Lazy Policy Under Cover of Sympathy For Flood Victims: Abbott

Text of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s speech to the Young Liberal convention on the Gold Coast.

Tony AbbottThis summer, we’ve been shocked by the flood disasters that have hit Queensland, Victoria and parts of New South Wales and Western Australia but thrilled by the upwelling of generosity from family, friends, neighbours and tens of thousands of unknown benefactors towards their fellow Australians in trouble.

In dozens of evacuation, recovery or disaster control centres from Grantham and Murphy’s Creek, to Emerald, to Rochester, to Echuca, to Grafton or the Brisbane showgrounds, thousands of people, mostly volunteers, have been striving around the clock to help Australians whose homes or businesses have been in peril. In places such as Toowoomba, Bundaberg, Dalby, Horsham and Dadswell’s Bridge, home of the Big Koala, people devastated by the loss of homes and businesses have been buoyed by the support they’ve had from good Samaritans who turned up when they were needed most. [Read more...]

Flood Levy Details, Fact Sheets and Reaction

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a package of measures including a one-off levy to pay for the flood damage in Queensland and elsewhere.

Summary of Measures – Julia Gillard

Rebuilding after the floods

The Prime Minister today announced the Gillard Labor Government’s response to the immense national challenge of rebuilding flood-affected regions across Australia.

Preliminary estimates, following consultation with the Queensland Government, indicate that the Government will need to invest $5.6 billion in rebuilding flood-affected regions, with the vast majority going on rebuilding essential infrastructure. [Read more...]

Gillard Announces Levy To Pay For Flood Damage

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced that a one-off levy to pay for flood damage around Australia will be introduced from July 1.

The levy will only apply to individuals on incomes of more than $50,000. It will be levied at a rate of 0.5% on incomes from $50,001 to $100,000. The rate will be 1% on incomes from $100,001. People who have been affected by the floods will be exempt.

Gillard said the levy will apply only in the 2011-12 financial year and will raise $1.8 billion.

Julia Gillard

Addressing the National Press Club, Gillard also announced a $5.6 billion funding and skilling package for flood rebuilding.

She announced the abolition, deferral or capping of access to a range of carbon abatement programs. “These include the Green Car Innovation Fund, Cleaner Car Rebate Scheme, the Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships and Solar Flagships, the Solar Hot Water Rebate, Green Start Program, Solar Homes and Communities Plan and the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.”

Gillard said: “The key to these carbon abatement program savings is my determination to deliver a carbon price.”

  • Listen to Julia Gillard’s National Press Club Address, including questions.

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Transcript of Julia Gillard’s National Press Club Address.

I see what needs to be done and I will do it

Yesterday was Australia Day, and in some ways, it was an Australia Day like any other.

Picnics and barbecues, tennis and cricket, a new Australian of the Year and new Australian citizens – in so many ways it felt just like last year did and just like next year will.

But yesterday in Toowoomba, Australia Day felt different to any I have known.

I went to Toowoomba yesterday to be with some of the people I have met in these last weeks. I went to Toowoomba, where shock has been followed by horror and horror has been followed by grief and where grief’s long season has only now begun, because I wanted the people I have met to know that their Prime Minister won’t let them go. [Read more...]

David Bartlett Announces Resignation as Tasmanian Premier

4.30pm AEDT – Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett will resign tomorrow. It is expected that his deputy and Treasurer Lara Giddings will succeed him.

  • Listen to David Bartlett’s press conference in Hobart today.

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  • Listen to Opposition Leader Will Hodgman’s press conference.

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2.00pm AEDT – The Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has announced on Facebook that he will resign as Labor leader and step down as Premier.

Bartlett says he wants to be a “better father” to his children. He offers support to his deputy, Lara Giddings, as the next Premier.

On Sky News, Peter Van Onselen says Bartlett intends to remain in the Parliament and serve as a minister under Giddings.

Bartlett is to hold a press conference at 3pm.

This is the statement on Bartlett’s Facebook wall:

David Bartlett's resignation announcement on Facebook

New Enrolment Quota Set in South Australian Redistribution

As part of its redistribution of electoral boundaries in South Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission has determined that the enrolment quota is 100,636.

This means that each of the 11 electorates in South Australia will be redrawn to ensure that as near as possible they contain that number of voters. Electorates are allowed to vary by 10% above or below the quota. Projected population growth and decline will be taken into consideration to ensure that over time electorates converge on the quota figure.

Redistributions are required in each state every 7 years. A Victorian redistribution has just been completed. The new boundaries in both states will take effect from the next general election, due in late 2013.

This is the text of a media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

The acting Electoral Commissioner, Mr Paul Dacey, has announced the first step in the process of redistributing the federal electoral boundaries in South Australia by setting the enrolment quota.

“The enrolment quota for the redistribution in South Australia is 100 636,” Mr Dacey said.

The enrolment quota was determined by dividing the number of electors enrolled in South Australia as at 12 January 2011, which is the date the redistribution formally commenced, by the number of House of Representative seats to which the state is entitled (11).

When the boundaries are redrawn during the redistribution process, each electoral division must have between 90 573 and 110 699 electors – that is, a margin of up to 10% variation is allowed from the quota.

A media release was issued by the Electoral Commissioner on 12 January 2011 advising that under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries was required in South Australia as seven years had elapsed since the last redistribution. South Australia’s current entitlement to 11 seats in the House of Representatives will remain unchanged.

“A Redistribution Committee will soon be formed to begin the task of redrawing electoral boundaries within South Australia,” Mr Dacey said.

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires that the Redistribution Committee comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the state, as well as two senior state officials, usually the state’s Surveyor-General and Auditor-General or equivalent positions.

“The Redistribution Committee will undertake an extensive process of consultation and provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to make suggestions and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries and the naming of divisions.”

Public suggestions and comments about the redistribution will be invited in early April. The redistribution process is expected to be finalised on 16 December this year.

Gillard Forms Business Taskforce to Assist in Queensland Flood Recovery

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has announced the formation of a Business Taskforce to support Queenslanders in the immediate aftermath of the Queensland floods.

Gillard announced the taskforce at a press conference this morning with Lindsay Fox, the chairman of Linfox, the transport and logistics business.

Julia Gillard and Lindsay Fox

Members of the taskforce include former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss, now the chairman of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. There will be representatives from business associations, including Heather Ridout, Graham Bradley and David Michaelis. The National Farmers Federation is represented by its president Jock Laurie.

Answering questions at the press conference, Gillard refused to be drawn on the effects of the floods on the federal budget. She said the cost of the flood damage is not yet known but the government faces difficult budgetary choices. She would not comment on speculation about introducing a levy to fund recovery programs or on dipping into the Future Fund.

  • Listen to Gillard and Fox at their press conference.

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This is the text of a joint media release from Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan.

As everyday Australians show their compassion and determination by pulling together to help Queenslanders affected by the devastating floods, Australian businesses have answered the call as well.

The Prime Minister today announced the Australian Government will immediately establish a Business Taskforce to support Queenslanders in the immediate recovery effort.

The Business Taskforce will bring together ten Australian business leaders from a range of industries to mobilise business efforts across Australia.

The focus will be on:

  • Leveraging corporate donations of dollars
  • Helping drive and coordinate in-kind donations
  • Using Australia’s best business expertise to help with business recovery and rebuilding efforts in Queensland.

The Taskforce will be chaired by the Federal Treasurer and will meet with the Prime Minister for the first time next week.

The support pouring in from across Australia for people affected by the Queensland floods has been amazing – but Queensland is going to need much, much more in the coming months.

It is important to ensure that business support is marshaled effectively to ensure it gets to the areas and people who need it most, as well as to make sure that the resources being provided are useful and appropriate.

The Taskforce will be established for three months initially, with its ongoing operation to be reviewed at that time.

The Taskforce will play no role in directing government funding or managing the government’s response to the floods disaster. Instead, it will play the important role of helping to drive the involvement of a key sector of Australia in supporting Queensland at this difficult time.

Members of the Taskforce

  • Wayne Swan, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer
  • Bill Shorten, Assistant Treasurer
  • Andrew Fraser, Queensland Treasurer
  • Graham Bradley, Business Council of Australia President
  • Brian Flannery, White Energy Chief Executive
  • Lindsay Fox, Linfox chairman
  • Wayne Goss, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Chairman
  • Jock Laurie, National Farmers Federation President
  • Catherine Livingstone, Telstra, Macquarie Bank, WorleyParsons director
  • Michael Luscombe, Woolworths CEO
  • David Michaelis, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President
  • Heather Ridout, Australian Industry Group CEO
  • David Stewart, Leighton Holdings Ltd CEO

Queensland Floods: Latest Briefings

  • Anna Bligh says the crisis is not yet over.

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  • Julia Gillard inspects flood areas in Victoria.

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  • Resources Minister Martin Ferguson discusses flood reconstruction.

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Coal Barons Should Help Pay For Catastrophes: Greens

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has attracted criticism across the political spectrum for his call for the mining industry to be taxed to pay for natural disaster relief.

This is the press release issued by Senator Bob Brown, leader of the Australian Greens.

COAL BARONS SHOULD HELP PAY FOR CATASTROPHES – BROWN

Senator Bob BrownThe full tax on excess profits by the coal mining industry, as recommended by Treasury, should be imposed with half set aside for future natural catastrophes in Australia, Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart today.

“It is unfair that the cost is put on all taxpayers, not the culprits,” Senator Brown said.

“Burning coal is a major cause of global warming. This industry, which is 75% owned outside Australia, should help pay the cost of the predicted more severe and more frequent floods, droughts and bushfires in coming decades. As well, 700,000 seaside properties in Australia face rising sea levels.”

“A Goldman Sachs study found that the reduction in the mining super tax agreed by the current Labor government (the coalition opposes the mining tax) would cost Australians $35 billion in forgone revenue to 2019-20.”

“Scientists agree that current floods come from record-high temperatures of Australian oceans this season.”

“We also ask insurers to show some compassion to Queensland’s flood victims, and to others who face loss as wild weather besets the country. Many people believe they have flood cover and, if not, the fine print should have been disclosed to them.”

Queensland Floods: Latest Briefings

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has maintained her media presence over the weekend as the Queensland flood emergency continues.

Bligh announced this morning that the body of a Grantham woman has been identified, bringing to 16 the number of people killed in the Lockyer Valley region. One man has also died in Brisbane.

  • Listen to Anna Bligh’s press conference announcing the latest confirmed death.

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  • Listen to Anna Bligh’s interview with Kieran Gilbert on Sky News.

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Queensland Floods: Julia Gillard Visits Townsville

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, visited Townsville today and discussed government assistance to flood-affected areas.

  • Listen to Gillard:

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