1 THE FAWCETT FLYER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 APRIL 2018 Each year in November, Australians commemorate Remembrance Day 1 at the 11th hour on the 11th day to remember the 102,800 Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice across wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, 2020 commemorations were different to years past and required physical distancing to be adhered to in order to take place. As Remembrance Day in 2020 coincided with a parliamentary sitting week, I attended the commemoration event in Parliament House’s Great Hall. With 2020 drawing to a close, December’s two parliamentary sitting weeks provided the Government with the final opportunity of the year to pass legislation, including the Foreign Relations Bill (more on Page 2), among others. In 2020, the Government has passed 130 Bills, despite the challenges of COVID-19, including dozens of Bills which provided financial support for Australians who have been impacted by the pandemic. This year, the Government has delivered tax relief which is now increasing take-home pay for approximately 790,000 South Australians, supported 3.8 million Australians through the JobKeeper program, supported 412,543 people through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, finalised or enacted 5 export agreements including PACER Plus and the RCEP Agreement (more on Page 7), as well as adding 246 new and updated medicine listings to the PBS, among other significant initiatives. Australia’s economic recovery is underway and will continue into 2021. Over the past 6 months, Australia’s economy has added 734,400 jobs, and now approximately 85% of the jobs lost due to COVID-19 have returned. Australia has retained its AAA credit rating and Australia’s GDP grew 3.3% in the September quarter – further reassurance that our economy is bouncing back. Our GDP is forecast to grow by 4.5% in 2021 and our unemployment rate is expected to fall to 6.25% by approximately mid- to-late 2022. While 2021 may still prove to be challenging, our economy has demonstrated its resilience through the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. For more information on these or other matters of a Federal nature, please contact my office via the details available on the back cover. I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and trust that we will all have a healthy, secure and prosperous 2021. Kind regards, SENATOR DAVID FAWCETT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 PROTECTING AUSTRALIA’S 2 NATIONAL INTERESTS In the final parliamentary sitting 2020, the Government’s Foreign weeks of 2020, the Senate passed Investment Reform (Protecting the Foreign Relations Bill 2020 - Australia’s National Security) created to ensure agreements with Bill 2020 passed parliament foreign nations entered into by in December. Commencing in state and territory governments, January, these reforms ensure our local councils or public universities foreign investment framework keeps comply with Australia’s Federal pace with emerging risks and global foreign policy and national security developments – the most significant framework. reforms to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 in nearly This legislation aligns all three tiers of 50 years. government and public universities on national issues to ensure any This Bill requires foreign investors agreements are consistent with our to seek approval for all investments foreign policy and the interests of in sensitive national security land or Australians are protected. The Bill businesses (including starting such allows the Federal Government, a business), regardless of value; and through the Foreign Minister, to be subject to enhanced monitoring reject agreements which adversely and investigation powers, as well affect Australia’s foreign relations as stronger and more flexible or are inconsistent with our foreign enforcement options and penalties. policy. Australia continues to welcome foreign investment for the significant As a member of the Senate benefits it provides, while also Foreign Affairs, Defence and ensuring such investments are not Trade Legislation Committee, I contrary to the national interest. contributed to the Committee’s Inquiry into this Bill. The Committee’s For more information on the recommendations – following committee’s report on the Foreign consultation with a wide range Relations Bill, click here or scan the of stakeholders – resulted in the QR Code below. Government making 2 subsequent amendments, ensuring the bill is fit- for-purpose. Alongside the Foreign Relations Bill THE FAWCETT FLYER 3 COMMITTEE UPDATE Delivering the tabling statement for JSCFADT’s COVID-19 implications Inquiry in the Senate Within the committees of which needed to identify and manage risk I have membership – as Chair of to ensure Australia has resilience the Joint Standing Committee on across key enablers such as Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade health, defence, transport and food (JSCFADT), and as a member of the sectors. Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), The COVID-19 pandemic has among others – November and removed any doubt that the efficient December have proven to be busy and effective functioning of some months. critical systems are reliant on the integrity of supply chains which we This month in my role as Chair of currently do not control, and which JSCFADT, I tabled the Committee’s may be subject to disruption. report on the Inquiry into the implications of the COVID-19 Through government partnering pandemic for Australia’s foreign with industry to reduce or eliminate affairs, defence and trade, in the such vulnerabilities in critical supply Senate (pictured, above). chains, Australia can be better prepared in the face of future Following 15 hearings held over the threats. course of this Inquiry, the report concludes a systemic approach is Also in my capacity as Chair, I tabled NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 the Human Rights Sub-Committee recommendations which propose report on their Inquiry into whether an increase to transparency around 4 Australia should examine the use the use of the mandatory data of targeted sanctions to address retention, increase the threshold human rights abuses, which for when data can be accessed by considered submissions from over law enforcement and intelligence 160 individuals and organisations agencies, as well as to reduce from around the world. the currently very broad access to telecommunications data under the The Committee scrutinized the Telecommunications Act, among options available to the Australian other recommendations. Government in relation to sanctions, and ultimately recommended the In addition to the completion Australian Government follow the of the review of the mandatory lead of like-minded nations such as data retention regime, PJCIS has the US and UK, and most recently reported on the review of the the EU, to enact Magnitsky-style Australian Security Intelligence targeted sanctions along with 32 Organisation (ASIO) Amendment other recommendations. Bill 2020, which seeks to amend the compulsory questioning framework Introducing Magnitsky-style currently in the ASIO Act. legislation would enable the Australian Government to impose The review recommends the travel restrictions and freeze assets Bill be passed, however only – functioning both punitively and as following implementation of 8 a deterrent for those engaging in recommendations made by such acts. the committee. These include introducing a sunset clause and Cooperation with like-minded legislating a PJCIS review to nations on this matter has the consider the effectiveness and potential to protect the human implications of the powers, among rights of countless citizens around others. the world. To view my tabling statement for In November, PJCIS has added a JSCFADT’s COVID-19 implications new inquiry into the national security Inquiry, click here or scan the QR risks affecting the Australian higher Code below. education and research sector, and completed another, reporting on the review of the mandatory data retention regime. This report included 22 THE FAWCETT FLYER 5 NAVAL SHIPBUILDING PLAN ON TRACK Ongoing defence and shipbuilding standard. projects are creating opportunities for the Australian businesses Announced in June, Australia’s involved and strengthening our BlueScope Steel is delivering more local supply chains – creating and than 1,500 tonnes of steel plate sustaining Australian jobs – while used to construct the 5 prototype protecting our national and security ship blocks. interests. At Osborne South Naval Shipyard, Marking the beginning of the Australian Naval Infrastructure prototyping phase in December, I completed handover to ASC attended the official steel cutting Shipbuilding – lead contractor for for Australia’s 9 new Hunter Class the Hunter Class Frigate Program Frigates alongside my parliamentary – in early December, ahead of the colleagues (pictured, above). prototyping phase commencement. A major milestone for the SA-built In December, the Royal Australian Hunter Class Frigates, this phase Navy’s newest fleet of 3 Air Warfare will see 5 prototype blocks built Destroyers – built here in Adelaide, to test the production systems, at the Osborne Naval Shipyard – develop the facilities and ensure have exercised together for the first the workforce is trained to a high time (pictured, Page 6). NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 HMA Ships Hobart, Brisbane and $900 million. Sydney comprise Navy’s most 6 capable warships to date and one This Package, made possible of the world’s most capable multi-