Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has rebuked Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan’s proposed national interest test as a smokescreen for political interference.
Senator Faruqi said:
“When the Liberals and Nationals say national interest, we know what they really mean. They have such a narrow understanding of the importance of research in all fields, who knows what will be on the chopping block. Perhaps the Minister would like to cut off research relating to trade unions, climate change or asylum seekers?
“A national interest test is a smoke screen for allowing the government of the day to insert their political priorities into the independent research approval process.
“This is a desperate beat up on research and academics to try and revive the Government’s vote which is in freefall.
“If the Minister wanted to act for the national interest he would allow academics to continue the centuries-old tried and tested process of peer review,” she concluded.
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson to speak at anti-Ramsay Centre rally at Sydney University today
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, will today speak at ‘Stop the Ramsay Centre! Protest at the USYD Senate’ and will call on Sydney University to drop plans to engage with the Ramsay Centre. Senator Faruqi is a former academic of the University of New South Wales.
When: Today (31/10), 12:30PM
Where: Sydney University (F23 Administration Building, Eastern Ave).
Senator Faruqi said: “As a former academic, I can unequivocally say that allowing any organisation to control curriculum, let alone one as shady as this centre, is a huge mistake. Sydney University should not even be having this conversation.
“There are multiple schools in Sydney University already studying Western Civilisation already, so what do they really want? They want control. And they want to churn out students with an unquestioning view of what they believe Western Civilisation is. That is their agenda.
“They are seeking a nationalistic and uncritical view of Western civilisation with all the imperialism and colonialism airbrushed out. This is deeply offensive. We must push back hard against this idea cultural supremacy.
“We must stand up strongly and proudly for academic freedom and critical thinking. We will not hijacked by a narrow ideological agenda.”
Clear library fines while supporting needy
Newcastle Region Library members have a chance to clear more than $70,000 in unpaid library overdue fines while supporting people in need across Newcastle this Christmas.
Library members with outstanding fees can clear $5 for every non-perishable food item and $10 for every toiletry item they donate, from their overdue fine ledger.
Food for Five, Toiletries for Ten, which is being used effectively by libraries across Australia and around the world, commences on Monday 12 November and runs until Monday 10 December 2018.
All items collected under Food for Five, Toiletries for Ten will be donated to local emergency relief agencies OzHarvest, Got Your Back Sista and Baptist Care, who will package up the goods for needy families in the lead-up to the festive season.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said now is a great time for members to return to the Library.
“If it’s been awhile since you visited one of our libraries or maybe your fines have been outstanding for ages, come on back.
“Now is the perfect chance to get those fines reduced, do some good for the community and check out the library’s fabulous new resources and programs for everyone in the family.”
Newcastle Region Library aims to significantly reduce the total amount of outstanding overdue fines, more than $70,000, from the past 12 months, through this initiative.
City of Newcastle’s Manager Libraries Suzie Gately encourages people to contact the library if they’re uncertain whether they have overdue fines or to what amount.
“Simply ring us at 4974 5342 with your library card handy to give us your member number, and we can easily look up your fines,” she said.
“Last year in Newcastle alone, more than $13,000 in fines were cleared, resulting in donations of 1400 food items and 1320 toiletry items for community distribution.
“This is the third year that Newcastle Region Library has participated and, given the overwhelming response in previous years, we anticipate another successful campaign.”
There is no limit to the amount in fines that can be paid off with food and toiletry donations, but they will only be accepted to clear overdue charges. Payment for lost or damaged library items must be paid with cash or EFTPOS.
Free flood alerts now available across city
Novocastrians living and working in suburbs from Wallsend to Merewether can now sign up to receive free flood warnings that could potentially save lives.
The flood alert service is now being rolled-out across most of Newcastle following positive feedback in a successful trial among Wallsend residents in 2016.
As a result, seven new catchment areas have been added to the alert list. People can register to receive text messages, emails or voicemail alerts in these areas. Information about the flood alerts can be viewed online at www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/floodalert.
The service aims to provide an early warning to residents and businesses based on three key risks:
· Flash flooding caused by intense heavy rainfall in urban areas
· Mainstream flooding caused by inundation when the Hunter River breaks its banks
· Ocean storm surges flooding in low-lying areas
Each warning carries a minor, moderate or major level of risk depending on the expected flood event likely to occur, and will also include a recommended action on how to respond.
City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the extension of the service would enable residents of low-lying areas to stay informed of local flooding in general.
“Flooding affects up to one third of all properties in Newcastle and it’s important for all residents to be aware of their flood risk – not just at home, but at work, school or other places you visit frequently,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Recent history tells us that flooding can occur in Newcastle very quickly and sometimes there can be less than an hour of warning between the beginning of a storm and the onset of flooding.
“Forewarned is forearmed and this alert service, delivered straight to people’s fingertips, will help keep them informed about a possible flooding event and give them time to consider their options to stay safe.”
To learn more about this service and to sign up online for free flood alerts, visit Newcastle.nsw.gov.au/floodalert.
LABOR WILL TACKLE MULTINATIONAL TAX DODGERS
A Shorten Labor Government will tackle multinational tax dodgers to help pay for our priorities – better schools, better hospitals and protecting Medicare.
Labor will implement a number of measures targeting multinational tax avoidance and high wealth tax dodgers, saving the budget $4.8 billion over the next decade, including stopping companies claiming illegitimate deductions for travel to and from known tax havens.
Working Australians pay their taxes – it’s only fair that multinationals pay their fair share too.
Labor will also close a loophole that allows companies to deduct bad debt from related party financing arrangements.
These measures build on Labor’s existing plans to make the tax system fairer for all Australians.
Labor will make firms undertaking business in tax havens disclose that to shareholders and make significant tenderers disclose their country of tax domicile.
We will introduce public country-by-country reporting, work with superannuation funds to make sure they develop guidelines for tax haven investments and stop citizenship shopping by requiring Australians with foreign residency to report to the Tax Office.
Tax havens are used by drug-runners, extortionists and counterfeiters. Around four-fifths of the money shifted to tax havens is estimated to be in breach of other countries’ tax laws. Half the money in tax havens is estimated to be owned by the top 0.01 percent. One estimate suggests that Australians have around $100 billion parked in tax havens.
Australians know that when multinational tax dodgers and the super-rich don’t pay their fair share, we can’t fund our education and health systems properly.
While the Coalition is paralysed by infighting and indecision, Labor has made serious decisions to balance the budget, pay down debt and fund its positive policies for schools and hospitals.
Labor knows what needs to be done and will continue to lead the debate on multinational tax avoidance.
If the Coalition was serious about tax fairness, it would adopt Labor’s plan.
LABOR’S MULTINATIONAL TAX CRACK DOWN – SAVING THE BUDGET $4.8 BILLION
- Tighten debt-deduction loopholes used by multinational companies, improving the Budget by $3 billion over the medium term.
- Capping deductions for managing tax affairs at $3,000.
- Close a debt deduction loophole to ensure consistent treatment in related party financing arrangements.
- Automatically deny deductions from companies for travel to and from tax havens.
- Increase penalties for individuals and entities promoting tax evasion and avoidance.
- Crack down on citizenship shopping by requiring all individual Australian taxpayers to notify and declare to the Australian Taxation Office if they have residency or citizenship of any other jurisdiction and the name of that jurisdiction.
- Introduce public reporting of country-by-country reports, ensuring the release of high-level tax information about where and how much tax was paid by large corporations (over $1 billion in global revenue).
- Provide protection for whistleblowers who report on entities evading tax to the Australian Taxation Office and, where whistleblowers’ information results in more tax being paid, allow them to collect a share of the tax penalty (a reward of up to $250,000).
- Introduce a publicly accessible registry of the beneficial ownership of Australian listed companies and trusts, allowing the public to find out who really owns our firms.
- Introduce mandatory shareholder reporting of tax haven exposure, requiring companies to disclose to shareholders as a ‘Material Tax Risk’ if the company is doing business in a tax haven.
- Appoint a community sector representative to the Board of Taxation to ensure community sector voices are heard in tax design and review processes.
- Introduce public reporting of Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) data and require the annual public release of international cash flow data.
- Require all firms tendering for Australian Government contracts worth more than $200,000 to state their country of domicile for tax purposes.
- Develop guidelines for tax haven investment by superannuation funds.
- Require that the Australian Taxation Office’s annual report provide information on the number and size of tax settlements.
Restore Labor’s $100 million threshold for public reporting of tax data for private companies, which was raised to $200 million by the Liberals and Greens in a move which exempted two-thirds of private firms from tax transparency.
LABOR WILL DELIVER EXTRA FUNDING FOR EVERY PUBLIC SCHOOL
From today, parents and teachers will be able to find out how much extra funding their local public school will get under a Shorten Labor Government, and what a difference this will make for their kids.
A new website – www.fairgoforschools.com.au – will give each school an estimate of the extra funding it can expect in the first three years of Labor’s plan.
Labor will provide an extra $14 billion for public schools to deliver the biggest school investment in Australian history.
Every student in every public school will be better off under Labor’s plan.
Parents and teachers know what this could mean for their children: more one on one attention, an extra teacher or teacher aide. This funding will give schools the resources they need to help students master the basics such as reading, writing, maths, and science, and offer a broader range of subjects including languages, coding, the arts, and vocational education.
Our extra investment will transform public schools across Australia and give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter where they live, or how much their parents earn.
Australian schools should be the best in the world, and every Australian child deserves the best start in life.
Labor believes that for parents to have real choice, governments have a responsibility to make sure our public schools are second to none.
But at the moment, because of Scott Morrison’s cuts, almost nine in ten public schools will never get to their fair funding level.
Over the last five years all the Liberals have done is attack public schools and slash their funding.
Scott Morrison doesn’t think the 2.5 million students in the public school system deserve fair funding – he thinks he can get away with his cuts.
Labor can pay for better public schools because unlike the Liberals, we’re closing tax loopholes for the top end of town and making multinationals pay their fair share.
Scott Morrison’s record as Treasurer is three budgets of cuts to schools, all to pay for his tax handouts to the big banks and top end of town.
Labor has different priorities – we will crackdown on multinational tax avoidance and give our kids a better future by investing in schools.
At the next election there will be a clear choice for voters – Labor’s commitment to invest in public schools, or the Liberals’ cuts.
Step out and fly right this Halloween, police remind pedestrians
Step out and fly right this Halloween, that’s the message as police remind pedestrians about staying safe while trick or treating.
Traffic and Highway Patrol’s Acting Assistant Commissioner Julie Middlemiss said this afternoon’s trick or treaters should remember to travel around their suburbs safely.
“We know the kids and some big kids will be setting out for the afternoon around the same time people are starting to arrive home from work,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Middlemiss said.
“Drivers need to remember to slow down in suburban areas, particularly where there are a lot of younger families who may be trick or treating.
“If you are supervising the kids while they are trick or treating this afternoon, it is important to use designated lights and crossings, where possible.
“You should make you and your group stand out by using torches and glow sticks, so drivers can see you.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Middlemiss added it was important to remember not everyone marked Halloween each year – so it was best to stick to houses with decorations on their properties.
While we acknowledge the meaning of ‘trick or treating,’ ensure you respect people’s decision not to participate in the festivities, as damage to properties will not be tolerated, she said.
Act of indecency and assault on train; man charged – Morisset
A man has been charged over an alleged act of indecency and assault on a train on the state’s Central Coast yesterday.
Just before 6.30pm (Monday 29 October 2018), it’s alleged a 27-year-old man boarded a northbound train at Wyong Railway Station and attempted to talk to two passengers – a 20-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl.
Police will allege the man committed an act of indecency and assault before getting off the train at Morisset Railway Station.
Officers from the Police Transport and Public Safety Command were notified and patrolled the Morisset Railway Station.
A short time later, police located a man at a bus stop outside the Railway Station.
The 27-year-old man from Wyong was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with commit act of indecency with person 16 years or over and common assault.
The man was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Tuesday 30 October 2018).
Drink drivers detected 15 minutes apart – Tamworth
Two men will face court after being detected high-range drink driving within 15 minutes of each other at Tamworth at the weekend.
About 7.40pm on Sunday (28 October 2018), police stopped a silver Mitsubishi Lancer sedan on Duri Road, South Tamworth.
The driver, a 21-year-old man and holder of a provisional licence, was arrested after a positive roadside breath test.
He returned an alleged subsequent breath analysis reading of 0.177 and was charged with High Range PCA.
The man’s licence was suspended and he is due to appear at Tamworth Local Court on 19 November 2018.
About 15 minutes later, police stopped the same car on Duri Road, South Tamworth, after it was observed driving with no taillights.
A different driver, also a 21-year-old man, was arrested after he returned a positive roadside breath test. He subsequently returned an alleged breath analysis reading of 0.162 at Tamworth Police Station.
Further checks revealed his provisional 2 licence was disqualified until October 2022.
He was charged with High Range PCA (second subsequent offence) and drive while disqualified.
The man was granted conditional bail and will appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 19 November 2018.
Greens back union & ACF call for independent authority to manage transition away from coal
Greens Co-Deputy Leader and climate change and energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP today backed separate calls from unions, a UNSW study and the Australian Conservation Foundation for an independent energy transition authority to manage the closure of coal-fired power stations. The Greens will reintroduce legislation to establish an independent statutory authority, Renew Australia, to oversee the transition of Australia’s electricity system to one based on renewable energy.
The Greens’ bill, which did not receive support from Liberal or Labor when previously introduced, would spend $500 million to establish Renew Australia, legislate a timetable for the closure of coal-fired power stations to provide certainty to workers and communities and create a $250 million Clean Energy Transition Fund to assist coal workers and communities with the transition.
“To avoid the mistakes of Hazelwood’s last minute closure and to ensure a just transition, a clear plan is needed to manage the energy transition,” said Mr Bandt.
“The Greens have been calling for the establishment of an independent statutory authority to manage the energy transition since the last election, but our calls have been ignored by the major parties.
“The Greens are of one mind with mining unions, academics and conservation groups on the need for an independent statutory authority to oversee an orderly transition away from coal.
“The old parties created the mess of the National Electricity Market and the Liberals are failing to act on the transition to renewables, let alone the management of that transition. We need a new public authority to lead the transition to a new energy system, without leaving coal workers in the lurch.
“The old parties have a habit of adopting Greens policies, from a royal commission into the banks to legislating to protect penalty rates. I hope they’ll ‘borrow’ this one as well.”