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Fremantle: Al Kuwait coronavirus cluster exposes flawed shipping regulations - MUA

MAJOR FLAWS in Australia’s biosecurity, shipping, and health and safety regulations have been highlighted after six crew members on the livestock vessel Al Kuwait tested positive for coronavirus, forcing local maritime workers who boarded the vessel into self-isolation.

The vessel, owned by Kuwait Livestock Transport and Trading, was allowed to dock in Fremantle last Friday despite the ship’s master two days earlier notifying the Federal Department of Agriculture — which oversees quarantine measures on the waterfront — that several crew members were sick.

The Maritime Union of Australia said the latest incident highlighted that the regulatory failures that allowed the Ruby Princess to dock in Sydney, starting the nation’s largest COVID-19 cluster, had still not been properly addressed.

MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said the union had repeatedly highlighted the COVID-19 risks posed by inadequate quarantine and shipping regulations, first writing to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in January to outline the problems with biosecurity measures on the waterfront.

“This latest coronavirus cluster reveals that five months into this crisis, and after repeated warning from the union and others in the industry, the Australian Government has still failed to properly address the major quarantine and biosecurity threats posed by international shipping,” Mr Crumlin said.

“The dreadful lack of coordination between Federal and State agencies, with information not passed on in a timely manner to the port workers that came into direct contact with crew members on the vessel, demonstrates that the lessons of the ​Ruby​ ​Princess​ debacle still haven’t been learnt.

“The fact that this vessel notified Australian authorities two days before arrival of sickness onboard, but that information wasn’t passed on before it docked, shows the current system is broken.

“The​ Federal​ Government​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​urgently​ ​address​ ​these​ ​failures, in collaboration​ ​with​ State​ and Territory Governments, to address this serious​​ and ​ongoing​​ threat ​to​ ​public​ ​health​ ​and​ ​safety.

“In particular, we need immediate improvements to communication and collaboration between agencies, including the Agriculture Department, Border Force, Health Department, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and port authorities.

“Currently, the quarantine processes imposed on an Australian seafarer seeking to join an Australian registered vessel in WA from another state are far stricter and more onerous than the what is required of crews arriving on international vessels, including those coming from coronavirus hotspots.

“This flawed regulatory system not only threatens to allow coronavirus outbreaks into the broader community, it threatens Australia’s supply chains.

“If an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs among the limited number of pilots in a port, or wharfies and other waterfront workers, the port would quickly grind to a halt, forcing all trade to stop completely.”

Mr Crumlin said the broader regulation of international shipping, which is responsible for 97 per cent of Australia’s imports and exports, remained seriously inadequate.

“Australian shipping has suffered decades of neglect, with local ships replaced by foreign-owned flag of convenience vessels employing vulnerable seafarers and paying them as little as $2 per hour,” he said.

“The nation’s biosecurity system relies on these crews self-declaring any health issues, with no proactive health checks before vessels are allowed to dock.

“It is clear that many of these vessels will not risk the delays and financial losses caused by self-declaring health issues, putting Australian maritime workers, their families, and the broader community at risk of COVID-19 infections.

“Addressing these risks requires an end to decades of deregulation, with proactive regulation and inspections to ensure all vessels operating in Australian waters abide by appropriate biosecurity, safety, environmental and industrial laws.”

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Apprentice shortages made worse by government’s own rules says CFMEU

SKILLS SHORTAGES in trades and the drop in national apprentice numbers are a direct result of rules imposed by the Coalition Government and will be worsened by legislation which will end union funding to apprentice training programs, the CFMEU National Construction Division has warned.

“If (Prime Minister) Scott Morrison is serious about fixing the skills crisis he should start by changing the rules which  force apprentices off government-tendered job sites and abandon proposed new laws that will stop unions funding apprentice training programs,” CFMEU National Construction secretary Dave Noonan said,

“This government has ripped billions of dollars out of the TAFE and VET sectors and actively worked against the training of apprentices for years so it is extraordinary to now hear the Prime Minister express shock at the result.

“Skills training of apprentices has been an ideological battleground for the Federal Government and its backers in the Australian Industry Group for years and it has led us into the current mess," Mr Noonan said.

“The Federal Government’s building code prohibits companies with enterprise agreements that include apprentice ratios from being able to tender for government jobs. Apprentice ratio provisions are entirely legal under industrial laws and are standard across the construction industry, yet they are not allowed on some of the biggest sites in the country due solely to government ideology.

“The government also has legislation before Parliament to stop the industry funding apprentice training programs from interest earned on money held in trust for construction workers’ redundancies. This will end successful schemes which are crucial for bringing new workers into the construction industry and giving them the practical on-the-job training they need," Mr Noonan said.

“The attack on successful union-funded training makes no sense at a time when completion rates for skills training and the number of apprentices have plummeted under this federal government.

“The government can reset its approach to skills training, TAFE and support for new workers in the construction by getting rid of rules which stop companies taking on apprentices and ending their hostility to successful union-funded training.”

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Youth unemployment webinar today: How innovative approaches can help unemployed youth during COVID-19

THE COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic shock is now exacerbating employment precariousness for young people, and for some, if they are not supported at this time they may be at risk of long-term welfare dependency. Even before COVID-19 struck, young Australians were particularly disadvantaged in the labour market.

Typically, young people have unemployment rates that are double those of the general population and the employment services system is perceived by many to be too compliance-driven rather than offering the intensive, targeted support that may be needed.

For young people who are often inexperienced in the labour market, and who are just beginning to develop job readiness skills, competencies and confidence, the deficiencies in the employment services system are acutely felt.

This impact2020 webinar will discuss youth unemployment in the context of Mentoring 2 Work, an innovative DSS project rolled out in Perth, Western Australia, under the Try, Test and Learn Fund.

This project helps unemployed young adults at risk of long-term welfare dependence to become job-ready with the personalised assistance of volunteer mentors who guide and support them through the job seeking process. A number of surprising findings have emerged highlighting the importance of relational supports in addressing individual needs and barriers to becoming job-ready.

Join the panel of Centre for Social Impact researchers, Dr Mariana Atkins and Lisette Kaleveld, with Principal Project Officer for Mentoring 2 Work, Paul Abbott, to explore how innovative approaches can better serve the needs of our unemployed youth.

WHEN: Monday 25 May 4pm-5pm AEST

WHERE: Online - Zoom webinar

FREE REGISTRATION:

https://events.humanitix.com/webinar-twenty-four-youth-unemployment-and-relational-support

This webinar is part of CSI’s impact2020 – providing free daily webinars to the for-purpose sector to bring people together and achieve brilliant things during these unprecedented times.

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More gas exploration for Queensland

QUEENSLAND is strengthening its position as the most reliable supplier of gas on the East Coast with Santos and Denison Gas to explore for gas in the state’s energy rich land said the Queensland Resources Council.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said onshore investments in gas exploration was good news for regional Queensland.

“We back our resources industry in Queensland, and that means industry and Government working together to increase the supply of gas for both domestic and LNG customers while supporting local jobs,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“I thank the Queensland Government for its proactive approach to opening up land for gas exploration but it is essential that we have stable and reliable regulation for our resources sector to continue to attract the investment that builds our state and delivers for every Queenslander.”

These tenures follow the release of more than 6700 square kilometres of land for exploration last week from Goondiwindi to Blackwater.

Santos would explore over 2000sqkm across areas in the Bowen and Surat basins with almost half of the gas produced for the domestic market. 

Denison Gas has signed up to explore 568sqkm south-east of Emerald with a domestic-only supply condition. 

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham's release http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/5/25/santos-and-denison-to-pump-more-queensland-gas

www.qrc.org.au

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QAGOMA's online Design Market continues until May 31

The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is conducting its inaugural online Design Market from May 15 to 31.

Until May 31, the work of more than 25 Queensland based designer-makers and artisans will be available from qagoma.store.

Customers can purchase products ranging from unique ceramics and jewellery, to handmade clothing and accessories, to quality homewares and more, and have them shipped straight to their door.

QAGOMA Market coordinator Katie Themor said the Gallery’s Design Market, usually presented in the GOMA forecourt, was always a favourite with audiences.

"This year, due to the impact of COVID-19 and with both QAG and GOMA temporarily closed, we’ve moved the physical market online and remain committed to providing a space for local designers and artisans to sell their work," Ms Themor said.

"It’s important for us to stay in touch with our customers, and to support our stallholders by helping them keep their businesses and practices afloat in this uncertain time.

"The QAGOMA Design Market is now in its 14th year, and we’re encouraging our regular and new customers to support local creators by making a special purchase online before the end of May," Ms Themor said.

The online market will feature unique ceramics by Paper Boat Press and Shut Up and Relax; eccentric and sparkly jewellery designs by Yippy Whippy and work by many other featured artisans including: Aqua Door Designs, Bambambu, Barbara Heath, Birdy and Clementine, Chantal and Corey, Claudia de Salvo, Corner Block Studio, Denz and Co, Illys Wall, Kirralee and Co, Lovr Ceramics, Meekz Contemporary Jewellery, Paper Hands, Paperbark Love, Secret Garden Artisinal Soaps, Sewloist, Sewn, Sonia Palette Jewellery, Spun Mud, Sybella, Tangled Twine by Wren, Thea Skelsey, Touch Wood Design, Two Plums Design, Woodrock Turning and Jewellery by Xiao.

QAGOMA is inviting the public to shop local and support artists at qagoma.store and follow on Instagram @qagomastore #gomadesignmarket.

To stay inspired, follow QAGOMA on Instagram, or visit the QAGOMA website for the latest #homewithQAGOMA highlights.

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Coalition of 201 Parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries unite against Beijing’s new Hong Kong measures

A CROSS-PARTY international coalition of 201 parliamentarians and policymakers from 23 countries, including 20 Australian MPs and Senators, today issued a statement decrying Beijing’s "unilateral introduction of national security legislation in Hong Kong" and calling for sympathetic governments to unite against this "flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration".

Led by the former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Christopher Patten, and the former UK Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the coalition comprises of a depth of expertise and experience including former prime ministers, foreign secretaries, defence ministers, prominent legal and human rights experts, diplomats, Senators, and Members of Parliament.  

Lord Patten of Barnes said, "The statement shows growing and widespread international outrage at the decision by the Chinese Government to unilaterally impose national security legislation in Hong Kong. The breadth of support, which spans all political parties and four continents, reflects both the severity of the situation and ongoing unified international support for the principle of one-country, two-systems."

Signatories include:

  • the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the United States, UK, Australia and New Zealand, Congressman Eliot Engel, Tom Tugendhat, Senator David Fawcett and Simon O’Connor.

They were joined by eminent and notable signatories from the UK including:

  • two former Leaders of the UK Conservative Party, Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Lord Howard
  • two former Speakers of the House of Commons, Baroness Boothroyd and John Bercow
  • three former Defence Secretaries, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Lord King and Liam Fox
  • the former and current leaders of the Liberal Democrats, Tim Farron and Ed Davey
  • the former Deputy Prime Minister Damian Green, and Conservative leadership candidate Rory Stewart
  • the Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy QC
  • and former leader of the UK Green Party Baroness Bennett.

Former UK Foreign Secretary and Hong Kong Watch Patron, Sir Malcolm Rifkind said,  “This is the most serious threat to the people of Hong Kong that there has been from the Chinese Government since 1997. The people of Hong Kong need, and deserve, our support”

Other signatories include:

  • the Chair of the US House of Representatives committees on Armed Services Congressman Adam Smith
  • Ranking Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Robert Menendez
  • the Co-Chairs of the US Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman James McGovern, and the CECC’s former Co-Chair Chris Smith
  • the Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, Malaysian MP Charles Santiago, and the Chair of the German Bundestag Human Rights Committee Gyde Jensen,
  • the former Prime Minister of Belgium Guy Verhofstadt,
  • the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kibulius,
  • the former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Jan Figel,
  • the Chair of the European Parliament Delegations for Relations with China, Reinhard Bütikofer,
  • the former Foreign Ministers of Poland and Estonia, Anna Fotyga and Urmas Paet,

This international coalition brought together to stand in solidarity with Hong Kong spans from North America, the UK, and Europe to South Asia and Australia. It includes policymakers from across the political divide, encompassing Liberal, Conservative, Socialist, and those of no particular ideology. It is a demonstration that concerns for the future of Hong Kong cut across both political ideology and geographic boundaries.

Commenting on the publication of the international statement, Hong Kong Watch’s co-founder and chair, Benedict Rogers said, "The death of democracy in Hong Kong should be of grave concern to us all. We hope that this international statement from policymakers across the political and geographic divide will send a clear message to Beijing that the world will not meekly consent to the dismantling of the ‘One, Country Two Systems’ Model overnight.”

Joint Statement from 201 Signatories

We, the co-signed, write to express grave concerns about the unilateral introduction of national security legislation by Beijing in Hong Kong. 

This is a comprehensive assault on the city's autonomy, rule of law, and fundamental freedoms. The integrity of one-country, two-systems hangs by a thread. 

It is the genuine grievances of ordinary Hong Kongers that are driving protests. Draconian laws will only escalate the situation further, jeopardising Hong Kong’s future as an open Chinese international city. 

If the international community cannot trust Beijing to keep its word when it comes to Hong Kong, people will be reluctant to take its word on other matters. Sympathetic governments must unite to say that this flagrant breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration cannot be tolerated.

 

Alphabetical list of signatories

Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, former Governor of Hong Kong

Rt. Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary

AUSTRALIA

Members of Parliament

Kevin Andrews MP, Former Australian Defence Minister, Chairman of the Human Rights sub-committee of the Australian Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade

Vicki Dunne MP

Andrew Hastie MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee for Intelligence and Security, Australia

Ian Goodenough MP

Peter Khalil MP

Janelle Saffin MP

Dave Sharma MP

Phillip Thompson MP

Tim Wilson MP

Members of the Senate

Senator Eric Abetz, former Leader of the Government in the Senate

Senator Alex Antic

Senator Slade Brockman

Senator Matthew Canavan, former Minister for Resources

Senator Claire Chandler

Senator David Fawcett, Chair of the Joint Standing Committee Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade, former Assistant Minister for Defence

Senator Kimberley Kitching, Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Accountability

Senator Matthew O’Sullivan

Senator James Paterson

Senator Tony Sheldon

Senator Amanda Stoker

NEW ZEALAND

Simeon Brown MP

Marama Davidson MP, co-leader of the Green Party

Simon O’Connor MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade Committee

USA

Members of the Senate

Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee

Senator Ted Cruz, Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Senator Edward J Markey, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy

Senator Robert Menendez, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Senator Marco Rubio, Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee

Senator Josh Hawley

Members of the House of Representatives

Congressman Robert B Aderholt

Congressman Ami Bera, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, House Foreign Affairs Committee

Congressman Eliot L Engel, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Congressman Mike Gallagher

Congressman Vicky Hartzler

Congressman Michael T McCaul, ranking member of US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Congressman James McGovern, co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China

Congressman Adam B Schiff, Chairman of the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman of US House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services

Congressman Christopher Smith, former Chair of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee

Congressman Tom Suozzi

Congressman Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Non-proliferation, US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs

Former Ambassador Grover Joseph Rees, former USA Ambassador to East Timor

UK

Members of Parliament

Debbie Abrahams MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Gareth Bacon MP

Andrew Bowie MP

Andrew Bridgen MP

Anthony Browne MP

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission

Chris Bryant MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs Spokesman

Wendy Chamberlain MP

Sarah Champion MP, Chair of the International Development Committee

Daisy Cooper MP

Rt. Hon Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Geraint Davies MP

Dehenna Davison MP

Stephen Double MP

Peter Dowd MP, former Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Tim Farron MP, former Leader of the Liberal Democrats

Simon Fell MP

Rt. Hon Liam Fox MP, former Defence Secretary and International Trade Secretary

Rt. Hon Damian Green MP, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Jonathan Gullis MP

Andrew Gwynne MP, former Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Antony Higginbottom MP

Wera Hobhouse MP

Kevin Hollinrake MP

Christine Jardine MP

Imran Khan MP

Daniel Kawczynski MP

Craig Mackinlay MP

Paul Maynard MP

Stewart M McDonald MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Gagan Mohindra MP

Layla Moran MP

Kieran Mullen MP

Sarah Olney MP

Tom Randall MP

Rob Roberts MP

Bob Seely MP, Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee

Andrew Selous MP

Rt. Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Leader of the Conservative Party

Alyn Smith MP, Scottish Nationalist Party Spokesman on International Affairs

Jamie Stone MP

Tom Tugendhat MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Jamie Wallis MP

James Wild MP

Munira Wilson MP

Members of the House of Lords

Lord Alton of Liverpool

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party

Rt. Hon Baroness Boothroyd of Sandwell, former Speaker of the House of Commons

Lord Hannay of Chiswick, former UK Ambassador to the United Nations

Lord Hogan-Howe of Sheffield, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner

Rt. Hon Lord Howard of Lympne, former Home Secretary and Leader of the Conservative Party

Baroness Kennedy QC of the Shaws

Rt. Hon Lord King of Bridgewater, former Defence Secretary and Northern Ireland Secretary

Former Members of Parliament

Rt. Hon John Bercow, former Speaker of the House of Commons and former MP

Rt. Hon David Miliband, former Foreign Secretary and MP

Rt. Hon Rory Stewart, former Secretary of State for International Development and former MP

Rt. Hon Jack Straw, former Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, and Justice Secretary and former MP

Former Ambassadors

Sir David Manning, former UK Ambassador to the United States of America

Members of the Scottish Parliament

Ross Greer MSP, Scottish Green External Affairs Spokesperson

CANADA

Members of Parliament

Leona Alleslev, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party and Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs

James Bezan, MP, Shadow Minister for National Defence

Kenny Chiu MP

Ed Fast MP

Garnett Genuis MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China Relations

Peter Mackay, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada

Erin O’Toole MP

John Williamson MP

Members of the Senate

Senator Leo Housakos, former Speaker of the Senate

Senator Jim Munson

Senator Thanh Hai Ngo

Former Ministers

Irwin Colter, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General

David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific and former MP

Former Premiers

Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and Federal MP

EU

Former EU Special Envoys

Jan Figel, former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia and EU Special Envoy for Promotion Freedom of Religion or Belief outside of the EU

Members of the European Parliament

Petras Austrevicuis MEP (Renew Europe, Lithuania)

Jose Ramon Bauza Diaz MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)

Francois-Xavier Bellamy MEP (European People’s Party, France)

Vladimír Bilčík MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Reinhard Buetikofer MEP (Greens, Germany)

Katalin Cseh MEP (Renew Europe, Hungary)

Pascal Durand MEP (Renew Europe, France)

Engin Eroglu MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)

Anna Fotyga MEP, (European Conservatives & Reformists) Poland former Foreign Secretary of Poland

Michael Gahler MEP (European People’s Party, Germany)

Evelyne Gebhardt MEP (Socialists & Democrats, Germany)

Markéta Gregorová MEP (Greens, Czech Republic)

Bernard Guetta MEP (Renew Europe, France)

Rasa Jukneviciene MEP, (European People’s Party, Lithuania) former Minister of Defence of Lithuania and former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Eugen Jurzyca MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)

Karin Karlsbro MEP (Renew Europe, Sweden)

Moritz Körner MEP (Renew Europe, Germany)

Andrius Kibilius MEP (European People’s Party, Lithuania), former Prime Minister of Lithuania

Miriam Lexmann MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Javier Nart MEP (Renew Europe, Spain)

Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová MEP (European Conservatives & Reformists, Slovakia)

Urmas Paet MEP (Renew Europe, Estonia), former Foreign Secretary of Estonia

Peter Pollák MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Michaela Šojdrová MEP (European People’s Party, Czech Republic)

Ivan Štefanec MEP (European People’s Party, Slovakia)

Romana Tomc MEP (European People’s Party, Slovenia)

Hilde Vautmans MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium)

Guy Verhofstadt MEP (Renew Europe, Belgium), former Prime Minister of Belgium

GERMANY

Margarete Bause MP, Green Party Spokeswoman for Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid

Peter Heidt MP

Eckhard Gnodtke MP

Gyde Jensen MP, the Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee

SWEDEN

Joar Forssell MP

Hampus Hagman MP

David Josefsson MP

Kerstin Lundgren MP

Frederik Malm MP

Niels Paarup-Petersen MP

Lorentz Tovatt MP

DENMARK

Viggo Fischer MP

IRELAND

Senator Ronan Mullen

LITHUANIA

Mantas Adomenas MP

Arvydas Anusauskas MP

Audronius Azubalis MP, former Minister of Foreign Affairs

Laurynas Kasciunas MP

Gabrielius Landsbergis MP

Radvilė Morkunaite-Mikuleniene MP

Emanuelis Zingeris MP, Chair of the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development

Žygimantas Pavilionis MP, former Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States of America

SLOVAKIA

Members of Parliament

Alojz Baránik MP

Ján Benčík MP

Peter Cmorej MP

Ondrej Dostál MP

Gábor Grendel MP, Deputy Speaker

Jarmila Halgašová MP

Radovan Kazda MP

Miroslav Kollár MP

Vladimíra Marcinková MP

Peter Osuský MP

Peter Pollák MP

Juraj Šeliga MP, Deputy Speaker

Andrej Stančík MP

Romana Tabák MP

Marián Viskupič MP

Anna Zemanová MP

Miroslav Žiak MP

Jana Žitňanská MP

Former Member of Parliament

František Šebej, former MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee

CZECH REPUBLIC

Jan Lipavsky MP

MALAYSIA

Andrew Khoo, Advocate and Solicitor, High Court of Malaya in Malaysia, former Co-Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Bar Council Malaysia

Charles Santiago MP, Chair of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights

MYANMAR

U Kyaw Min San, Member of the Bago Regional Parliament and former legal adviser to the International Commission of Jurists Office

SOUTH KOREA

Jung-Hoon Lee, former Ambassador for Human Rights

INDIA

Dr John Dayal, former President of the All India Catholic Union and Member of the National Integration Council

INDONESIA

Rafendi Djamin, former Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights

 Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights

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QRC shares new Minister’s ambition for regional development and COVID-19 recovery

THE Queensland Resources Council has met with the new Queensland Minister for Regional Development Glenn Butcher and reaffirmed a shared commitment to a strong COVID-19 recovery.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the QRC had called for the establishment of the Regional Development portfolio at the 2017 State Election and welcomed the appointment of Mr Butcher, who is the State Member for Gladstone, to the role.

“The Minister had a long career prior to politics working in the resources and energy sector with QAL in Gladstone. Now as Minister, his clear commitment is working with the resources and energy sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“While our meeting was physically distant (due to COVID-19 restrictions), our ambitions for regional Queensland growth are closely aligned.

“QRC is committed to working with the Minister to look at how we – the industry and government – can work together to create jobs and attract investment in new resource projects. By streamlining those processes, we can best ensure assessments are comprehensive and approvals are secured to allow projects to develop and jobs to be created.”

Mr Macfarlane said the minister was also responsible for the GasFields Commission, which QRC works closely with under its chairman Ian Langdon and chief executive officer Colin Cassidy PSM.

www.qrc.org.au

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Newcastle maritime workers provide support to those hardest hit by COVID-19 crisis

MEMBERS of the Maritime Union of Australia Newcastle Branch have raised $16,500 to provide direct financial and practical assistance to local families and vulnerable members of the community enduring hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite facing their own economic uncertainty, union members reached out to local community organisations to identify ways they could deliver immediate support to working families who have found themselves in extreme financial hardship due to the current crisis.

In partnership with Eastlakes Family Support Service, more than a dozen local families have been provided with direct financial assistance. Donations have also been made to the Soul Cafe and the Development and Relief Agency (DARA), assisting the organisations to cook meals for people experiencing homelessness and deliver food hampers to families in need.

MUA Newcastle Branch secretary Glen Williams said all three local community services had faced a surge in demand in recent months, with maritime workers keen to do their bit to assist.

“Many working families have found themselves in financial difficulty because of the COVID-19 pandemic and MUA members wanted to do their bit to look after people who are doing it tough after losing their jobs or homes,” Mr Williams said.

“Despite facing economic uncertainty themselves, local maritime workers have dug deep to provide what assistance they can to help those less fortunate get through this terrible time.

“We partnered with three local organisations with a long history of helping those most in need, providing direct financial support for more than a dozen families facing extreme hardship and providing funding for food hampers and meals for people experiencing homelessness in the Newcastle area.

“Trade unionism is about working people sticking together and looking out for each other, which is why MUA members have given what they can to lend a helping hand to those in our community most in need.”

Soul Cafe CEO Rick Prosser thanked members of the MUA Newcastle Branch for their support.

“On behalf of our team, and particularly the guests we serve each, the Soul Cafe is greatly appreciative of this tremendous community support,” Mr Prosser said.

“This donation will enable our work to continue as we serve some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

DARA food programs coordinator Baden Ellis said volunteers had been working tirelessly to meet the increased demand for food support in the Newcastle community.

“These funds give DARA the capacity to produce an additional 1,000 meals to provide to Novocastrians affected by COVID-19,” Mr Ellis said.

"I want to express my gratitude to the Maritime Union of Australia for this generous donation.”

For more information about the work of these organisations, or to make a donation, visit Eastlakes Family Support Services (www.efss.org.au), The Soul Cafe (soulcafe.org.au), or Development and Relief Agency (dara.org.au).

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Least cost routing to help small businesses on road to recovery

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is calling on banks to make “least cost routing” available to small business as a matter of urgency.

Ms Carnell said small businesses would benefit if banks adopted least cost routing, sending tap-and-go payments via the cheapest payment pathway to limit the costs incurred by merchants.

“Australian banks have been doing some good work to support small businesses throughout the COVID-19 crisis,” Ms Carnell said.

“Banks have an opportunity to build on this now, by making least cost routing readily available to small businesses for tap-and-go payments.

"It’s estimated about $30 million in extra fees were paid by merchants during March, due to banks directing debit card contactless payments to global companies such as Visa and Mastercard.

“For too long, small businesses have been slugged with unnecessarily high fees from credit card networks, when there is a cheaper option,” Ms Carnell said.

“This is particularly unfair when many small businesses are trying to get back on their feet, with coronavirus restrictions lifting.

“Small businesses are being disproportionally hit by fees, with larger retailers able to bypass full fees by using payment systems directly or by having the market power to negotiate least cost routing with their banks," Ms Carnell said

“There has been plenty of time for the banks to implement these changes. It has been two years since the major banks were directed by Federal Parliamentary committees to embed least cost routing in the merchant services plans they advertise to retailers.

“The banks need to do the right thing by Australian small businesses in this economic crisis and deliver least cost routing as a universal service.

“As of July, Eftpos has announced it will cut the standard wholesale interchange fee paid by small businesses in half to 2 cents for tap-and-go transactions that are routed to Eftpos. Roll-out of least cost routing should be a priority for the banks.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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Technology Investment Roadmap identifies carbon capture as a low emissions tech priority

THE CO2 Cooperative Research Centre (CO2CRC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s embrace of science and technology as the pathway to accelerating low emissions technologies and its identification of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) as a priority low emissions technology.

CO2CRC chief executive, David Byers said the Technology Investment Roadmap provided a "powerful endorsement of the potential for CCUS to play a vital role in meeting the dual challenge of supplying more energy but with fewer emissions".

Mr Byers said, “As International Energy Agency executive director, Dr Fatih Birol declared earlier this year: ‘When we consider the scale of the energy and climate challenge, the critical importance of carbon capture is inescapable.’

“In that context, Australia is well-placed to be a world leader in CCUS. Recent project activity demonstrates to the nation that CCUS is not a dream for the future but a reality today,” Mr Byers said.

“The world’s largest commercial-scale carbon dioxide injection project commenced in August 2019 at Gorgon LNG on Barrow Island, off the northwest coast of WA. Gorgon is now progressively ramping up to full capacity of up to 4Mtpa of safe and permanent storage of CO2. 

“Santos is at an advanced stage of examining a large-scale commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) project to be located in the Cooper Basin with a scalable potential to store up to 20 Mtpa of CO2 per year.

 “The launch of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain pilot project in Victoria has been another leap forward for CCUS in Australia. The CarbonNet Project is investigating the feasibility for a commercial-scale, multi-user CCUS network in Gippsland that will inject CO2 -- including that ultimately produced from commercial-scale hydrogen production -- into deep underground, offshore storage sites in Bass Strait. In January, CarbonNet reached an exciting phase with the conclusion of a successful offshore drilling appraisal well at the Pelican site.

“Finally, COAL21 is examining the development of a commercial scale CCUS project in Queensland’s Surat Basin with a final investment decision to begin construction of a $150 million carbon capture plant at the Millmerran Power Station scheduled for later this year.

“Together, this project activity demonstrates once again that CCUS is not experimental – it is a proven technology, currently being deployed, storing millions of tons of CO2. On a global scale, more than 200 million tonnes of CO2 have been captured and injected deep underground since the 1970s. One project - the Sleipner CCS operation in Norway has separated and injected about one million tonnes of CO2 per year since 1996," Mr Byers said.

“Today, 19 large scale CCS facilities are operating globally and another four are in construction.

The challenge is to continue to improve the cost-effectiveness of CCUS and develop the right policy settings for further investment.  

“The value of CCUS is its versatility as a technology. Its applications extend to industrial processes such as cement, iron and steel. Emissions in these sectors are hard to abate due to inherent process emissions and high temperature heat requirements.

"Earlier this month, Equinor, Shell and Total signed off on the Northern Lights Project - a plan to build a carbon capture network that will capture 5 million tonnes of CO2 per year from various industrial sites including a major Norwegian cement production plant and a large waste to energy plant in Oslo. CO2 emissions will be transported via ship and pipeline to an offshore storage reservoir in the Northern North Sea. Final go ahead for the project is subject to Norwegian Government investment and regulatory approvals,” he said. 

Mr Byers also highlighted the $194 billion export value of Australia’s coal, LNG and iron-ore resources in 2018-19.

“It is in Australia’s national interest to take advantage of all our natural energy resource endowments to enhance economic prosperity. CCUS has an important and unique role to play in reducing emissions from industrial processes vital to Australia’s economy like gas processing, steel and cement production

“CCUS can play a vital role in helping Australia achieve continued economic prosperity while meeting international emissions reductions commitments. The reality is that, over the long-term, there is unlikely to be a cost-effective emissions reduction response without CCUS.

"As the Technology Investment Roadmap points out, Australia is also well-placed to leverage its CCUS scientific and industry knowledge and experience to help neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region meet their low emissions targets.” he said.

www.co2crc.com.au

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Beware of COVID-19 stimulus fraudsters says TPB

THE Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) is warning the community and businesses to take extra care when seeking assistance in accessing the Federal Government’s COVID-19 stimulus measures.

This follows the identification of a growing number of complaints and intelligence about fraudsters posing as tax experts, providing misleading advice and support relating to COVID-19 stimulus benefits, often provided on a ‘no benefit – no fee’ basis.

The arrangements are often promoted through social media channels, claim to offer advice and support along with unnecessary services in a subscription or locked-in contract. Some of these arrangements involve businesses with thousands of clients. T

he organisations involved may claim that the advice being provided is ‘assured’ by a registered tax agent. That advice may be incorrect and breach the Tax Agent Services Act (TASA).

The TPB will prioritise investigations into organisations who have been involved in such conduct.

Often, an agreement may require the client to provide personal or confidential information including Tax File Numbers or MyGov ID logins. Unregistered service providers however, often have poor IT and security controls and are susceptible to identity theft.

TPB chair, Ian Klug said, "We are investigating organisations operating in this way to establish how, and which, services are being provided and whether they are in contravention of the law.

"We are concerned about protecting the consumers of taxation services as we know the accuracy of the advice given by unregistered agents is not reliable and there is no safe way to ‘assure’ advice by an unregistered tax adviser simply by involving a registered agent on the fringe of the business. Incorrect advice may prevent the full amount of the benefit from reaching its intended recipients.

"Also, incorrectly received benefits may have to be repaid and recipients may be liable for penalties and interest."

TPB is urging community to check whether their tax practitioner is registered on the public register at www.tpb.gov.au/onlineregister and follow the TPB’s tips when seeking taxation or COVID-19 stimulus advice.

Mr Klug said, "If you are not a registered practitioner and your business is engaged in providing advice or services related to any of the COVID-19 stimulus benefits such as Jobkeeper, Cash Boost or Early Release from Super, you are in breach of the TASA and may be liable for a civil penalty imposed by the Federal Court."

Any small business or individual unwittingly caught up in unfair contracts with businesses offering ‘assured’ tax services should seek legal advice.

If buisness leaders become aware of a potential scam or unregistered tax practitioner, report the situation to the TPB either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 1300 362 829 (select option 5). All reports will be treated in the strictest confidence, Mr Klug said.

 

About the Tax Practitioners Board

The Tax Practitioners Board regulates tax practitioners in order to protect consumers. The TPB aims to assure the community that tax practitioners meet appropriate standards of professional and ethical conduct. Twitter @TPB_gov_au, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

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