THE FAWCETT FLYER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 - Senator David Fawcett
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1
THE FAWCETT FLYER
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
APRIL 2018
1 Each year in November, Australians commemorate Remembrance Day
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- through the Government’s
mission ships. investment in the Future Submarine
Program, will provide contracts
Undertaken to test and develop to Australian businesses for
their cooperative air surface the manufacture of 23 major
and warfare capabilities, these components for the regionally
exercises demonstrated the fleet’s superior 12 Attack Class
interoperability and capacity to Submarines – to be built at the
respond to a more complex and Osborne North Naval Shipyard.
contested maritime zone.
I also recently joined Defence
Minister Senator the Hon Linda
Reynolds and State and Federal
Government representatives at
the official opening of Naval Group
Australia’s new office in Port
Adelaide (pictured, Page 10).
These offices have been built
to accommodate up the 350
administrative and management
staff expected at the peak of the
submarine build.
Throughout the Attack Class build
These 3 naval vessels are the program, Naval Group’s workforce
latest example of an Australian- is expected to increase to over
produced capability being available 1,700 direct jobs by 2028, providing
to respond, when needed, to keep thousands more indirect jobs along
Australians safe and defend our supply chains.
national interests.
For more information on the Hunter
Lead contractor for the Australian Class Frigate’s prototyping phase,
Government’s Attack Class click here or scan the QR code
Submarine Program, Naval Group below.
Australia, has recently attracted
more than 100 applications from
Australian businesses wishing to be
part of the first ‘Local Manufacturing
Package’ – worth approximately
THE FAWCETT FLYER
7 MORRISON GOVERNMENT
COMMITTED TO A SECURE REGION
As the Indo-Pacific region $26.2 trillion and constituting the
experiences the most consequential largest trade agreement in history.
strategic realignment in almost 80 Signatory nations include those
years, Australia is taking proactive in the Association of South East
steps to secure bilateral and Asian Nations (Brunei, Cambodia,
multilateral agreements that provide Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
for our region’s continued freedom, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand
openness, security, inclusivity and and Vietnam) and ASEAN’s free
stability. trade agreement partners (Australia,
China, Japan, New Zealand and
In a post-pandemic world, Republic of Korea).
the value of strong trade and
defence partnerships with like- RCEP provides certainty and
minded nations should not be consistency for the trading of goods
underestimated. and services, investment, economic
and technical cooperation in the
On the 16th November, 14 fastest growing region in the world.
Indo-Pacific nations joined
Australia in signing the Regional It also provides a common set of
Comprehensive Economic rules and improved mechanisms for
Partnership (RCEP) Agreement – electronic commerce, intellectual
representing the combined GDP of property, government procurement,
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
competition and small and medium Federal Liberal Government with
sized enterprises. Australia is Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Peru, 8
working towards ratification of the and Indonesia, among others.
RCEP in 2021.
New defence partnerships are also
Additionally, the Pacific Agreement proving vital for continued stability
on Closer Economic Relations Plus and security throughout the Indo-
(PACER Plus) entered into force in Pacific. Japan and Australia have
December – signed by Australia, now formalised a landmark defence
New Zealand and nine Pacific Island treaty – the Reciprocal Access
nations. Agreement (RAA).
PACER Plus provides an avenue to Building on our partnership of mutual
improve regional security, stability trust, shared values and interests,
and prosperity, by delivering the RAA will facilitate increased
targeted and responsive technical interoperability and cooperation
assistance to help Pacific island between the Australian Defence
countries benefit from trade, Force and Japan Self Defense
alongside commercial opportunities Forces, as we work towards
for Australian exporters and common security objectives.
investors in a range of sectors.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited
Despite the ongoing disruption Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide
to global logistics as a result of Suga in November (pictured, top
COVID-19, Australia achieved a Page 7) – the first foreign leader to
record trade surplus for the 2019/20 visit Prime Minister Suga since his
financial year of $77.4 billion, appointment.
assisted by the Government’s
strong focus on growing our export The RAA will enable the
market opportunities. streamlining of defence deployment
arrangements including through
With 1 in 5 Australian jobs reliant joint military training exercises,
on trade, our Government remains natural disaster and humanitarian
committed to ensuring 90% of support operations.
Australia’s trade is covered by
free trade agreements (FTA) by For more information on the RCEP
2022 to boost opportunities and Agreement, click here or scan the
the competitiveness of Australian QR code below.
businesses in the global market.
Ongoing negotiations continue with
the UK, EU, Pacific Island nations
and India regarding FTAs, adding
to deals reached since 2013 by the
THE FAWCETT FLYER
9 OUT AND
ABOUT
Great to be with Premier Steven
Marshall and Governor of South In December, I represented the
Australia, His Excellency The Hon Parliament at the brief ceremony to
Hieu Van Le for the announcement mark the transfer of responsibility
of South Australian of the Year for for NATO representation in Australia
2021 - Tanya Hosch (top), Local from Canada to the embassies of
Hero of the Year for 2021 - Russell the Republic of Croatia and of the
Ebert OAM (bottom), Senior South Kingdom of the Netherlands as the
Australian of the Year - Professor NATO Contact Point Embassies
Richard Bruggemann, and Young in 2021. Alongside Her Excellency
South Australian of the Year – Isobel Ms Betty Pavelich, Ambassador
Marshall (middle). of Croatia; His Excellency Mr Mark
Glauser, High Commissioner for
Canada; and Her Excellency Mrs
Marion Derckx, Ambassador for the
Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Good to join Paula Luethen MP,
the Hon John Dawkins MLC
and Deputy Mayor Damian Wyld
(pictured) for City of Tea Tree Gully
Council’s Citizenship Ceremony.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 202010
I joined Federal and State
parliamentary representatives at After a delayed start due to
the opening Naval Group Australia’s COVID-19, the second group of
new Port Adelaide office – home to veterans to take on the “Setting
an initial group of 250 employees a New Course” sailing program
and accommodating up to 350 officially completed the course
administrative and management and achieved their qualification,
staff as the Attack Class Submarine accredited by the Royal Yachting
build peaks. Association, in November. The
final phase of the program sees
team members out on the water
for several days, putting their newly
learned skills to the test.
Keep up to date on
announcements, via
Following Remembrance Day, I
Facebook:
attended the rededication of Mount
Barker’s Avenue of Honour by @senatorfawcett
Governor of South Australia, His
Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van
Le AC, with my senate colleague
Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC
(pictured) and local state member
Dan Cregan.
THE FAWCETT FLYER11
Liberal Senator for South Australia
Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Suite 4 13/100 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
8205 1040
senator.fawcett@aph.gov.au
senatorfawcett.com.au
AUTHORISED AND PRINTED BY SENATOR THE HON DAVID FAWCETT, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,
APRIL
SUITE 4, LEVEL 13, 100 KING 2018
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