Vince Connelly's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
Stirling Electorate | Adjournment | House debates
NELLY () (): To paraphrase Winston Churchill: democracy is the least-worst system of government. Since its foundation in ancient Greece, we still haven't found a better method of reflecting the...
NELLY () (): To paraphrase Winston Churchill: democracy is the least-worst system of government. Since its foundation in ancient Greece, we still haven't found a better method of reflecting the public will in a peaceful and effective way. For those of us who enjoy the temporary privilege to hold the torch of democracy as elected leaders, this is an immense reward. Like all previous members for the federal electorate of Stirling, I've worked with great determination to serve our local community. With Stirling due to be abolished from the next federal election, I reflect today on the history of this wonderful division. Contested in 25 elections, the seat has been won by 14 Liberal and 11 ALP members. Liberals have proudly held the seat for a total of 37 years. I acknowledge the previous Liberal members: Doug Cash, Ian Viner, Eoin Cameron and Michael Keenan. I also acknowledge ALP members who have held the seat: Harry Webb, Dr Ron Edwards and Jann MacFarlane. The early 1970s were a particularly exciting time for Stirling division, with a strong team, including Jim Clarko as president. Bob Pike led doorknocking on the weekends to drive voter membership, with $10 a couple for membership being quite a bargain, if you ask me. In 1972 divisional members donated $100 each to purchase the division's first property, a modest little house but great for meetings and campaigning. One member even went to live in the back of the house to help with costs and maintenance—what dedication! In 1974, at the double dissolution election, the Labor Party desperately wanted the seat back, and at the close of counting Ian Viner trailed Labor's Graham Reece by 700 votes. But when preferences were counted the provisional result was a tie, so scrutineers were assembled and, after a long day's counting the next day, more Liberal votes were found and Ian Viner scraped in by just 12 votes. Fast forward to 1984 and a redistribution saw Stirling incorporate more northern suburbs, including suburbs like Balga, Westminster and Mirrabooka, bringing a great deal of wonderful, diverse community groups. In 2004 my predecessor, Michael Keenan, won the seat back from Labor. Michael was a fantastic local member, serving with distinction for 15 years. It was an honour to be to be able to continue his excellent work in our community. Stirling has been so well served as well by passionate divisional members. And, though there are many stalwarts, please forgive me for only mentioning recent divisional presidents by name: Rob Paparde, Karlo Perkov, Chris Hatton, Tony Krsticevic, Troy Pickard and Melinda Poor. I've always had a passion for serving others, and I bore this out first by joining the army straight out of school. Serving as a commander on military operations overseas will remain one of my life's highlights. In 2019, when I was elected to parliament, I made a commitment to serve in a different way by relentlessly supporting my local community. Since then, I've gotten to know so many local families, businesses and community groups. I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved so far together. Our area is one of the most multicultural in Australia. Whether it be the Vietnamese, the Burmese, the Italians, the Africans or the Indian communities—I could go on—it's a privilege to be your local representative in parliament. It's groups like these for whom I continue to fight. For example, in 2019 Michael Keenan introduced me to a wonderful local community leader, Fatima, who is the operations services manager at Mirrabooka Mosque. Fatima works tirelessly supporting attendees to the mosque and the wider community, who the mosque actively welcomes in. However, in 2018 the mosque was the victim of a firebombing attack, which badly damaged the building. Since then, I've fought to achieve funding for two rounds of security upgrades, including CCTV security cameras and lighting, because everybody deserves to feel safe and accepted in our community. But after the firebombing it was actually the spirit of resilience that I saw in our community as it rallied to support the mosque and condemn violence that was so heartening. Now, roughly the eastern half of Stirling and the southern half of old Cowan are being smashed together in the new seat of Cowan. As the Liberal candidate for new Cowan, I am continuing to fight to serve my local community. I'm seeking re-election because, despite all of the good that we have achieved together, there is still much to be done in support of local families, businesses and community groups. I'm still filled with the passion and the energy to be the torchbearer of democracy in Cowan. Question agreed to House adjourned at 19:59
Child Abuse | Statements by Members | House debates
As a father, my very first priority is to the safety of my children. Indeed, the Morrison government is committed to the safety of all Australian children. This week, we delivered the first ever...
As a father, my very first priority is to the safety of my children. Indeed, the Morrison government is committed to the safety of all Australian children. This week, we delivered the first ever long-term national plan to protect children from the scourge of sexual abuse. I'm sure that we can all agree that all of us were shocked and appalled, and rightly so, at the findings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. We made a promise to do everything we could within our power to end these crimes. Under this 10-year National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse, we're targeting abuse in all settings, including in the family and in the emerging online world. We're committing an initial $307 million, which includes more than $22 million to deliver a national awareness-raising campaign on child sexual abuse and $18.6 million to implement a national victim-identification framework for online child sexual abuse. The first phase will be driven by two four-year action plans delivering real protections for Australian children and better support for victims and survivors. With the number of these abhorrent crimes increasing, sadly, we must deliver real measures that will lead to those real outcomes as we better safeguard the innocence and safety of all our children.
Stirling Electorate: Community Organisations | Constituency Statements | House debates
This month marks a significant milestone for many of the community organisations in my electorate of Stirling, many of whom are doing incredible work and have been active within our community for...
This month marks a significant milestone for many of the community organisations in my electorate of Stirling, many of whom are doing incredible work and have been active within our community for decades. To have withstood the test of time and multiple challenges that come with it—in particular, COVID-19—is a significant achievement in itself. But to serve the community and deliver positive outcomes to local communities and families is absolutely admirable. A few weeks ago I attended Majella Catholic Primary School to join them in their 50th-year celebratory mass. It was really heartening to speak with the students, as well as the teachers past and present, at this momentous milestone and to see just how passionate and dedicated the staff, the priests and other assistants throughout the school are to their community. On a tour of the school later that day with Principal David Barns I had the opportunity to see some of the infrastructure and facilities that the Morrison government has supported the construction of and to hear about the school's vision for the future. Well done to David and the Majella team for the hard work and dedication that you put in to make the community a real hub, particularly for the multicultural students and families. Later that same day I was just down the road at Nollamara, where I joined Uniting Aid who were celebrating their 40th anniversary—not quite at the 50 years of Majella, but they're catching up. I would like to acknowledge Uniting Aid and their team of dedicated individuals for their continued service to the disadvantaged people living in my electorate of Stirling. This amazing organisation has provided support and emergency relief to those in need, including food, clothing, household goods and financial assistance with utility bills. In particular, in recognising the volunteers, I recognise a couple of the very special volunteers, Charis Page and Wendy Gardner. At the 40th anniversary celebrations it really was an honour to recognise Wendy and Charis and pay tribute to their hard work over many, many years. This weekend, Hamersley Scout group will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a community open day. I'd like to commend this organisation for their fantastic work in providing young boys and girls with the skills that they need as they emerge as our future leaders. It's local groups, organisations and schools like these in Stirling that are the lifeblood of our communities, providing wonderful opportunities and support to their neighbours, to those in need and to the next generation of young Australians.
Climate Change | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
Morrison Government | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer inform the House about the Morrison government's ongoing commitment to keep taxes low for Australian businesses and families, helping generate...
My question is to the Treasurer. Will the Treasurer inform the House about the Morrison government's ongoing commitment to keep taxes low for Australian businesses and families, helping generate more jobs in the regions and the cities right around the country, and, is the Treasurer aware of any alternative policies?
Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
Given that I am now in continuation, I will reflect very briefly on some of the sentiment that I expressed yesterday. Fundamentally, it is this: with employment comes a greater sense of both...
Given that I am now in continuation, I will reflect very briefly on some of the sentiment that I expressed yesterday. Fundamentally, it is this: with employment comes a greater sense of both dignity and self-worth for the person who is filling that role. I'm sure that all those joining me in the chamber today, and the great many listening online as well, feel the same way—that not only are there extrinsic rewards in being able to take home a salary, there are intrinsic rewards in having a sense of purpose. Providing a good or a service is valued out there in the community and brings a sense of dignity and self-worth. It is against that backdrop that this current bill is absolutely positioned. According to an AIHW report titled 'Australia's welfare 2021', Indigenous employment rates reduced from 54 per cent to 49 per cent in the period of 2007-08 and 2018-19, while the rate for non-Indigenous Australians' employment remains stable at around 76 per cent. The report also tells us that, in 2018-19, Indigenous Australians were less likely to be employed the further away from a major city they lived. So it's clear that as a nation we must adapt and evolve to better meet new and existing challenges. The Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021 will provide a framework for piloting new approaches to delivering employment services in remote communities ahead of implementing the government's budget announcement that the Community Development Program, or CDP, will be replaced in 2023. The bill builds on the Australian government's commitment to reform of employment services and it's a critical component of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The bill will establish a new supplementary payment for eligible jobseekers in remote engagement program pilot sites who volunteer to participate in placements that are like having a job. I note that the definition of eligible jobseekers is as follows: 'Someone receiving a qualifying income support payment who receives employment services from a remote engagement program service provider and who has agreed to participate and is participating in an eligible placement with a host organisation for at least 15 hours each week.' I further note that the supplementary payment provided to eligible jobseekers participating in the program will not be subject to an income test. The placements will build participants' skills to deliver goods and services to the benefit of their local communities, and provide a pathway for jobseekers to find a job. And that end goal of a job is the key driver of this policy. As we know, and as we have, rightly, oft heard repeated, the very best form of welfare is of course a job. It's important to note that what is proposed in this bill is a pilot. The pilot will support collaboration with communities to develop an appropriately flexible program that will build the skills and vocational capabilities of people in remote communities. This is an approach that will put people living in remote communities at the heart of related decision-making. As with any pilot, it is anticipated that adjustments may be made throughout the process, and the government welcomes the opportunity to work with people living in remote communities to develop a policy that empowers them to shape their own future. On that basis, I commend this bill to the House.
National Security | Statements by Members | House debates
Our Indo-Pacific region is in the midst of the most significant strategic realignment since World War II. Australia must be able to deploy military power to shape our environment, deter actions...
Our Indo-Pacific region is in the midst of the most significant strategic realignment since World War II. Australia must be able to deploy military power to shape our environment, deter actions against our interests and respond, when required, with military force. To do so, we require new military capabilities, and maritime strike missiles will form a crucial element of our defence capability. I was grateful to have been hosted last week by defence industry participant Kongsberg and their Australian defence general manager, John Fry—a fellow ex-Australian Army officer. John briefed me on the capabilities of their naval strike missile, or NSM. Where NSM excels is in the important attribute of survivability. Its ability to fly very low and its stealth capabilities help it to avoid detection. NSM have become the maritime strike weapon of choice for many of Australia's allies around the world. Because of its survivability, precision and lethality, it has been contracted by the Norwegian, Malaysian, German, Polish and Romanian navies, as well as the United States Marine Corps. Kongsberg had previously been selected to provide missiles to Australia, both antiship and surface-to-air missiles. And I feel sure that, as we look to select particular capabilities and platforms, the NSM will be an attractive option as we look to continue to meet Australia's defence needs into the future.
It's a great pleasure to rise and provide some commentary today about the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021. Some may query why a metropolitan member of...
It's a great pleasure to rise and provide some commentary today about the Social Security Legislation Amendment (Remote Engagement Program) Bill 2021. Some may query why a metropolitan member of parliament is rising to speak on a bill that relates to remote engagement. I've had the great opportunity of living and working in some of our regions around Australia, as has my wife. When we were both quite young Army officers and before we had kids, we were posted up in Darwin, and part of my wife's role as the member of the intelligence company up there was to travel throughout the regions right across the Top End and build and maintain those networks for the purposes of information sharing. It was quite a wonderful role and one that she certainly cherished, and I was able to get out into some of those regions myself whilst we were in the Top End. One of the things that became quite obvious during that engagement was that the opportunities to access employment are clearly lacking in the remote areas of Australia, and that's where the bill before us today is absolutely focused. Employment bills give all of us a sense of dignity and purpose, a way to give back to society and to generate rewards for ourselves and our families. Principally, the benefits here I would categorised as dignity and self-worth. Dignity is obtained because we're drawing a wage that allows us to live in a manner which is, for the large part, free of interference from others. Of course we have a responsibility to pay taxes and for those taxes to be responsibly managed by the government of the day. Self-worth is achieved as we participate in society and we produce a good or a service that is of value to others. Providing that good or service and seeing how that benefits society have an intrinsic reward for the person generating that good or service. The reverse is also absolutely accurate: when we are unemployed or when we are underemployed, it's much harder to maintain dignity and self-respect. Whilst we may intrinsically believe that this is the case, it's important to note that this is absolutely backed up by research. In 2011 Australian and New Zealand Consensus Statement on the Health Benefits of Work was published by the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The signatories here reached a consensus on the following points: that work is generally good for health and wellbeing; that long-term work absence, work disability and unemployment have a negative impact on health and wellbeing; that work is an effective means of reducing poverty—that seems fairly self-explanatory, since one is earning a wage when one is working; and that work is also effective at reducing social exclusion, including that faced by Indigenous populations and other currently disadvantaged groups. With appropriate support, many of those who have the potential to work but are not currently working because of economic and social inequalities, illness or acquired congenital disability can access the benefits of work. The signatories also agreed that individuals seeking to enter the workforce for the first time, seeking re-employment or attempting to return to work after a period of, say, injury or illness face a complex situation in which there are a great many variables and that good outcomes are more likely when individuals themselves understand that there are health benefits relating to work and are empowered to take responsibility for their own situation. Those are the comments that stemmed from the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. What it all points to is a very clear indication that there are inherent benefits of being in employment. Over many decades, governments have tried different approaches to delivering employment services in remote Australia. I've been tracking the debate and have heard a number of my colleagues on both sides here acknowledge that these programs are challenging and complex and difficult. Indeed, we've learned that what works in our cities may not work in our regions and remote areas. Australians living in those remote communities face some complex employment challenges, and these are very different to the employment challenges faced in urban areas. Remote areas cover 75 per cent of the Australian landmass, and there are just fewer jobs available in remote areas. In fact, less than two per cent of actively trading businesses are located in these remote areas. Whilst this does not exclusively impact Indigenous Australians, it does disproportionately affect that cohort. Debate interrupted.
Defence | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister inform the House how the Morrison's government's investment in defence capability will provide the Australian Defence Force with the...
My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister inform the House how the Morrison's government's investment in defence capability will provide the Australian Defence Force with the capability edge that it needs to protect Australians in a changing geostrategic environment, and is the minister aware of any alternative policy approaches?
Space Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry and the Minister for Science and Technology. Will the minister please outline for the House how the Morrison government is supporting our...
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry and the Minister for Science and Technology. Will the minister please outline for the House how the Morrison government is supporting our emerging space industry, building a stronger Australia and creating more jobs, particularly as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Working Spirit | Statements by Members | House debates
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of speaking with my good friend Karyn Hinder, who's the founder of Working Spirit. I congratulated Karen on receiving a Prime Minister's Veterans' Employment...
Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of speaking with my good friend Karyn Hinder, who's the founder of Working Spirit. I congratulated Karen on receiving a Prime Minister's Veterans' Employment Award for excellence in supporting veterans' employment. Since founding Working Spirit in 2016, Karen has been working tirelessly, drawing from her own experience in the ADF to help veterans find employment and readjust to mainstream life. Each week, she sends job opportunities to around 700 veterans, 30 of whom she engages with and puts in touch with employers—some of them small businesses, others high-profile companies—looking for experienced workers. In fact, companies from right around the country are engaging with Working Spirit because they hope to get veterans on board their own teams. While I was speaking to Karen, she mentioned how she was working closely with engineering firm Monadelphous, who have recently taken on new employees through Working Spirit. Monadelphous, along with Karyn and other veterans, visited HMAS Stirling in Western Australia for an extensive tour of the base to showcase the roles that ADF personnel fill and the skill sets that they can bring as veterans within businesses. It's organisations like Working Spirit who are helping veterans to reconnect with civilian work opportunities in this next stage of their lives and also helping employers to access the wonderful skills, knowledge and attitudes that veterans bring to workplaces.
Veterans' Health Week | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Defence Personnel. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is continuing to support the...
My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Defence Personnel. Will the minister please update the House on how the Morrison government is continuing to support the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families, especially during Veterans' Health Week?
Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
It's a pleasure to rise to speak today on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020. I'm particularly pleased because I have some degree of experience, which I'll...
It's a pleasure to rise to speak today on the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020. I'm particularly pleased because I have some degree of experience, which I'll talk about shortly, in relation to the protection of critical infrastructure. I'm also greatly in favour of the concept of looking at what is most important and looking at ways to enhance protections around those critical pieces of infrastructure. Indeed, in the military, where I had my first career, when we plan operations, we look at our own forces and those of opposing forces and we look for critical capabilities. Then we look at what some of the critical vulnerabilities that sit below and enable those capabilities are. In the case of an enemy force, we look at how to target some of those vulnerabilities to, if you like, bring the house crumbling down. Equally, in our own interests, we look for our capabilities, what vulnerabilities we have and how we can provide protection against those vulnerabilities. So it's wonderful to see that the Morrison government is taking a similar, mature, methodical planning approach when looking at our national critical infrastructure. Indeed, this is the course that we must and will continue to take. In the last parliament, we passed the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 to identify and manage national security risks of espionage, sabotage and coercion resulting from foreign involvement in Australia's critical infrastructure. The reforms in this bill will apply to a range of owners and operators of critical infrastructure. It's worth taking a moment to classify what we mean by critical infrastructure. There are 11 different categories. As I name each category, I feel certain that listeners will absolutely identify with why it is that each of these categories has been defined as 'critical'. The categories are: communications; financial services and markets; data storage and processing; defence industry; higher education and research; energy; food and grocery; health care and medical; space technology; transport; and water and sewerage. Since we passed the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, new challenges have emerged. Indeed, on 1 July last year, our Prime Minister tabled and announced the 2020 Defence Strategic Update. What it painted was a picture of a degrading security environment, particularly within our Indo-Pacific region, and a large part of our response to our deteriorating security situation is looking at those vulnerabilities and how we can bolster their stability and security. Of particular concern is the increase that we have observed in the aggressive use of what's referred to as 'grey zone activities'. What we mean by 'grey zone activities' is that they sit somewhere beyond that threshold of illegality but short of actual military conflict. Some of the examples are interference operations, coercive use of trade and , of course, economic levers. We've seen those geo-economic levers used in an aggressive form against Australia. These activities, whilst they sit below the threshold of open conflict, certainly threaten stability and, indeed, sovereignty. Whilst these grey zone activities are certainly not new and have always existed on the spectrum of conflict, what we are seeing is an escalation in the use of these grey zone activities, including in Australia and within our region. Cyberwarfare is absolutely on the rise, and we can rightly refer to cyber as being a new battleground. In its Annual cyber threat report 2020-21 the Australian Cyber Security Centre noted that there were 67,500 reports of cybercrime. This reflects a 13 per cent increase on the previous year and equates, very worryingly, to a cyberattack here in Australia every eight minutes. This is indeed alarming. Throughout 2019 and during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic Australia's critical infrastructure sectors were regularly targeted by malicious cyberactors seeking both to exploit the victims of the attack and in many cases to gain profit. This totally disregards our communities and in some examples has led to material impacts. For example, during this period we've seen multiple regional hospitals having been the victims of cyberattacks, and this has resulted in the delayed delivery of health services, including surgery, to regional communities. A major national food wholesaler was also the victim of a cyberattack. This affected their systems and temporarily disrupted their ability to provide food during a time when there was unprecedented pressure on the food and grocery sector. There was also a water provider which had its control system encrypted by ransomware. Had that system not been restored quickly enough from backups that could well have disrupted the supply of potable water to a regional population hub. It could also have disrupted the agricultural activities which relied on that same water source. Attacks on our critical infrastructure require a joint response. They require government, business and individuals to operate in a coordinated fashion, and this indicates the interrelated nature of these risks. The new framework provided by these bills will enable government, industry and partners to defend Australia's national interests. It will require entities to adopt and maintain a risk-management program for critical infrastructure assets, and this will in turn bolster their resilience in the face of threats. I've had the opportunity to see firsthand some of the Australian operators of critical infrastructure and to work hand in hand with some of those operators. After leaving the Australian Regular Army I worked for most of the last 14 years as a risk, crisis and business continuity management specialist. This involved working with largely mining, oil and gas companies and helping to build their resilience. This involved taking teams and training them in incident and crisis response, working with all levels of management to train on a system of response and to empower those individuals who were managers within their own business to take the responsibility to lead others and to manage through responses. The last engagement I had was with Woodside Energy, a great Western Australian company and the operator of a whole range of oil and gas platforms offshore and processing facilities onshore. Dealing with hydrocarbons, particularly when they're under high pressure, is already a very high-risk environment. Add to that the reality that some of these facilities also take the form of those targetable critical vulnerabilities I mentioned earlier, and we have absolutely no option but to invest in the protection of those assets. In fact, some of the key themes in which these incident and crisis responders were trained and exercised came under the acronym PEARL, which stands for people, environment, asset, reputation and liability. The acronym makes them easy to remember. They are also prioritised. Of course, every organisation should and must look after their people first—their safety and their security. Of course, the environment, assets, reputation and liability also need a close degree of attention when we're looking to build that resilience. I also credit some other great organisations, like Rio Tinto Iron Ore and BHP Billiton, which I saw, over many years, dedicate a great deal of effort to building resilience. Not only do we look at the training of teams of individuals to be ready to respond; we also look at the investment in physical infrastructure—in safety response systems, fire management systems and the readiness and maintenance of those systems to provide that protection. I also had the opportunity to work with a number of organisations during live responses. That's where we see resilience really come to the fore, after the investment, over years, of training and equipment. I won't go into some of the specifics, but, needless to say, the readiness and resilience that was built up by companies like those I mentioned should be credited. It has paid off in spades already and will into the future. Through this bill, we can see how government is partnering with the investments that those businesses are making to protect the critical infrastructure upon which all Australians rely for our wellbeing and prosperity. On the financial services front, I also worked with some of our major financial institutions, our banks. This is where business continuity becomes really essential. Of course, banks take the responsibility for safeguarding our personal savings, but, as institutions, they also, importantly, enable cash flow for our businesses, whether they be small family businesses or large businesses. Essentially, our banks set the conditions that underpin economic confidence. For this reason, the processes of business continuity management remain absolutely essential, and I provide credit to our banks and to our regulators—which, obviously, this government takes a large degree of responsibility for—for maintaining the resilience of our financial institutions in the interests of us all. Entities will also now be required to report cybersecurity incidents to the Australian Signals Directorate, which will enable the latter to build a better picture of the threat environment surrounding Australia's critical infrastructure. This, in turn, will allow government to provide better advice and assistance to entities about how they can safeguard critical infrastructure. The public expects the Australian government will protect the nation if a cyberincident affects Australia's critical infrastructure and results in serious threats to Australia's interests. Even if a critical infrastructure entity is doing all it can to protect itself and the services that it provides, we recognise that there are some threats that are beyond the capabilities of critical infrastructure operators themselves to mitigate. That is why this bill also contains what I call 'last-resort powers', which can only be used in situations where an entity is unable or unwilling to respond to an incident. I note that this legislation has been developed through extensive consultation with industry, which is very welcome and will absolutely be continuing. As I conclude, I'll lean on the words the Prime Minister used when he launched the 2020 Defence Strategic Update. He said: The enduring responsibility of Government … is timeless—to protect Australia's national interest, our sovereignty, our values and the security of the Australian people. This bill does exactly that, and I commend it to the House.
Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2020; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
The very first role of government is to protect the safety and security of its citizens. As hard as it is to believe, it is a fact that there are those who are opposed to our way of life, our...
The very first role of government is to protect the safety and security of its citizens. As hard as it is to believe, it is a fact that there are those who are opposed to our way of life, our freedom and our values. Amongst that cohort are those who have the intent and the capability to do us harm. It is against those threats which this deal, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (High Risk Terrorist Offenders) Bill 2020, is directly aimed. This bill will ensure that our agencies have the powers that they need to respond to the evolving threat of terrorism, and this reflects, in turn, our government's absolute and steadfast commitment to the ongoing safety and security of all Australians. In the current security environment, having a range of tools to combat the evolving nature of terrorism is absolutely vital. Indeed, experience overseas has demonstrated that the continuing threat posed by extremists, including those who have already served sentences for terrorism offences, is very real. The 2019 London Bridge attack and the 2020 Streatham attack in the UK were carried out by convicted offenders, highlighting the continued need for effective prevention and risk-management measures to protect our communities. This bill enhances the safety and security of all Australians by creating extended supervision orders, or ESOs, and these will ensure that high-risk terrorist offenders can be appropriately managed in the community at the end of their custodial sentence. The Supreme Court will be able to impose an ESO for up to three years at a time if the court is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities and on the basis of admissible evidence, that the offender poses an unacceptable risk of committing a serious terrorism offence. The court will be able to impose any condition on an offender that it considers proportionate to the risk that the offender poses. This bill also provides agencies with the necessary tools to monitor compliance with these orders and to protect sensitive national security information and ESO proceedings. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has considered the bill and made 11 recommendations, 10 of which will be accepted in whole, in part or in principle by the government. The bill will establish an extended supervision order scheme for high-risk terrorist offenders who continue to pose an unacceptable risk to the community at the expiration of their custodial sentences. Having people subject to ongoing constraints and even restrictions following the completion of their judicial sentence is not something that is done lightly. It is obviously a principle of fairness that we need to be very considerate and very cautious in our use of such provisions. But, as other speakers before me have pointed out, our first role is to protect the safety and security of Australian citizens. Where those risks are real and imminent, we must continue to act. This will ensure that such offenders are subject to close supervision in proportion to the level of risk that they pose to community safety. That hinges on the flexibility that will be enabled by this bill, which I touched on earlier. Terrorist offenders are typically highly radicalised and often do not change their extremist views whilst in prison despite deradicalisation efforts. Such offenders continue to pose a high risk to the community following their release. Currently, there are two options for managing such offenders. The first is a continuing detention order under which a court may order that the person remain detained when they pose an unacceptable risk to the community and where that risk cannot be addressed through less restrictive measures. The second option is called a 'control order', and this allows conditions to be placed on a person whilst they are in the community. These orders, however, are not tailored for the post-sentence context as they allow only for a defined set of conditions and are issued by different courts to continuing detention orders. This then creates an issue of interoperability whereby the court considering an application for a continuing detention order is not able to impose conditions on the offender where it is not satisfied that a threshold for the continuing detention order is met. As identified by the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, there is a need for a tailored option for managing the risk posed by offenders who are released into the community where a continuing detention order is not made. By way of further overview of this bill, under an ESO the court may impose any conditions that it is satisfied are reasonably necessary and reasonably appropriate and adapted for the purpose of protecting the community from the unacceptable risk of the offender committing a serious terrorism offence. In creating ESOs the bill will broaden the range of measures available to address the risk of terrorism to the Australian community. The government has put in place robust legal frameworks to provide agencies with appropriate powers, including control orders, preventative detention orders and emergency stop, search and seizure powers. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has recently reported following its consideration of these powers and recommended that they be continued. This bill will add further to that framework with a measure that addresses the specific risks posed by convicted terrorist offenders. As we've seen from the recent terror attack in New Zealand and similar attacks in the United Kingdom, convicted terrorist offenders can pose a very real risk to our communities. Protecting the community from such risk remains our government's highest priority. There are of necessity some amendments that will be required to other related legislation, which I'll now touch on. The bill amends other legislation to support the effective implementation of the extended supervision order scheme. To ensure the compliance of an offender with the extended supervision order, the bill amends the Crimes Act 1914 to extend the existing regime of monitoring warrants for control orders to also include extended supervision orders and interim supervision orders. These amendments will allow law enforcement to monitor the compliance of an offender either with their consent or with a search warrant for their premises or person. Amendments to Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 will allow law enforcement to obtain warrants for electronic surveillance to monitor compliance with supervision orders and inform the minister's decision as to whether to apply for post-sentence orders. The bill also amends the international production order regime, which was introduced through the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (International Production Orders) Bill 2020, to allow for improved cross-border access to communications data for law enforcement agencies. These amendments will ensure that agencies are able to obtain international production orders for the purpose of monitoring compliance with extended supervision orders. The bill amends the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 to extend existing provisions which apply to control order proceedings, to allow the court to consider sensitive information in extended supervision order proceedings without that information being disclosed to the offender or their legal representative. This is important, because it will ensure that the process of applying for an extended supervision order does not inadvertently and harmfully reveal sensitive sources, which is of the utmost importance in custodial environments. To ensure that the offender receives a fair hearing, the bill extends the special advocate regime which is currently in place for control order proceedings. The bill expressly prohibits the court from considering court-only evidence in determining whether to make a continuing detention order, as is currently the case. Since this bill was introduced, in September 2020, the government has considered potential issues which may arise in the practical application of control orders and continuing detention orders. The government amendments to the bill would address those issues by, firstly, clarifying how control orders and extended supervision orders operate when a person is subject to immigration detention and other forms of custody, and, secondly, providing that control orders and extended supervision orders are the only measures that may be considered by a state or territory Supreme Court when deciding whether there is a measure less restrictive than a CDO that would be effective in preventing the offender's unacceptable risk of committing a serious part 5.3 offence. These amendments are necessary to ensure that these orders are as effective as possible in addressing the risk posed by terrorist offenders. The government amendments have been considered by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The government amendments also respond to recommendations made by the committee following its detailed consideration of the bill. The committee made a total of 11 recommendations, and the government has accepted 10 of those in part, in full or in principle. The bill, including the government amendments, has been approved by a majority of states and territories, in accordance with the Inter-Governmental Agreement on Counter-Terrorism Laws. In conclusion: this bill ensures that our agencies have the powers they need to respond to the evolving threat of terrorism, whilst also reflecting the Morrison government's absolute and ongoing commitment to the preservation of the safety and security of all Australians.
Defence Procurement | Adjournment | House debates
Our very first responsibility as a government is to keep Australians safe and to protect our way of life, our freedom and our values. As the Prime Minister said when he met with fellow world...
Our very first responsibility as a government is to keep Australians safe and to protect our way of life, our freedom and our values. As the Prime Minister said when he met with fellow world leaders in the US recently, 'No country is safe until we are all safe,' and this is why it's vital that we work together. So, just over one month ago, the historic AUKUS agreement was announced. This involves Australia's partnership with the UK and the US, and it is now going from strength to strength. The enhanced security partnership is a victory for friendship, freedom and security. It's founded on a shared belief in democratic freedoms for which we have fought side by side: human dignity, the rule of law, independence of sovereign nations, and the peaceful fellowship of nations. If COVID has highlighted anything, it is that our world is dramatically changing, particularly within our region, the Indo-Pacific. We're navigating through one of the most complex challenges in living memory, and it's more important now than ever that we engage with like-minded friends. Thanks to AUKUS, Australia will become the first nation in 70 years to acquire nuclear-powered submarine technology from the US, enabling us to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines right here in Australia. This capability will significantly enhance Australia's ability to deter threats and to uphold stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. We are reinforcing our focus on our own backyard and working to support the interests, security and prosperity of our Indo-Pacific family. Another project to come out of AUKUS which I'm extremely pleased about and which is a monumental win for WA defence industry is the installation of a large vessel dry berth. Essentially, that is a facility where you can float a ship in, close off the dock, drain the water and have the ship sitting on a dry berth. This will enable the build and maintenance of, firstly, those large naval surface combatant ships that Australia is investing in over the next decade and also the build and maintenance of civilian commercial vessels. Further to that, we will also be able to host allied naval vessels in this facility. Currently we have only one such facility, which was built way back towards the end of the Second World War and which is in Sydney. This new facility means that we'll have the ability to support a two-ocean based naval strategy, meaning that we can have, and support, the fleet of our naval ships in Western Australia. Further to this, this facility will involve around $1 billion in construction costs alone but will also provide the opportunity for jobs for generations to come. Indeed we've seen the facility in Sydney last for 75 years already, so we're looking at probably a 100-year lifespan for this facility. Under this partnership, Australia will also acquire additional long-range strike missile capability, and this will provide Australian strike effects with distance, precision and lethality across our air, land and maritime domains. But it doesn't stop there. Through AUKUS we will also collaborate to enhance our joint capabilities, focusing on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities, and all of this is on top of the $270 billion which this Morrison government is investing in defence capability over the next decade. Under the Force Structure Plan, the government will continue to acquire major capabilities. Of course this now includes at least those eight nuclear submarines that, as we've discussed, we will be acquiring, as well as nine Hunter class frigates, joint strike fighters, Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles and many other capabilities. These investments, hand in hand with AUKUS, will help build a sovereign industrial base that is internationally competitive, innovative and high-tech and will meet Australia's defence capability needs, creating jobs and skills today and into the future. The AUKUS partnership builds on Australia's significant network of other partnerships like ASEAN, Five Eyes, the Quad and the Pacific Islands Forum. It complements our existing investments and builds our presence in the Indo-Pacific. This historic partnership will bolster peace, stability and security for Australia and for our regional neighbours. House adjourned at 20:00
COVID-19: Defence Industry | Questions without Notice | House debates
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister please outline for the House how the Morrison government's national plan is critical to building the workforce that will be...
My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry. Will the minister please outline for the House how the Morrison government's national plan is critical to building the workforce that will be required to help deliver our $270 billion capability investment as we come back from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Australian Defence Force: Infrastructure | Statements by Members | House debates
Under the 2024 structure plan, the Morrison government is investing $270 billion in defence capability over the next decade. Sustainable naval shipbuilding will ensure our Navy is equipped to...
Under the 2024 structure plan, the Morrison government is investing $270 billion in defence capability over the next decade. Sustainable naval shipbuilding will ensure our Navy is equipped to meet the challenges that lie ahead. To support the anticipated build and sustainment of the new large hull vessels our Navy will require, we need an additional docking facility. Australia currently only has one such facility, the Captain Cook Graving Dock in Sydney, which was built during World War II. With the Indo-Pacific region heating up, Western Australia's position on the rim of the Indian Ocean gives us a natural strategy advantage for a large vessel dry berth at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson. This has strategic and economic benefits. It would support a two-ocean basing strategy for Navy. It would be able to support allied vessels as well as commercial vessels. It would provide opportunities for shipbuilders to complete bigger builds locally. And it would generate around $1 billion in construction activity alone, as well as jobs for generations of Western Australians to come over its approximately 100-year lifespan. If we in the west are going to advocate for defence projects that are innovative, strategically important and have long-term economic benefits, then we should focus our energy on securing a large vessel dry berth at Henderson.
Defence Legislation Amendment (Discipline Reform) Bill 2021; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
I acknowledge the member for Solomon and other veterans in this place. There has been some healthy discussion about this proposed legislation. As did the member for Solomon, I confess to having...
I acknowledge the member for Solomon and other veterans in this place. There has been some healthy discussion about this proposed legislation. As did the member for Solomon, I confess to having been at the receiving end of discipline during my military service. Thankfully, it was nothing serious, but it does highlight the point, and the very real fact as well, that there is a great deal of complexity at that middle tier of the disciplinary system. It's referred to as the subordinate summary authority, and it's incredibly complex. There has been some really well-informed debate and a summary of this proposed legislation, but I'll just give a little bit of a sense of what that complexity actually looks like. Basically, even whilst serving as an officer cadet at the very start of my career at a military university—and the member for Solomon touched on this as well—I was taught about the Defence Force Discipline Act. We were given it in volumes 1 and 2. They were huge volumes. If you needed a computer screen stand, they were ideal. If you had to reach something a bit high up, they were also good to stand on. But, sadly, we also had to actually understand quite a bit of the information contained in the Defence Force Discipline Act. Not only that, we had to perform the duties of prosecution and defence in a way that is very similar to and, of course, mirrored an actual court of law. So, even whilst we were undertaking military studies, physical training, drill, military history and the many other things which are required in training to become a junior officer, we were trained in a quasi-judicial process. For example, when somebody was the subject of discipline, we had to learn and practise to be a prosecuting officer. In this sense, we had to gather evidence and make sure that it was all appropriately registered ahead of the trial date. Then we had to go into a courtlike proceeding and act as if we were a prosecuting officer. At the same time, we also had to learn the skills of being a defending officer. Here our role was on the flip side, defending the case against the accused, gathering evidence, interrogating witnesses and, if the accused was found to be guilty, offering a plea in mitigation. This was the circumstance where we would request that a situation be taken into account and a sentence be more lenient. Some of these quite full-on court processes were conducted for what were quite minor infringements, things like staying out a bit too late if you were having a good time with your friends or fraternising in the accommodation lines. These are things which really did not require or justify that level of detailed preparation and conduct. Further in my career, as I progressed to being a middle-ranking officer—a major—I was then required to actually fill the role of the subordinate summary authority. I heard the member for Fisher, in his earlier contribution, mention that he had even heard reports of full mock trials being conducted before an accused is actually brought in. I can confirm for the member for Fisher, and others who may be interested, that that is exactly what we used to do. That's because the level of complexity was so high that if we did get something wrong and it was a breach of proper process then the entire thing could all be for naught. It would either have to be re-run or, if there had been a significant breach of process, the whole thing may have been thrown out when it eventually got to a legal officer for review. On that point of legal officers: we have legal officers, as we do education providers, pilots and many other specialist trades brought into Defence to provide their expertise so that we can let war fighters do what they need to do, which is to train, to fight and to win wars. This really is why I'm so supportive of this bill—it enables Defence to focus on its core business, which is getting prepared, training for operations and reinforcing all of the knowledge, skills and attitudes that need to be done at platoon, company and battle group levels and, of course, above that. This bill will introduce changes which maximise what is working well—in particular, for these disciplinary infringements. Typically, these have been applied at the senior NCO level—something like a warrant officer being able to liaise with somebody in their unit who has allegedly conducted a minor infringement and, if there is no objection, applying a disciplinary infringement which is basic in nature but which obviously matches, in many cases, the offence itself. So it's very sensible in that regard. It will result in a system that will be far easier to use and it will reduce unnecessary delays. This is important, because if somebody has a pending infringement hanging over them for months or, potentially, longer then it can impact, certainly, their morale and that of the rest of the unit, and their ability to attend promotional courses and other training activities as well. So it's really important that we get in and deal with infringements quickly when they occur. I'm sure that for those of us who have been out there in the world of business, or even in the Public Service, there are systems in place where feedback is provided and correctional courses of action taken. Of course that feedback needs to be timely to correct behaviour, if it has strayed off course, and to ensure that we maintain good behaviour and discipline in any organisation. We've heard from some other contributors—and I absolutely back them on this point—that discipline is an absolutely critical component of defence. In fact, when I was very new in my career I was surprised to learn that discipline is referred to as a critical element of morale. One might think that soldiers, sailors and air men and women, being let free to roam about and not well supervised, might be ideal. But the reality is that it actually breaks down unit cohesion and it breaks down the trust that is so essential, as it underpins the effectiveness of any military fighting force. That's why it's important that we introduce these reforms. As did the member for Fisher, I commend the minister for his handling of this legislation and his engagement with the committee—the coalition backbench committee on defence and veterans. It's been really pleasing to see this brought forward in such a professional manner. As has been commented upon by others during this debate, we can see that the reform measures will result in a military discipline system which is a great deal easier to use and to understand. This will reduce the delays that I spoke about earlier and be much fairer to all of those involved. It will allow commanders at all levels to more simply and quickly address poor behaviour, create the opportunity for early intervention and enable our Defence Force and personnel to keep providing their valuable service.
Australian Flag | Motions | House debates
I move: That this House: (1) recognises and celebrates the 120th anniversary of the Australian national flag which occurs on 3 September 2021; (2) honours the ideals for which our national flag...
I move: That this House: (1) recognises and celebrates the 120th anniversary of the Australian national flag which occurs on 3 September 2021; (2) honours the ideals for which our national flag stands including our history, geography and unity as a federated nation; (3) notes that this is the world's only national flag ever to fly over one entire continent; (4) acknowledges that our flag has been Australia's pre-eminent national symbol in times of adversity and war, peacetime and prosperity; (5) further recognises that our flag now belongs to the Australian people and has been an integral part of the expression of our national pride; and (6) expresses its respect for the Australian national flag as a symbol of our profound achievements as a federation, our independence and freedom as a people, and our optimism for a common future together. Later this week our nation, right across our wide brown land, will celebrate the 120th anniversary of the date that our Australian National Flag was first flown, on 3 September 1901, above the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, and for more than a century now our flag has been flying high, symbolising our pride and our national unity. However, it wasn't until 1996 that the then Governor-General proclaimed the first Australian National Flag Day. This year marks 25 years since that point and, again, we are getting prepared to celebrate our National Flag Day. It also gives us cause to reflect on the foundations of our federation. In doing so, I spent some time over the weekend reflecting on some of the papers of the Australasian constitutional conventions of the 1890s, which was made particularly easy, given the fact that we are in lockdown in Canberra. Blissfully, they're easily available on the parliamentary website. They paint a really fascinating picture. We see in those papers that, as I said, these conventions went throughout the 1890s. They were filled with passionate politicians who ended up being, obviously, some of the earliest leaders in our national parliament. In the papers, there's talk of telegrams, insults and division. In some ways we see many of those elements here still in the parliament, except that, rather than telegrams, we have Twitter. But the point here is that there was really passionate debate about trying to get our starting constitution as good as it could possibly be. It did take a decade get there, but it continues to serve us really well at this point in time. Above this building is Canberra's most iconic landmark. We see the Australian National Flag, which is the size of a double-decker bus, flying up there. Its apex is at the centre of Parliament House. It marks the intersection of the lawmaking axis, with the House of Representatives and the Senate both adjacent to the centre of the building. This provides us with a powerful symbol of Australia, representing our distinctive national identity. Like all flags around the world, the role of our flag is to help unify our nation, and it belongs to all citizens equally. It's also an opportunity for us to reflect on the meaning, the history and the heritage of flag itself. Our first Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. Sir Edmund Barton, back in 1901 launched a competition to design the new flag for the Commonwealth of Australia. There were 33,000 submissions. The winning five were almost identical, so they shared in the 200 pound prize money. The winning designs, as we know, symbolise our history, geography and unity. The Union Jack in the upper left corner represents the history of British settlement. Below it, the Federation star and its seven points represent the unity of the six states and territories. Finally, the constellation of the Southern Cross, five stars that can be seen only from the Southern Hemisphere, is a reminder of our geography. The five stars of the Southern Cross are also significant in Indigenous legends and remind us of our rich and precious Aboriginal and Torres Strait heritage. I also recognise the other official Australian flags, including the Australian Aboriginal Flag, the Torres Strait Islander Flag and the ensigns of the Australian Defence Force. Indeed, our flag has seen us through some of our most challenging times and some of our most significant. It's the national symbol under which we fought during wars, the ensign we fly at half-mast when commemorating Anzac Day and the emblem we wear on our shoulders when undertaking military operations. I, along with quite a number of members in this House—I think we are approaching about platoon strength now—have deployed in many places around the world, both on operations and training activities, and have very proudly represented Australia and our national interests. We have also just seen the Olympians and we are now seeing our Paralympians very proudly wearing our flag as a symbol of hope for our common future of continued independence, freedom and democracy.
Morrison Government | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
I rise to begin my comments by talking about cow farts. I know that may seem a little bit of an odd thing to talk about—I can see the quizzical look on your face there, Deputy Speaker...
I rise to begin my comments by talking about cow farts. I know that may seem a little bit of an odd thing to talk about—I can see the quizzical look on your face there, Deputy Speaker Wallace—but, firstly, it matches the rather pungent and stinky nature of this suggestion that the government is operating with something other than speed and accuracy. So back to these cows! There's an organisation called Sea Forest which has been working for a number of years now with the CSIRO. They've discovered that there's a special type of seaweed which, if added to feed for cattle, reduces the amount of methane they expel by 99 per cent. If this were in place in Australian industry on a large scale, it would be the equivalent of taking 100 million cars off the road—that's more than double the amount of cars which exist and are in use in Australia today. I know that the member for Braddon is cheering along here and seeing these great sorts of crossovers between environmentally friendly policies, the intelligence of world-leading scientists and, of course, our wonderful agriculture industry, of which the member for Braddon is a key sponsor. This also sits against our more general approach when we look at climate change. Here, again, it's a government with a very clear plan and very clear targets—targets which we're meeting. We met and in fact beat our 2020 target and are on track to meet our 2030 target—a target which those opposite have not even established. Our technology road map includes an investment of $20 billion in new and emerging technologies by 2030. There are some great stories in place already. We've seen a 20 per cent reduction in emissions, which is more than for New Zealand, Canada and the United States, and we've seen the highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world here in Australia. So there are some great things which we should celebrate and not denigrate—as those opposite too often do. I'll move on to something else that's a little bit stinky as well and mention fish. I mention fish because the sovereignty and security of fisheries in our Pacific region are something which our neighbours hold vitally dear, as do we ourselves. It's a surprisingly lucrative industry, particularly for our Pacific neighbours. Those fisheries are absolutely relied upon as the lifeblood of their economies and their societies. That's one of the reasons we're so committed to supporting the defence and sovereignty of our whole region. This ties into our defence budget. Whilst we saw Labor, those opposite, slash the defence budget to 1.56 per cent of GDP—the lowest level since before the Second World War—this government is increasing spending on defence by $270 billion over the next 10 years. The Guardian class patrol boats, which are being built by Austal, a wonderful Western Australian company, form an important element of the way in which we will support our regional Pacific brothers and sisters, to help ensure their own security and sovereignty over those fish stocks. I'll switch targets and expand a little more on our economic agenda. We're absolutely continuing to stimulate our economy. One of the elements of that program is the $110 billion which this government is investing in infrastructure right around the country. As we talk about the economy, and within the context of the pandemic, it's also important to acknowledge the great success of the JobKeeper program. Frankly, I'm sure that members on both sides of the House are like me and colleagues, who have had so many people come up to express appreciation for the JobKeeper program. So many in my electorate, like El Greco Cafe, Cordingley's Surf Shop and many other businesses, have said, 'Vince, this enabled us to keep our doors open,' and, indeed, it saved 3.8 million jobs. We also saw the cashflow boost—again, over 800,000 businesses and not-for-profits benefited there. The HomeBuilder program was initially labelled as a fizzer by those opposite—I think they hoped it would be! But of course it wasn't, with around $33 billion of activity now in the residential construction sector. (Time expired)