Sympathies and support to all of those members in their electorate. I want to thank you for the work you have done. The member raise the matter recommendations regarding the assets, what the government has done to respond to that with two separate actions of funding which matched what they originally asked for i dealt with this during the bushfire season, in addition to those funding allocations of 11 million, on top of that we announce that further 20 million over and above the 15 million being provided each and every year as part of the arrangement we had. We are pleased to do that. Ongoing funding was addressed in this years budget. The house of representatives, the primacy was asked about preparedness and how they acted on this, and related to the catastrophic season. The leader of the opposition. My question is addressed to the primacy. Does the primacy regret saying volunteer firefighters dont need economic compensation for lost income because they want to be out there. Once again, the leader of the opposition is misrepresenting what occurred for political purposes as he always does. There is no issue the leader of the opposition will not exploit for personal political gain. And this is just another example. Another example of lack of character. Mister speaker, mister speaker. Mister speaker. Was not what i outlined when those remarks were made. What was raised in the press conference i was at was in relation for the first time with the suggestion made that there may be some mister speaker, that there may be right by the journalists weather, mister speaker, whether we would be considering to answer his question. It was being raised whether the commonwealth would be provided compensation for service volunteers. Mister speaker, that is not a matter normally dealt with by the federal government. The opposition dealt with by the federal government. It is a matter that is traditionally done by the other services, mister speaker. I was reflecting comments made with mister speaker, i put it to me when they were asking, mister speaker, they wanted to be out there protecting their community, mister speaker. That is what i was talking about. They know they would prefer not to have fires. They would prefer to be at home with their families and their communities. What i am saying, mister speaker, they wanted to answer the call because that is what our volunteers do. The leader of the opposition has willfully for months sought to misrepresent that comment for the political advantage of the bushfires and it shows an appalling any event. Mister speaker, this government acted on the basis of the advice we received and working closely with the fire Service Commissioner to provide income loss payments for Fire Service Members when they are out there for more than 10 days, mister speaker, and we did so at the request of the New South Wales fire Service Commissioner. When we received that request, we acted on that request and more than 6 million has since been paid to those Fire Service Members on the basis of being out there for more than 10 days. The same was made to other states. It is not being taken up. The Prime Ministers time. Coronavirus gripped the world and australia is no exception. Thousands of australians found themselves stranded in areas impacted by coronavirus. The government organized evacuations to rescue australians stranded. Thank you, mister president. My question is to the minister for defense. Can the minister update us on how defense is supporting the whole government effort to repatriate australians from coronavirus affected areas overseas . Senator reynolds. Thank you, mister president. Thank you to senator henderson for the question and her ongoing support for the defense industry. I was proud of this chamber, what they are doing on operation bushfire assist which is mobilization domestically in our nations history. Im proud that we mobilized and provide significant support to the whole of government effort in tackling the coronavirus. These efforts are being made by the the permit of foreign affairs, health and theyre playing a significant role in this response and working across government very well to ensure the best interest of australians who were put up overseas particularly in wuhan. 236 personnel supporting australians from wuhan and doing what they do best, providing a wide range of logistical support. The many things that can be measured by statistics and quantities and numbers but also providing that support that is not directly measurable, providing additional support, helping hand due to kindness to australians and families returning to australia. Questions . Can the minister expand on how defense is working . Particularly on retirement . Thank you very much and thank you to senator henderson for the question, Australian Border force with the first two groups of australians to Christmas Island. 80 people are assisting the departure to Christmas Island. 168 personnel providing garrison support at Christmas Island and 49. Currently being dismantled and relocated to the northwest region. There are 19 members coordinating this effort and defense support includes the reestablishment and operations at Christmas Island including provision of food and many other essentials and those currently at Christmas Island. And anything through decontamination and transport. The bushfire crisis that continues including impact on australian wildfires. 1 million animals died in the bushfires, 50 million to help with rehabilitation of quickly endangered animals. Senator henson young. My question is to the minister representing the minister for environment. Over 1 billion animals have been killed by these climate fires over the summer, as many as 25,000 scholars have been killed on Kangaroo Island alone, 3000 more under threat from loss of habitat, starvation, 10 million hectares of bush forest, bushland have been decimated. 80 of the worlds bluemountains have been burned. We have already been in the midst of an extension crisis before the fires. Ecologists worn some species might never recover. The government has already said 60 million is not enough. When will the Government Fund the recovery, restoration and protection our environment this really needs . The loss of life which is a knowledge on tuesday, nor is it isolated to the loss of property and or Economic Activities but very much does include the loss of habitat, the harm to environment and to ecosystems. Thats why the treasury announced initial 50 Million Investment to support immediate work to protect wildlife and habitat recovery at acknowledge this is a down payment for emergency interventions. In terms of further investment around other longterm aspects of recovery they government has been very clear whether its in relation to infrastructure rebuild, the support for individuals, support for businesses and support for the tourism sector, support for the environment, investment in Mental Health services, all of which weve taken a position to do in the wake of these bushfires. When indicated and all of those cases that they are initial decisions and that we will then monitor the impacts across those sectors and respond further when necessary and appropriate. Immediately, we have pursued funding to provide, care for, rehabilitation of injured wildlife and secure population to control to Scientific Method understand the true impact of these fires and to work with land owners around protecting the precious remaining unburned areas allow them to support our native plants and animals to recover. Its been an extensive engagement with the conservation sector a supplementary question. Thank you, mr. President. Critical habitats of wildlife have been destroyed as prepas outlined but it may never recover. Will the government commit now to a moratorium on land cleared to protect the only habitat are wildlife and our precious koalas have left . Senator birmingham. Thanks mr. President. The senator speaks in that request a sweeping policy decision asking that it be married from you on the run. The government has in place at a National Level environmental laws that ensure the when it comes to lampley decisions are other decisions, the federal government dash as a relates to the fine matters of National Environment and those matters take into consideration why must habitat or endangered and threatened species, those matters take into consideration scientific advice, but it is not the governments take over policy to take over the responsibility of the states and territories when it comes to Land Management practices over all. The states and territories have clear responsibilities there. Order. The bushfires have also brought in to sharp focus the National Debate on Climate Change including the extent to which hot weather and dry conditions contributed to the catastrophic fires. I call the leader of the grades. My question is for the Prime Minister. Australia is an record drought, catastrophic megafires have burned our country. Our Capital Cities have have ranked amongst the worlds most polluted and now we are facing a flood disaster. Do you now accept that we are facing a coal fueled Climate Emergency . The Prime Minister. Thank you, mr. Speaker. As i advised the house last week, once i receive feedback from the states and territories on the terms of reference for that commission, and at that time i will then forward a copy of that to the opposition before announcing what we intend to do with that rule commissioner it starts from the premise that we do with longer, harder, drier summers, and weve always come and ive always acknowledged the link between the Climate Change and these broader whether climatic events. That has not been in dispute by our government and its not in dispute by our government. Those opposite say they giggle and the. But that is because, mistress beeker, they are seeking to put forward a false comfort mr. Speaker. Appalls conta in this place. Our government is taking action to reduce emissions and they followed by 12. 8 . Mr. Speaker, our government has put in place policies that have led to one of the highest levels of renewable investments that this country has ever seen. Now, they can deny the facts if they like but are the facts, mr. Speaker. But what it also said in response to this dreadful black some of that we have been experiencing is the taking action on Climate Change isnt just about taking action on emissions. Its about taking action on climate resilience. Its about taking action on climate adaptation. Its about taking action on hazard reduction, which is a form of climate resilience. It is about building dams like the billions of dollars were investing in those projects to the National Water great. Building dams is Climate Action epic has objections Climate Action no. I noticed a leader of the greens doesnt agree. Hes entitled not to agree but the site suggest that it is, and our government will act on that. You may want to select and choose those you want to listen to to make Climate Change about being anticapitalism but thats not what we think it is. We think capitalism and technology is the way you will ensure a Brighter Future for this world and for this country. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer . The leader of the greens on a point of order. A short question was about whether the Prime Minister accepted the Climate Emergency. Just point out again, members of my right have pointed out many times the question also had a long preamble and when theres a long preamble it leaves it open to the responder to do with that part of the question. The Prime Minister is in order. Let me be very clear. Our government will meet and be our kyoto timetable on emissions reduction. Our kyoto terms to we will meet and beat our paris targets, mr. Speaker. We will go 400. The leader of the opposition can informally a policy with the Mission Target should be for 2030. And mr. Speaker, when we do that without putting a tax on people we would do that with voting their electricity prices up and we would do that without wiping out the jobs, particularly of those in regional australia for whom they depend on that for their livelihood. While bushfires dominated the headlines, the increasing number of coronavirus cases prompted calls for Stricter Border control and eventually led to a travel ban on noncitizen coming back from china arriving in australia. Senator patrick. Thank you, mr. President. My question is for sender to cash and concerts by acidity measures directed against the 2019 coronavirus which is now climbed over 1000 lives claimed over. How many people are writing in australia china since the first of february have been subject to bias he could screening and advice to government self isolation at home . How was the government able to confirm that incoming travelers are following self isolation protocols, and our travels arrived from china under any legal obligation to comply with self isolation guidances . The minister for help. Thank you, mr. President and i think the senator for the question ever the details ive been unable to get i will seek to have been provided to you. In terms of the latest data, proximate 43,723 confirmed cases and 1013 deaths have been reported globally. Of the 1013 confirmed deaths, 1011 have been from Mainland China. Of the confirmed cases reported globally, the mortality rate is approximately 2 . The morrison government is doing everything in our power to protect australians from ongoing coronavirus outbreak. With implement enhanced border, for nationals have been a mainline shanda since will not be allowed to enter australia. The overall total of arrivals since the fifth of february from Mainland China is approximately 28,500. I advised this represents a very substantial decrease in numbers arriving from Mainland China. Im also advise this has not result in a significant increase indicating that restrictions are proving effective. All arrivals undertake appropriate screening and are provided with information on the virus and what to do if symptoms present. These border measures are effective and since the first of february am 145 chinas australia flights were canceled or 30 arriving passengers had their visas canceled. 19 visas have been reissued. 234 passengers were refused permission to board your flight to australia and 84 passengers to us till he had been refused permission to board the departing vessel and ill take center patrick, a supplemet your question. Have any buyer Security Control orders been imposed in relation to confirm or suspected cases of coronavirus and australia . And if so how many . And in what general circumstances would the government consider imposition of human bioSecurity Control for this to be appropriate . Thank you, mr. President. Im advised on the 23rd of january human coronavirus pandemic potential was listed. As i listed, enable the use of enhanced border measures to all states and territories have powers to issue orders and the Public Health legislation that include provision for detaining persons and enforcement of those orders in relation to notifiable conditions. Authorized Public Health office is the issue to an individual but generally chief Health Offices must authorize orders for detention. All states and territories have Emergency Powers which provides extensive authorities to control a Public Health emergency including the power to detain individuals. In such cases the emergency direction must be authorized by the chief Health Officer or in some cases the minister. However once declared authorize emergency offices may have delegated powers an agency to detain individuals. The commonwealth can issue directions through emergency under the biosecurity and again speed is it international affairs, that the feds minnis was asked work being done by hms conducting freedom of navigation exercises in the strait of hormuz. Personnel helping to protect Oil Shipments from iranian interference. Thank you, mr. President. Visit stop my first speech. My question is for the ministry of defense. Can the minister update the center on how this trillion Defense Forces working with its partners to support Maritime Security in the middle east . Prime minister for defense. Order. Thank you very much, mr. President and i thank the senator for his first question. On the 13th of january i i took a crew of 190 personnel on a six month deployment the middle east and operation. Im very happy to report to the senate that they are already doing our nation proud. Its us choice longest any commitment to Maritime Security and stability in the middle east. This is not a new mission. Hms is a 68 Royal Australian naval deployment to the region since 1990. It commenced operation of it 31st of january and is already conducted a transit of the strait of hormuz with United Kingdom royal navy, hms defender. But throughout her deployment she will be dual assigned. She is also the combined Maritime Forces which is a 33 Nation Partnership which is targeting terrorism, piracy, drug drug smuggling in the middle east region and also on the northeast coast of africa. Shes also supporting as i said the international Maritime Security construct, a Broad International effort designed to protect freedom of navigation and support the safe passage of commercial shipping and maritime trade in the region. Australia joined the forming a series of security come following a series us to get incidence against the shipping in the strait of hormuz. Hormuz. Under the imfs treaty were working with International Partners to secure trade and energy flows throughout the middle east region by ensuring the safe passage of commercial and also civilian vessels. When operating in support of the imsa, we will coordinate with cultivated european led Surveillance Mission in the strait of hormuz. A supplementary question. Thank you, mr. President. Can the minister provide an update on how australias support to the combined Maritime Forces helps to counterterrorism and narcotics in the middle east . Senator reynolds. Thank you very much. I think the senator for his question. One supporting the combined Maritime Forces, hms will assist with the interdiction of illegal activity that funded terrorism, this includes the movement of personnel weapons or income generating and also [inaudible] since 2014 the royal historian 80 has seen in excess of 9. 6 tons of heroin, 58 times of hashish, 15 kilograms of methamphetamines and also 35 kilos of amphetamines. Theres an estimated combined street value in excess of 6. 2 billion. As what is approximately 2200 illegal weapons nearly 500,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 12 times of precursor chemicals required to manufacture explosives. Through these efforts australia has helped deny terrorist organizations crucial weapons and also revenue. Can the minister explain to the senate how australias contribution to the international Maritime Security construct supports fosters economic and security interest . Senator reynolds. Thank you, mr. President. Maintain a final trade energy flows the key chokepoint like the strait of hormuz is crucial to the Global Trading system and also the International Economy and also australias asperity. Around 40 of fuel used in australia transits through the straits of her music and is either refined here or overseas. These national Maritime Security constructs seek to provide freedom of navigation through the shipping lanes which reached record into the indopacific region and well beyond. Under the imf see we will work with International Partners to monitor and deter destabilizing activities which could disrupt trade and also vital energy flows. She will also support the safe passage of commercial and civilian shipping in the region. An annual report into the welfare of indigenous australians has damage findings about the progress australia to making in the target health, education and employment as the rest of the country. Of the seven objectives of the program, just two are being met. The member. Thank you, mr. Speaker. My question is for the minister for indigenous australians. Will you inform the house at the morrison government is working Genuine Partnership with indigenous australians and state and territory governments to progress closing the gap . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I just want to thank the member for your continued and ongoing support and interest in these areas. Peak organization came to the Prime Minister. I met with him about the way in which we were doing business as australian governments. And asked if it was possible for Indigenous People to sit at the table to shape the direction for closing the gap into the future. Prime minister undertook that process, that and had the first ministers agree to process which it would be a tripartite approach to developing the targets. But the coalition of peaks would work very closely with the Aboriginal Community and with state and territory governments and with the commonwealth. The first meeting when the senator was the minister responsible at the time. I have the privilege of sitting at the table at the first joint council meeting, and in that meeting what we did is we took forward what was agreed to about the way in which we would shape the future that would leave a legacy of indigenous involvement in decisionmaking. The other element to that was that ministers from each state and territory would sit there and be part of those discussions. It was historic in the sense that we sat with indigenous australians cochairing a cowagon counsel, unprecedented. What we did recently as the Prime Minister invited them into the cabinet room and talked about what was evolving out of the consultations on the target, doing broad consultation right across the nation. I will come back to us with the final set but they were working with but the agency for nationl indigenous australians agency, with the professor anderson. And what theyre doing is theyre having genuine discussions on how we shape the future. And in doing that i reflected on other elements of the work that were doing asked the agency now to always engage with our people on all initiatives that we do. We are not to tell communities what they need. I did identify the challenge. We are going work on solutions. I also wanted to ask all of us in this chamber to do the same, to engage within our electorates, to listen to the voices of people at the local level. Many of us do this well. Some of us, depends on time. But if we do this consistently and we bring into the feedback for the Aboriginal Community, then let me say that we will have an outcome that is an exemplar for the future, and we can collectively take credit for the way in which weve engaged in a real way. Thank you. Here here. Highly the greens might attack the government over its response to student activists who skip class to attend Climate Change process. The government saying they are better off in school. My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister. Your government has relentlessly attacked students striker for Climate Action. The Prime Minister said kids should go to school. The deputy Prime Minister denounced anything that would disrupt school, even you, minister, said during the school time kids should be in school. But because your government inaction on the Climate Crisis has made natural disasters more frequent and intense, the bushfires disrupted the education of tens of thousands of students this summer. On just one day in november, my home state of New South Wales some more than 600 schools shut down. Will you acknowledge that your criminal inaction on Climate Emergency is the real disruption to students . Thank you very much, mr. Pre, for the question. Let me confirm that the government and every single sender is firmly of the view that children should attend the school, firm of that view. That has been our view. The remains our view. It will be argued in the future. Let me also say that our government is committed to refection actual Climate Change. What we are not proposing to do is to harm australian families, to harm young people in australia and the future prospect by forcing them to accept sacrifices which would make the Global Environment worse off. They are shifting their jobs and Economic Activity from australia to other parts of the world by opposing burdens that will lead to higher pollution levels in other parts of the world. Its not in the best interest of the estrone people are not in the best interest of schoolchildren and australia to rely on us, who rely on us to of opportunities in the future. So we will continue to do the right thing by pursuing a policy agenda that is environmentally effective and economically responsible. We know that is not your review. We know that you have a more extreme view where you want you are quite happy to harm the future opportunities of us Children Family and work to make yourself feel better to domestically, even though emissions globally will be hired as a result of your action. That is that something we will ever do. Thats it for question time rep. Thank you for your company. Im annelise nielsen. District looking into chinas ability to project its military power and influence in other countries taking a a break nowr lunch. Earlier today we are from a Deputy Assistant secretary of defense for china and we will continue to hear from members of the u. S. , China Economic and security review commission. This hearing expected to resume at about 1250 thymic eastern and we will have live coverage right here on cspan2 whenever it resumes. This week we are featuring booktv program showcasing what is available at the weekend on cspan2. Enjoy booktv this week and every weekend on cspan2. Earlier today u. S. Special representative for iran brian hook made an announcement outlining new sanctions against five iranian election officials. Good morning. Good morning. Tomorrow the Iranian Regime will stage