31st Parliament · 1st Session
The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Condor Laucke) took the chair at 2.30 p.m., and read prayers.
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– by leave- I inform the Senate that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs (Mr Adermann) left Australia on 6 October to lead the Australian delegation to the 18th South Pacific Conference in Noumea. He is expected to return on 12 October. During his absence the Minister for Construction (Mr McLeay ) is Acting Minister for Veterans ‘ Affairs.
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– by leave- Honourable senators will recall that near the end of the last sittings I outlined the intended plan for Government Business. I think that honourable senators found this helpful in arranging their commitments. Accordingly, it may be equally helpful for honourable senators to be aware of the legislation associated with the Budget planned for the next few weeks. Budgetary measures were outlined in the speech of the Treasurer (Mr Howard) on 15 August. Consideration of the necessary legislation in the House of Representatives is being geared towards provision of the Appropriation Bills to the Senate by late October, before the Senate Estimates Committees are expected to report. Other legislation associated with the Budget will be available for debate in the Senate during this week and the next two weeks.
In particular, the Government considers it essential for the package of income tax Bills to be passed this week, with the social services Bills and health Bills being available for passage next week and the week after. Honourable senators will be aware that these measures are to come into effect on 1 November and there are necessary administrative matters to be settled before then. It is not our desire to restrict reasonable debate on these Bills as, indeed, no restrictions have been suggested on the various first reading debates or the debate on the Budget Papers which already have taken place in the Senate. Nevertheless, the program will be tight and will require the co-operation of all honourable senators.
Therefore, we are looking particularly to the passage of the five income tax Bills this week.
These Bills are the Income Tax Assessment Amendment Bill (No. 2), the Income Tax (Rates) Amendment Bill, the Income Tax (Individuals) Bill, the Income Tax (Companies and Superannuation Funds) Bill and the Health Insurance Levy Bill. If additional time is required for debate I suggest that we consider delaying the meeting times for Estimates Committees D, E and F until after 4 p.m. on Thursday. This would allow, in effect, the whole of Wednesday and part of Thursday for the debate on the Bills. This would seem to be the best way of gaining extra time if it should become necessary. I seek the co-operation of honourable senators in that endeavour.
– by leave- The proposition put forward by the Leader of the Government in the Senate (Senator Carrick) is not an unreasonable one. The Opposition appreciates the need for the Government to get the income tax Bills through tomorrow, although if need be we can extend the debate into Thursday and delay the sitting of the Estimates Committees until Thursday afternoon. I dare say that we will need to do that. I am concerned that the Minister has said that there is no intention to restrict debate on the income tax Bills especially, not that I imagine for one moment that those Bills will have the slightest impact on getting the Government out of the mess in which it finds itself in regard to the economy. Nevertheless, by the time the Victorian State election comes around some impact might have been made.
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-(New South WalesLeader of the Government in the Senate)- Mr President, it is with deep regret that I inform the Senate of the death on 29 September 1 978 of His Holiness Pope John Paul 1. 1 seek leave to move a motion of condolence.
Leave granted.
-I move:
It was with deep shock that we heard last month of the death of Pope John Paul. Elected to the papacy on 26 August, his reign was tragically brief. No pontiff in modern times had so short a tenure. In that lies a very human tragedy, that of a man chosen for his Church’s highest office but who almost in the same hour was taken from it. Yet, even in such a short time, Pope John Paul had been able to make a strong impression, winning widespread affection with his simple, selfeffacing style.
Pope John Paul was a humble man who came from a poor family. In the years that followed his ordination in 1935, he rose to bishop, archbishop, cardinal and finally Pope. During this period he displayed a capacity for reasonableness and moderation. He also eschewed ostentation and much of the pomp and ceremony of ecclesiastical office. On being elected Pope, he chose to have a simple ceremony for his investiture in St Peters Square. Pope John Paul’s entire ecclesiastical life was spent in northern Italy. But his was no narrow experience. As Archbishop of Venice his diocese included not only this historic and beautiful city, but also the highly industrialised area of Mestre. One of his strengths, which was undoubtedly a factor in his being chosen to succeed Pope Paul, was his involvement in pastoral work including the daily round of visits to the sick, to schools, factories and seminaries. Another factor may have been his outgoing, warm-heartedness. Pope John Paul combined an unassuming manner with infectious good humour.
Although Pope John Paul had displayed an attachment to orthodoxy, he was prepared to travel down the road of moderate reform opened by the second Vatican Council. He showed deep concern for the poor and the under-privileged. He saw the need for social change and symbolised this by his own personal actions. He was a man of decision tempered by good-humoured tolerance, a man of austerity but with considerable personal charm, a literate man but one able to communicate simply and directly with all peoples. His untimely death will be a loss to both his church and to mankind.
– On behalf of the Opposition I indicate that we wish to associate ourselves with the condolence motion moved by the Leader of the Government (Senator Carrick). The Pope’s death after only 34 days in office came as a great shock to the world, not only to the vast multitude of Catholics around the world but also to those who followed with interest his recent election at the Conclave of Cardinals.
All the portents were that Cardinal Luciani would become a great spiritual man whose dedication and insights would enable him to lead the Catholic Church in an extremely difficult time in world affairs. His open and amiable personality led to an immediate and positive response from the world community. I think I am correct in saying that his informality- indeed his smiling face on the balcony of St. Peters in Rome after his election- elicited an extremely favourable response around the world.
There may be those who believed that he would be a great pastoral figure and the fact that he chose a combination of the names of his two predecessors was an indication of his depth of feeling and hope for his flock. The time has been so short that judgment by non-Catholics, and probably most Catholics, is impossible. I am sure that we all hope that a man of the same qualities and with the same commitment will replace this great man.
-It is only a short time ago that I spoke here on behalf of the group within the Parliament known as the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship to express regret at the death of Pope Paul VI. It is with an equal sense of regret that, in the same capacity, I refer to the death of Pope John Paul and convey our sympathy and remembrance to those who looked to him for their denominational leadership. Although he had been Pope for a mere 33 or 34 days, he had brought to that office a warmth and renewed vitality that was a great hope for the future of his widespread branch of the Christian Church in all its different denominations and affilitations. It will now be a difficult task for the leaders of that Church to consider and elect a successor who might be able to continue in that renewed hope and vitality which Pope John Paul had fostered. The task is enormous and we wish the leaders of the Church well as they meet to elect a successor. The role of the head of the Roman Catholic Church not only carries a responsibility to the Church but also has widespread ramifications for all that is involved in international affairs. As President of the group within the Parliament I express my condolence and remembrance to those people affected and wish the denomination well as it meets to elect a successor.
Question resolved in the affirmative, honourable senators standing in their places.
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– On behalf of Senator Robertson, I present the following petition from 483 citizens of Australia:
The President and Members of the Senate in Parliament Assembled. The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth.
That we are gravely concerned over the extreme weakness shown by our Prime Minister and his Government in his handling of the uranium mining situation in the Northern Territory.
While the Parliament allows a small group. of antigovernment advisers to Aboriginal organisations to delay the commencement of mining, the great majority of citizens and business people are being caused financial loss, and being denied the right to participate in a legitimate business.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that permission be given- and not again withdrawn- for mining to commence immediately.
Petition received and read.
– I present the following petition from 4,387 citizens of Australia:
The President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the Undersigned Citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:
That we are gravely concerned over the extreme weakness shown by our Prime Minister and his Government in his handling of the uranium mining situation in the Northern Territory.
While the Parliament allows a small group of antigovernment advisers to Aboriginal organisations to delay the commencement of mining the great majority of Citizens and business people are being caused financial loss, and being denied the right to participate in a legitimate business.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that permission be given- and not again withdrawn- for mining to commence immediately.
Petition received.
– Petitions have been lodged for presentation as follows:
The Honourable the President and members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The petition of the Victorian Federation of State School Parents ‘ Clubs respectfully showeth:
That as citizens of Victoria and parents of State school children, we are most concerned that the quality of education available in our school be of the highest possible standard.
We believe that this can only be achieved if adequate Federal funds are provided. The recently announced policy of direct cuts to Government schools for 1979 must have an adverse effect on them.
Your Petitioners most humbly pray that the Senate, in Parliament assembled should arrange for:
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Lewis, Senator Button, Senator Hamer, Senator Guilfoyle and Senator Webster.
Petitions received.
Radio Station 3CR, Melbourne
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled, the Petition of the undersigned respectfully showeth:
That Radio 3CR Melbourne, be made to adhere to the required standards of broadcasting, as laid down for all other radio stations.
The petitioners request that the Federal Government and broadcasting tribunal should enforce the required standard of broadcasting as laid down for all other stations, on community radio 3CR call on Federal Government to legislate against incitement to racial hatred and violence.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, by Senator Hamer.
Petition received.
To the Honourable, the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:
That the provision of payments for abortion through items of the Medical Benefits Schedule is an unacceptable endorsement of abortion which has now reached the levels of a national tragedy with at least 60,000 unborn babies being killed in 1977.
Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government will so amend the Medical Benfits Schedule as to preclude the payment of any benefit for abortion.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Hamer, Senator Missen, Senator Button, Senator Webster, Senator Chipp, Senator Guilfoyle, Senator Evans and Senator Jessop.
Petitions received.
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled, the petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth: objection to the Metric system and request the Government to restore the Imperial system.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, by Senator Missen.
Petition received.
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned respectfully showeth:
That Item 6469 of the standard Medical Benefits Table is the means by which payment is made for the slaughter of thousands of unborn babies every year.
Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that the Government should ensure that Item 6469 is removed from the standard Medical Benefits Table.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, by Senator Guilfoyle.
Petition received.
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate assembled the petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:
That the people of Australia having taken part in the government of Australia through universal suffrage in December 1975 and again in December 1977 and that on the basis of their expressed choice at the ballot box the people of Australia gave authority to the LiberalNational Country Party Coalition to form a federal government to bring into affect specific policies promulgated throughout the length and breadth of Australia by the said Coalition and that, whereas by virtue of being elected through universal suffrage, the Government Members now sitting in the House of Representatives were authorised to implement their stated objectives by legislation and that such authority did not extend to acting otherwise or to enact legislation not previously submitted to the will of the people, namely:
Revoking the legislation for twice-yearly pension payments.
Imposing a freeze on the free-of-means-test pension.
Unemployed divided into those with dependents and those without.
Imposing income tax on pensions under age pension ageinvalid and repatriation service pensions; rehabilitation allowances and incentives; sheltered employment and allowances for tuberculosis sufferers (civilian and service) and any other impositions.
Your petitioners submit that all or any of the foregoing proposed legislation of the Lower House, if implemented, will greatly disadvantage many thousands of citizens as either against their expressed will or not submitted to universal vote as the democratic right of the Australian people, therefore,
Your petitioners call on the Senate as the House of Review to take appropriate action to release these persons from burdens unfairly placed in order to finance a deficit not of their making.
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Hamer, Senator Jessop, Senator Missen, Senator Button, Senator Lewis and Senator Guilfoyle.
Petitions received.
To the Honourable the President and Members of the Senate in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia respectfully showeth:
That whereas the Fraser Government was elected in December 197S after promising that pensions would be adjusted instantly and automatically in relation to quarterly Consumer Price Index figures; and whereas that Government subsequently announced that pension adjustments should properly be made half yearly each May and November; it is the current intention of the same Government to legislate for pensions to be adjusted only once a year, and this constitutes a serious breach of generally accepted ethics of democratic government and also deprives many needy pensioners of increases that are essential to their subsistence.
The foregoing facts impel the undersigned Petitioners to request the Australian Government to uphold the principle that the trustworthiness of governments should at all times be above question, and to appeal to the Parliament to prevent the imposition of further economic hardship upon Australian pensioners by rejecting any Bill which has for its aim the introduction of annual adjustments of pension rates.
And Your Petitioners in duty bound will ever pray. by Senator Peter Baume, Senator Jessop, Senator Scott, Senator Knight, Senator Puplick, Senator Guilfoyle and Senator Carrick.
Petitions received.
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– I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:
That the Termination of Pregnancy Ordinance 1978, as contained in Australian Capital Territory Ordinance No. 16 of 1 978, and made under the Seat of Government (Administration ) Act 1 9 1 0, be disallowed.
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– I give notice that, six sitting days after today, I shall move:
That Regulation 4 of the Historic Shipwrecks Regulations, as contained in Statutory Rules 1978 No. 93, and made under the Historic Shipwrecks Act 1 976, be disallowed.
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– I give notice that, six sitting days after today, I shall move:
That the amendment of the Schools Commission Regulations, as contained in Statutory Rules 1978 No. 81, and made under the Schools Commission Act 1973, be disallowed.
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– I give notice that, six sitting days after today, I shall move:
That the new By-Law 32 contained in Amendment No. 1 5 of the Telecommunications (General) By-Laws, made under the Telecommunications Act 1 97S, be disallowed.
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-by leave-The three matters which are the subject of the notices of motion I have just given are under inquiry by the Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances. In relation to the first two matters, the Committee has received correspondence from the responsible Minister but has not had time to consider the latest correspondence. As today is the last day for giving notice of motion, I have given such notice to allow the Committee time to pursue its inquiries. The third matter is one about which the Committee wrote to the responsible Minister on 14 September 1978 but a reply has not yet been received. Tomorrow is the last sitting day for giving notice in relation to this matter. I have given notice today, as a matter of convenience, to allow the Committee time to consider any reply from the Minister.
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-The Minister representing the Treasurer will recall that the week before last Senator McAuliffe and I asked questions concerning Australia’s current overseas borrowings program. The Minister indicated that he would obtain detailed information concerning that. I assume that that information is still forthcoming- unless, of course, he has it here today. I ask him: Is it a fact that the Australian Government proposes to borrow overseas an additional $600m to the $2, 700m to which we referred two weeks ago? Will the additional borrowings be in Japanese yen? If this is the case, does the Australian Government expect the Japanese yen to depreciate against the Australian dollar or to hold a steady value; or is the Government prepared to accept possible exchange losses on loans borrowed in Japanese yen?
-I undertook to get for Senator Wriedt details of the Commonwealth’s loans program in recent times. If they are not to hand I will expedite those details for him. He has asked me a question regarding the Japanese loans. I refer him, for a substantive answer, to the Press statement of 5 October put out by the Treasurer- it is available to Senator Wriedt- in which the details of the Japanese borrowings are set out. If he wants further information I will be happy to get it. I certainly would not speculate and I am sure that the Treasurer would not speculate about movements in exchange rates as between currencies. If there is anything that the Treasurer would like to add on the question asked by Senator Wriedt I will bring it to his attention.
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– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. Has the Minister seen reports that Mr Ian Smith, the Prime Minister of Rhodesia, and the Reverend N. Sithole, a black member of the Interim Rhodesian Executive Council, are visiting the United States of America to put their case for a peaceful settlement in Rhodesia? As Australia has allowed entry to people who have put one point of view on the Rhodesian situation, will the Government allow entry to Mr Smith and the Reverend N. Sithole if they request it, or if requests are made for such entry, to enable them to put their views and to inform the Australian public on the Rhodesian situation in the hope that such communication can be encouraged and that it may help to avoid further tragedy and bloodshed which affects both blacks and whites in that country?
-I think that during the last sitting week I responded to a question from an honourable senator regarding the status of the proposed visit of Ian Smith and his black colleague to America. My instinct is that I was advised that it was an informal visit; that it was not an official visit; but that, nevertheless, it could have a status related to discussions. As to the question of whether a similar situation might occur in Australia, I shall refer that question to my colleague in another place.
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– My question is addressed to Senator Carrick as Minister for Education and also as Minister representing the Minister for Defence. I ask: In view of a recent answer to me that it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the establishment of Casey University, will the establishment of the university be solely a matter for the Minister for Defence and the Department of Defence? Has the Minister for Education some views about the desirability of establishing an isolated educational institution? I further ask: Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to an article in the journal of the Australian Naval Institute of August 1978 in which there is very strong criticism of the proposal to isolate defence personnel in a single purpose institution and strong applause for the Navy’s present policy of sending its young undergraduates to existing universities? This policy was regarded as highly successful because of the exchange the undergraduates can have with civilian students.
– I have responded in this place on that matter to the effect that the Fraser Government has made a decision in principle to establish a tertiary institution for the combined forces in Australia and that it is to be built and developed in Canberra. That is a factual statement. I am asked whether this is solely the responsibility of the Department of Defence. To the extent that the Australian Defence Force Academy will come directly under the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Defence in another place, the answer is yes. Nevertheless, because it has tertiary institution qualities and because the role of the Tertiary Education Commission is important there will be some liaison and some flow of dialogue between the Tertiary Education Commission and the institution and also those who, in seeking to found the institution, want such information. The aim is to establish the Academy as a fully established and accredited tertiary institution.
I have not seen the article in the journal of the Australian Naval Institute of August 1978 to which Senator Button alludes. I shall seek it and read it. I think Senator Button will know that over the years the argument as to whether there ought to be a combined defence force academy or other separate institutions has waxed and waned. There are very strong advocates on all sides. For every article such as the one referred to by Senator Button there would be one or two others taking the opposite view. I will seek out the article and study it.
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– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. Following the outstanding success of the first television showing in New South Wales and Victoria of The Job Show, a Federal Government program to assist the unemployed, can the Minister say whether the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations is considering introducing the program in other States? If so, when is this likely tobe?
-The Government, through the Commonwealth Employment Service has, in conjunction with the Channel 9 network, been showing the program known as The Job Show. The Job Show is working because it brings jobs to people in the most convenient way possible. Through this program the services of the Commonwealth Employment Service are brought to people in their own homes. The Job Show will run on a trial basis for six weeks during which time the Government will make an evaluation. The Minister hopes that should the program prove to be a success it can be shown in other capital cities. Certainly, he will keep the Senate informed closely of its progress.
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-My question, which is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, arises from the present situation in the Lebanon where it appears that a massacre of the Lebanese Christian population is taking place. Has the Minister considered the possibility of refugees from the Lebanon seeking admission to Australia? If so, could a statement be made to the Parliament as soon as possible as many Australians of Lebanese origin are very concerned about this matter and a great many other Australians are likewise concerned about the fate of these people?
– I am sure that the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and the Government share the concern that has been expressed with regard to refugees from Lebanon. I am unaware whether the Minister plans to make an early statement, but I will refer the question to him and find what advice I can give to Senator Wheeldon on this matter.
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– My question is addressed to the Minister representing the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs. I refer to the present session of the General Assembly of the United Nations and to the issue of East Timor which is an item on its agenda. Does the Australian Government continue to support the call to the Indonesian Government to facilitate the entry into East Timor of the International Committee of the Red Cross and other relief organisations in order to assist the people of the territory? Does the Australian Government continue to support the sending of a United Nations special representative to East Timor for the purpose of making a thorough on-the-spot assessment of the existing situation in the territory? Will the Australian Government at the present session put forward specific and positive proposals that are consistent with its publicly stated policies on East Timor in an attempt to overcome the conflict and suffering in the territory and to secure early reunion of Timorese families? Has the Australian delegation received instructions to take constructive steps when this item is considered by the General Assembly?
- Senator Missen asked a series of four questions. My understanding with respect to the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross in East Timor is that Australia channelled funds totalling $167,000 for relief operations in West and East Timor, through the ICRC, as long as the organisation was allowed to operate on the island. When the ICRC’s activities ceased in December 1975 the Government made representations to the Indonesian authorities asking that the ICRC be allowed to return to East Timor. After it became clear that it would not be permitted to return to East Timor, the Government, wishing to continue its humanitarian assistance to the area, agreed that its aid should be channelled through the Indonesian Red Cross. It has continued to do so.
The last three parts of Senator Missen ‘s question raise issues which are likely to come up for consideration by the United Nations General Assembly when the Timor item is debated, probably next month. The Government is not aware of any definitive draft resolution having yet been circulated on this matter. It will carefully consider and come to a position on this and on other matters when definite proposals are available. As to the last part of the question, I can offer an assurance that the Government’s approach to this matter as on other aspects of its contribution to the work of the United Nations will be entirely constructive.
The question raised two matters on which I would comment further. With regard to the human suffering in Timor, the Government has already acted promptly and positively. On 14 September the Government announced an accountable cash grant of $250,000 for humanitarian relief in East Timor. On the matter of reunion of Timorese families, Australia and Indonesia reached agreement last July for an exchange of immigration teams to facilitate reunions both in Australia and in Timor. It is hoped that this process will be well under way before the end of the year and that the reunions will take place before Christmas.
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– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I am sure that he and all honourable senators will be deeply concerned to learn that historic relics unable to be displayed at the Australian War Memorial in many cases have seriously deteriorated because of inadequate facilities in the main building. Can the Minister give an assurance to the Senate that the $2m annexe at present being built in Mitchell in the Australian Capital Territory will be used as the Board of Trustees intended, namely, to conserve the relics and priceless art collection of the War Memorial?
Will the Minister make available to the Senate as soon as possible details of the staffing planned for the new storage facility? If it is true that under staff ceilings imposed by the Department of Home Affairs this building will not be able to be used, will the Minister propose to Cabinet that a public appeal for funds be launched so that the Government can honour the sacred trust reposed in it to preserve this part of our national heritage?
-I think that all honourable senators, indeed all Australians, would want to have adequate housing of historic relics. All have known the dilemma of successive governments in not being able to achieve this end. I have a suspicion- I hope I am right- that the Minister for Home Affairs is now directly in charge of the Australian War Memorial. On that basis I will refer to him the other part of Senator O ‘Byrne’s question and seek a specific answer.
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– I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications a question. I preface it by saying that no doubt the Minister is aware that at times many people feel that their telephone accounts are too high. In many cases it appears that they have no effective or satisfactory recourse against the autocratic and, I feel, inefficient accounting system presently used by the Australian Telecommunications Commission. Whilst I agree that some cases of complaint are explainable, in cases when customers know that they are being robbed by Telecom what action can they take to avoid having to pay the account or having their telephone cut off? Secondly, when will Telecom install a subscriber trunk dialling accounting system that details all STD calls on the account so that Telecom cannot blame STD calls when a valid query is made as has been put to me in Tasmania recently? Finally, does he agree that the present accounting system used by Telecom is not healthy and is biased against the customer?
– In common with other honourable senators, I am sure, I have had a number of complaints of the type to which Senator Townley has referred in his question. I cannot agree with him that the complaints have been dealt with in an autocratic and inefficient manner. My own experience has been that the Australian Telecommunications Commission has been extremely courteous and helpful in trying to clear up complaints of subscribers. Senator Townley raised a matter which is of difficulty for some subscribers because, as far as I know there is no way of running a separate check on the automatic equipment which is used to record telephone accounts and, subject to checking the equipment for accuracy subsequently, there is really no way of dealing with complaints of this sort.
Senator Townley is correct, however, in stating that a method is available which would permit the separate accounting of STD calls. Unfortunately, that system is not in operation. In fact, its installation would be very expensive. I understand from the Minister for Post and Telecommunications that Telecom has made some report on the possibility of introducing this sort of system. It has raised the matter initially on the basis of such a system being available as an optional service, which would probably involve an additional charge to the subscriber to meet the quite considerable capital costs involved. I am informed that the capital expenditure required for an optional service of the sort mentioned by Senator Townley would be about $56m. So, that is a matter which is still under consideration. There are financial difficulties in the way of introducing it.
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– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and refers to new information that has come to light about a plutonium deposit at Maralinga. I ask the Minister: Is he in a position to give the Senate the fullest information in respect of this matter, having regard to the fact that, although since 1972 some questions have been asked about this matter, the information which has now been brought out in the public arena and which is causing concern to the people of Australia is important? We have been advised that the Australian Government has asked the British Government to remove the plutonium deposit from Maralinga.
Can the Minister advise the Senate whether such a request has been made to the British Government? Is the Government insisting upon such a procedure being followed, or is the situation as has been reported in the Press- that an alternative that the Government put to the British Government is that the deposit may be shifted to Woomera? If that is the situation, I ask the Minister: Can he give the Senate an assurance that no such transfer of the deposit will be made, having regard to the Government’s indication to the Senate that in the future Woomera will be reserved for a number of Service trials? I think the Minister will remember my previous questions on that subject. What can he tell the Senate about this matter?
-I think that in another place both the Minister for Defence and the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs will be contributing information at length on this matter and I refer Senator Bishop to that. I direct myself to the more specific points raised. It is a fact that the Government, through the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, has communicated with the British Government and, indeed, has sent a telegram to the British Foreign Secretary, Dr Owen, requesting urgent consultations about the plutonium buried at Maralinga following the British nuclear testing program there in the 1950s and 1960s. i am able to advise Senator Bishop that the
British Foreign Secretary has advised today that the Deputy Director of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston and a small team of technical experts would be ready to come to Australia in the near future. Their object would be to help the Australian authorities to conduct an urgent study to define the extent of the possible physical problems involved at Maralinga and to offer advice on appropriate solutions. Successive British governments have expressed willingness to consult with the Australian authorities in determining whether any further action is necessary on health, safety or other grounds at Maralinga. That answers the immediate question raised by Senator Bishop.
Information on this matter has been available to all governments since the tests were undertaken and a variety of reports have been prepared. I have not heard any suggestion that anybody is contemplating an alternative disposal point in Australia- certainly not Woomera- for the plutonium. I cannot comment on that matter because I have never heard any such suggestions. I certainly will seek assurances on it. I am able to assure the Senate that the Government, facing a number of questions that have been raisedincluding the important one that has emerged of our responsibilities, if any, to the International Atomic Energy Agency- in fact will get the best scientific advice possible on whether there is a problem. As Senator Bishop will know, under the nuclear non-proliferation agreements governments have a duty to report the presence of discrete masses of plutonium. There is a difference of opinion amongst scientists as to whether the plutonium in question falls into that category. That is one problem. The other problem is whether it is recoverable, by friend or foe, and whether in its present or future state it would constitute a hazard. I Will refer all those questions to those who are better placed than I am to answer them.
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– My question to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations concerns the visual displaying of job vacancies at all Commonwealth Employment Service offices to assist the unemployed to get work. Will the Minister, with the consent of the employers concerned, arrange for all vacancies on record in Commonwealth Employment Service offices to be listed on public display under appropriate classification headings to enable unemployed persons personally to pursue job vacancies.?
-The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations is conscious of the need to display all vacancies and in August 1 978 distributed a policy statement on the matter to offices of the Commonwealth Employment Service. The statement specified that all vacancies were to be placed on public display, the only limitation being the availability of display space. The Department has developed a particular grouping and order of occupations specifically for use on display boards.
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– I preface my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs by reminding the Minister of a statement that I made in this place on 26 September 1978 regarding pressure being applied to members of the Northern Land Council by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in order to get uranium mining under way. I also remind the Minister that the Government made a promise that the Land Council would be allowed to meet without any outsiders being present, and that there would be no coercion by it. I further remind the Minister that a Government senator sat in on a meeting of the Land Council a few days ago. I now ask the Minister: Was the Government representative Senator Bonner of Queensland? Were all proceedings of the meeting taped, except when Senator Bonner was speaking, when the recording equipment was switched off? Which Minister directed Senator Bonner to attend the meeting? What instructions were given to the Government senator to pass on to the Land Council, and were instructions given to him to apply pressure for mining to commence? Finally, why did the Government break its promise to the Northern Land Council by instructing a Government senator to attend that meeting, although a Government spokesman had made a public statement that no pressure or coercion would be applied to the Northern Land Council?
– When the previous statements were made in September I had some advice from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. However, I have no information relating to meetings in recent days which Senator Bonner is stated to have attended. I will seek that information from the Minister and advise Senator Keeffe accordingly.
page 1155
– My question to the Minister for Education pursues previous questions relating to the matter of literacy and the research which his Department has been conducting. Has the Minister any information relating to those inquiries into the development of literacy and other subjects? Is he aware that an officer of Telecom placed an entry in the yellow pages of the South Australian telephone directory for the Phoenix Society Sheltered Workshops under the heading ‘Shade Houses’? In view of the hurt that this is causing the Phoenix Society, will he now add to the subjects of literacy and numeracy the subject of common sense?
– If I were to respond, and had the power so to do, to the last part of the honourable senator’s question, I fear that some of the mystique of democracy would disappear from around us.
-It would be a sad old world. We would miss Senator Button from amongst us, and that, I think, would be a matter for grave regret. I appreciate Senator Davidson’s question. As Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the Arts, he has taken a very deep interest in the question of literacy. The basic document was the report of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Specific Learning Difficulties. That report has been well regarded. It has been taken before the Australian Education Council and has been subjected to the scrutiny and examination of the States.
The most important thing that I can say to Senator Davidson is that in the national inquiry into teacher education- the full committee will be announced very soon and will be chaired by Professor Auchmuty- one of the major thrusts of examination will be to determine what kind of training of teachers would be necessary to deal best with the problems of literacy and numeracy.
Everybody who is interested in the subject knows now that the basic thinking of the experts is that all teachers should be remedial teachers and that the primary necessity is to recognise the defects as early as possible so that remedies can be applied as quickly as possible.
I have no comment to make upon the abberration in the yellow pages of the South Australian telephone directory. It is always regrettable when such a thing happens and I regret that the people concerned should have found it an embarrassment.
page 1156
– My question is directed to the Minister for Social Security and Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. Is it a fact that last Tuesday, 3 October, a meeting was held in Sydney between officers of her Department and the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and representatives of Greek welfare organisations who are looking after the interests of the 175 people charged in the recent conspiracy case? Who called the meeting? By what criteria were people invited and by what criteria were people excluded? What was the purpose of the meeting?
– I am aware that recently a meeting was held, but I am not able to state whether it was on 3 October, although that could have been the date. It was arranged by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in conjunction with my Department. I am not aware who attended the meeting. It was probably arranged by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs; I would think the calling of the meeting was in his hands. As far as my Department was concerned, the ethnic liaison officer was one of the people who was expected to attend that meeting. I believe that the meeting was arranged by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs because of some concern that had been expressed to him by members of the Greek community. I will seek from him a list of those who did attend and the reasons why particular people were invited to have a discussion on matters of mutual interest.
– I wish to ask a short supplementary question. Could I also have information on who was excluded and why they were excluded? It is my understanding that a large Greek welfare organisation representing many people charged in this conspiracy case was excluded, and one wonders why.
– As I said, I will seek information on who was invited and the basis on which invitations were issued. That would cover those people who did attend and the reasons why they were in attendance. I am unable from my own knowledge to give any information on exclusions or the reasons for any exclusions, but I will see that a full answer on this matter is given to Senator Grimes.
page 1156
– I direct my question to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport. It has been reported that the Bureau of Transport Economics, following a survey of some 30 international airlines, believes that the two Australian national airlines- Ansett Airlines of Australia and Trans-Australia Airlinesshould be listed 27th and 28th respectively in order of efficiency and other cost factors. A similar report from Hocking and Forsyth indicates that because of the two-airline agreement there is little encouragement to bring about improved managerial and technical efficiency. In view of the rapid increase in Australia’s air fares and their effect on so many people of the outback and its industries, is consideration being given to a review of the two-airline agreement to bring about a paring of costs to ease the burden on the now somewhat reluctant user?
-Senator Kilgariff’s question reminds me that it is far better to give than to receive. I remember giving Sir Robert Cotton a serve about the two-airline policy and the lack of competition between the two airlines with respect to catering which got me a lot of unfortunate publicity. However, that was easier than receiving the question. I must say to Senator Kilgariff that my own experience is that competition between the airlines in the food area has improved. I suspect that the fact that I am representing the Minister for Transport has inculcated a new competitive feeling between the two airlines. I noted newspaper reports on the matters to which Senator Kilgariff referred. I understand that the Department of Transport suggests that there are matters which make the comparison which has been made by the Bureau of Transport Economics a little difficult to use because there are circumstances peculiar to the Australian airline system. The BTE has also examined economy class air fares and I am advised by the Department that in those comparisons Australia is in the lower half of the scale for all distances considered.
Some years ago I had prepared for me by the Parliamentary Library some figures on this matter which certainly showed that compared to
European and American airlines Australia’s airlines compared favourably on flights for many distances. The Government is anxious to encourage lower fares. A matter which will be of particular relevance to Senator Kilgariff is what is known as the APEX system. Since last October there has been an experiment in providing lower fares to people who book 30 days in advance. That has been available between capital cities but not with respect to Canberra and Darwin. Both airlines currently have applied for an extension of that experiment- also an extension to cover Darwin- that would enable people to pay a 25 per cent lower fare provided they are prepared to book in advance.
page 1157
– How does the Leader of the Government in the Senate accept the fact that this Government has become the biggest borrower in the nation’s history? Is the Minister aware that although these record borrowings were undertaken to stave off devaluation and to encourage an inflow of cash, in the past few weeks official reserves have dropped by $ 1 50m and there could be some outflow? As these matters are of major concern for the nation I ask the Minister: Is the Government hoping that the record borrowing of $700m from Japan will tide it through until inflow picks up? Further, how long is the Government prepared to keep borrowing overseas for these purposes, knowing the position of our asset backing? Finally, is the Minister prepared to defend the Government’s position in the light of his strong views expressed during the period 1972 to 1975 regarding overseas borrowings and the risk of putting the nation in hock?
– That is a good question.
– It is a good question because it invites an even better answer. The question is founded on a fallacy. The record borrowing by government is not with the Fraser Government. The Khemlani loans amounted to some $US4,000m with interest rates of between 7.7 per cent and 8.35 per cent compound and with charges and commissions of 2.5 per cent.
– It never happened.
– Since we are talking about being in hock, repayments were for 20 years from the date of receipt of funds and involved total repayments of $17.6 billion on the initial borrowing of $4,000m. One member of the Opposition says that it never happened. Opposition members are talking about record borrowings and about Australia being in hock. Let me indicate the yearly maturities of overseas debt for the next decade. This will show emphatically the repayments to be made and reflect the borrowings made in the Whitlam Government ‘s era. Next year–
– I raise a point of order. The question related to borrowings. It did not relate to putative borrowings or discussions about borrowings. It related to borrowings. The Leader of the Government should be able to answer a question addressed to him in the English language.
– The Leader of the Government may continue his reply.
– I can understand the difficulty that Senator Button has. His dealings in borrowing were in the foreign tongue, as some may remember. The question related to whether the programs of the Fraser Government would put Australia in hock. I have pointed out what would have happened had the ballot box not given the right answer. In 1979-80, maturing loans in Australian currency will total $259m; in 1980-81, $253m; in 1981-82, $539m; in 1982-83, $488m; in 1983-84, $483m; in 1984-85, $465m; in 1985-86, $267m; in 1986-87, $445m; in 1987-88, $113m; and, in 1988-89, $194m. Those figures do not paint the picture of a country which has been put in hock.
I do not quite understand the significance of the question. On the one hand the attention of the Government is drawn to the fact that chronic difficulties have occurred in the balance of payments situation. That, of course, has occurred be- ‘ cause of two factors- the huge inflation of the Whitlam era and the 25 per cent tariff cut which caused a flood of imports and a restriction of exports. If anybody should not raise the question of the balance of payments, it is those who belonged to the ill-fated Whitlam Government.
– I wish to ask a supplementary question. After that discourse, I ask the Minister whether he is prepared to put his defence to the real test. The Minister knows what I mean by the real test: Go to the people on it.
– On two occasions those who now blow hot refused to put themselves to the real test and we had to drag them screaming to it. On those occasions the electors spoke, and they spoke with a resounding voice as they will in future.
page 1157
– Is the Minister representing the Treasurer aware that Mr van Lennep, the
Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in an address last week to the Council of Europe expressed cautious optimism that the world is recovering from the recession which has been experienced now for several years? Does the Minister agree with this assessment? Is it also a fact that the OECD has supported strongly the underlying Budget strategy applied in Australia and that control of inflation is a condition precedent to overcoming the unemployment problems being experienced in almost all the countries which are members of the OECD?
-I am aware that Mr van Lennep, the Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, made that statement in recent times. No doubt Senator Rae was in Europe at the time. The publications from the OECD strongly support the Australian economic policy. Equally they show that the trend that we are now pursuing will put us below the inflation average of the OECD countries by Christmas. Of course, by June next year inflation should be much better than that average. Whether or not there is any question of taking Mr van Lennep as an authority, Senator Rae may not know that the emerging authority on the strength of the economic policies of the Australian Government is the current Premier of Tasmania, who advertises his Hydro-Electric Commission loans with the words:
With inflation currently at 7.9 per cent and predicted to fall below 6 per cent within the coming 12 months, a long term investment such as an HEC loan offering 9.4 per cent is worth snapping up.
The whole of the advertisement, which I take it is not a confidence trick, is based on the fact that the Australian Government will achieve as much as or more than is claimed in the Budget.
page 1158
-I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence: In recent weeks has security at Maralinga been increased? If so, can the Minister inform the Senate of the additional security measures that have been taken? Has the number of security personnel at the site been increased? If so, by what number and when did such personnel arrive at the site?
– I am not aware of what increase, if any, has taken place in the number of security personnel at Maralinga. I will seek that information and let him know. I think he would know that there was and has been available to all governments in the past, including his own, detailed information about the location of the sites of all disposals at Maralinga. Honourable senators on both sides of this chamber have had knowledge of the area, of its basic nature and of its general effects. So that has -
- Mr President, I raise a point of order. My question was: Has there been an increase in the number of security personnel in recent weeks? The Minister is telling me what the Labor Government would have known. The answer is that the Minister does not know. He has told me that. Is there any need for him to go into what a previous government should have known? The question was: Has there been any increase in the number of security personnel in recent weeks? What has this question to do with the Whitlam Government?
– I call the Minister.
– What it has to do with the Whitlam Government is that the Whitlam Government knew the sites and knew what was there, and if it thought there was a need for security no doubt it should have reacted accordingly. I merely reported that I would find out the information with regard to the security guards at Maralinga. I pointed out that the material that was being guarded was known about both by our Government and by its predecessors.
page 1158
– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. The Secretary of the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation, Mr Joe Thompson, has been reported as saying that, where a union comes close to covering all the workers in an industry, like the waterside workers or the vehicle builders, it should be able to ask the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission to give complete and exhaustive coverage. Is this view shared by other similarly placed unions? Has the Government considered amending the Conciliation and Arbitration Act to make such a practice possible in cases where demarcation issues are likely to cause problems?
-Section 142a of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act has a provision in relation to the question that Senator Archer has asked. It gives power to the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission to make an order providing that a registered employee organisation shall have the right to represent in respect of all or some industrial interests a class or group of employees who are eligible for membership of the organisation either generally or subject to limitations it may specify. Of course, the Commission has ancillary powers to direct organisations to alter their rules, regarding eligibility. As I have said, this meets some of the objectives to which Senator Archer refers. It is, of course, open to any organisation to make an application under the provision. I understand that the first case under the section since it was introduced is currently before the Commission. Whether the views expressed by Mr Thompson of the Vehicle Builders Employees Federation are shared by others, I am unable to say.
page 1159
– I direct a question to the Attorney-General. It is a follow-up to a series of questions which I have asked. What is being done by the Attorney-General’s Department to undertake prosecutions of people possessing illegal or forged Australian passports- a manifestation of white collar crime?
-Senator Mulvihill has asked me a number of questions in relation to this matter. I undertook to obtain information. I apologise for the delay which has occurred. I understand that Senator Mulvihill was principally concerned about the procedures which existed between the Department of Foreign Affairs and my Department. I advise that the Attorney-General’s Department provides legal advice to the Department of Foreign Affairs from time to time on whether there is a legal basis for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to cancel or to refuse to issue a passport. Of course, the passport legislation falls within the administrative responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. If an offence under the Crimes Act- for example, forgery or bribery- is committed in connection with a passport application, the matter would be referred to my Department. I am also informed that there is no backlog of cases concerning prosecution or possible prosecution of persons for offences under the passport legislation. Arrangements for co-operation between the two departments are operating satisfactorily. If Senator Mulvihill has any particular question in relation to white collar crime to which he has referred today, and if he gives me more particulars about the matter he has in mind, I shall follow it up.
- Mr President, I wish to ask a supplementary question. I think that in one of three questions which I asked I referred to the Gold Coast land speculator Flynn who masqueraded as a member of the Australian Railways Union. This is a matter which would involve extradition from Britain and I mentioned it in one of my earlier questions.
-I recall Senator Mulvihill referring to this case. On investigation I find that it is still current. It would not be appropriate for me to make any statement at this stage.
page 1159
– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Minister for Transport. I refer to cheaper international air fares for Australian travellers. Is the Minister aware that in the past week there has been considerable public speculation concerning the introduction of a new Australian air policy? Is it true that Australia, to protect Qantas Airways Ltd, will create a number of monopolies and that this will result in cheap air fares being available from Australia to another country only on Qantas and on the national carrier of the other country? Is it true that one aspect of this new policy will be that Qantas will withdraw from Amsterdam, Paris and Belgrade and that, as a result, KLM and UTA will not be permitted to fly to Australia? Finally, does the Minister agree that a most important consideration in this matter is the best interests of the Australian public, that is, Australian travellers being able to enjoy large reductions in air fares and full freedom of choice in relation to air carrier?
– The honourable senator has asked four questions. The answer to the first is yes. I am aware that there has been a lot of speculation. The answer to the next two questions is that the Government has its airline policy under review. When decisions are made as a result of that review, no doubt they will be announced by the Minister for Transport. I agree that in this area, as in any area of Government policy, the Government must be guided by what is in the best interests of the Australian people. With respect to the particular matter mentioned by the honourable senator, that is the Australian people being able to enjoy a reduction in fares and full freedom of choice of air carrier, I agree that they are important considerations. I add that it is also important to consider the regular availability of flights and so on. No doubt there are other factors which will need to be taken into account by the Government.
page 1159
– My question is directed to the Minister representing the Treasurer. Is the Government aware of how much taxation revenue it loses through the use of family trusts? If so, what was the estimated loss last year? If it is not aware of the amount lost, is it doing anything to discover what the loss to revenue is? If the
Government is as concerned as the Treasurer says it is about the loss of revenue it suffers through tax dodging, why has it done nothing about such abuses as occur through the use of family trusts? Is it because so many Government members use this device for tax dodging purposes? Has Senator Carrick himself ever made use of such a family trust arrangement?
-I am all for a little selfconfession because I understand that some Labor Party people might find such a disclosure difficult. I find no difficulty at all. I have never had the occasion or the opportunity to resort to any use at all of family trusts or to any form of tax dodging.
– Your grandfather did not swindle the depositors in a shonky bank in Melbourne in 1890.
-I hope that that interjection is recorded and taken note of.
– So do I. It is true.
– Since the interjection appears to be offensive perhaps it can be amplified. I simply draw the attention of the Senate to the interjection. When I see it recorded in Hansard I will respond to it. As to the latter part of the question, it so happens that I personally have no tax avoidance or tax dodging arrangements. During most- in fact, the whole- of my working life the whole of my income has come from salary and I have paid an honest citizen’s share of the salary.
– That makes you very unusual.
– Honourable senators on the Opposition side are very touchy. I understand that the Deputy Leader of the Federal Labor Party has said that he has family trusts and has revealed them. I take it that Senator Evans is saying that there must be some good family trusts and some bad family trusts. I also take it from the nod of his head that his attitude is that if the Labor Party uses them they are good and if the Liberal Party uses them they are bad. I am not aware that the Treasury has any information as to what loss to revenue is incurred from family trusts.
I take it that Senator Evans would want such information in two categories- those arrangements that he would regard as bona fide trusts and those that he would regard as tax dodging arrangements. If he or any of his colleagues will give me a definition of what the Labor Party regards as bona fide family trusts and what it regards as tax dodging arrangements I will ask the Treasurer to give that information. Unlike the
Labor Party in its three years of office, the Fraser Government has pursued strongly tax dodging as distinct from purely legal tax avoidance. I invite Senator Evans to give me that necessary definition so that I can get the information for him.
page 1160
– My question, which is directed to the Minister for Social Security, refers to the current industrial dispute at Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia) Ltd at Brooklyn. Can the. Minister inform the Senate of the situation in regard to the payment of unemployment benefit for those employees involved in the dispute?
– I have had a number of representations on this matter. I wish to clarify the position with regard to the eligibility for unemployment benefit of employees at Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia) Ltd at Brooklyn in Victoria. It will be understood that my Department uses the advice of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations with regard to whether persons who are claiming benefit are actually on strike.
My advice is that members of the Federated Cold Storage and Meat Preserving Employees Union of Australasia went on strike on 3 1 August over a log of claims and that as a result members of the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union were stood down. It is understood that the men who were members of the AMIEU went on strike from 25 September. The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations has experienced some difficulty in obtaining details of the strike. It has advised that the dispute was a complex one involving two unions, with the employer wishing to deal with only one union while refusing employment to members of the other.
There have been claims that members of the Federated Cold Storage and Meat Preserving Union have voted to return to work and are being denied employment but it has not been possible to ascertain the facts. Some employees have been employed for short periods during the period in which they were stood down. Earnings received during that time are being treated as income in the normal manner where entitlement to unemployment benefit exists. At this stage the members of the Federated Cold Storage and Meat Preserving Union on strike are considered to be direct participants of a strike and ineligible for unemployment benefit. This view will be reconsidered if further information about the employment status of this group becomes available.
Members of the AMIEU stood down are eligible for unemployment benefit, subject to normal conditions, for the period in which they are stood down. They are ineligible for unemployment benefit for any period in which they are on strike. My Department is in close contact with the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations. As I said, the matter could be reconsidered if further information were available. I will see that if any further information becomes available Senator Hamer is advised.
page 1161
– I direct a question to the Minister representing the Treasurer. He will be aware of recent statements by a leading spokesman of the South Australian brandy industry to the effect that the industry is now on the verge of collapse because of the 83 per cent increase in excise imposed on the industry in the Budget. As the Treasurer, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Primary Industry have all been made aware of this problem by the industry itself and by others, what action does the Government intend taking to assist the grape growing industry and all people associated with it to overcome the problem created by this budgetary impost?
– I will draw the attention of the Minister for Primary Industry to the question and seek his response.
page 1161
– I address a question to the Minister for Education. I refer to the series of rolling strikes initiated today by the Australian Capital Territory Teachers Federation.
– How is the child care going? How many children are you minding?
– Is the Minister in a position to give us an indication of the response by teachers to the first day of the rolling strike today?
– In a somewhat derisive way a Labor Party honourable senator interjected, ‘How is the child care going?’ I am happy to respond that responsible teachers who believe that strikes are not good stayed at work today and undertook their duties.
– How many?
– It is an interesting fact that the Labor Party has been silent on this unnecessary and harmful strike and is now seeking this information. Thirty-six pre-schools on the south side are involved in the rolling strikes today. Thirty of these were fully open, four were fully closed and two were operating at half capacity. At such interesting schools as Holder primary school -
– Oh!
-I thought that Senator Ryan was interested. At Holder primary school fifty-eight per cent of the teachers were present; at Holder high school 50 per cent of the teachers were present. Of all industrial action I have known this is surely the most unnecessary. There is no challenge whatsoever to the quality of education. Let me read an extract from the last report of the Schools Commission which has always been taken as a Bible by the Labor Party. It stated:
When all factors are carefully considered the inescapable conclusion is that real resources in secondary schools in the ACT in comparison with per student resources in the States are high. The Commission believes that in the interests of maintaining proper balance in resource allocation there should be no increase in real per student expenditure on secondary education in the ACT in the immediate future.
This is particularly true while resource levels in the Territory are so clearly superior to other States. Some reallocation of resources within the secondary years and within the system would be advantageous. The same statement about secondary colleges is made in the Neal Hird report. I can only call upon the teachers to go back to work, to cease the rolling strikes. They are totally unnecessary, particularly as the quality of education in the Australian Capital Territory, on the say so of the Schools Commission, is the highest in Australia and is not in any way being challenged.
page 1161
– In the light of the answer the Minister for Education just gave, I ask him whether he said on 16 March 1 976:
There will be no second best. There is no question of levelling down. If the Australian Capital Territory is ahead of the States in education, then our job is to bring the States up and to the standard of the Australian Capital Territory and as well to let the Territory move ahead.
I ask the Minister whether he said further:
This does not mean, of course, that the Government will not continue to support government schools in the ACT at a high level, or that current levels of resource use will be allowed to decline.
I ask the Minister: How does he reconcile those statements, if indeed they were his words of 16 March 1976, with the current situation in which the levels of resources allocated to Australian Capital Territory government schools have been allowed to decline?
– What a pity that Senator Ryan has not either listened to or read the answers I have given to questions asked in recent weeks. Those answers showed that not only have we maintained the gap of superiority for schools in the Australian Capital Territory compared with schools in the States, but also that in fact that gap has widened. The figures, of course, are Schools Commission figures. I take it that Senator Ryan is saying that the Schools Commission is wrong and that the figures are wrong. I will present the figures to Senator Ryan; she will find them in Hansard. I stress that what has happened is that over that period the gap has not only been maintained but also been widened. Where the quality of education is the best in Australia, it can only be jeopardised by industrial action. I regret that fact. I regret that children are being used as the pawns of industrial action. There was never any need for that action. I call upon the good sense of the teachers to stop the rolling strike.
page 1162
– Pursuant to section 52 of the Commonwealth Teaching Service Act 1972, I present the annual report on the operation of that Act for the year ended 3 1 December 1977.
page 1162
Senator CARRICK (New South WalesLeader of the Government in the Senate)Pursuant to section 10 of the Local Government (Personal Income Tax Sharing) Act 1976, I present the recommendations of the Queensland and the Tasmanian State Grants Commissions on financial assistance to local government in those States for 1978-79. These recommendations have already been made available to honourable senators from Queensland and Tasmania respectively.
page 1162
Senator CARRICK (New South WalesLeader of the Government in the Senate)Pursuant to section 125 of the Insurance Acts 1973, I present the annual report of the Insurance Commissioner for the year ended 30 June 1978, together with a companion volume of selected statistics on the general insurance industry for the year ended 3 1 December 1977.
page 1162
Senator DURACK (Western AustraliaAttorneyGeneral) For the information of honourable senators, I present the Industries Assistance Commission report on hosiery, undergarments and knitted sleepwear: Short term additional assistance; and the interim report on carpets, carpeting et cetera, together with correspondence between the Chairman of the Industries Assistance Commission and the Minister for business and consumer affairs (Mr Fife) relating to this report.
page 1162
– Pursuant to section 10 of the Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926, I present the audit of accounts of the Science and Industry Endowment Fund for the year ended 30 June 1978.
page 1162
– Pursuant to section 34 of the Services Trust Funds Act 1947, I present the annual report by the trustees of the Services Canteens Trust Fund for the year ended 3 1 December 1977, together with the report of the Auditor-General required under section 35 of the above Act.
page 1162
– For the information of honourable senators I present the interim annual report of the Australian Dairy Corporation for the year ended 30 June 1978.
– by leave- I move:
I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later stage.
Leave granted; debate adjourned.
page 1162
– Pursuant to section 8 of the Poultry Industry Assistance Act 1965, 1 present the annual report on the operation of that Act for the year ended 30 June 1978.
-by leave- I move:
I seek leave to continue my remarks at a later stage.
Leave granted; debate adjourned.
page 1163
– Pursuant to section 7 of the Tobacco Industry Act 1955 I present the annual report on the Tobacco Industry Trust Account for the year ended 30 June 1978.
page 1163
– For the information of honourable senators I present the annual report of the Australian Plague Locust Commission for the year ended 30 June 1977.
page 1163
Message received from the House of Representatives intimating that it had agreed to the amendment made by the Senate to this Bill.
page 1163
Message received from the House of Representatives intimating that, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Accounts Committee Act 195 1, Mr O ‘Keefe, a member of the House, had been appointed a member of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts, to replace Mr Lusher.
page 1163
Assent to the following Bills reported:
Wheat Tax Amendment Bill 1978.
Wheat Research Amendment Bill 1978.
Homeless Persons Assistance Amendment Bill 1 978.
Australian Capital Territory Electricity Supply Amendment Bill 1978.
Departure Tax Bill 1978.
Departure Tax Collection Bill 1978.
Apple and Pear Stabilization Amendment Bill 1 978.
Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Amendment Bill 1978.
Apple and Pear Stabilization Export Duty Collection Amendment Bill 1978.
page 1163
– I move:
The purpose of moving this motion to have the matter referred to the Senate Standing Committee on National Resources is that, on my understanding of the situation from talking to professional fishermen, there never has been a full depth public inquiry into the Australian fishing industry. I am mindful of the fact that the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence set up a sub-committee on territorial boundaries which did have a brief look at the fishing industry in terms of foreign vessels fishing in Australian waters, but I am informed by some members of that Committee that they did not go into the Australian fishing industry in any great depth. That is the real purpose in asking the Senate Standing Committee to conduct a full public inquiry into the Australian fishing industry. I seek leave to continue my remarks.
Leave granted; debate adjourned.
page 1163
Motion (by Senator Carrick) agreed to:
That the sitting of the Senate be suspended until fifteen minutes past ten p.m. to enable Estimates Committees A, B and C to meet.
– The sitting of the Senate is suspended until fifteen minutes past ten p.m. Senate Estimates Committee A will meet in the Senate chamber, Senate Estimates Committee B will meet in Senate Committee Room No. 1, and Senate Estimates Committee C will meet in Senate Committee Room No. 5. The bells will be rung for two minutes prior to the meetings of the Committees.
Sitting suspended from 4.2 to 10.15 p.m.
page 1163
page 1163
page 1163
Bills received from the House of Representatives.
Suspension of Standing Orders
Motion (by Senator Carrick) agreed to:
That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended as would prevent the questions with regard to the several stages for the passage through the Senate of the Income Tax
Assessment Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1978, the Income Tax (Rates) Amendment Bill 1978, the Income Tax (Individuals) Bill 1978, the Income Tax (Companies and Superannuation Funds) Bill 1978 and the Health Insurance Levy Bill 1978 being put in one motion at each stage and the consideration of such Bills together in the Committee of the Whole.
Ordered that the Bills may be taken through all their stages without delay.
Bills (on motion by Senator Carrick) read a first time.
– I move:
I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard.
Leave granted.
The speeches read as follows-
Income Tax Assessment Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1978
The major purpose of this and associated Bills I shall shortly introduce is to give effect to the Government’s income tax proposals announced in the Budget Speech of the Treasurer (Mr Howard). Before proceeding to the matters dealt with in this Bill, I mention one of the Budget proposals to which effect will be given by the Income Tax (Rates) Amendment Bill which I will be introducing shortly. This is the proposal to increase, for this year only, the standard rate of personal income tax by 1V4 percentage points from 32 to 33 V4 per cent, with corresponding increases to 47 Vi per cent and 6114 per cent at higher income levels. I mention it now because of its importance and because it has technical and other implications for items in this Bill. As the Treasurer indicated in his Budget Speech, it is necessary to raise substantial additional revenue for 1978-79 and this is one of the measures chosen to do this in the most equitable and economically responsible manner.
page 1164
One of the Budget proposals dealt with in the Bill is the changed basis of assessing lump sums received on retirement for unused annual and long service leave. At present, only 5 per cent of such a lump sum is subject to tax and this can act as something of an encouragement not to take the leave during a taxpayer’s working life. The Government considers that the tax system should not have this effect. Accordingly, the Bill provides that the full amount of any lump sum payment for annual leave that is made on retirement after 15 August 1978- Budget day- is to be taxed. The payments to be taxed in this way will include any bonus or loading relating to the unused leave.
In the Budget Speech the Treasurer said:
After tonight, the whole of lump sum payments for unused annual leave will be taxed in full as ordinary income.
In certain cases the accrued annual leave pay if combined with ordinary income would have pushed the taxpayer into a different tax bracket. To prevent this occurring the Government has decided that unused annual leave payments should be taxed at no more than the standard rate, namely, 33.5 per cent in 1978-79. Whilst the Government’s decision on annual leave will have altered the expectations of some who had accumulated annual leave entitlements at Budget time, it is incorrect to claim- as some have- that the Budget decision is a retrospective change to the law.
Such a change is one which backdates a change to the law and retrospectively alters a previously enjoyed right. The right in question is that of an employee to accumulate annual leave entitlements and to take those entitlements in a lump sum at the rate of tax applicable when the lump sum is paid. This right is maintained. In no case will the decision affect a lump sum payment made before 15 August 1978 although as the Treasurer has acknowledged it will result in persons who had accumulated annual leave prior to the Budget paying a higher rate of tax when the lump sum is received than they might have anticipated at the time the accumulation took place.
The law regarding the taxation of lump sum payments due to long service leave has been altered. The Bill treats separately entitlements earned before the Budget and since the Budget. These changes apply in cases where payment is made and retirement, or termination, takes effect after 15 August 1978. In the case of entitlements earned up to Budget day, the situation remains the same. Only 5 per cent of the part of the lump sum attributable to the period up to 15 August 1978 is counted as assessable income. On the other hand, the part of a lump sum that is attributable to the period between 15 August 1978 and the date of retirement is to be fully assessable, but the rate is not to exceed the standard rate, namely 33.5 percent for 1978-79. The limitation on the rate for both annual and long service leave lump sums will overcome any bunching effect that might otherwise have arisen from the inclusion of these amounts in the taxable income of a single year.
The changes will not apply to payments made to a dependant or legal personal representative of a deceased employee. These are to remain free of tax. Pay-as-you-earn deductions at the standard rate of tax will be made from assessable lump sum payments made on or after 1 November 1978.
page 1165
In continuation of the Government’s measures to achieve a fairer tax system, the Bill will adjust the averaging system for primary producers so as to confine its benefits more directly to income from primary production. Under the new system, average income will continue to be calculated on the basis of the taxable incomes of the relevant years. It will not be calculated only on the basis of primary production income. Income derived from primary production will continue to qualify for averaging benefits no matter how much other income is derived. Only a limited amount of nonprimary production income may, however, qualify for the benefits for 1978-79 and later years. Non-primary production income up to $5,000 net will continue to qualify, but this amount is to be shaded out by one dollar for each dollar over $5,000 so that non-primary production income of $10,000 or more will not be subject to any averaging benefit.
To achieve this result the Bill adopts the technique of providing a tax rebate for a primary producer whose average income is less than his or her taxable income. Where non-primary production income is $5,000 or less, allowance of the rebate will attain the same result as the present averaging system. In other cases, non-primary production income up to $5,000 will be treated as primary production income and the new averaging benefit will be the part of the amount of the benefit calculated under the present system as bears to that amount the same proportion as primary production income- including the up-to-$5,000 allowance- included in taxable income bears to the whole taxable income.
These changes will reduce the use of tax avoidance schemes based on primary producer status, but retain for genuine primary producers the averaging benefit needed by them to compensate for fluctuating primary production income.
page 1165
Some changes to the system of self-assessment of provisional tax are to be effected by this Bill. They are designed to overcome losses of revenue due to the practice of some taxpayers of knowingly under-estimating current year income so as to reduce provisional tax payments. Existing selfassessment provisions may be exploited in this way in the knowledge that the additional tax for which the law makes provision in cases of underestimation will not be payable if the estimate is not less than 80 per cent of the taxable income of either the current year or the previous year.
This will be changed for 1978-79 and later years so that additional tax will be payable where the estimated income in respect of which provisional tax is payable, that is, income other than salary or wages, turns out to be more than 10 per cent below the actual income, other than salary or wages, for the year. The Commissioner of Taxation will, as at present, be able to remit the additional tax where an under-estimate is due to circumstances which were not apparent when it was made.
page 1165
At present, the rate of rebate for certain concessional expenditure in excess of $1,590 on items such as medical and education expenses, life assurance and superannuation, municipal rates, et cetera, is equal to the standard rate of tax of 32 per cent. As a consequence of the temporary increase in the standard rate for 1978-79 this rebate rate is to be increased to 33Vi per cent for that year.
page 1165
Provisions in the BDI will terminate the housing loan interest deduction with effect from 1 November 1978. Accordingly, the deduction in respect of housing loan interest for the 1978-79 income year will be based on interest accrued up to 3 1 October 1978 that is paid by 30 June 1979. Employers are being instructed not to give effect to housing loan interest claims in payasyouearn deductions after 1 November.
page 1165
The Bill provides for the withdrawal of the exemption of income derived after 3 1 October 1978 under the Commonwealth post-graduate awards scheme. An associated amendment will provide for living allowances paid under this scheme to be included in the PA YE system as from 1 November 1978.
page 1166
The Bill also provides for the withdrawal- as from 1 November 1978- of rebates for the maintenance of dependants resident overseas. This measure, which is in line with the views expressed in the report of the review of post-arrival programs and services to migrants, was made necessary by the mounting abuse of the existing provisions with substantial costs to revenue. The amendment will not affect rebates for dependants temporarily overseas who continue to be residents of Australia for taxation purposes, nor will it affect rebates for wives and children awaiting migration to Australia. As the rebate is being discontinued as from 1 November 1978, a partial rebate, equal to one-third of the rebate otherwise allowable on a full year basis, will be allowed for qualifying dependants who were non-residents in the period up to 31 October 1978.
page 1166
The World Wildlife Fund Australia is to be brought within the gift provisions of the income tax law so that donations of $2 or more to the Fund will be tax deductible.
page 1166
As part of the major changes to health care arrangements announced in the Treasurer’s Budget Speech the health insurance levy is to be terminated with effect from 1 November 1978. Measures to give effect to this proposal are included in this Bill and in the associated Health Insurance Levy Bill 1978. People who are fully covered by private health insurance or other arrangements during the period 1 July 1978 to 31 October 1978 will be exempt from the levy for 1978-79. Those who are not so exempt will pay levy on their taxable incomes for the whole of 1978-79, but at a rate equal to one-third of the full year rate of 2.5 per cent and subject to levy ceilings equal to one-third of those that have applied for a full year.
page 1166
Provision is made in the Bill for the amount of the temporary increase of Vh per cent in the standard rate for 1978-79 to be taken into account in calculating provisional tax for that period. The health insurance levy component of provisional tax is to be reduced by two-thirds of the amount payable for 1977-78 so as to reflect the abolition of the levy as from 1 November 1978.
page 1166
A feature of this Government’s tax policy has been a vigorous assault on tax avoidance practices. As the Treasurer said in his Budget Speech the time is long since past when governments or the community should tolerate the blatant, artificial and contrived means whereby certain sections of the community seek to pay little or no tax to the detriment of the general body of taxpayers and the equity of the tax system’. The pressure against tax avoidance will be resolutely maintained this financial year. As new forms of tax avoidance are identified, announcements indicating that appropriate legislation is to be introduced will be made and that legislation will be effective from the date of such announcements.
It is impossible to quantify precisely the cost to revenue of tax avoidance schemes and practices. There can, however, be little doubt that the actions of this Government in recent months have prevented a loss to revenue of hundreds of millions of dollars. During the past 12 months alone, the Government has introduced or foreshadowed legislation dealing with many tax avoidance practices including the following: The so-called Curran scheme, current year losses, abuse of averaging provisions, dividend stripping, trust stripping, pre-paid rent and interest, abuse of gift provisions, share trading loss schemes, sales tax avoidance practices and schemes involving the abuse of deductions for mortgage payments, trading stock and interest and rent.
The Government believes there is widespread community support for action to curb tax avoidance. Tax avoidance on the scale practised in recent years has been an affront not only to the average wage earner who has little capacity to participate in such schemes but also to numerous high income earners who, having both the capacity and the incentive to participate in such schemes, have consciously chosen not to do so. The warning to those who promote tax avoidance schemes should be clear enough. This Government is determined to clamp down on those schemes as vigorously as possible.
page 1166
Details of the various measures in the Bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum that is being circulated. I commend the Bill to the Senate.
This Bill will amend the Income Tax (Rates) Act 1976 which declares the rates of tax payable by individuals and trustees and includes provision for the automatic indexation of these rates in consequence of movements of the Consumer Price Index. The main feature of the Bill is the increase in the standard rate of personal income tax for the 1978-79 financial year from 32 per cent to 33V4 per cent. The general rate of tax applicable to the amount of taxable income from $ 16,609 to $33,2 1 6 will also increase from 46 per cent to 47 Vi per cent, while that applicable to taxable income in excess of $33,216 will increase from 60 per cent to 6 1 per cent. The increase is a temporary measure and the Bill provides that it will not continue beyond the end of this financial year.
The increase will be reflected in higher payasyouearn deductions as from 1 November 1978. These are to be raised by the amount necessary to collect the full year’s increase in tax in the period between 1 November 1978 and 30 June 1979. Provisional tax for 1978-79 will also be adjusted to include the Vi per cent rate increase. Other amendments to be effected by the Bill are consequential upon the changes to the averaging provisions proposed in the Bill that I have just introduced. Under the existing averaging provisions, an average rate of tax is declared for application to the taxpayer’s taxable income. Under the new arrangements a taxpayer to whom the averaging provisions apply will be taxed at the ordinary rates of tax. This tax will then be reduced by a rebate equal to the tax saving that would result if the average tax rate were applied to primary production income or income treated as primary production income. Details of the changes proposed by the Bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum that is being circulated and I do not think it is necessary for me to elaborate further at this stage. I commend the Bill to the Senate.
This Bill is an annual measure. Its purpose is to formally impose tax for 1978-79 at the rates declared in the Income Tax (Rates) Act 1976, as proposed to be amended by the Bill I have just introduced. .This year the Bill contains a special measure to provide a rebate of tax for 1978-79 for a limited number of taxpayers who would otherwise have suffered a small detriment arising from the substitution of the standard rate system from 1 February 1978, with half indexation for 1978-79, for the previous personal income tax system, fully indexed.
The great majority of taxpayers are better off under the standard rate system than they would have been under the previous system. However, it was appreciated when the new system was introduced that some taxpayers in a limited income range could suffer a very small disadvantage in 1978-79 and it was announced then, and again by the Treasurer (Mr Howard) in June this year, that a rebate would be provided to avoid this detriment. The rebate will apply in the range of taxable income from $6,601 to $6,978, the maximum being $7.10 for an income of $6,742. Details of the provisions of the Bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum which has been made available to honourable senators. I commend the Bill to the Senate.
This Bill will impose income tax for 1978-79 on the 1977-78 incomes of companies, and the 1978-79 incomes of superannuation funds, at the rates declared by the Bill. With one exception, the rates declared by the Bill are the same as those declared for 1977-78 and the provisions of the Bill follow the same lines as in earlier years. The only rate change proposed is for superannuation funds which are taxed in accordance with section 12 Ida of the Income Tax Assessment Act. These funds, which are broadly in the nature of accumulation trusts, are taxed at a rate equal to the maximum rate of personal tax and, in consequence of the proposed temporary increase of 1 Vi per cent in the rates of personal income tax for 1978-79, the rate of tax applicable to the income of these funds is to be increased from 60 per cent to 6 1 per cent for the 1 978-79 financial year. Details of provisions of the Bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum that has been circulated. I commend the Bill to the Senate.
This Bill imposes health insurance levy, at the rate declared in the Bill, on taxable incomes for 1978-79 of individual taxpayers liable to the levy. The Treasurer (Mr Howard) announced in his Budget Speech that, under new health care arrangements, the health insurance levy is to cease to apply as from 1 November 1978. Reflecting the fact that the levy is to apply for only one-third of the year, the rate of levy, to apply to taxable income for the whole of the year, is to be 0.833 per cent, that is, one-third of the 2.5 per cent rate which applied for the full 1977-78 year. Consistently with that, the proposed levy ceilings, which limit the amount of levy payable, will be $50 for a single person and $100 for a person with dependants, that is, onethird of the ceilings of $150 and $300 respectively which applied in 1977-78.
Under provisions applying in 1977-78, people who were adequately covered by private health insurance or other arrangements for the whole of the year were exempt from the levy. For 1978-79 people will be exempt from the levy if they have adequate private cover for the whole of the period from 1 July 1978 to 31 October 1978. Details of the features of the Bill are contained in the explanatory memorandum that has been circulated. I commend the Bill to the Senate.
Debate (on motion by Senator Wriedt) adjourned.
Senate adjourned at 10.17 p.m.
page 1169
The following answers to questions were circulated:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 4 April 1978:
– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question: ( 1 ), (2) and (3) Presumably the honourable senator is referring to a request submitted to me by a Mr J. McMillan, then a lecturer in law at the University of New South Wales, seeking access to reports on certain railway accidents and a report concerning the condition of certain railway bridges in South Australia. I replied to Mr McMillan that I did not consider the reports should be released.
I have reconsidered my decision having regard to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Bill 1978, which was introduced in the Senate by the Attorney-General on 9 June. The report on the condition of certain railway bridges in South Australia is connected with litigation in the Supreme Court of South Australia. I have given certain undertakings to the Court, in interlocutory proceedings for an interim injunction, not to release the report. I am not, therefore, in a position to make this report available. I have decided that the three accident reports may now be made available subject to the deletion of certain matter identifying persons from whom statements were taken, the release of which I consider would have a substantial adverse effect on staff management interests of the Australian National Railways within the meaning of clause 29 of the Freedom of Information Bill.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 4 April 1978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
It would be open for Mr McMillan, if he wishes to do so, to discuss with officers of the Commission whether his request might be put in such a way that access to particular matters might be granted without undue diversion of the resources of the Commission to locating the relevant documents. I should also say that in my view it would be proper for the Commission, if it made documents relating to complaints available, to do so on the basis that identifying personal details would be omitted in cases where this was necessary to preserve the privacy of those making complaints. I will also ask the Commission to review its administrative procedures in the light of the provisions of the Bill. Such a review would, of course, take some time to complete.
May I add that in the meantime should any member of the community wish to seek information on the general nature of correspondence concerning the ABC I would be only too willing to assist.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 4 April 1 978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question: ( 1 ), (2) and (3) I am informed that records maintained by the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal do not contain any reference to the specific request referred to by the honourable senator. Should such a request be received, it would be required to be considered by the Tribunal in accordance with the provisions of section 106a of the Broadcasting and Television Act. That section imposes on the Tribunal an obligation to make available upon request information assembled under the section. This includes information supplied to the Tribunal in accordance with section 106 of the Act. That obligation is subject to two exceptions:
It will be noted that the exceptions mentioned are similar to, although not necessarily identical with, the exemptions contained in paragraph 32 ( 1 ) (a) and paragraph 35 (b) of the Freedom of Information Bill 1978 now before the Senate.
Beche-de-Mer Fishing Co. Pty Ltd (Question No. 484)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 25 May 1978:
– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, upon notice, on 24 May 1978:
1 ) How many people have been employed under the following schemes and at what direct cost to the Government since 30 June 1977:
How many people have taken advantage of the Educational Programme for Unemployed Youth (EPUY) since 30 June 1977.
– The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question: (1)From 30 June 1977 to 30 June 1978:
The numbers in training at the end of each month during the financial year 1977-78 are given in the following table.
DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
National Employment and Training System Numbers in Training July 1977-June 1978
It should be noted that for the full year 1978-79, it is estimated that claims will be paid in respect of some 63,000 apprentices. This reflects the continuing build up of eligible apprentices from successive intakes of apprentices occurring since the commencement of the Scheme in January 1977.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 25 May 1978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Glenorchy, Goroke, ‘Green’s Creek, ‘Hall’s Gap, Karnak, Korong Vale, ‘Koyuga, ‘Landsborough, Lascelles, Lubeck, Minimay, Moonambel, Mysia, ‘Navarre, Nevapurr Nullawil, Peronne, ‘Pomonal, Robinvale, Rochester, Rushworth, Sandsmere, Stanhope, Tongala, Wal Wal, Wanalta, Watchem, Wedderburn, Wentworth (NSW), Wyuna. 1 980- 8 1 -Antwerp, Apsley, Areegra, Aubrey, Avoca, Bangerang, Bealiba, Benayeo, Beulah, Birchip, Boolite, Boort, Brim, Bringalbert, Bringalbert South, Bullioh, Calivil, Charlton, Cravenville, Crymelon, Dingee, Douglas, Edenhope, Ellam, Elmore, Glenkee, Goodnight (NSW), Granya, Harrow, Homecroft, Kadnook, Kellalac, Koetong, Langkoop, Mitiamo, Mundarra, Newlands, Ozwnkadnook Patyah, Poolaijelo, Powers Creek, Roseberry, Sheep Hills, Tallangatta, Tallangatta Valley, Tarranyurk, Ullswater, Wallup, Warracknabeal, Willenabrina, Wilkur, Wombelano, Wycheproof. 1981- 82- Berriwillock, Bridgewater, Culgoa, Heywood, Inglewood, Jeparit, Kyalite (NSW), Licola, Lock Sport, Qambatook, Rainbow, Raywood, Rupanyup, Sea Lake, Serpentine, , Yapeet 1982- 83-*Boolarong, Dunolly, ‘Fish Creek, ‘Foster, Foster North, Hopetoun, Kaniva, Macorna, Minyip, Miram, Mortlake, Murtoa, Patchewollock, Pyramid Hill, Sandy Point, Skipton, ‘Tidal River, ‘Toora, ‘Welshpool, Woorarra, ‘Yanakie.
Post 1982-83-Barnawartha, Eskdale, Pooncarie (NSW).
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 26 May 1978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
(a) The stations concerned have been advised and other action as required under the Act (see reply to 6 below) will be taken at the appropriate time.
Under provisions contained in the Act, the Tribunal may exercise discretion in relation to:
The Tribunal is required to conduct inquiries in accordance with provisions contained in the Broadcasting and Television Act. These provisions require, among other things, that-
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 1 June 1978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Post and Telecommunications, upon notice, on 1 June 1 978:
– The Minister for Post and Telecommunications has provided the following answer for the honourable senator’s question:
With regard to the provision of a television link to permit interstate TV programs to be available at Alice Springs, the link is expected to be available in August 1979. The date when programs transmitted via this link are broadcast at Alice Springs is, however, a matter for the Australian Broadcasting Commission.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 15 August 1978:
Does (a) Trans-Australia Airlines or (b) Ansett Airlines of Australia provide passenger lists or names of passengers to (i) any State or Territory Special Branches; (ii) any State or Territory Police Force, or (iti) any section of the Commonwealth Police; if so are the lists or names provided on a routine basis or on request.
– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
I can imagine situations in which police inquiries may be extended to the passenger lists of airlines and of other carriers. One would expect that the airlines would co-operate with the police as, indeed, their own security may be involved.
However, the more specific matters you have raised do not fall within my portfolio.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:
How many permanent settlers entered Australia from (a) the United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland); (b) the Republic of Ireland; (c) Yugoslavia; (d) Italy; (e) Greece; and (0 Portugal, in the year ending 30 June 1978.
– The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Source: Preliminary tabulations prepared by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs based on data from incoming passenger cards.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:
How many permanent settlers entered Australia from (a) Chile; (b) Argentina; (c) Peru; and (d) Uruguay, in the year ending 30 June 1978.
– The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Source: Preliminary tabulations prepared by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs based on data from incoming passenger cards.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, upon notice, on 1 6 August 1978:
How many permanent settlers in the following categories: (a) family reunions; (b) political refugees; and (c) people possessing trade skills listed in the Minister’s monthly schedule, entered Australia from 1 January to 30 June 1978.
– The Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
During the period 1 January 1978 to 30 June 1978:
9,072 settlers entered Australia under the family reunion category”,
the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs does not have a separate statistical category for political refugees; hence it is not possible to distinguish political refugees from other types of refugees. In total 5,817 refugees entered Australia between 1 January 1 978 and 30 June 1978;
5,667 persons who had been selected as being occupationally eligible entered Australia. (This figure excludes 7,675 persons who entered under the occupationally eligible category who were classified as dependents.)
Source: Preliminary tabulation’s prepared by the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs based on data from incoming passenger cards.
IBM Australia Limited: Government Contracts (Question No. 610)
asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
The information sought is available in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette in respect of all Commonwealth Departments and those Statutory Authorities which are required by Finance Regulations under the Audit Act to publish, in summary form, details of contracts in excess of $1,000. Not all Commonwealth Government agencies are obliged to publish details of contracts in the Gazette, however, and information in respect of bodies which do not publish in the Gazette is not readily available.
The extraction of published information, despite its availability, would be an extremely long and expensive manual process, particularly for the time-span 1968-1977 inclusive. I would, however, consider any request by the honourable senator for further information in relation to any particular contract listed in the Gazette.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Productivity, upon notice, on 16 August 1978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
In 1949 the Works began to build large slow speed marine diesel engines for installation in Australian coastal ships, first under licence to William Doxford and Sons UK, and then from 1961 also under licence to Sulzer Bros Switzerland.
The Works has built and tested 16 slow speed Doxford engines totalling 58,000 bhp (43,500 kW) and 13 slow speed Sulzer engines totalling 125,000 bhp (90,300 kW).
The land based market for medium speed engines of the type used in mining, oil exploration, pipeline and other fields is served by several private firms who import the smaller (sometimes pre-tested) engines in partly assembled or knock-down set form then assemble, install and test on site. In this situation it has not been as necessary to have a separate test facility.
The question refers to ‘producing’ engines. It should be understood that, depending on the size of the engine and the delivery time specified, the Works has always imported 70 to 80 per cent of each engine in the form of major components. Local Australian manufactured content has been generally in the area of 20 per cent.
The possibility of combining the Works with Williamstown Naval Dockyard has been examined by the Government and its views were communicated to the Unions in July 1978. Briefly, the conclusion was that no way could be seen to integrate the AGEW facilities into the planned development of the dockyard without detriment to the operating efficiency of the dockyard.
asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
I refer the honourable senator to the remarks contained in my answer to Question on Notice No. 364 in Hansard of 9 and 10 June 1978, pages 28 10- 1 1, concerning the difficulties experienced by my Department in identifying Aboriginals in receipt of social security payments. Subject to those reservations, the answers to the honourable senator’s specific questions are as follows:
1 ) The information sought is not available for the period requested. A count has been made of the number of persons identified as Aboriginals and in receipt of unemployment benefit as at 30 August 1978. These persons can be broadly classified as living on missions, settlements, stations or reserves, or as fringe dwellers or as living at private addresses. At 30 August 1978 there were 978 Aboriginals in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Northern Territory, of which 280 were classified as living on settlements.
It is not known whether these persons represent the total number of unemployed persons at the settlements concerned.
asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
I do not think that any additional comments are required by way of a statement in the Senate.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:
– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Melbourne-2 October 1979
Fremantle-6 March 1980
Brisbane-2July 1980.
Details sought under 3 (c) and (d) of the question by the Honourable Senator in relation to financial results and costs will be included in the Corporation’s Interim Annual Report for 1977-78, which is expected to be available shortly for presentation to the Parliament. To 30 June 1978 purchases under the scheme had been 10,102 bales and sales 9,720 bales.
The calculation of an average payment to woolgrowers for wool sold on LOP catalogues can be made when the financial accounts are available in the Interim Annual Report.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 17 August 1978:
– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 August 1978:
Senator CARRICK- The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Northwest Airlines
United Airlines
Trans-Australia Airlines
Ansett Airlines
Omni Aircraft Sales Inc.
Clarkair International Pty Ltd
Air Programs International Pty Ltd
Aradyne Corporation
Dk Aviation Ltd
Sopac Aviation Pty Ltd
Hawker Pacific Pty Ltd
Avio Logistics Inc.
Global Jet Sales Inc/House of Lindner
Aerocontacts ( Aust) Pty Ltd
Robmill Finance Corporation
General Air Transport
Paul A. Davies Aust Pty Ltd
Air Hibiscus Inc.
Airline Support Inc.
Frederick Bayer and Associates Inc.
Leebrown Ltd.
Mr W.J. Meeke
Mr Ray Pigg
Aeroplane Developments Pty Ltd
British Caledonian Airways
American Aircraft Sales Inc.
Air Nauru
ItelAir
Commercial Air-Transport Sales
Australian Aircraft Sales (NSW) Pty Ltd
Nissho-Iwai Co. (Aust) Pty Ltd
US Airmotive Inc.
Banfe Aviation Inc.
Heine Bros. (Aust) Pty Ltd
Charlotte Aircraft Corp.
Evergreen Air Centre
Mr Ken Oliver/ John Wood Incorp.
Seair Trading Corp.
Robey Smith Co.
Krug Agencies
Possible available aircraft were basically assessed against stated RAAF technical criteria by four RAAF specialist officers. Other aspects such as contractual, supply, maintenance and operations matters involved consultation with representatives of Department of Administrative Services, the Department of Transport and the Crown Solicitor’s office.
An overseas mission of 8 officers comprising 3 members of the RAAF, 1 official from each of the Departments of Defence, Administrative Services and Transport and a representative from both Trans-Australia Airlines and Ansett Airlines visited the United States. Four members of the overseas mission returned from the USA via Hong Kong where they inspected one aircraft and the maintenance records relating to it.
Although a number of the firms listed in the response to part (2 ) of the question claimed to have aircraft available for sale, the aircraft offered could not be positively identified by serial number, failed to meet the technical assessment made by departmental officers, or could not be provided within desired availability dates. Hence at the time of departure of the mission for overseas only the following airlines were regarded as having potentially suitable aircraft available:
United Airlines- 6 aircraft
Northwest Orient Airlines- 2 aircraft
Air Nauru- 1 aircraft.
The prices at which aircraft were offered is a matter of commercial confidence, which it would not be appropriate to disclose publicly.
asked the Minister for Social Security, upon notice, on 23 August 1 978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
I refer the honourable senator to the remarks contained in my answer to Question on Notice No. 364 in Hansard of 9 and 10 June 1978, pages 2810-1 1, concerning the difficulties experienced by my Department in identifying Aboriginals in receipt of social security payment. Subject to those reservations, the answers to the honourable senator’s specific questions are as follows:
1 ) At 30 August 1978 there were 978 persons identified as Aboriginal and in receipt of unemployment benefit in the Northern Territory. The annual liability for these persons is estimated at $4.0m.
Aboriginals in receipt of unemployment benefit can be broadly classified as living on missions, settlements, stations or reserves, or as fringe dwellers or as living at private addresses. At 30 August 1978 there were 93 Aboriginals in receipt of unemployment benefit living on missions, and 280 living on settlements.
The information sought is not held by my Department.
Aborigines: Family Allowances (Question No. 661)
asked the Minister for Social
Security, upon notice, on 23 August 1 978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 23 August 1978:
– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable senator’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 24 August 1978:
– The Foreign Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Resources, upon notice, on 24 August 1 978:
Did the Deputy Prime Minister project on his return from the Philippines in August (the Courier Mail 10 August 1978) that more countries ‘would follow Finland, the Philippines and the United States and sign nuclear safeguards agreements with Australia’; if so, to which countries was the Minister referring.
– The Minister for Trade and Resources has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Yes.
Following the announcement of Australia’s decision to proceed with further development of Australian uranium a model bi-lateral safeguards agreement was prepared on the basis of the stringent safeguards policy announced by the Prime Minister on 24 May 1977. This model agreement was distributed to over fifteen potential customer countries.
In addition to the agreements already signed, agreements have been initialled by officials with the United Kingdom and Iran. Negotiations have commenced and are continuing with Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States. (The agreement we have concluded with the United States is an interim agreement pending the renegotiation of the 1936 Australia/United States nuclear co-operation agreement to bring it into line with the new safeguards requirements of both countries.)
The European Commission is in the process of seeking a mandate to commence negotiations with Australia on behalf of EURATOM. There have also been indications of interest in the negotiation of a safeguards agreement with Australia from various Member States of EURATOM and Canada, Austria, Sweden and Switzerland.
It is, of course, an integral part of Australia’s safeguards policy that all exports of uranium under future contracts will have to be covered by safeguards agreements between the Australian Government and importing countries.
asked the Minister for Administrative Services, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:
– The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:
Aboriginal Co-operative Supermarkets (Question No. 706)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:
– The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs has provided the following reply to the honourable member’s question:
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 24 August 1978:
– The Minister for Health has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Non-alcoholic Sparkling Grape Juice (Question No. 719)
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 13 September, 1978:
– The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Barossa Co-operative Winery Ltd-‘ Kaiser Stuhl ‘
Chateau Yaldara- -‘Grapella
Renmano Wines Co-operative Ltd- ‘Tessa ‘.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Capital Territory, upon notice, on 12 September 1978:
– The Minister for the Capital Territory has provided the answer to the honourable senator’s question:
I am informed by my Department as follows:
1 ) The ACT Electricity Authority. The National Capital Development Commission (NCDC).
(a) ACT Electricity Authority. Sections 33 ( 1 ) and (4) of the ACT Electricity Supply Act 1962 require-
The Authority to, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and furnish the Minister with a report of its operations during that year, together with financial statements in respect of that year in such a form as the Treasurer approves.
The Minister to lay the report and financial statements of the Authority, together with the report of the Auditor-General, before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after their receipt by the Minister.
National Capital Development Commission. Sections 24 (3) and (5) of the National Capital Development Commission Act 1957 require-
The Commission to, as soon as practicable after the thirtieth day of June each year, furnish to the Minister, for presentation to each House of the Parliament, a report of its operations during the year ended on that date, together with financial statements in respect of that year in such form as the Minister approves.
The Minister to lay the report and financial statements of the Commission, together with the report of the Auditor-General, before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after their receipt by the Minister.
(a) ACT Electricity Authority- 15 December 1977. (b) NCDC-12 September 1977.
(a) ACT Electricity Authority-22 February 1978.
NCDC-25 October 1977.
5 ) ACT Electricity Authority.
Finalisation of the accounts was the cause for the delay in presentation of the annual report and audited accounts by the ACT Electricity Authority. The certificate of the Auditor-General was received on 3 November 1977.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Transport, upon notice, on 13 September 1 978:
– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Because of the wide diversity of ownership, no complete records are maintained regarding scope and cost of past development works at these aerodromes.
If the honourable senator has some particular aspect in mind perhaps relevant information could be obtained for him.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Tranport, upon notice, on 12 September 1 978:
How many passengers used the airports at: (a) Cairns; (b) Townsville; (c) Mackay; (d) Rockhampton; (e) Brisbane; and (f) Gold Coast, during the period 1 September 1977 to 31 August 1978.
– The Minister for Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator’s question:
Statistics for the period 1 September 1977 to 31 August 1978 are not yet available, however provisional statistics for the year ended 30 September 1978 will be released in early October.
Statistics of annual domestic revenue passenger movements into and out of Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane and Coolangatta airports, as at the end of the past five quarters, are shown below:
Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 10 October 1978, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1978/19781010_senate_31_s78/>.