safety | Statements by Members | House debates
type: item
description: This government is lifting the veil of secrecy from cowards that are online trolls. I, along with many of my colleagues, have been advocating for reforms that would give Australians the same...
encoded: This government is lifting the veil of secrecy from cowards that are online trolls. I, along with many of my colleagues, have been advocating for reforms that would give Australians the same rights online as they have in the real world. The recent announcements made by the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General do exactly this. They will further protect Australians from harm online and hold big tech accountable. It sends a strong message to those who wish to send violent toxic content and slurs online. Let's be clear about what we are talking about tackling. It's not about the slings and arrows of public debate or censoring the Left and the Right, as those opposite want to do. It is about predators targeting and bullying a 14-year-old into suicide. It's about vile predators who harass a person about their looks to the point of them developing anorexia. This is what we are tackling, and Australians have every right to go online without being abused or trolled. Those across from me should support it. Under these new powers social media companies will be declared as publishers, meaning they are liable for the defamatory remarks unless they actively assist in identifying anonymous trolls. This important reform will help those parents who feel helpless to protect their kids online or to unmask the bully or predator that is targeting their children. For too long social media companies have taken massive profits and turned a blind eye to the effects on the end users. Along with our other measures, we are going to continue to act to keep Australian families safe online.
date: 2021-11-30T13:47:00+00:00

COVID-19: Economy | Private Members' Business | House debates
type: item
description: I thank the member for Warringah for moving this motion, as it gives us all the opportunity to talk about Australia's recovery from the COVID pandemic and the ongoing recovery efforts. The member...
encoded: I thank the member for Warringah for moving this motion, as it gives us all the opportunity to talk about Australia's recovery from the COVID pandemic and the ongoing recovery efforts. The member for Warringah is quite right when she says that Australia has done a remarkable job throughout the COVID-19 pandemic on measures relative to the rest of the world. But it's Australians who have done the heavy lifting. This wasn't just luck. They have rallied significantly. They have followed directions and requests to get the jab and to take other measures. It wasn't just fate. It was this government moving swiftly to put in place support measures that helped them get through the early lockdowns and uncertainty of the pandemic and then allowed us to get through the further lockdowns of the last 18 months. JobKeeper and JobSeeker have been lifelines for Australian businesses. I was reflecting earlier on in this place about the practical impact that they had had in seats like Ryan, at popular pubs like the very famous Regatta Hotel, particularly for young people, who tend to work in hospitality establishments. For them, having JobKeeper there was an absolute lifeline. We've seen the results of that. We have seen youth unemployment drop significantly. The RBA is forecasting economic growth at 5.5 per cent next year as well as for the unemployment rate to be sustained at five per cent for the first time in 50 years. Three hundred and fifty thousand jobs have been created since the start of September. We were the only nation, of comparable economies, to be able to say that we had more jobs after the pandemic than we did at the start. That's because, at all stages, the government has moved swiftly to put in place support packages as needed. I agree with the member for Warringah that businesses do need certainty, and that certainty is the most important thing in helping them plan for the economic recovery. But the remarks she has made today, and that the Labor Party are making tod…
date: 2021-11-29T18:52:00+00:00