This week's Australian political news
Dutton releases draft legislation for cyber security
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has released a draft exposure of its legislation to protect Australia’s critical infrastructure, which forms a central plank of its cyber security strategy. The reforms proposed in the exposure draft bill include a positive security obligation for critical infrastructure entities, supported by sector-specific requirements that would be designed with industry. In addition, the draft bill provides for enhanced cyber security obligations for entities that are most important to the nation, as well as government assistance to industry in response to immediate and serious cyber-attacks to Australian systems. The draft bill is open for comment until November 27.
Door ajar for North Asian travel
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed moves to resume limited international travel, particularly with Pacific Ocean and North Asian countries that are of lower risk post-Covid19. On Tuesday this week he confirmed ongoing discussions on an easing of border restrictions with Japan, Korea and other Pacific nations. In addition, he noted that for countries like Taiwan and Singapore and some parts and provinces of China, the Government was considering alternative arrangements to channel visitors through "appropriate quarantine arrangements" for low-risk countries. On Thursday, the PM announced that he would travel next week to Japan and Papua New Guinea for talks with national leaders.
Legislative crackdown on unfair contract terms
Federal, state and territory Consumer Affairs ministers have struck an agreement to strengthen protections for consumers and small business from unfair terms in contracts. Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said protections offered by Australian consumer law would be strengthened by making unfair contract terms unlawful and giving courts the power to impose a civil penalty. The definition of a small business would be expanded and clarity would be improved on when protections applied, especially in relation to a ‘standard form contract’. Federal Treasury will develop draft legislation for comment on the reforms.
SA moves on taxes for electric cars
South Australia has become the first jurisdiction in Australia to formally introduce a road user charge for plug-in electric cars and zero-emission vehicles. The SA Government’s State Budget this week announced that the charge would include a fixed component (similar to registration charging) and a variable charge, based on distance travelled. SA Treasurer Rob Lucas said that electric vehicles did not attract fuel excise, which contributed to road maintenance. Mr Lucas said the government was consulting with other jurisdictions, and estimated that the charge would collect less than about $1 million per year. The SA Budget announced a deficit of $2.59 billion in 2020-21, with a forecast return to surplus in 2023-24.
Tentative lift in visitor arrivals
As border restrictions are slowly relaxed, the number of overseas visitors to Australia have edged up for the first time since the second wave of Covid-19. For September, the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded 3720 visitor arrivals, up 22 per cent on August, but a 99.5 per cent reduction on the almost 700,000 visitor arrivals in September 2019. The figures also demonstrate the challenges facing the tourism and travel sectors in the summer months - for the month of December from 2017 through 2019, Australia recorded more than one million visitor arrivals.
Industry, academia enlisted to lift research outcomes
A panel of industry and academic representatives has been named to advise the Morrison Government on how to improve the commercialisation of university research. Education Minister Dan Tehan said a nine-person expert panel, which included Australia’s departing Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, would provide input into the Government’s $5.8 million scoping project to accelerate the translation of university research into employment and economic growth.