Govement taken to engage with the new Trump Administration . Yes, i can. Thank you very much indeed. In the 58 days since President Trump was inaugurated, the government has been swift to engage with key figures in the new administration. As we know, prime mr. Turnbull has spoken with the president. The outcome of that president was the accepting refugees. An important outcome for australia. Ministers have had face to face meetings with cabinet level counterparts and other senior officials. Bishopnth, for mr. Traveled to washington last month, foreign minister bishop traveled to washington. Also last month, the defense minister held meetings with the new secretary of defense general mattis. This morning i returned from the United States after a visit to washington and new york. During which i had meetings with, among others, attorney general jeff sessions, the new director of the cia, mike pompeo, the director of the fbi, james comey, the white House Homeland Security adviser, and the chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee, senator burr. In new york i met with the undersecretary general with the United Nations for Political Affairs who has responsibilities with counterterrorism. I also spoke to the council on Foreign Relations on the topic of islamic terrorism in southeast asia. During my visit, i was accompanied by chris maratis. My meetings, like those of bishop and senator kaine are a timely reminder of our relationship with the United States. In particular, the intelligence and security agencies. Thank you, attorney general. Thank you, mr. President. Could the attorney general advised the senate what the outcome of these meetings was . Attorney general. Thank you, senator. Mr. President , i can tell the honorable senators that the corporations between australia n agencies, intelligence and National Security measures, both e cooperation remains unaffected by the change of administration in washington. The level of engagement between our agencies on counterterrorism, transnational crime, and the wide range of other matters in which they work together, is as close today as it has ever been. During meetings, i was able to thee matters including broader National Security arrangement in the region, and beyond. I was able to reaffirm the critical importance of continued engagement by the United States in our region. Supplementary question. Thank you, mr. General. Is it important that remain unaffected . Remainsda has been and australias most important Strategic Partner on National Security matters. Unaffectednership is by changes of administration in washington and government in canberra. 2014, whenmber 12, the National Terrorism threat level was elevated, australia terrorerienced four attacks, and 12 potential attacks have been interdicted and disrupted by our agencies. As i have said before, a number of those disruptions, which had they not been interdicted, would have led to the deaths of many australians, were the direct consequence of the deep end effective intelligence sharing between australia and its allies, and in particular, the United States. The Turnbull Government understands that. Locally, there has been a debate about the Racial Discrimination act in this country, and labor has been critical of a proposed work change in the act by the government. My question is to the Prime Minister. Today is for many day. It is the International Day for the day of Racial Discrimination. Why on today of all days is the Prime Minister charging to weaken protections about racist hate speech . I think the honorable member for his question. Today, we are strengthening the Racial Discrimination we are strengthening and because we are making it clear. And we are standing up for freedom of speech. We are standing up for the that makes ourch society the most Multicultural Society in the world. Thatarty believes australia is a mission of by the held in check abc. More tell you we have respect for the australian people than the labour party does. We know that our precious freedoms, our freedom of speech, is the very foundation of the nature of the great democracy that has caused so many people to come from every corner of the to join the most successful Multicultural Society in the world. And we are here in this house of free speech hard to be heard with the screams of the labour party. Not very interested in hearing anything but their own prejudices. , it has lost its credibility. They have lasted a long time ago. It needs to be reformed. And we are putting it in language that does the job. What we are delivering is a section, ad fairer section that will do a better job of protecting australians against racial vilification, and at the same time ensure that University Students are not hold ,hrough the courts for years and that the great bill leak does not have to look over their shoulder to see if there is a commission or a lawyer waiting to pounce on them. Mr. Speaker, lets be clear. The language we are proposing to insert in this bill is precisely the intent of the bill when it was first introduced. If ispeaker, if i go go to the Explanatory Memorandum on the floor when it was introduced by a labor government, it says it says the bill maintains a balance between the right to free speech and the protection of individuals and groups from harassment and fear because of their race, color, or nation of origin. Using isage we are appropriate. It is consistent with the intent of the legislation. And it is clear. It is plain. It is a stronger law, a fairer law, standing up for freedom of speech and protecting australians against racial vilification. The government defended its move in changes to what is known as section 18 c of the Racial Discrimination act, saying it is about protecting free speech. My question is to the minister representing the Prime Minister. Yesterday, the coalition to advance multiculturalism, a collection of 20 organizations, including the council of christians and jews, and the Vietnamese Community of the Turnbull Government decision to pursue the watering down of protections against racial vilification is utterly shameful. And it is at odds with the principles of multicultural australia. Why is the government ignoring the concerns of the very communities this was legislated to protect . The attorney general, representing the Prime Minister, senator brandis. The government is not ignoring anybodys concerns, all of the government does believe is that we should be able to have a sensible and respectable debate in this country about the we miss wrotew our antivilification laws, to protect the very people they vilification people are meant to protect. The government believes it has done that, or is proposing to do in the listluding of prohibited conduct racial harassment. Im afraid, senator, there has been so much noise in this debate, so much hysteria, and so little listening to other points of the. I do not know any serious person who has studied section 18 c as it is currently written, who would defend it as the best possible way in which this law could be expressed. Humane president of the rights commission, who has said the law could be improved. Not the professor president of provision,ian war who recommended the law should be improved. Not professor george williams, a former Labour Party Selection candidate and graduate of law school, who has suggested the law should be improved. Not ajournalist who is supporter of my side of politics, who has suggested the law should be improved. Not professor not a professor from the center on human rights law. We listened to every contribution to this debate. Please do not tell me, senator, that there is anyone in this notte who says we should have a serious discussion about how to write any vilification laws. On my left, order. You. Ank giving you have just insulted the coalition to advance multiculturalism, could i give from one of your colleagues . The senator said, we are not snowflakes. As human beings, we need to be more robust. Australians fearing offensive, insulting, or humiliating comments, based on their race, just need to toughen up. Attorney general . Thatnator, i can tell you in the course of continuing reform to section 18 c, i have met with many Ethnic Community councils. Many Ethnic Community leaders. And not one of them, not a single one of them, has seems to , under no circumstances, should you reconsider the language of section 18 c. There is a variety of points of view, as we know, and that is fair enough in a liberal democracy. But please do not tell me that there is any representative of any Ethnic Community in notralia who has said, under circumstances should an Australian Government even think about even think about trying to rewrite section 18 c, to make it as effective as possible. And i do not think you will find a single representative of any Ethnic Community who would disagree with the government view that a prohibition against racial harassment is a good reform measure. Senator, finally subcommittee question. President. U, mr. Today, the minister told australians who are the subject of racial agrees that comments offensive or bruising that is just what a democracy is. How much racial abuse does democracy require . Attorney general . Knownator, i think we all that in a free society and in a democracy, there is room for robust debate. That is why, by the way, 20 years or so i go or so ago, the high court acknowledged a freedom of political communication, for the very reason that the high court acknowledged a series of decisions that it is an pleasant the nature of australia, as a parliamentary democracy, that there should be a constitutionally recognized protection of freedom of speech. The dispute that . Of course our society is based on freedom of speech. But it is based on other values as well, including tolerance, including mutual respect, and including, as the government is seeking to do, strong and robust antivilification laws. Questions about the direction of President Trump on a range of issues, including Climate Change. Will they push ahead with the Paris Agreement . It remains a big focus for the green party in our country. The member from melbourne. Members of the u. S. Military and National Security establishment last night warned that Climate Change is a National Security threat, with sealevel rise and droughts dueling conflict and terrorism. Do you agree to our National Security implications from Climate Change . If so, given that most fossil fuel reserves need to stay in the ground to make the two degree limit, would you agree to ruling outline the Infrastructure Fund or other public money subsidize coal mining infrastructure . Or do you intend to use taxpayer funds to threaten our rule of life . The Prime Minister has the floor. I think i think the honorable member for his question. The honorable member would be aware the government is very alert to the risk of Climate Change and the National Security implications, particularly of rising sea levels, particularly in our region, that it involves. We have substantial programs right through the pacific, in particular, to help our neighbors in the pacific deal with the consequences of rising sea levels, and the security implications thereof. Miner as the addon a coal as far as the coal mine is concerned, i understand the minister, he and his party, want to prohibit all coal mining in australia. I understand that. Were australia to stop exporting call tomorrow, not only would billions of dollars of export revenue be lost, not only with thousands of jobs be lost, but there would be no benefit to the Global Environment whatsoever. Exports stopped, they would be sourced from other countries, indonesia and colombia being two that spring to mind immediately, but there are many others. The reality is that the australian coal industry produces coal of a cleaner, low soda, and low ash. It is our exports our exports, if stopped, would achieve nothing except reducing the Living Standards of and shutting out the lives of communities that depend on the coal industry. It would be an exercise in ideological futility, and an exercise that i have to say the honorable member, with great respect, is so characteristic of his party, which seems to want to deindustrialize australia for no purpose except in ideological one. A lot of our traditions follow the british tradition of westminster. The attack on westminster generated a lot of response here in australia. My question is for the minister representing the Prime Minister. They, australians look to horrific news of an attack in westminster, in london. On behalf of all senators, i express our solidarity and sympathy for people lost in this attack, and condemn terrorism in all its forms. I would ask the minister to update the senate on the steps taken to offer assistance to britain on behalf of the us trillion people. The attorney general, representing the Prime Minister. Indeed, you very much senator walton, for giving me the opportunity to update the events in london overnight. The senators will be aware five individuals have now died and around 40 people have been injured in the terrorist attack to the British Parliament building yesterday afternoon, london time. Police have confirmed that the five deceased include one police officer, and the attacker. While the investigation is still ongoing, british authorities have confirmed that currently on the belief of this attacker is islamist related terrorism. Contrary to earlier reporting, and australian permanent resident has been hospitalized in london with injuries sustained in the attack. Offering in london are assistance. As Prime Minister turnbull said this morning, the attack on the British Parliament is an attack , freedom, and democracy everywhere. We condemn the attack and are deeply saddened by the loss. Prime minister may rightly described the attack as sick and depraved, and commended the exceptional bravery of the police and security services, who continually risk their lives to keep their citizens safe. We stand in solidarity with the people of the united kingdom. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. Tragedy,ce of such himralians can be reassured that our agencies and Police Forces are working relentlessly to keep us safe. By echoing the words of the Prime Minister, we will never let the terrorists divide us or challenge our democratic way of life, and the freedoms which we cherish. Thank you, attorney general. Senator long . I think the Prime Minister for that answer. Given australias long and deep relationship with britain, can the Prime Minister outlined how are countries are working together to defeat terrorism . Wong, wean, senator work at a ministerial level, at an agency level, at a policing level, at a diplomatic level to defeat and worked terrorism. S, australiaong know and britain are both members of the five eyes group of nations, the closest australia is intelligence the closest Intelligence Partnership in the world. We share intelligence, and i can tell the senator that the intelligence sharing arrangement has been responsible for allergic Australian Authorities to ban preventing terrorist strikes at home. Forces,cies, our police operate very closely together, or close collaborators. There are offices of Australian Police and agencies located at british agencies, and the reverse is true as well. A few, attorney general. Wong how is the government working to counter bioterrorism in australia and abroad to ensure Diverse Communities . Yes, i can. The government has responded to the threat of islamist terrorism in australia and overseas by enacting the most comprehensive program of National Security legislation performed in a generation. Each of the eight trenches of legislation has been part of bipartisan support, and the government has also invested an billion to 8. 15 support australias efforts in combating terrorism. Since the threat level was elevated in september 2014, and Law Enforcement and security 12ncies have disrupted planned terrorist attacks in australia the most recent the Christmas Eve attack in melbourne, which had it been successful, would have resulted in significant loss of life. 62 individuals have been charged with offenses. My online senators of the National Security hotline . All members of the Australian Community should access that, should they have concerns about the behavior of individuals. We are now in the lead up to the budget in early may. The government wants its focus on Economic Growth and its agenda in the next 12 or 18 months. Update the treasurer house on the governments success in delivering in the commitment it outlined in last years budget . Is he aware of alternate plans that would threaten the Successful Transition of australias economy . I think the member for his questions. He knows, because he was elected on the basis of National Economic plans. Our economy, the australian economy, is one of the fastestgrowing advanced economies in the world. It has the second highest gdp per capita in the gdp, second only to the United States. For National Economic decision was making the calls which strengthen the challenges of ensuring we are improving the performance of australians, lifting their wages, supporting wages growth, increasing investment, and securing jobs for hardworking australians. This is across a raft of areas. The National Innovation agenda has delivered new funding to those innovations and that research into the marketplace. And the mile medical Translation Fund is doing the same thing to commercialize medical research. There ramping up twentyyear Defense Industry plan that is creating new rightsses, new jobs, across the Defense Industry supply chain, right across the nation. Evenabour party never fills a bathtub, let alone engages in the important issues the important issues of developing our Defense Industry, particularly shipbuilding. Our 50 billion and the Structure Plan is being rolled out across the country. The bridge highway in queensland. Highway ind tasmania. Anotherrt trade deals, critical part of the National Economic plan with china, with japan, with south korea, is ensuring new jobs and new markets, particularly in our agricultural sector, which someone of the most surprising periods of growth in december, and is listing lifting Living Standards in australia. We now have Better Outcomes for australian beef and exports to china, which backs up the arrangements with indonesia achieved weeks before. And we are changing our tax system to boost new investment that creates support jobs and increases real wages, starting with tax cuts and incentives for small and mediumsize businesses. And we are delivering on budget repair, almost 25 million in budget decisions that have been delivered since the last election, since the last budget, which is getting on with the job of budget repair. The achievement of implementing the National Economic achievement for growth will be at the heart of this years budget. The Biggest Issue of the last week or two has been mother nature, which has hit queensland. It has had effects for Industries Including the sugar industry in north queensland. My speaker is for the deputy Prime Minister and minister for agriculture. Will the deputy Prime Minister update the house on the steps taken by the government to secure australias 2 million sugar industry and support came inmers, particularly those other regions . How does this compare with other approaches . Hashe deputy Prime Minister the call. I think the honorable member for his question. We note also the trials and jubilations people are going through. In the aftermath of cyclone debbie, we note also how cane industry is for that area. Growth production is around 12 billion. Sugar that was in the 2015 area in the air. Tos is incredibly important a 2 billion industry, the sugar industry, which goes down into new south wales. This is very important that farmers get treated fairly. We believe you should get a fair turn through the gate, and a fair return with a proper market, meaning at least two people want to buy your product. Unique competitive attention in the market to get the proper transparency. We have set all the way along that we believe the federal government has arrived has a right to be part of this process. We want the marketer to come to their agreement by their own ways. We have waited a long time to do precisely that. We worked with the State Government in queensland to get of legislationce to enforce a better outcome for these farmers. The a number of independent members, including pete wellington, billy korn, and another gentleman by the name of time retained seats. This approach alone, we reserved our right to underwrite this with a code of conduct. This code of conduct, we have now brought aboard. This code of conduct will be going on to the executive council, no doubt, over the next couple weeks. It is important. We have this confusion within the labour party. In the labour party queensland voted against trying to get these farmers a fairer deal. Have the senator chairing a committee in canberra, suggesting they do need a code of conduct. Mr. Speaker, we believe we will the sure that we will get proper market principles in place. We will make sure these farmers are built are dealt with fairly. We stand beside these farmers. We are still wondering what exactly is the labour Party Position on this code of conduct. Whether they believe this is being traded fairly or they have a foot in both camps. Thank you for the latest rap of parliament here in canberra. Well see you next time. Georgia representative Drew Ferguson recently sat down with cspan for a freshman profile interview. Congressman ferguson represents the third congressional district. Congressman Drew Ferguson, you are from west point, georgia, born and raised. What is west point, georgia like . Congress and ferguson it is my hometown, something i am proud of the progress it made. We are a community that lost our manufacturing backbone. We were one of the largest textile companies in the world, and we watched some pretty bad policy out of washington, d. C. , so we lived for a decade and a half. It was