Senator Rex Patrick | Politician
Senator Rex Patrick
Phone: +61 8 8232 1144
Reviews
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25.01.2022 YOU’RE NOT GOOGLE’S CUSTOMER, YOU’RE THE PRODUCT THEY SELL Thanks to all those who engaged on my Friday’s Google vs Democracy Post. I enjoyed reading the diverse views. I just want to explain things further now that I’ve read what you had to say. With news media, you are the customer. They provide you with a product - news - and you pay for it by way of subscription, donations and/or ads that appear alongside their news content.... With Google, you are NOT the customer. You are the product that they sell to advertisers, using data they quietly collect about you to better target the ads they sell (making them more attractive than ads put on news sites). Google uses news content free-of-charge to collect more products (you) to sell. The mandatory bargaining code is about making sure Google pays for the products (people) they attract using news content they currently don’t pay for. The bargaining code also requires news outlets to recognise the value Google adds to their news product by directing people to them. Many people expressed concerns that I was backing Murdoch. I’m not - Murdoch’s big enough and ugly enough to look after himself and I certainly have no interest in helping him. I am worried about the smaller publishers like the Guardian and others online.
25.01.2022 AUSTRALIA MUST BAN PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY UYGHUR FORCED LABOUR More than one million people have been rounded up and put in massive internment camps across western China. Inside the camps, detainees are subjected to political indoctrination, forced to renounce their religion and culture and, in some instances, reportedly subjected to torture. More than 80,000 Uyghurs have ‘graduated’ from the detention camps and have been forced to work in factories across China. I’m calling on... the Australian Government to follow the United States, where the Government has banned imports of cotton, clothing and computer components from four companies and a manufacturing facility in western China because of their suspected reliance on forced labour. The US House of Representatives this week voted by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in favour of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Bill to ban imports from western China. It would be a human rights disgrace if Australia, under our free trade agreement with China, turned a blind eye to profiteering from what amounts to slave labour.
25.01.2022 SA GOVERNMENT’S FALSE SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES On one hand the Marshall Government is portraying itself as a supporter of EVs by promising $18m for statewide charging infrastructure, while on the other hand they are imposing a much more significant cost disincentive by introducing a distance based usage charge on EVs. Whilst we will eventually see a distance cost to replace fuel excise, what we need to be doing at this point in time is encouraging the uptake of EVs here,... noting Australia lags the world. Increasing uptake will ultimately reduce the EV purchase price for all Australian. We need to be building a network or fast charging stations but also encouraging the purchase of EVs through measures such as reduced stamp duty, reduced registration costs, free parking in the city, mandatory charging stations in all new apartments ... the list goes on. High EV usage will see productivity increased (EVs are cheaper to run), balance-of-payment figure improvements (less fuel imports), fuel security improvements, a reduction in greenhouse emissions and a reduction in exhaust nasties. EVs are the future.
24.01.2022 CHINA TIMBER BAN AN AUSTRALIAN VALUE-ADD OPPORTUNITY The Chinese Communist party is up to its sneaky games again, banning the import of logs from SA and Victoria for no apparent reason. This incident - along with bans on barley, lobster and meat - is just one in a deliberate pattern of punitive measures as China tries to use trade to exert influence over us. Diversification is a key response to their behaviour but this shouldn’t mean just to other foreign markets; the Governm...ent must diversify to Australian local markets as well. I’ve been working behind the scenes with SA sawmills who can’t get the logs they need. There’s a huge opportunity for local sawmills to expand using South Australian forestry product, value adding and employing Aussies. The Federal and State governments should be assisting Australian industry, especially in response to China’s not-so-random import ban. Why export logs when we can process and use the wood here? We should be thinking along the same lines with commodities such as iron ore and lithium. Why export iron ore when we can export steel and create local jobs in doing so? Why export lithium when we can export batteries at much greater prices?
24.01.2022 DISTURBING ALLEGATIONS OF MINISTERIAL MISCONDUCT Ministers exercise a huge amount of power and discretion. That requires good judgement. The ABC allegations suggest that such judgement is lacking, and that should concern everyone. The Prime Minister shouldn’t brush aside what has happened.
24.01.2022 ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS REFORM BILL DEAD AFTER GOVERNMENT KEPT THE SENATE IN THE DARK Government secrecy has come back to bite the Government in the backside. Professor Graeme Samuel has conducted a 10 year review into environment protection and conservation in Australia. His interim report recommended, amongst other things, that Federal environmental approvals be transferred to the States so that proponents of projects only had to go to one place to ask for a ‘go ahead’.... I was open to the idea, so long as the States did the approvals properly. To assist the Senate in deciding whether to vote for a change we asked to see the final Samuel’s Report (which is sitting on the ministers desk), the National Environmental Standards that must be met by the states and the templates that would be used to set out the requirements of and accreditation of the States’ approvals processes. The National Environment Standards were given to the Senate at the last minute. The Minister, however, refused to provide the remaining material to the Senate because she says IT’S NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST to do so. With the Government arrogantly doing its usual secrecy tricks, me and two other cross benchers have killed the Bill on the basis that IT’S NOT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST to pass the new law unless the Senate (and the public) have all the relevant information needed to properly consider the legislation.
23.01.2022 ROBODEBT 2.0 ISSUE STARTING TO GAIN SOME PUBLIC TRACTION The media is starting to pay attention to the Robodebt 2.0 concerns I raised in a post a week or so ago. That’s a good thing - governments tend to move more quickly to solve problems when politicians and the media are both pointing at a problem. My office is now assessing more than 40 matters where computer created ‘debts’ haven’t been refunded, despite the Government having admitted that they couldn’t actually prove th...e debts they’d alleged. If you’re a South Australian and you think you might have received one of these unlawful Robodebts, contact my office and we’ll see what we can do to help you. Even if you haven’t received a Robodebt, I urge you to sign the petition that I intend to table in the Senate in due course. It can be found here https://www.rexpatrick.com.au/robodebt
23.01.2022 THE COALITION’S INTEGRITY COMMISSION IS A MUZZLED WATCHDOG The Prime Minister and Attorney-General have shamelessly dragged their feet on introducing Integrity Commission legislation into the Parliament. An exposure draft has been released but the Commission’s arrangements are left wanting. What can be investigated is too narrow, no findings of corruption are permitted for parliamentarians or public officials in a final report, no public hearings for parliamentarians or the p...ublic sector are allowed, no whistleblowing to the Commissioner is allowed and the Commissioner can’t initiate his/her own investigations. It’s like the Integrity Commission you have when you’re not actually having an Integrity Commission. The consultation period for the proposed legislation is six months, so by my reckoning, legislation won’t make it through the Parliament in time to set up anything this side of the election. It’s all very disappointing, unless you’re a political party that doesn’t actually want an Integrity Commission.
21.01.2022 PLEASE DON’T PROSECUTE THE WHISTLEBLOWER! As a former member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), I am absolutely appalled by the revelations of at least 39 unlawful killings by ADF personnel in Afghanistan. This is a very grim day for the standing of the ADF and Australia. I think the Defence Force will put measures in place to ensure such actions don’t happen again.... However, I want to raise another extremely important issue. Thus far there has only been one prosecution in this sordid affair and that is David McBride, the army officer who blew the whistle on the conduct. The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDDP) must surely reconsider their position and then drop the prosecution of Mr David McBride. Persecution of whistleblowers is not in the public interest. Mr McBride is a hero. If the CDDP fails to do so, the Attorney-General should exercise his ultimate responsibility to the Parliament for Commonwealth prosecutions and order the discontinuance of the prosecution under the powers afforded him by section 71(1) of the Judiciary Act".
21.01.2022 THE GOVERNMENT MUST LEAVE WORKERS’ SUPER ALONE The law as it stands guarantees that employees pay 9.5% of a worker’s salary into their superannuation fund. The super guarantee is legislated to gradually increase from the current 9.5% to 12% in 2025, with a 0.5% increase to 10% kicking in on 01 July 2021. The Government is now talking about delaying that increase.... Businesses have been doing it tough, but so too have workers. And Government has been doing a lot to support businesses through COVID-19. Trickle down economics has not seen increases in wages. It cannot be that the rich get richer and the employee doesn’t get to share the sucess. Freezing super increases will come down to a decision of Senate crossbench. Centre Alliance has hinted support for the Government, Jacqui Lambie is undecided and One Nation have said they won’t support the Government. I can’t see myself supporting the Government on this one without some incredibly convincing evidence the other way. One Nation and my vote is enough to ensure the super increase goes ahead as the Parliament has already legislated.
18.01.2022 ARNHEM LAND CDC CONSULTATION My trip to Arnhem land has come to an end. Tomorrow I’ll return home to Adelaide and prepare for the final two weeks of Parliament for this year. My Cashless Debit Card face-to-face research has proved insightful. I’ve met with the Larrakai people, the Arnhem Land Progress Association, local independent Member Mark Yingiya Guyula, the Dhimurra Aboriginal Corporation and the Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation and I’ve listened.... I intend to do further research on the Card next weekend in Harvey Bay, Queensland, one of the Card trial sites. Senator McCarthy showed me a hidden treasure in Yirrkala where I meet with indigenous painters and toured the Buku-Larrngay Mulka Art Centre. I would highly recommend a visit if you ever travel up that way. I was left speechless.
17.01.2022 AN UPDATE ON REX V SCOTT My fight against the PM’s ‘National Cabinet’ secrecy blanket has advanced. The Information Commissioner, against the wishes of the Prime Minister’s legal team, has ruled that my transparency battle should go straight to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Firstly, that means the issue won’t languish in the Information Commissioner’s in-tray for one to two years (that’s what the Prime Minister was hoping for, no doubt). Secondly, this complex but impo...rtant transparency matter will now be heard by a Presidential Member of the Tribunal, likely a Federal Court Justice, but possibly three. Cracking 'National Cabinet' secrecy will be a big legal fight - but I'm up for it. It's really important in a democracy that the public get to both see and have input into the lasting and impacting decisions being made by their Governments, even when acting together as the National Cabinet was at the height of the pandemic.
17.01.2022 SUB PROJECT’S BLOWOUT COSTING TAXPAYERS $2.8M PER DAY For 38 years Australians will pay $2.8 million PER DAY for the Future Submarine project’s budget blowout. To be clear, I’m not talking about the cost of the subs, I’m just talking about the cost of the current blowout. The Australian Financial Review is reporting that the Prime Minister is increasingly frustrated over the submarine project and the paper’s sources have suggested that the government is weighing up whether t...o enter talks with Swedish company Saab Kockums, the designer of the Collins class submarine, about an evolved design as a plan B. After only four and a half years the project just shy of one and half years behind schedule, has increased in cost by $39 billion and has not met expectations in relation to local content. Part of the problem is the project’s very high risk profile and, as identified by the Auditor-General, the Defence Department has removed all competition from the program. I’m a former submariner and one of the strongest advocates for having submarines in our order of battle. However, not at the current price. Change is essential.
17.01.2022 A SENSIBLE AND MEASURED CLIMATE CHANGE PROPOSAL Today I stood with the crossbench in supporting Zali Steggall’s sensible Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020 to establish a 2050 net zero emissions target and create a framework to ensure we get there. Australia risks becoming an international outlier and a pariah amongst our allies, friends and neighbours if it doesn’t act. The cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of acting.... Our leaders need to appreciate that we don’t pass on the world to our grandchildren. It’s actually on loan from them.
17.01.2022 COVID-19: BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS TO FOLLOW SAHEALTH ADVICE Sadly we find ourselves in a situation where we have to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak in our state. I support the Premier’s quick action in response to the cluster - the rule for pandemic related viruses is to tighten quickly and ease back slowly. Whether you have symptoms, have been called by contact tracers or are just going about your business, my strong recommendation is to strictly follow advice and instruction...s from SAHealth: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au//infectio/covid-19/covid-19 See more
16.01.2022 AUSTRALIA’S FIRST COMMERCIAL ROCKET LAUNCH A SUCCESS Congratulations to Southern Launch for successfully conducting Australia’s first commercial rocket launch to near space. The launch took place at Koonibba (near Ceduna) this morning, after a false start on Tuesday caused by a faulty part. The incident allowed the company to test its safety procedures and helped increase the excitement and elation today.... To add further to the success, they conducted a second launch one and a half hours after the first. A big local crowd witnessed both launches. It’s a fantastic achievement that involved the combined efforts of industry, government and community. The launches were led by two SA companies; Southern Launch and DEWC, who have embraced the potential of the space sector and have put Australia back in the space race.
16.01.2022 SHOULD BRENDAN MURPHY BE AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR? Professor Brendan Murphy was named the Australian Capital Territory’s ‘Australian of the Year’ putting him in the running for the national award. Should he receive the national award? In my view, only in the most extraordinary circumstances would it be appropriate to name a public servant as Australian of the Year for doing what is expected of them and for which they receive a public salary. Whilst Professor Murphy performed va...luable public service throughout the pandemic with great commitment and tenacity, others in the Department of Health and elsewhere burnt the candle at both ends and did a sterling job. Perhaps more importantly, Professor Murphy refused to answer questions to Senate Committees on issues such as pandemic modelling, border closures, the wearing of masks and Australia’s vaccine strategy thereby prohibiting others to contest and debate his medical opinions. At the behest of his political masters, he failed to be open and transparent with the public he was there to serve. I’d rather see this award go to one of the everyday Australians achieving remarkable things without an entire government department behind them. What do you think?
15.01.2022 AUSTRALIAN SPY AGENCY HISTORY CONCERNS Experienced military historian Professor John Blaxland has worked for more than a year writing the official history of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), our foreign signals intelligence and cyber security agency. For some unexplained reason, however, ASD have cancelled a $2.2M contract they had with the Australian National University for Professor Blaxland to do the work. The cancelling of the contract without public explanation ...raises significant concerns. Whilst mindful and supportive of the need for some levels of secrecy in relation to the ASD, its history must be accurate and fulsome. An attempt to write a history from within will reasonably be met with significant concerns about bias and incompleteness. The bottom line - the words ‘Secret Agency’ and ‘autobiography’ should never be used in the same sentence, ever. How much public money has been spent under the contract since the work commenced? For what reason did ASD terminate the contract? What are the plans moving forward? These are just some of the questions that must be answered by ASD. They can expect to be grilled at Estimates.
15.01.2022 POLITICIANS ARE JOBFAKERS WHEN IT COMES TO JOBMAKER The Australian Constitution places responsibility for making laws in the hands of the Parliament, not the Executive. The Parliament makes laws in public, in a manner that is subject to challenge and debate, and with an open vote for which its members are ultimately accountable back to YOU, the people. Unelected officials in closed offices should not make laws.... But that’s exactly what’s happening for the Government’s $4B JobMaker program. The Parliament is only being asked to grant the Treasurer a power to set up a JobMaker scheme, with all the detail to be in regulations released by the Executive. If the Parliament passes the Bill as it stands it will be because Members and Senators voting for it are abdicating their responsibilities - not being MPs, rather reckless JobFakers.
14.01.2022 PAWESOME COMMUNITY EFFORT DELIVERS WORLD LEADING FACILITY Today I paid a visit to the new Animal Welfare League (AWL) facility at Wingfield. AWL rescue, rehabilitate and rehome dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs. I was blown away by what I saw. The facility is state of the art with high quality equipment and unique designs all focused on reducing stress and making the situation ‘fear free’ for the animals.... The $19.57 million facility was paid for entirely by donations from the public over ten years - an amazing community effort, and a clear indication of how important our companion animals are. Pleasingly from April to June this year there has been a 24% decrease in animals being handed in. But if you’re looking for a new furry friend, I’d highly recommend visiting them. If you’re in a position to donate, their spring appeal is also underway on the AWL website.
14.01.2022 VISIT TO MINTON FARM ANIMAL RESCUE CENTRE Today I had the pleasure of visiting not for profit Minton Farm Animal Rescue Centre. I was hosted by Bev and Glen, two very kind and dedicated animal lovers. This amazing operation - which is financed entirely by donations from the public - specialises in rehabilitating and releasing native animals including ringtail possums, kangaroos, koalas, owls, eagles, raptors and kookaburras to name a few. As you can probably imagine, they’ve ...had their work cut out for them this year after the horrible bushfires in South Australia. They’ve recently completed a circular bird of prey flight facility, the first of its kind in SA, which will help build wing strength of rescued birds and give them a better chance of survival once they’re released back into the wild. I highly recommend following their work on Facebook. They really are very inspirational.
13.01.2022 INAUGURAL PROBUS DAY Today I met with David Simpson from the Probus South Pacific organisation to discuss Probus day and the organisation. Probus and its clubs are all about bringing retirees together in their local community, so they can make new friends and take part in fun activities. They have 125,000 retirees across Australia and NZ and many clubs around SA.... If you’d like to know more about Probus or find out how you can join your local club, visit https://www.probussouthpacific.org
12.01.2022 PIT STOP AT KIMBA ON MY WAY TO A ROCKET LAUNCH Many people will have heard that Southern Launch’s first rocket launch had a small mishap on Tuesday which saw the rocket stay on the launch pad. That’s the thing about space - it’s hard. That’s why very few people do it. I’m lending my support to Southern Launch by heading out to the Koonibba Test Range, 40km north-west of Ceduna, to witness two launches tomorrow. This will be an historical event for Australia, by a South Austra...lian company, in South Australia. I’ve stopped at Kimba tonight and will stay at the local. If anyone wants to come down to the Kimba Gateway Hotel and have a chat with me about things, you’re welcome to. I won’t be having a late night though - I need to be on the road by 5 AM if I am to make the first launch.
11.01.2022 BIOBAGS SA INNOVATION AND MANUFACTURING This morning I woke up to the awful news that the number of Australians in manufacturing jobs has collapsed to its lowest level on record. By lunch time, after visiting BioBags at Netley, I was feeling a little bit better. They employ 25 South Australians making very special ‘plastic’ bags that are not actually plastic, rather they are made from compostable resin. They break down and become organic matter with no toxic residues to lat...er become soil fertiliser and plant food. The company has been making these compostable bags for a couple of years now. They’re so much better than regular plastic bags which are made from fossil fuels and are rarely recycled. Consumer sentiment on protecting the environment has driven demand for compostables. In their first year they made 100 tonnes. Last year they made 700 tonnes. Next year they’re heading to 1,000 tonnes. Manufacturing has not been supported by this Federal Government. I’m trying to change the thinking in Canberra. I’m heartened by companies like BioBags that are thriving despite a lack of Government support for local manufacturing.
11.01.2022 THE AUDITOR-GENERAL MUST NOT BE STARVED OF FUNDS The Auditor-General calls things exactly as he sees them. This is quite at odds with the Morrison Government’s propensity for spin and secrecy. The PM wants to silence the Auditor and will do so by starving the Australian National Audit Office of resources this year’s Federal budget. As the Government ramps up taxpayer funded spending for COVID recovery we simply cannot afford to underfund the audit watchdog that has exposed th...e ‘Sports Rorts’ scandal, dodgy airport land deals, multibillion defence blowouts and many other examples of waste and poor administration in Government. The Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit - the Parliamentary Committee to whom the Auditor General is responsible to - has FAILED come out publicly in support of the Auditor-General. The Committee’s recommendation on the Auditor-General’s budget submission is secret. The Committee is chaired by NSW Liberal MP, Lucy Wicks, and it appears that Ms Wicks does not know who she works for (the public) or appreciate the need to be open and transparent with the public. I have written an open letter the the PM urging him to ensure the Auditor-General is appropriately funded.
09.01.2022 CASHLESS DEBIT CARD DUE DILIGENCE I take every decision on legislation very seriously. I work hard to understand exactly what’s in a Bill and what the views of stakeholders are - including those for and against it. I am spending today and tomorrow in Darwin and Nhulunbuy (Arnhem Land) listening to a range of people about the CDC card. It’s a very complex issue, that’s for sure. The people against it can find good things about it and the people for it can find bad things about... it. I am very grateful to Senator Malarndirri McCarthy - Northern Territory for hosting me and organising the trip around the Top End.
08.01.2022 IT’S TIME TO SHUT CHINA’S ADELAIDE CONSULATE A grossly offensive Chinese Foreign Ministry tweet today leaves little doubt that the Chinese Communist regime has no interest in improving relations with Australia at this time. I fully support the Prime Minister’s strong criticisms of the Chinese Government over the tweet but we need to recognise that there’s not going to be an easy fix to the soured relations and that China doesn’t care too much about what words are spoken by u...s. It’s how our actions affects their interests that they will care about. It’s time for the Australian Government to significantly scale back the number of Chinese diplomats and consular staff on our shores. The 143 representatives they have in Australia are not working to build good relations quite the contrary. And they represent a national security risk. The Australian Government should start with the Chinese Consulate in Adelaide which has 10 diplomats and consular staff - most other Adelaide consulates have just one official. It’s time to shut their doors.
07.01.2022 DECISION ON SUBMARINE FULL CYCLE DOCKINGS SHOULD BE MADE ASAP I’m very sympathetic towards ASC workers who have been living in purgatory for the last couple of years, not knowing whether or not their jobs will be sent to WA or stay here in SA (where the work belongs). But it’s not just the Government that hasn’t made a decision. The Labor Party has refused to back Collins full cycle dockings remaining in SA. Whilst local Labor MP Mark Butler has declared SA the preferred loca...tion, Federal Labor has just sat on the fence. They cannot and should not complain about government’s indecision when they haven’t backed SA over WA themselves. Parties that live in glass houses should not throw stones.
07.01.2022 GOVERNMENT, ONE NATION AND CENTRE ALLIANCE VOTE IN FAVOUR OF AGE DISCRIMINATION If you’re over 35 and looking for a job, you were just sold out by the Coalition Government, One Nation and Centre Alliance. The Government’s JobMaker program provides employees with $200 per week if they take on a 16 to 29 year old and $100 per week if they take on a 30 to 35 year old. This discriminates against people over 35. ... I moved amendments to the JobMaker legislation to get rid of the 35 year old cap, but it wasn’t supported by the Senate. Labor moved amendments to ensure the Fair Work Commission could be called in to deal with an employer who got rid of an older employee to take on a younger employee entitled to JobMaker. The Senate did agree to that. After the amended bill went back to the House of Representatives and they rejected the amendments, the Senate was asked whether it wanted to insist on the amendments. One Nation and Centre Alliance said no, so the bill passed with its built-in age discrimination. This is a big set back for efforts to safeguard older workers and counter age discrimination.
05.01.2022 GOOGLE VS DEMOCRACY Public interest journalism is an important pillar of democracy. Journalists keep a watch and report on politicians, officials, judges and companies. They connect people to politics and also keep you informed on local issues. Journalism has been in rapid decline for a number of years. That’s because traditional news media companies have lost all their advertising revenue (which they use to pay their journos) to digital platforms. Digital platforms attract 8...1% of advertising revenue now, without producing a single line of news or analysis. When trying to negotiate payment for the news content digital platforms use to attract its users, media outlets (even the ‘big’ ones, but importantly the small ones) have no negotiating power against the behemoths that are Google and Facebook. The Government is trying to address this imbalance with a new bargaining code. Google is threatening to shut down its services in Australia if the bargaining code becomes law. I think this threat is reminiscent of something straight out of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) handbook. Whether it’s coming from the CCP or US tech giants, I think we must stand up to bullying, threats and intimidation. Should Australia back down and abandon the code in the face of this threat? What do you think?
05.01.2022 AUSSIE SUBMARINERS DESERVE NOTHING BUT THE BEST RESCUE CAPABILITIES On the morning of 12 February 2003, 40km off the coast of Perth, a hose failure on the Collins Class submarine HMAS Dechaineux operating at full diving depth caused 12,000 litres of seawater to flood into the submarine. The crew handled themselves in a highly professional manner and stopped the flooding - if it had gone on for another 20 seconds the submarine might have been lost. Working inside a submarine i...s dangerous. All of the professionalism in the world can’t prevent random equipment failures or occasional mistakes. That’s why the Navy has submarine rescue capabilities. These capabilities are a little bit like an insurance policy; you don't need it until you really need it and then it's got to be the best insurance policy around. News of troubles with the current rescue system is cause for concern for our submariners - and their families, who need the comfort of knowing that if their loved ones get into trouble, they can get out of it. Our submarine rescue systems must be top notch. It’s the least we can do for our submariners. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this.
04.01.2022 TOO MANY PORTS MAKE AN INDECISION STORM I’m really pleased to see Macquarie Capital signing up this week as a joint developer of Cape Hardy Port on the east coast Eyre Peninsula (EP). Finally people on the EP will get certainty around a deep water port. One thing I was frustrated with when I became a Senator was the multitude of port options being considered for SA. The SA Government wasn’t providing direction, rather confusing things even more by conducting a study. ... I examined the Cape Hardy proposal which had been endorsed by Infrastructure Australia, Regional Development Australia and the surrounding local councils. I pressured the Federal Government behind the scenes and in November last year they allocated $25M of seed funding to the project. The project will now go ahead - giving the people of EP a multi commodity port. When fully developed it will be used for grain, iron ore, graphite and hydrogen exports and will help to keep grain trucks away from Port Lincoln. Stage one of the port (grain) should be operational in 2023.
03.01.2022 SPACE AGENCY FAILURE TO LAUNCH I did not want to sully the success of SA companies Southern Launch and DEWC’s rocket launch on my Saturday post and so I avoided talking about the Australian Space Agency. Regulation of airspace and space above Australia is shared between the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and the Australian Space Agency. Transfer of responsibility switches at 100km.... The first launch on Saturday was planned to go to 85 km. CASA had been engaged and had issued a launch permit in about three months. The second launch was to venture 1 km into the Australian Space Agency’s jurisdiction, to 101 km, but the Agency could not muster the ability to issue the necessary permit after 9 months. The Space Agency is endangering local economic activity and jobs as it fails to cope with a dynamic commercial space sector. International customers will walk away ... forever! Here’s an op-ed I wrote on my concerns.
02.01.2022 MORRISON WRONG TO ROLL OUT TRADE PARTNERSHIP WELCOME MAT FOR CHINA In recent months we have seen China rejecting Aussie barley, lobsters, timber, meat and wine. Chinese ministers refuse to take calls from Australian ministers and the Chinese Embassy in Canberra last week released a 14-point set of demands for Australia to kowtow to before there is any improvement in bilateral relations. In the midst of a punitive and coercive trade campaign against Australia, when President X...i announced on Friday that he wants China to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), our Prime Minister has foolishly jumped up and welcomed the idea. The CPTPP requires consensus before another state can join the agreement. That means Australia could automatically veto China’s inclusion. I’m not suggesting we veto China, but it’s a card we might want in our back pocket as the negotiation occurs. It might also make them think about their current disrespectful set of actions towards us. However, in his desperation to ease tensions, the PM has conceded an important position to Australia’s disadvantage. Beijing will no doubt view the Morrison government’s response as a concession, and they will press for more. Scott Morrison is obviously no poker player.
02.01.2022 AGED CARE FAIL FOR THE MORRISON GOVERNMENT It takes an average of 206 days for an elderly South Australian to get into an aged care home. Some 10,500 South Australians are waiting for aged-care services in their own homes. Scott Morrison’s Government is big on talk, short on delivery. Meanwhile, as you all know, the Future Submarine project is bleeding $2.8 million per day - for the next 38 years - just on budget blowout costs while Defence Minister Reynolds and the PM sit ...totally clueless as to what to do. With aged care we have ‘scrimping and saving’ while with submarines we have money just being thrown around recklessly. Unforgivable.
