Along with members of his cabinet answered questions on the coronavirus outbreak, middle east security, combating Climate Change, and the recent australia wildfires. This is half an hour. Hello and welcome to question time where we play the highlights of question time in australias parliament. Wildfires ravaged the east coast of australia over the summer have died down, the political fallout is just beginning. Question time and parliament began with a bipartisan day honoring those fire victims and thanking the volunteers who helped fight the fires. It did not take long before the conversation quickly turned to politics. My question is to the Prime Minister why does the Prime Minister claim he always acted on the advice of fire commissioners when he ignored for two years their advice to provide determinate boost to australias aerial firefighting capabilities . Mr. Speaker, i think the member for her question, and i pass on again my sincere condolences and sympathies and support to all those members in her electorate. I have members in my family who live in your electorate and i want to thank you for the work you have done, as all members have done over the course of this bushfire season in supporting their local communities. I would be grateful if you could do that if you have the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, the member has raised the matter of recommendations that were made, through fire chiefs regarding the air firefighting assets and what the government had done was respond to that with two separate tranches of funding which matched what they originally asked for, and i dealt with this during the course of the bushfire season, but in addition to those two, finding allocations of 11 million. On top of that, we announced a further 20 million, and that was over and above the 15 million being provided each and every year as part of the arrangement that we had. I have also noted that the ongoing funding which was being sought would be addressed in this years budget. In the house of representatives the Prime Minister was asked about the governments preparedness and if they had acted on the advice of fire chiefs in the lead up to the catastrophic my question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Does the Prime Minister regret saying that volunteer firefighters do not need economic compensation for lost income because they want to be out there . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Once again, the leader of the opposition is misrepresenting what occurred for political purposes, as he always does. There is no issue that the leaders of the opposition will not seek to exploit for personal political gain, and this is just another example, another example of his lack of character. Now, mr. Speaker mr. Speaker that was not what i outlined when those remarks were made. Mr. Speaker, what was raised in the press conference i was at was in relation for the first time when the suggestion was made that there may be some mr. Speaker, that there may be questions raised by the journalist about if we would be considering if he would cease interjecting, im happy to answer his questions. It was raised if the commonwealth would be providing compensation for service volunteers. Mr. Speaker, that is not a matter that is normally dealt with by the federal government. It is a matter that is normally done by the federal government, it is a matter that is traditionally done by the Worldwide Services. I was repeating comments made to me when i visited with Worldwide Services, and they had put it to me when they were out there, mr. Speaker, they wanted to be out there protecting their communities. Thats what i was talking about. They know that they would prefer not to have fires. They know they would prefer to be at home with their families and their communities. What i was saying is that when duty called, they wanted to answer that call to duty because that is what our volunteers do. The leader of the opposition has willfully for months sought to misrepresent that comment to take political advantage of the bushfires, mr. Speaker, and it shows an appallingness in his behavior to politicize any event. This government acted on the basis of the advice we received and working closely with the New South WalesWorldwide Service commissioner to provide the income loss payments for Service Members when they are out there for more than 10 days, mr. Speaker, and we did so at the request of the New South WalesRural Fire Service commissioner. When we received that request from the New South Wales government, we acted on that request, and i think 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. That same offer was made to other states. It has not been taken up by victoria the time has concluded. Fears around coronavirus quickly gripped the world in australia it was no exception. Thousands of australians found themselves stranded in areas impacted by coronavirus. The government was forced to support efforts to rescue those stranded in wuhan. My question as to the minister for defense. Can we update the status on how the defense supporting the whole of government efforts to repatriate us trillions from coronavirus affected areas overseas . The minister for defense, senator reynolds. Thank you very much, mr. President , and also thank you very much, senator henderson, for the question and the ongoing support for the defense industry. Yesterday, i was proud to outline to this chamber all the workthat the adf are doing on operation bushfire assist, which is the largest mobilization of the ads domestically in our nations history. Im also proud the ads has been able to quickly mobilize and provide very significant support to the whole of government efforts tackling the coronavirus. These efforts are being led by the departments of Foreign Affairs and trade, health, and also homeless fears but the feds are playing a significant role in this response and we are working across governments very well to ensure the best interests of the australians who have got caught up overseas, particularly in wuhan. 236 personnel are currently supporting the departure of us trillions from wuhan, and they are doing what they do best, providing a wide range on logistical support, and the many things that can be measured by statistics and quantities and numbers, but they are also providing that support that is not directly measurable, that is providing Additional Support and that helping hand and that spirit of kindness to the australians and the families returning to australia. Can the minister expand on how defense is assisting home affaires particularly on Christmas Island . Thank you very much and thank you, senator henderson, for the question. Defense has directly supported Australian Border force with the transfer of the first two groups of australian evacuees to Christmas Island. 168 personnel are providing direct garrison support at Christmas Island and woody nine in lamont, which is currently being dismantled and relocated to darwin due to an impending cyclone in the northwest region. There are 19 members who are coordinating this effort also from adf headquarters, and defense support to home affairs includes the reestablishment and operation of the facility at Christmas Island including the provision of food and many other Life Essentials and comforts for those who are currently at Christmas Island. Support is also very wide. The garrison support is also very wide. The bushfire crisis continued to dominate including the impact on australian wildlife. It is estimated one billion animals died in the bushfire. The government has now pledged 15 billion dollars to help with the infrastructure to house newly critically endangered animals. Thank you, mr. President. My question is to the minister representing the ministers for the environment. Over one billion animals have been killed by these climate fires over the summer. 25, 000 koalas have been killed on Kangaroo Island alone. Thousands more under threat from the loss of habitat, starvation. Over 10 million hectares of forest park bush lens have been decimated. Over 80 of World Heritage lifted Blue Mountains have been burned. We have already seen in the midst of an extension crisis ecologist warned that some species may never recover. The government has already said that 50 million is not enough. When will the Government Fund the recovery, the restoration, and the protection that our environment desperately needs . When will the government announced the money we desperately need right now . These are serious issues in the government has acted and acknowledged very much the devastation caused by bushfires over the recent summer, not isolated to the tragic lossoflife acknowledged on tuesday, nor is it isolated to loss of property or economic ends but very much does include the loss of habitat and harm to environment and to ecosystems. That is why the treasurer announced an initial 50 Million Investment to support immediate work to protect wildlife and habitat recovery and acknowledge this is a down payment for emergency intervention. In terms of further investment around other longterm aspects of recovery, the government has been very clear if its in relation to infrastructure rebuilds and support for individuals and support for businesses and support for the tourism sector, support for the environment, investment in Mental Health services, all of which we have taken positions to do in the wake of the bushfires, have indicated in 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 and rehabilitation of wildlife in a secure environment population to threatened species, to scientifically map and understand the true impact of these fires and to work with landowners around protecting their precious remaining unburned areas to support our native plants and animals to recover. An extensive engagement in the conservation sector supplement or question. Thank you. Critical habitats of wildlife have been destroyed as previously outlined, and it may never recover. Will the government commit to a moratorium on Land Clearing to protect the only habitat our wildlife and our precious cowall is have left . Thanks, mr. President. The senator speaks and that request a sweeping policy decision, asking that it be made firmly on the run. The government has in place at a National Level environmental laws that ensure that when it comes to Land Clearing decisions or other decisions, the federal government has matters defined in environmental importance taking into account endangered and threatened species. Those matters take into consideration scientific advice, for us to take over the responsibility of states and territories when it comes to Land Management practices overall. The states and territories have cleared practices there. The bushfires have also brought into sharp focus the National Debate on Climate Change, including the extent to which hot weather and dry conditions contributed to the catastrophic fires. My question is for the Prime Minister. Australia is in a droughts, catastrophic fires have burdened our country. Our Capital Cities have ranked among the worlds most polluted and now we are facing a flood disaster. Do you now accept that we are facing a cold fueled Climate Emergency . Coalfueled Climate Emergency echo as i advised the house last week, the rope permission the government will be moving on once i receive feedback from the states and territories on the terms of that commission and at that time, i will forward a copy of that to the opposition before announcing what we intend to do, starts from the premise that we are dealing with longer, hotter, drier summers, and we have always and i have always acknowledged the link between Climate Change and these broader weather climatic events. That has not been in dispute by our government, and it is not in dispute by our government. They fuss and they giggle and they smirked, but that is because they are seeking to put forward a false conflict. Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action to reduce emissions, and they have fallen by 12. 8 . Our government has put in place policies that have left one of the highest levels of renewable investments that this country has ever seen. They can deny the facts if they like, but they are the facts. What i have also said in response to this dreadful black summer that we have been experiencing is that taking action on Climate Change is not just about taking action on emissions. It is about taking action on climate resilience. It is about taking action on climate adaptation. It is about taking action on hazard reduction, which is a form of climate resilience. It is about building dams, like the billions of dollars we are investing in the process through the National Water grade. Building dams is Climate Action now. Hazard reduction is Climate Action now. I noticed the leader of the greens does not agree with that. He is entitled not to agree with that, but the science suggests that it is, and our government will act on that. You may select and choose those you want to listen to to make Climate Change adapting anticapitalism, but that is not what we think. We think capitalism and technology is the way you would ensure a Brighter Future for this world and for this country. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer . The leader of the greens is on a point of order. The short question was about if the Prime Minister accepts the Climate Emergency. Members on my right, i have pointed out many times, the question also had a long preamble and when there is a long preamble, it leaves it open to the responder to deal with that part of the question. Let me be very clear our government has meet and beat our kyoto targets on emissions reduction, and we will meet and eat our paris targets meet and beat our paris targets. The leader of the opposition cannot even formulate a policy of what the emissions targets should be, and, mr. Speaker, we will do that without putting attacks on people. We will do that without putting electricity prices up and we will do that without wiping out jobs, particularly of those in regional australia, who depend on that for their livelihood. While bushfires dominated the headlines, the increasing number of coronavirus cases prompted calls for Stricter Border patrols and eventually lead to a travel ban on noncitizens coming back from china arriving in australia. Senator patrick. Thank you, mr. President. My question is for the minister representing the minister of health, senator cache, guarding the 2019 coronavirus, which has now claimed over 1000 lives. Can the minister advise how many people arriving in a straley or from china since the first of february have been the subject of biosecurity screening and are advised to to implement selfisolation at home . How is the government able to confirm incoming travelers are following selfisolation protocols, and are travelers arriving from china under any legal obligation to comply . The minister representing the minister for health. Thank you, mr. President , and i thank senator patrick for the question. In terms of the latest data as of midday today, approximately 42,723 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 for tally rate is approximately 2 . The morrison government is doing everything in our power to protect australians from the ongoing coronavirus outbreaks. Foreign nationals invaded Mainland China will not be allowed to enter Mainland China. Im advised that this represents a very substantial decrease in numbers arriving from Mainland China. Im also advised that this has not resulted in any significant increase in trend 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 ineffective. As of the first of february, one hundred 45 chinese two australian flights were canceled. 30 arriving passengers had their visas canceled. 19 have been reissued. 234 passengers were refused permission to board this flight to australia. 84 passengers to australia have been refused permission to board the departing vessel. A supplementary question. Thank you, minister. Have any bioSecurity Control orders been imposed in relation to confirm suspected cases of coronavirus in australia, and if so, how many . And in what general circumstances with the government consider imposition of human virus Security Control orders to be appropriate . Thank you, mr. President. Im advised human coronavirus pandemic potential was listed. All states and territories have powers to issue orders and the Public Health legislation pertaining to enforcement of those orders in relation to notify oval conditions. Public Health Offices may issue directions to an individual, but generally cheap Health Officers must authorize orders for detention. All states and territories have Emergency Powers which provide extensive authorities to control a Public Health emergency including the power to detain individuals. In such a case, the emergency must be approved by an officer or in some cases, the minister, but officers may have delegated powers of the agency to detain individuals. The commonwealth can issue under the by a security in international affairs, the minister was asked about work being done conducting freedom of navigation exercises in the strait of hormuz. Personnel are helping to protect Oil Shipments from iranian interference. This is not my first speech. My question is to the minister for defense, senator reynolds. Can the minister update the center on how Australian Defense forces working with the partners to support Maritime Security in the middle east . Quick the minister for defense, senator reynolds . Thank you very much, mr. President , and i thank the senator for his first question. On january 13, i took a crew of 690 personnel on a sixmonth deployment to the middle east, and im very happy to report to the senate that they are already doing our nation proud. This is not a new mission. It is the 68th royalist really enable deployment to the region since 1990. It commenced operation on january 21 and has already conducted a transit of the strait of hormuz, but throughout her deployment, she will be dual assigned. She is also supporting the combined Maritime Forces which is a 33nation partnership which is targeting terrorism, piracy, drug smuggling in the middle east region and also on the east to northeast coast of africa. She is also supporting, as i said, the international Maritime Security construct, Broad International efforts designed to protect freedom of navigation and design safe passage for commercial shipping and maritime trade in the region. A series of security incidents against shipping in the strait of hormuz and 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 ims he, they will coordinate with a complementary europeanled Surveillance Mission in the straits of hormuz. Can the minister provide an update on how australian support to the combined Maritime Forces helps counterterror helps to counterterrorism and narcotics in the middle east . Again, i thank the senator for his question. While supporting the combined Maritime Forces, hms will assist with interdicton of illegal activities that Fund Terrorism including movement of personnel, weapons, or income. Since 2014, the Royal Australian navy has seen in excess of 9. 6 tons of heroin, 58 tons of hashish, 15 kilotons of methamphetamines and also 35 kilos of amphetamines with an estimated combined street valued in excess of 6. 2 billion as well as approximately 2200 illegal 2200 illegal weapons with nearly 500 thousand rounds of ammunition and nearly 12 tons of precursor chemicals acquired to manufacture explosives. Through these efforts australia has helped to deny organizations crucial weapons and revenue. Can the minister explain to the senate how australias contribution to the international Maritime Security construct supports australias economic and security interests . Maintaining vital trade in key chokepoints is crucial to the Global Trading system, the international economy, and australias prosperity. 40 of fuel used goes through the strait of hormuz and is refined here or overseas. The international Maritime Security construct seeks to provide security of navigation through the shipping lanes, which reach directly into the region and beyond. We will work with International Partners monitor and deter destabilizing activities which could disrupt trade and vital energy flows. An annual report into the wellbeing of aboriginal australiations has found some damming findings have been released about the progress australians are making in the targets of health, education, and employment. Of the seven objectives of the program, just to are being met two are being met. My question is for the minister of indigenous australians. Will you inform the house how the morrison government is working in Genuine Partnership with indigenous australians and state and territory governments to progress closing the gap . Thank you, mr. Speaker. I want to thank the members for your continued ongoing support in these areas. The peak organizations came to the Prime Minister and met with him about the way we were doing business as australian governments. And asked if it was possible for indigenous australians to sit at the table, the Prime Minister undertook that process in 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 state and territory governments and the commonwealth. They have their first meeting with the previous minister nigel scallion. I was sitting at the first meeting in adelaide. What we did was take forward what was agreed to about the way in which we would shape the future that would leave a legacy of indigenous of indigenous involvement in decision makings. They would sit there and be part of those discussions. It was historic in some sense. Two indigenous australians cochairing a discussion. Unprecedented. What we did recently is the Prime Minister invited them into the cabinet room and we talked about what was evolving out of the consultation of the targets. They will come back to us with the final set. We have in working with the National Indigenous australians agency. I have been working with anderson but we are having genuine discussions over how we shape the future. In doing that, i reflected upon other elements of the work we are doing. I have asked the agency now to always engage with our people on all initiatives that we do. They are not to tell communities what they need, but are sit, to identify the challenge and work on solutions. I will ask all of us in this chamber to do the same. To engage witin our electorates, to engage at the local level. Many of us do this well, many of us think this depends on time, but if we do this consistency and bring in the feedback, let me say we will have an outcome that is an exemplar for the future and we can collectively take credit for engaging in a real way. Here here. Finally, the greens minor party attacked over student activists who skipped class to attend Climate Change protests. My question is to the minister presenting the prime mr. Common. Your government has relentlessly attacked students striking for Climate Action. The Prime Minister has said kids should go to school. The deputy Prime Minister denounced anything that would disrupt schools. Even you, minister common, said that, during school time, children should be in school. The governments inaction on the Climate Crisis has made National Disasters more frequent and intense. The brush fires disrupted thousands of students the summer. I just one day in november, south wales saw over 600 schools shut down. Will you admit that your inaction on climate emergencies is the real disruption . Your inaction on climate emergencies is the real disruption . I thank senator forouqi for that question. Let me confirm that the government and every single senator is firmly of the view that children should attend school. That remains our view and will be our view in the future. Let me say our government is committed to effective action. What we are not proposing is to harm australian families and young people and their future prospects by forcing them to accept sacrifices. They are shifting their jobs from economic from australia to other parts of the world. It would lead to problems in other parts of the world and would negatively impact the people who rely on us for a future. It is environmentally effective and economically responsible. We know you have a more extreme view where you are quite happy to harm the future opportunities of australian families to make yourself feel youve never misses global will be higher as a result of your action that is not something 11. To better. That is not something we will ever do. Thank you for your company. music