Matt Thistlethwaite's recent appearances (OpenAustralia.org)
type: channel
language: en-gb
creator: OpenAustralia.org, mprss.php script
date: 2026-02-05T22:05:59+00:00
items: Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
items: Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Gweagal Spears, Eastern Suburbs Football Association | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
items: Taxation | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
items: Community Services | Constituency Statements | House debates
items: Rearrangement | Business | House debates
items: Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025; Third Reading | Bills | House debates
items: National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Moscow Olympic Games: Australian Team | Statements on Indulgence | House debates
items: Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 | Statements | House debates
items: Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
items: Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024; Third Reading | Bills | House debates
items: Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
items: Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates

Bondi Beach Attack Victims | Condolences | House debates
type: item
description: After Michael and Valentina migrated to Australia from Ukraine, they wanted to choose the most Australian name they could for their firstborn child. The name they chose was Matilda. Matilda and...
encoded: After Michael and Valentina migrated to Australia from Ukraine, they wanted to choose the most Australian name they could for their firstborn child. The name they chose was Matilda. Matilda and her sister, Summer, were students at La Perouse Public School, where over half of the student population are Indigenous kids from the La Perouse Aboriginal community. That community welcomed and embraced Matilda, Summer and their family. They gave Matilda the name Wuri Wuri, which in the Dharawal language means sunshine. And what a ray of sunshine she was. Matilda was the youngest victims of the senseless antisemitic terrorist attack on the Jewish community at Bondi Beach on 14 December. I offer sincerest condolences and the love of our community to Michael, Valentina and Summer for the loss of your beautiful Matilda Bee. The last photo of Matilda is of a happy, smiling 10-year-old dancing amidst the bubbles, face painted, celebrating the start of school holidays and the first day of Hanukkah with her family on a picture-perfect day on Australia's most iconic beach. It represents the innocence and the tragedy of those who lost their lives that day. That photo of Matilda was taken by Peter Meagher, a distinguished, retired police detective and legend in the Randwick Rugby Club who was working capturing photos of the Chabad of Bondi Chanukah by the Sea event before his life was tragically cut short. Marzo was a man of integrity and service who volunteered with the Galloping Greens as a team manager, official and referee for decades. The guard of honour at his funeral from the NSW Police and the rugby community stretched the length of Sydney's College Street, a measure of our community's respect and affection for Peter. His wife, Virginia, and his brothers Greg, David, Andrew and Paul carry not only their grief but the love of the entire Randwick community. We honour the life of Alex Kleytman from Matraville, devoted husband of Larisa and father to two children and 11 grandchild…
date: 2026-01-19T10:35:00+00:00

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: Modern Australia is built on migration. The great economic advancements that we had in the wake of World War II were related to the 'populate or perish' policy that our immigration department and...
encoded: Modern Australia is built on migration. The great economic advancements that we had in the wake of World War II were related to the 'populate or perish' policy that our immigration department and Arthur Calwell delivered in those important years after the Second World War. Unfortunately, as a government, we're aware that too many migrants who are working in Australia have been exploited. They haven't received the correct wages and conditions that they are entitled to. Many unscrupulous employers have taken advantage of the power imbalance that exists between migrant worker and employer. Our government is determined to fix this and ensure that all Australian workers, including migrants, enjoy the full protection of the law and are paid a fair wage for a fair day's work. We're taking responsible action to fix the problems that we've inherited in this system from the previous government. We're restoring integrity to the system and working to bring migration back to sustainable levels, with a focus on skilled migration as a major part of the program. When we first came to government, we commissioned Martin Parkinson to review the country's migration system. It hadn't been done for decades, but we thought it was important to take stock of whether or not the migration system was delivering better living standards, greater productivity to our economy and, most importantly, better living conditions for migrants who come to Australia. Martin Parkinson found that the system was 'broken' and in need of 'major reform'. In the wake of that, we put together the Migration strategy to fix the problems that Martin Parkinson had identified, which had developed under the previous government. This bill that we bring to the parliament today is part of this process of fixing the issues that we inherited from the previous government, particularly those around combating migrant exploitation. The government have been clear about the need to bring migration back to normal and our actions are…
date: 2025-11-26T18:50:00+00:00

Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: Then don't.
encoded: Then don't.
date: 2025-11-26T18:35:00+00:00

Gweagal Spears, Eastern Suburbs Football Association | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: It was 254 years in the making, and the Gweagal spears have been returned to the La Perouse Aboriginal community. The four spears were taken by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks at the time of...
encoded: It was 254 years in the making, and the Gweagal spears have been returned to the La Perouse Aboriginal community. The four spears were taken by Captain Cook and Sir Joseph Banks at the time of first contact between the crew of the Endeavour and First Nations people of Kamay, or Botany Bay. They belong here in Australia on country, and I was delighted to join the local community for the premiere of the documentary film about the journey for the Gweagal spears from Cambridge university to Sydney at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. I'd like to acknowledge the great work of the Gujaga Foundation in helping to produce the return of the Gweagal spears documentary. The short film focuses on both the decades-long campaign by members of the La Perouse Aboriginal community and the experiences of the delegation of traditional owners who travelled to Cambridge for the hand-back ceremony. The delegation was make up of Noeleen Timbery, Ray Ingrey, Tristan Simms, David Johnson, Quaiden Williams Riley and Ash Walker. The film also captures the perspectives of representatives from the University of Cambridge, who received the Gweagal spears in 1770 and held them until their hand-back. The return of the spears is extremely important to the La Perouse Aboriginal community, but it's also important for Australia. It's a significant step forwards on the journey of reconciliation and towards finally telling the truth about what actually occurred when Captain Cook landed in Botany Bay. I was also proud to join the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Eastern Suburbs Football Association in Sydney recently. In 1925 the association, known as ESFA, was founded to create a place where people across our community could unite on the football pitch. What began with just a handful of local clubs has flourished into a thriving association boasting 24 member clubs and a record-high of over 10,000 registered players. Notable milestones include historic premiership wins, the expansion…
date: 2025-11-05T09:51:00+00:00

Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide | Statements on Significant Matters | House debates
type: item
description: On the one-year anniversary of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's final report, I wish to pay tribute to the families of those who lost their lives in the service of our...
encoded: On the one-year anniversary of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's final report, I wish to pay tribute to the families of those who lost their lives in the service of our nation and to veterans for their commitment to putting on the agenda the plight of those who served our nation and unfortunately took their own lives. Those that campaigned for the royal commission deserve our recognition today. We, of course, remember all of those who have passed, and we think about their loved ones. There's an expectation from the Australian community that we look after our Defence Force members and veterans, but, for too long, that wasn't the reality. We were tasked by the royal commission with effecting once-in-a-generation cultural change and reform, and our government has been working at pace to implement the royal commission's recommendations that will ensure the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture that support Defence Force personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia. We're doing this not only because it's the right thing to do but because our Defence Force personnel and veterans have risked their lives in the defence of our nation and deserve better. It's also a crucial component of building a defence force that people want to join, want to serve in and want to stay in. We've already legislated for the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission, an independent oversight body that the royal commission deemed their most important recommendation. That will be formally up and running later this month. Where changes were able to be made immediately, we've done so. Our priority is to improve the wellbeing of our people from the day they sign up to long after they've hung up their uniform for the last time. We want to strengthen suicide prevention and drive better outcomes for current and former serving personnel, making sure we're supporting them in ways they not only need but deserve. I'd like to outline some of …
date: 2025-09-04T12:09:00+00:00

Taxation | Matters of Public Importance | House debates
type: item
description: The obligation that we have as members of parliament is to ensure that we deliver better living standards for our kids and generations to come. That is our goal, and that is what we work towards...
encoded: The obligation that we have as members of parliament is to ensure that we deliver better living standards for our kids and generations to come. That is our goal, and that is what we work towards every day as a government. But, over the last decade, that commitment and promise to the next generation has been under threat. Young Australians are facing increasing pressure from the cost of housing, they've inherited a massive debt from the previous coalition government in the wake of COVID, and the threat of climate change is eroding their quality of life. We have an ageing population, which means there are more people in our economy and our society who require aged care, the NDIS and hospital and health services. That is putting an impost on the budget and, at same time, reducing the same number of taxpayers that are actually paying tax to fund those services. This is putting pressure on the welfare of younger generations of Australians. But this is something that our government is committed to addressing. We are acting to ensure that we make our taxation and welfare systems much fairer to produce more equitable outcomes for future generations. We're putting in place those policies to ensure greater intergenerational equity through our taxation system to ensure our children inherit a better quality of life through a fairer tax system, a more affordable housing market, a clean and safe environment through stronger action on climate change, a sustainable budget position and an affordable and fairer education system. Making the taxation system fairer, particularly the income tax system, is one of the priorities of our government. It was the principal policy that we took to last election. During our last term in office, we reduced the rate of income tax on all Australians to ensure that the tax system was fairer. We're following that up with two further income tax cuts—one this year and one next year, which will see the rate of taxation on the minimum level income threshol…
date: 2025-09-03T15:14:00+00:00

Community Services | Constituency Statements | House debates
type: item
description: It's been a tough week for police officers throughout the country, and we pay tribute to and offer commiserations to the families of the two police officers tragically killed in Victoria last...
encoded: It's been a tough week for police officers throughout the country, and we pay tribute to and offer commiserations to the families of the two police officers tragically killed in Victoria last week. That's why I want to highlight the great work of the Eastern Beaches Police Area Command in the area that I represent. They recently held their Police Area Command Awards to recognise and pay tribute to the great work of police throughout the country, particularly our local area command, who do their utmost to keep our community safe every year. Sharing the special evening were the Central Metropolitan Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna, and Detective Superintendent Paul Simpkins. The focus was on supporting police officers at every level. I want to congratulate Constable Luke Noakes for earning the 'Cop's Cop' award, as judged by his peers—a true testament to his commitment and the respect he has earned from them. I also congratulate Detective Sergeant Ryan Booker, who won the award for Leadership in Community Safety. I'd also like to extend heartfelt thanks to all our local police, who do a wonderful job, day in, day out, keeping our communities safe. They often encounter people at their lowest moments. The mental and emotional toll of their job cannot be overstated. Australians expect much from our police, asking them to be brave, fair and calm no matter the situation. Behind each officer is a support network of family and colleagues. We honour both those serving and those who've lost their lives in the line of duty. If you see a local police officer in your community, please take a moment, particularly at the moment, to thank them for their work. I was recently honoured to join Kingsford Smith local legend Con Theocharides for a night of volunteering with his organisation A Touch of Kindness in Sydney's Martin Place. Started by Con in 2022, A Touch of Kindness brings together community groups and volunteers to provide food and support for those w…
date: 2025-09-02T16:38:00+00:00

Rearrangement | Business | House debates
type: item
description: I move: That order No. 3, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
encoded: I move: That order No. 3, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day. Question agreed to.
date: 2025-08-28T10:48:00+00:00

Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2025; Third Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
encoded: by leave—I move: That this bill be now read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
date: 2025-08-28T10:47:00+00:00

National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: The laser-like focus of the Albanese government over the past three years has been on providing cost-of-living relief for all Australians, and this National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines)...
encoded: The laser-like focus of the Albanese government over the past three years has been on providing cost-of-living relief for all Australians, and this National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 delivers on a commitment that we made, in the lead-up to the last election, to make medicines even cheaper for all Australians. We know that, for many, the cost of health care can be a big impost on their household budget, and this bill is designed to ensure that, in particular, pensioners, seniors and people with chronic health conditions get the support that they deserve from the government with the cost of their medication. We already slashed the cost of medicines with, in 2023, the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS. We're now going even further with this bill. The National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025 will mean prescriptions on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or the PBS, will cost Australians no more than $25 from 1 January next year. This is a more than 20 per cent cut to the maximum cost of PBS medicines, which will save Australians over $200 million each year. The last time that PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was back in 2004—21 years ago. It means that pensioners and concession card holders will continue to benefit from the freeze to the cost of PBS medicines, with the cost frozen at a level of $7.70 until 2030. That's another key cost-of-living measure delivered by the Albanese government. I mentioned earlier that our focus has been on the cost of living, but it's also been to support all Australians—not some Australians but all Australians. If you're a worker, you benefited from a tax cut and the energy bill rebate. If you're a student, you benefited from the cuts to HECS, the introduction of a prac payment, fee-free TAFE and other supports. If you're a pensioner or a senior in our community, you're benefitting from this as well as the energy bill relief that was provided by the rebate. Making medicin…
date: 2025-08-27T11:54:00+00:00

Moscow Olympic Games: Australian Team | Statements on Indulgence | House debates
type: item
description: 'Gold, gold to Australia!'—the member for Wannon remembers it! Since that time, every athlete that competes at the Olympics for Australia hopes to hear those iconic words being called in...
encoded: 'Gold, gold to Australia!'—the member for Wannon remembers it! Since that time, every athlete that competes at the Olympics for Australia hopes to hear those iconic words being called in their race. That team gave that moment to us, to our nation and to every Olympic athlete after that, and for that we truly thank them. I reckon the best time I've ever experienced as an Australian, and the proudest that I've ever been, was during the Sydney Olympics. The feeling and the buzz around Sydney at the time was unbelievable. Everyone had a smile on their face and everyone was proud to be Australian because the world had been invited to that spectacle of the Olympics, and Australia had done such a good job in putting it together. I imagine it would have been the same in 1956, as it will be in 2032 in Brisbane. The Olympics is humanity at its best, and that is something that should be celebrated and that we should be very proud of. Those Olympians we paid tribute to yesterday, and the fact that they came to Canberra with no bitterness, no animosity and no regret, symbolise that Olympic spirit, and that is something that they should be very, very proud of. That is why it was appropriate that we, as a government, as a nation, welcomed them home finally after 45 years and said: 'Thank you. Thank you for representing Australia with pride and distinction. Thank you for being proud Australians and thank you for continuing the Olympic dream.'
date: 2025-07-31T10:30:00+00:00

Moscow Olympic Games: Australian Team | Statements on Indulgence | House debates
type: item
description: I grew up in Maroubra. Like every kid growing up in Maroubra in the seventies and eighties, I learned to surf and swim. When I was swimming at Heffron Pool, the people that I idolised as a kid...
encoded: I grew up in Maroubra. Like every kid growing up in Maroubra in the seventies and eighties, I learned to surf and swim. When I was swimming at Heffron Pool, the people that I idolised as a kid were a few lanes down, swimming under the tutelage of the great John Rodgers—the likes of Max Metzker, Ron McKeon, Graeme Brewer, Michelle Ford and Trevor Cracknell. I saw the gruelling sets they used to get put through by JR and how hard they trained for that one shot at representing their nation in the pinnacle of sport, the Olympics. I imagine it's the same for every Olympian in every sport they train for, day after day, month after month, year after year, waiting for the opportunity to fulfil their dream of representing their country at the Olympics. For the 1980 team, to have that dream ripped away would have been heartbreaking and harrowing, particularly in circumstances beyond their control. In an unfair manner, sportspeople were asked to undertake a boycott but in other facets of society, most notably in the economy, we still continued to trade with Russia. It was fitting that those 1980 Olympians were welcomed home yesterday by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition here in the parliament. We thanked them for coming to Canberra, we thanked them for coming to parliament and, most importantly, we thanked them for representing our nation with pride and distinction at the 1980 Olympics. It was a tribute to their courage, to their conviction and to their hard work in representing Australia at that time. That team gave Australia one of its greatest Olympic moments ever. Who could ever forget those iconic words of Norman May in calling the men's 4x100 medley relay; he uttered those immortal words—
date: 2025-07-31T10:30:00+00:00

Pacific Banking Guarantee Bill 2025; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: As a Pacific nation, Australia is a partner that the region can count on. We share an ocean and we also share a future. Australia is committed to supporting our regional neighbours, listening to...
encoded: As a Pacific nation, Australia is a partner that the region can count on. We share an ocean and we also share a future. Australia is committed to supporting our regional neighbours, listening to Pacific priorities and delivering on our collective interests. Together, we're building a stronger Pacific family, upholding our common values so we can all make our own decisions as strong sovereign nations, free to grow and to live together peacefully. Our region is stronger together, and we're counting on each other to support the aspirations and wellbeing of our people. These are messages that came through in the trip that myself and the Foreign minister made recently, when we travelled to Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. It was my first trip as the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and it was a deliberate decision to go to the Pacific to reinforce the importance of that relationship to Australia and to demonstrate to our neighbours and friends how important the Pacific family is to Australia and how we understand the challenges that they are facing, particularly the challenge of dealing with climate change, which is an existential threat to many of those nations. As the Pacific's largest and most comprehensive development partner, our investments are designed to deliver transformative change to improve the lives and livelihoods of all Pacific peoples. As the largest trading partner of many Pacific nations, we're supporting growing markets by reducing the barriers to trade and partnering with local businesses while continuing more than 40 years of tariff-free access into Australia. It was a point that we made on that trip, given what is going on in the international trading environment at the moment. It's having a dramatic effect on many Pacific nations. Some of those Pacific nations do have access into larger markets like the United States and are now facing tariffs on the products that they export to those markets. And, for a small island nation with a limited …
date: 2025-07-30T16:50:00+00:00

Universities Accord (Cutting Student Debt by 20 Per Cent) Bill 2025 | Statements | House debates
type: item
description: If there's one group of Australians that have had the rough end of the pineapple when it comes to the cost of living, it's young people. They've had increases in rent, increases in student debts...
encoded: If there's one group of Australians that have had the rough end of the pineapple when it comes to the cost of living, it's young people. They've had increases in rent, increases in student debts and increases in their general cost-of-living expenses like every other Australian and they've really been struggling. That was the message that came through in the last period of the former parliament and, indeed, in the first period of this parliament. That's why the Albanese government reacted and put in place that commitment to reduce student debts by 20 per cent if we were elected and to make it a priority of this government upon returning to office. I'm proud that this Universities Accord bill will provide that real relief for millions of Australians. Many of them are younger Australians—who we've listened to—and we're now taking action by cutting their student debts by 20 per cent. It's a promise that we made in the election and we're now delivering it as a priority for this government. It will be the first piece of legislation that will pass this parliament. We know that the cost of living is important to Australians. That's why the major focus of our election policies was cost-of-living relief. This bill does just that, helping to wipe more than $16 billion in debt for more than three million Australians. We know that getting an education shouldn't mean a lifetime of debt. We also know that the coalition opposed this measure in the election campaign. I'm pleased to see that they've changed their mind, but they did call it 'terrible' and 'unfair'. But the Australian people made it clear on 3 May that they wanted cost-of-living support, and many parents wanted it for their kids. They want to ensure that their kids get access to education and that that education is affordable. This is what this bill does. We saw large increases in indexation associated with student debts in the wake of COVID because of the inflation spike that occurred throughout the world. That result…
date: 2025-07-29T19:12:00+00:00

Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
type: item
description: On the eve of the recent election campaign, I met a public school teacher who teaches at a local primary public school. She was at a meeting with some fellow teachers who were meeting with me and...
encoded: On the eve of the recent election campaign, I met a public school teacher who teaches at a local primary public school. She was at a meeting with some fellow teachers who were meeting with me and the New South Wales Teachers Federation. This teacher was in tears. She was at wits' end and frustrated by the fact that she teaches kids in a range of age groups with disabilities yet the facilities she's teaching in are outdated, are old and, importantly, don't have air conditioning. That means during the hot summer months, when this classroom is under the flight path of planes associated with Sydney Airport, they can't open the windows and get proper ventilation. The toilets in the school were constructed in the 1970s and haven't changed. These are the conditions the teachers at a local public school were working under. Around the same time a well-known Sydney private school was opening a new Scottish-style baronial castle, built on the school grounds, that cost $60 million. I don't begrudge private schools providing better facilities for their students. Their parents pay hefty fees and deserve a quality education and facilities for their children. But when a local public school, which cannot knock back kids with disabilities, where the teachers are giving their all to try and provide those kids a decent education, can't fund air conditioning to keep teachers and students cool in summer, then something is drastically wrong with our education system—and there has been wrong. The public education system in Australia has not been up to scratch for well over a decade now. The report by David Gonski on the deficiencies in our public education system was handed to the Gillard government in 2012. I was quite proud that during this election campaign the Albanese Labor government finally committed to properly funding our public schools. It has only taken 13 years, but finally we are getting there. It shouldn't take 13 years. Quality education should be a basic principle that Aust…
date: 2025-07-28T17:59:00+00:00

Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
type: item
description: It's not a patch on Maroubra.
encoded: It's not a patch on Maroubra.
date: 2025-07-23T19:08:00+00:00

Address-in-Reply | Governor-General's Speech | House debates
type: item
description: Good surf!
encoded: Good surf!
date: 2025-07-23T19:08:00+00:00

Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024; Third Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: by leave—I move: That this bill now be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
encoded: by leave—I move: That this bill now be read a third time. Question agreed to. Bill read a third time.
date: 2025-03-25T12:56:00+00:00

Transport Security Amendment (Security of Australia's Transport Sector) Bill 2024; Consideration in Detail | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I present the supplementary explanatory memorandum of the bill, and I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (9) together. Leave is granted. I move government amendments (1)...
encoded: I present the supplementary explanatory memorandum of the bill, and I ask leave of the House to move government amendments (1) to (9) together. Leave is granted. I move government amendments (1) to (9) as circulated together: SHEET AP102 (1) Schedule 1, item 5, page 8 (line 20), omit the penalty, substitute: Penalty: 300 penalty units. (2) Schedule 1, item 5, page 9 (line 1), omit the penalty, substitute: Penalty: 300 penalty units. (3) Schedule 1, item 7, page 9 (line 28), omit the penalty, substitute: Penalty: 300 penalty units. (4) Schedule 1, item 7, page 10 (line 9), omit the penalty, substitute: Penalty: 300 penalty units. (5) Schedule 1, item 28, page 20 (after line 11), at the end of subsection 171(5), add: Penalty: 200 penalty units. (6) Schedule 1, item 59, page 35 (lines 17 and 18), omit "200 penalty units", substitute "300 penalty units". (7) Schedule 3, page 85 (after line 8), after item 25, insert: 25A After section 69 Insert: 69A Notification of special security directions (1) The Secretary must, as soon as reasonably practicable after giving a special security direction, notify the Minister, in writing, of: (a) the giving of the direction; and (b) the terms of the direction. (2) Failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of the direction. (8) Schedule 3, page 86 (after line 11), after item 29, insert: 29A Before section 37 Insert: 36B Notification of security directions (1) The Secretary must, as soon as reasonably practicable after giving a security direction, notify the Minister, in writing, of: (a) the giving of the direction; and (b) the terms of the direction. (2) Failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of the direction. (9) Schedule 3, page 90 (after line 30), at the end of the Schedule, add: Part 7 — Increased penalties Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 39 Subsections 13(1) and 14(1) (penalty) Omit "200 penalty units", substitute "300 penalty units". 40 Paragraphs 35(3)(a), 36(3)(a), 36A(3)(a),…
date: 2025-03-25T12:53:00+00:00

Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill 2024; Second Reading | Bills | House debates
type: item
description: I want to thank all the members who've contributed to this debate on the Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill. It is an important reform. Silicosis is an...
encoded: I want to thank all the members who've contributed to this debate on the Customs Amendment (Expedited Seizure and Disposal of Engineered Stone) Bill. It is an important reform. Silicosis is an insidious disease, and people who contract it, unfortunately, can have their lung capacity reduced over time and die a very long, slow death. We know that engineered-stone products, when handled in the wrong way, can result in the people working with them contracting silicosis and other diseases. That's why the government has taken this action to strengthen the legislative framework for engineered stone—in order to protect workers from the health risks associated with it. We're determined to put in place mechanisms to prevent workers from being exposed to respirable crystalline silica, which, when inhaled, can cause fatal lung disease and other chronic illnesses, like silicosis. A key element of achieving this is inclusion of engineered stone as a prohibited import under customs' regulations, and the prohibited imports regulations came into effect on 1 January 2025. The measures in this bill will support the import prohibition, providing for the expedited seizure and disposal of engineered-stone products seized at the border and enhancing the operational effectiveness of the import prohibition. The management of seized engineered-stone products at the border presents significant logistical challenges for Border Force, particularly in terms of storage and transport of this bulk good, so the measures in this bill are essential to provide a mechanism to allow Australian Border Force officials to effectively administer seized engineered-stone products at the border. With the passage of this bill, I'm pleased to say that Australian workers and their families will be a step closer to being protected from significant harms caused by working with engineered stone. I commend the bill. Debate adjourned.
date: 2025-02-12T11:24:00+00:00