Trish Crossin (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pursuant to standing order 166, I present documents listed on today's Order of Business at item 12 which were presented to Temporary Chairs of Committees since the Senate last sat. In accordance with the terms of the standing orders, the publication of the documents was authorised.

In accordance with the usual practice and with the concurrence of the Senate I ask that the government responses be incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The list read as follows—

(a)    Government responses to committee reports

1.    Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee––Report––Climate change and the Australian agricultural sector (received 15 November 2011)

2.    Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee––Reports (interim and final)––Science underpinning the inability to eradicate the Asian honey bee (received 15 November 2011)

3.    Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee––Report––Welfare of international students (received 18 November 2011)

4.    Select Committee on the Reform of the Australian Federation––Report––Australia’s federation: An agenda for reform (received 18 November 2011)

(b)    Government documents

1.    Australian Electoral Commission––Election 2010––Funding and disclosure report (received 14 November 2011)

2.    Gene Technology Regulator––Quarterly report for the period 1 April to 30 June 2011 (received 14 November 2011)

3.    Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards, reporting on the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme––Report for 2010-11 (received 14 November 2011)

4.    Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority––Report for 2010-11 (received 15 November 2011)

5.    Indigenous Land Council––Report for 2010-11 (received 15 November 2011)

6.    Private Health Insurance Administration Council––Report for 2010-11 (received 15 November 2011)

7.    High Court of Australia––Report for 2010-11 (received 18 November 2011)

The documents read as follows—

1 GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE RURAL AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT

Climate change and the Australian agricultural sector

On 19 September 2007, the Senate referred the following matter to the Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for inquiry and report by 30 June 2008:

  (i) The scientific evidence available on the likely future climate of Australia's key agricultural production zones, and its implications for current farm enterprises and possible future industries.

  (ii) The need for a national strategy to assist Australian agricultural industries to adapt to climate change.

  (iii) The adequacy of existing drought assistance and exceptional circumstances programs to cope with long-term climatic changes.

On 14 February 2008, the Senate re-adopted the Inquiry with terms of reference unchanged and with a reporting date of 4 September 2008. On 4 September 2008, the committee tabled an interim report, and tabled a final report on 4 December 2008.

The Senate Committee report made three recommendations:

  1. The government should significantly increase the research effort in relation to the potential of soil carbon as a climate mitigation measure, as a means of reducing the capital input costs to agriculture [and] as a means of increasing resilience in agricultural systems.

  2. The committee recommends that the government should provide for a full carbon accounting framework in relation to agricultural and forestry sectors in a domestic emissions trading scheme.

  3. DAFF should prioritise strategic planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural communities and play a greater leadership role than is currently the case.

There were no dissenting reports by Senate Committee members.

Government Response

The government has considered the recommendations of the Senate Committee report. The government's response to the recommendations is as follows.

Senate Committee report Recommendation 1

The government should significantly increase the research effort in relation to the potential of soil carbon as a climate mitigation measure, as a means of reducing the capital input costs to agriculture [and] as a means of increasing resilience in agricultural systems.

The government agrees in principle with this recommendation and has significantly increased investment in research efforts into the potential of soil carbon since the Senate Committee tabled its final report.

In July 2011 the government announced a new $201 million program, Filling the Research Gap, as part of the Carbon Farming Futures program of the Clean Energy Future plan. It will provide competitive grants funding to support research into emerging abatement technologies, strategies and innovative management practices that improve soil carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainable agricultural practices. Novel approaches, including new crop and grazing species, biochar and biofuels will be targeted. Filling the Research Gap will build on the significant research into soil carbon that has occurred through the Soil Carbon Research Program.

The Parliament passed legislation for the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) on 23 August 2011. The CFI will enable Australian farmers, forest growers and landholders to generate credits that can be sold in domestic and international carbon markets, allowing them to receive income for taking action to reduce Australia's carbon emissions, including through increasing soil carbon sequestration. The government will work to fast track methodologies for soil carbon under the CFI.

From 2009 to 2012, the government has invested $9.6 million in the Soil Carbon Research Program (SCRP), a component of the $46.2 million Climate Change Research Program under Australia's Farming Future. The SCRP is creating a nationally standardised methodology for sampling and analysing soil carbon. This research is identifying management practices with the potential to build soil carbon levels.

The SCRP consists of nine projects across Australia, focusing on:

understanding the role Australian soils could play in carbon sequestration;

improving the understanding of soil carbon stocks; and

understanding the impacts of management practices on soil carbon.

In addition to providing, improved and consistent information about the potential of Australian soils to sequester carbon, the SCRP will help to inform the sector on the potential of soil carbon to reduce input costs by, for example, improving nutrient use efficiency and water holding capacity. Productivity gains such as these could be delivered through increasing soil carbon which would contribute to a more resilient agricultural sector.

The government is also investing $1.4 million in a research project on biochar through the Climate Change Research Program. The project is targeting gaps in the understanding of this emerging technology and addresses uncertainties about its use. The government will be funding additional research and on-farm testing of biochar through the Carbon Farming Futures program. Biochar has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and benefit agriculture by storing carbon and enhancing soil productivity.

The Climate Change Research Program complements projects already being funded through the government's Caring for our Country initiative. Caring for our Country seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed, resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate. Caring for our Country will invest over $2 billion to 2013. Up to $171 million is available for investment under the 2010-11 Caring for our Country business plan and an additional $138 million is allocated each year as base-level funding to regional natural resource management organisations. Caring for our Country focuses on achieving strategic results across six national priority areas; including Sustainable Farm Practices. Recognising the benefits of soil carbon to soil health, the Sustainable Farm Practices priority includes assisting farmers to adopt improved management practices, such as cropping and grazing methods that increase soil carbon.

Senate Committee report Recommendation 2

The committee recommends that the government should provide for a full carbon accounting framework in relation to agricultural and forestry sectors in a domestic emissions trading scheme.

The government agrees in part with this recommendation.

The national inventory system provides a comprehensive framework for accounting for emissions and sequestration in the agricultural and forestry sectors. These are described in the National Inventory Reports, based on remotely sensed activity data and use of the ecosystem model, Fu1ICAM. This system is internally reviewed every year under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) provides a full carbon accounting framework, with methods that are consistent with the national inventory system. Reforestation accounting under the CFI will be delivered by the reforestation modelling tool (RMT), developed by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE).

Australia is working with other countries to develop new international rules that will enable a broader range of land sector abatement to be counted towards emissions reduction targets. As the negotiations are still ongoing, it is too early to ascertain whether agricultural soil carbon and other forms of abatement that are not currently counted towards Australia's Kyoto targets will be recognised under a future international climate change framework.

Senate Committee report Recommendation 3

DAFF should prioritise strategic planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural communities and play a greater leadership role than is currently the case.

The government partially agrees with this recommendation.

Agriculture is one of the Australian Government's national adaptation priorities. These priorities are identified in the Australian Government's position paper on climate change adaptation.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is responsible for providing policy advice and administering programs aimed at the development of internationally competitive and sustainable primary industries, including agriculture. DAFF is playing a key role in implementing the $1.7 billion land sector package within the Clean Energy Future plan along with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE), the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) and the Treasury.

The Clean Energy Future plan's land sector package includes the ongoing Carbon Farming Futures program. It will deliver $429 million to help farmers and other landholders benefit from financial opportunities under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). The Carbon Farming Futures program includes:

$201 million Filling the Research Gap for research into new ways of storing carbon and reducing pollution in the land sector, as discussed in Recommendation 1.

$99 million Action on the Ground which will provide grant funding to regional landholders and research, industry and farming organisations across Australia to undertake projects to implement innovative management practices to achieve sustainable outcomes, reduce emissions and boost soil carbon stores. Grants will be available to landholders to take action on the ground including testing new ways to increase soil carbon.

$64 million for Extension and Outreach activities to provide information and support to landholders in integrating carbon management into farm planning; new research and farm techniques; and improving productivity and farm sustainability.

$20 million to convert research into practical methodologies which are recognised under the CFI.

A 15% tax offset to encourage the uptake of conservation tillage farming techniques.

The land sector package also includes a new ongoing $946 million Biodiversity Fund which will assist farmers and landholders to undertake projects such as revegetating areas of high conservation value, managing and protecting biodiverse ecosystems and action to prevent the spread of invasive weeds. A new Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Advisory Board will provide advice on implementation of these measures.

The ongoing Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund will provide $22 million as part of the land sector package. This fund will support Indigenous Australians to implement carbon farming projects. Funding will be provided for specialists to work with Indigenous communities to develop carbon4farming projects and for the development of low-cost estimation and reporting tools for abatement activities likely to have high Indigenous participation, such as savanna fire management.

The land sector package's Regional NRM Planning and Climate Change Fund will allow for the strategic planning of adaptation and mitigation actions in agricultural and rural communities. It will help regional communities plan for the impacts of climate change, and maximise the benefits from carbon fanning projects. Funding of $44 million will be provided for regional NRM organisations to plan for climate change, produce NRM plans to a highly professional, nationally consistent standard and develop scenarios on regional climate change impacts.

The Clean Energy Future plan's land sector package builds on Australia's Farming Future, a multi-pronged approach to help primary producers manage their emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. DAFF has administered Australia's Farming Future since 2008. Australia's Farming Future will conclude in June 2012 and has a number of elements including support for:

research and development through the Climate Change Research Program

training through the FarmReady program

building community networks and capacity to manage climate change

adjustment advice and assistance for those who choose to leave farming

information services activities.

Government Response

Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee

Inquiry Report: Science underpinning the inability to eradicate the Asian honey bee

Interim Report Recommendations

The committee recommends that the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests reconsider the question of whether the Asian honey bee is eradicable from Australia; and, following that reconsideration, make a fresh recommendation to the National Management Group on the Asian honey bee incursion management response; the Consultative Committee should specifically consider this question in light of evidence relating to the potential for the insect's spread and resulting environmental, economic and social costs; the Consultative Committee should specifically apply the precautionary principle to areas of scientific uncertainty in its reconsideration of these issues.

The committee recommends that, on receipt of a fresh recommendation from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests, the National Management Group reconsider the question of whether it is technically feasible to eradicate the Asian honey bee from Australia; the National Management Group should specifically apply the precautionary principle to areas of scientific uncertainty in its reconsideration of this issue.

The committee recommends that, in the event that the full Asian honey bee eradication program is reinstated, a scientific program of data collection concerning the detection, spread and eradicability of the Asian honey bee from Australia be initiated in order to properly inform future decision making regarding this emergency plant pest.

Response: The Government accepts all recommendations and notes that the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests did reconvene but found that it again could not reach consensus about whether the Asian honey bee could be eradicated. The National Management Group reconvened on 12 May 2011 to consider the impact of the Consultative Committee deliberations on the original decision on eradicability. Although consensus was not reached, the Group determined that it is not technically feasible to achieve eradication.

However, this does not mean that important control activities against the bee have ceased. The Government has provided a further $2 million to support a national pilot program to facilitate the transition of action from eradication to the ongoing management of Asian honey bees.

This program is being developed in consultation with Biosecurity Queensland and the honey bee industry and is close to being finalised.

Final Report Recommendation

The committee recommends that the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) and relevant scientific organisations, such as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), be consulted as soon as an incursion is reported to provide advice on the biodiversity consequences of the establishment and spread of the pest.

The committee further recommends that a written response from SEWPaC and the relevant scientific organisations is made to the relevant agencies as soon as possible setting out the biodiversity consequences.

Response: The Government accepts the first part of this recommendation and notes that the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) already participates in discussions of the National Management Group (NMG)—the peak decision making body for national responses to pest and disease incursions. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, however, is the nominated Australian Government delegate.

The Government notes that as part of the decision making process, National Management Group members already consider biodiversity consequences of the establishment and spread of a pest or disease.

Relevant advice is sought from scientific experts when necessary including the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests or the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases or through Scientific Advisory Panels appointed by these committees. These committees are the key coordinating bodies which provide technical advice to the National Management Group.

The Government does not accept the second part of this recommendation. SEWPaC and relevant scientific agencies already have the ability to provide written advice either through the National Management Group or Consultative Committees. Futhermore, the National Management Group may need to take prompt action to deal with an incursion and waiting for written advice from SEWPaC and scientific agencies may hinder action being taken in a timely manner.

Commonwealth Government Response to the Senate References Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations' Inquiry into the Welfare of International Students

November 2011

Introduction

On 17 June 2009 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations References Committee (the Committee) for inquiry and report:

a)   the roles and responsibilities of education providers, migration and education

agents, state and federal governments, and relevant departments and embassies,

in ensuring the quality and adequacy in information, advice. service delivery and support, with particular reference to:

i)   student safety

ii)   adequate and affordable accommodation

iii)   social inclusion

iv)   student visa requirements

v)   adequate international student supports and advocacy

vi)   employment rights and protections from exploitation

vii)   appropriate pathways to permanency.

b)   the identification of quality benchmarks and controls for service, advice and

support for international students studying at an Australian education institution.

c)   any other related matters.

The Senate Committee held public hearings in Melbourne on 1 September; in Sydney on 2 September; and in Canberra on 18 September 2009.

The Committee tabled its Report into the Welfare of International Students on 26 November 2009.

The Committee made 16 recommendations spanning a range of portfolio responsibilities.

The Government Response (Response) supports nine recommendations, supports in principle three recommendations and notes four recommendations.

Some of the recommendations presented in the final report are being addressed by the Government through:

- the implementation of the Council of Australian Government's (COAG) International Students Strategy for Australia (ISSA)

- responding to the recommendations made in the Hon Bruce Baird's review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000

- new strengthened registration criteria introduced in March 2010 and re-registration of all education providers delivering services to overseas students completed on 31 December 2010

- the establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)

- the establishment of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), formally known as the National VET Regulator

- a joint strategic review of the Student visa program commissioned by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The Hon Michael Knight AO conducted the review and presented his report to the Government on 1 July 2011 to which the Government responded on 22 September 2011

- the establishment of the International Education Advisory Council.

The International Students Strategy for Australia

On 29 October 2010 the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Chris Evans, released COAG's International Students Strategy for Australia (ISSA). The Strategy outlines 12 initiatives to address four key areas: international student wellbeing; quality of international education; consumer protection; and the availability of better information for international students. Many of these initiatives address the Senate Committee's recommendations. These include:

the establishment of an international student consultative committee and an annual International Student Roundtable to give international students a national forum to put forward their views in relation to their study and living experience in Australia

a national community engagement strategy to facilitate connections between international students and the broader community, including increased understanding of rights and support services

a Study in Australia information portal to provide a single source of authoritative, comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information for students, including information on personal safety, student support services, and tenancy and employment rights and responsibilities

establishment of Provider Closure Taskforces in each jurisdiction to ensure rapid and coordinated support for students in the event of provider closure

the requirement for international students to provide evidence of health insurance cover for their proposed visa duration at the time of visa application. This will help guard against failure by students to renew coverage

access for international students to an independent statutory complaints body, as international education providers will be required to use this as their external complaints and appeals process.

The Strategy has been developed collaboratively, and is being implemented by governments, the international education sector and international students. International students have offered valuable advice and input on issues related to studying, living and working in Australia.

The Strategy builds on efforts undertaken at all levels of government to improve the safety and wellbeing of international students and to ensure the ongoing quality and sustainability of the sector.

International Student Roundtables

The September 2009 International Student Roundtable called for better pre-arrival information about visas and studying, improved facilities, teaching quality, and better access to basic services.

The second International Student Roundtable was held in Canberra from 21-23 August 2011. The Roundtable brought together 30 international students, from all states and territories across all education sectors, to discuss the quality of their study and living experiences in Australia.

Students were nominated through the Joint Committee on International Education (JCIE), the Council of International Students and some were selected from the first Roundtable held in 2009. Participants were broadly representative of the international student population in Australia.

The Roundtable culminated in the presentation of a communiqué that acknowledged the significant progress made since the 2009 Roundtable and proposed further actions to address challenges in the key areas of: education experience; social inclusion; cost of living pressures; student safety and welfare; and visa related matters.

The recommendations of the International Student Roundtable are being considered by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments through the JCIE.

The Baird Review

The Baird review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 was conducted between August 2009 and February 2010 and involved consultations with over 200 stakeholders including students, education providers, peak bodies, state and territory government regulators and embassies.

The final report of the Baird review was released on 9 March 2010 and included

19 recommendations and findings related to student welfare and information, ethical recruitment, effective enforcement, risk management, and consumer protection.

The final report, Stronger, Simpler, Smarter ESOS: Supporting International Students sets out the issues facing the sector and makes a number of recommendations around two central themes:

ensuring students are better supported through improved information, management of education agents, stronger consumer protection mechanisms and enhanced support to study and live in Australia, including having somewhere to go when problems arise

improving regulation of Australia's international education sector to ensure Australia maintains its reputation as a high quality study destination.

Implementation of Baird review recommendations

On 21 March 2011 the first tranche of the legislative changes recommended by the Baird Review was passed through Parliament and enacted on 8 April 2011. The changes will strengthen the quality and integrity of the international education sector and include:

further strengthening registration criteria, with a specific focus on business sustainability

a risk management approach to registration both at entry and throughout the registration period

limiting the period of provider registration

allowing conditions to be placed on registration according to risk

introducing financial penalties for a broader range of non-compliant behaviour

publishing targets and regularly reporting on all regulatory activities undertaken

expanding the role of the Commonwealth Ombudsman for external complaints relating to private providers.

On 7 December 2010 the Minister for Tertiary Education. Senator Chris Evans, released a consultation paper to inform the next phase of the Government's response to the

Baird Review. The sector was asked to provide submissions by 21 January 2011 in relation to:

risk assessment and management approaches to the registration and monitoring of education providers delivering to overseas students

strengthening the tuition protection framework

a range of recommendations arising from the Baird review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000

the regulatory effect on providers of these proposals and recommendations.

A total of 52 submissions were received. Further targeted consultation with key stakeholders was held between January and September 2011 with a particular focus on strengthening the tuition protection framework.

On 10 May 2011, the Australian Government announced two broad measures to prepare for the Government's second phase legislative response to the Baird Review.

The first measure is a rebasing of the Annual Registration Charge (ARC) for all international education providers registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). This was implemented by legislative amendments enacted on 26 September 2011 and will take effect from the next ARC collection in early 2012.

The second measure encompasses capital funding of $3.25 million to be provided in 2011-12 to establish information technology systems for enhanced tuition protection arrangements for international stu

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That consideration of each of the government responses to committee reports just tabled be listed on the Notice Paper as orders of the day.

Question agreed to.