tag:theconversation.com,2011:/uk/topics/karen-andrews-58784/articlesKaren Andrews – The Conversation2023-04-18T02:00:41Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2040162023-04-18T02:00:41Z2023-04-18T02:00:41ZJacinta Nampijinpa Price to be Peter Dutton’s right-hand campaigner against the Voice<p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has given his campaign against the Voice added horsepower by elevating high-profile Indigenous Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to become shadow minister for Indigenous Australians.</p>
<p>Price has been one of the loudest, most trenchant opponents of the Voice – at the opposite end of the Coalition spectrum from Julian Leeser, whom she replaces. Leeser resigned from the frontbench last week to campaign for the yes case, triggering the frontbench shakeup. </p>
<p>In a significant reshuffle, Dutton has also brought the Coalition’s other Indigenous MP, South Australian Senator Kerrynne Liddle, into the shadow ministry. Like Price, Liddle, a former journalist and businesswoman, entered parliament at last year’s election. </p>
<p>She will become shadow minister for child protection and prevention of family violence. Dutton has brought this issue to the fore in relation to Indigenous communities with allegations of sexual assault against Indigenous children in Alice Springs. </p>
<p>The reshuffle also sees Karen Andrews, who has been spokeswoman on home affairs (and previously the minister), step down to the backbench. Dutton said Andrews has recently told him she would not run again and would be happy to go to the backbench when there was a reshuffle. </p>
<p>Andrews will be replaced by Senator James Paterson, who under the Coalition government chaired the powerful parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security. He is already shadow minister for cybersecurity and shadow minister for countering foreign interference. </p>
<p>Senator Michaelia Cash becomes shadow attorney-general (the other portfolio held by Leeser), returning to an area she held in government. She retains her present responsibilities for employment and workplace relations. </p>
<p>The choice of Price had not seemed to be Dutton’s original plan. Coming from the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party, she sits with the Nationals. </p>
<p>Her promotion, following talks between Dutton and Nationals leader David Littleproud, means the Nationals’ representation is above their quota under the Coalition agreement. </p>
<p>Apart from the quota issue, there were other arguments against Price – that she was too inexperienced and that elevating her would put noses out of joint among Liberals who had been around longer. </p>
<p>But over the past week, calls increased for her appointment from vocal supporters, and she featured widely in the media including on the ABC’s Insiders on Sunday. </p>
<p>Dutton described Price as “a warrior for Indigenous Australians”. </p>
<p>“She’s always fought hard to improve the lives of Indigenous women and kids. She’s done an incredible amount of work to tackle tough issues like the scourge of sexual abuse, domestic violence and the crisis of law and order in some Indigenous communities, particularly Alice Springs most recently.” </p>
<p>Dutton also insisted he had raised the issue of child sexual abuse with the prime minister, despite Anthony Albanese on Monday denying this. </p>
<p>Dutton told his news conference: “There is a systemic problem in Alice Springs, the NT and other parts of the country and a big part of the decision to put Jacinta Price into this portfolio and Kerrynne Liddle into her portfolio is because we want to provide a brighter future for those kids.</p>
<p>"We can’t have a situation where we have young children being sexually abused, the impact psychologically on them, the difficulties it creates within a home environment.</p>
<p>"As we know, in Alice Springs at the moment, there are very significant issues.”</p>
<p>Andrews said that having decided “to call time” on her political career, “I wanted to ensure the Coalition has maximum time to have a replacement in the crucial home affairs portfolio, and the best replacement candidate for [her Queensland seat of] McPherson in place”. </p>
<p>She said in a statement she would continue to to support the Liberals’ position on the Voice. But she told a later news conference: “I won’t be out there wearing a shirt that says vote no. When people speak to me I will go through what
my concerns are, but I want to do that in a very neutral way so that
people are in a position that they can make their own mind up.”</p>
<p>She said she could not support the current words for the referendum, but she was open to working to get a proper set of words.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/204016/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Price, the new shadow minister for Indigenous Australians, has been one of the loudest, most trenchant opponents of the Voice.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1942592022-11-10T01:31:16Z2022-11-10T01:31:16ZPolitics with Michelle Grattan: Karen Andrews on the Medibank hack, visa scams, and winning back women voters<p>Karen Andrews is the former home affairs minister and now shadows that portfolio, which includes cyber-security.</p>
<p>With Australians shocked by hackers starting to post Medibank data on the dark web, in this podcast Andrews calls on the health insurer to provide more information. </p>
<p>“There are some very serious questions that need to be put to Medibank about what it actually did.”</p>
<p>“They have sustained incredible reputational damage. The only way that I can see forward for them to be able to improve their public standing is to be very clear and open about what happened, why it happened, and what they are doing to assist their customers.” </p>
<p>On this week’s revelations of extensive visa scams, Andrews says: “I’m not aware of those specific issues that are being played out in the media now having been raised specifically by the department [when she was minister]”.</p>
<p>“There will always be individuals out there who will seek to take advantage of Australia’s visa system […] It’s not acceptable and I’m not excusing it and the role of the Home Affairs Department is to do what it can to try and be ahead of the game […] I can say that I would give all the support that I possibly could to there being a proper review of what has happened and how it could possibly be fixed.”</p>
<p>Andrews takes an uncompromising line on the government’s repatriation of ISIS brides and their children. “I think it’s an appalling decision that’s been abysmally handled.” </p>
<p>“I am sympathetic to the children, particularly those that were taken there at a very young age and those that have been born there, because they’ve come into some pretty ordinary circumstances. But there is a level of parental responsibility in there, and they will have to live with the consequences of the actions that their parents took.”</p>
<p>Looking to the opposition’s task of trying to win back female voters, Andrews says, “Without a doubt women left the Liberal Party in droves at the last election. </p>
<p>"In hindsight and even at the time I think I was of the view that we weren’t listening enough to women and the issues that were important to them. </p>
<p>"I actually find it personally offensive that every time someone talks about what’s important to women, it invariably goes to childcare. And yes, that is important to some women at some points in their life, but that’s not the only issue.”</p>
<p>The idea of gender quotas has been a contentious topic for the Liberal Party. Andrews says, “quotas are a difficult issue for us […] I think we need to consider quotas. Absolutely. But maybe the quotas in the first instance need to be so that we have more women standing for pre-selections. So […] we have to have equal numbers of males and females in a pre-selection process.” </p>
<p>She says it is vital to recapture what have become “teal” seats. </p>
<p>“For the Coalition to win, we need to win the best part of 20 seats, which is a large number of seats. We cannot do it, I don’t believe, without winning back the majority of the teal seats that we lost at the last election […]</p>
<p>"Some of those [teals] are quite closely aligned with the values of the Liberal Party, which means that their constituencies are aligned with the principles of the Liberal Party. </p>
<p>Now that’s going to be a difficult thing to achieve in the short term, but we have to; we have to make sure that we are regaining those teal seats, that we are winning seats off Labor and that we are in a position that we can form government at the next election”.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/194259/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>With Australians shocked by hackers starting to post Medibank data on the dark web, in this podcast Andrews calls on the health insurer to provide more informationMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1890442022-08-19T04:12:43Z2022-08-19T04:12:43ZVIDEO: Morrison, Hurley and all those ministries<p>University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and University of Canberra Associate Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politics.</p>
<p>They dissect the revelation Scott Morrison secretly had himself sworn into multiple ministries without the knowledge of his cabinet. Where does the affair leave his relationship with colleagues, after frontbencher Karen Andrews called for his resignation from parliament? And what will happen next?</p>
<p>They also talk about the role of Governor-General David Hurley and whether the criticism he’s facing is warranted.</p>
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<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Assistant Professor Caroline Fisher discuss the week in politicsMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1888162022-08-19T01:01:25Z2022-08-19T01:01:25ZAustralian conservatism succumbs to the same radical tendency as like-minded parties abroad<p>As bad as it is, Scott Morrison’s surreptitious circumvention of Australia’s parliamentary and Cabinet processes might have got worse.</p>
<p>Had the former prime minister been re-elected, it is reasonable to assume he would have continued to mislead his Cabinet, the parliament and the public after amassing multiple reserve powers. </p>
<p>He may even have extended his undeclared reach, further weakening a gullible Cabinet that had all but surrendered its judgment to him since the so-called “miracle” election win of 2019.</p>
<p>Fronting reporters on Wednesday, Morrison provided no substantial acceptance of wrong-doing, no viable pretext for his secrecy. He also did not provide a reason for his wilful debasement of the principle of collective Cabinet decision-making.</p>
<p>Many voters will now be deeply concerned that Morrison was not dissuaded from his dangerous fantasy by the governor-general, who gave these novel arrangements his imprimatur. </p>
<p>The cost of Morrison’s excess and the governor-general’s apparent incuriosity is a sharp decline in public confidence.</p>
<p>Questions must now be asked about the durability of time-honoured Westminster conventions, as conservatism – the most successful political brand in Australia electorally speaking – succumbs to the same radical urges as like-minded parties abroad.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/morrisons-multiple-portfolios-why-the-law-has-nothing-to-do-with-it-188892">Morrison's multiple portfolios: why the law has nothing to do with it</a>
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<p>These questions go to the ease with which Morrison side-stepped usual transparency requirements, which are critical in delimiting executive power.</p>
<p>And they go to the special forms of confidence that bind ministers of the Crown to act honourably. This includes an obligation to resign when that confidence has been compromised.</p>
<p>The case of Resources Minister Keith Pitt highlights this cynical fracture. Pitt’s deliberative ministerial power was superseded by the prime minister, who had secretly acquired the joint commission for his resources portfolio.</p>
<p>This aggressive act amounted to a prime ministerial statement of no-confidence. Ordinarily, that would trigger the minister’s immediate resignation.</p>
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<span class="caption">Morrison’s treatment of Resources Minister Keith Pitt highlights the cynical fracture of Westminster conventions.</span>
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<p>It is worth noting that had Pitt then resigned, the whole issue of Morrison’s phantom cabinet would presumably have been exposed and dealt with at the time.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7865134/morrison-has-failed-the-pub-test-dismally/?cs=14230">According to</a> former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone, knowledge of Morrison’s secret commissions would have prompted censure of the prime minister and possible dismissal.</p>
<p>Beyond the public governance failures of this bizarre controversy lie the wan political responses on the Coalition side. These we can view on the one hand as questions of ideology, and on the other as tactical matters. The latter being calculations over how to limit brand damage and avoid a difficult byelection.</p>
<p>Governing is inevitably a mix of these influences. But how they are balanced when fundamental values are at stake provides a moral health check of a government.</p>
<p>Internally, considerations range from the shallow, such as how to avoid giving the new Labor government a political boost, to deeper judgments about whether the Coalition parties should be seen to prioritise public confidence in the Constitution, the Crown and the primacy of Parliament over their own short-term popularity.</p>
<p>So far, former ministers, with the notable exception of Karen Andrews, have been loath to fully condemn Morrison’s behaviour. </p>
<p>Driven by quotidian image considerations, this spectacular misreading exposes a pervasive nihilism gripping the centre-right. </p>
<p>It reveals that mutually observed Westminster norms specifically designed to vouchsafe good-faith governance have become, like the duplicated ministries of Morrison’s phantom Cabinet, mere guidelines to be obeyed only when they do not inhibit the pursuit and retention of power.</p>
<p>For a stream of political thought quick to invoke flag and country, this breezy subjugation of the national interest to selfish political equities represents an obvious contradiction.</p>
<p>Australian conservatives are hardly unique in this regard. Across the democratic West, disregard for long-agreed ethical and procedural standards has become commonplace as hyper-partisanship and populism supplant foundational tenets of conservatism. These include honour, respect, due process and an insistence that social change should only ever be gradual.</p>
<p>Contemporary conservativism is now more clearly defined by vulgar whatever-it-takes rule-breakers such as Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Morrison, than by the principled defenders of sober governing norms such as newly disendorsed United States Republican Senator Liz Cheney and Karen Andrews.</p>
<p>Cheney was junked by her Trump-enthralled GOP this week after taking a leading role in the January 6 insurrection hearings. There she declared: </p>
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<p>I say this to my Republican colleagues […] there will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonour will remain.</p>
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<p>Andrews, as one of the ministers secretly duplicated by Morrison, has so far been the only LNP frontbencher to call on Morrison to quit politics, declaring “the Australian people were betrayed”.</p>
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<p>I think the actions that he undertook in swearing himself in to numerous portfolios and not disclosing those to the ministers responsible means that he needs to resign and he needs to leave Parliament.</p>
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<p>While Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has also strongly criticised Morrison’s abuse of Westminster standards, other senior Coalition figures have largely stayed mute or sought to apply narrow binaries to his behaviour.</p>
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<p>Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce essentially played down the issue. He told Radio National:</p>
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<p>Obviously I don’t agree with the prime minister taking on roles here, there and everywhere, I believe in a cabinet system of government […] but Mr Morrison has not broken any law.</p>
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<p>The elevation of Morrison’s former political adviser and one-time chief of staff, Phil Gaetjens, to the role of Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is a symptom of the tendency to put political considerations above due process.</p>
<p>Morrison’s insistence he acted on advice from his department has to be viewed in this light.</p>
<p>While it is unclear what that departmental advice stated, senior public servants, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirm PM&C’s Governance Division would almost certainly have advised publicising any new ministerial commissions to ensure public awareness and parliamentary accountability.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-the-scott-morrison-horror-show-has-a-way-to-run-yet-188985">Grattan on Friday: The Scott Morrison horror show has a way to run yet</a>
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<p>That this advice was either not given or not taken as authoritative is of concern.</p>
<p>Even before the scandal, The Australian’s <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/liberals-have-lost-the-plot-amid-global-crisis-of-the-right/news-story/987c98893cb2fccdf2b40c26479b07e3">Greg Sheridan wrote</a>, in a piece headlined “Liberals have lost the plot amid global crisis of the right”, that it had become difficult to know what the Coalition parties believed.</p>
<p>An admirably direct critic of the conservative tradition from within, Sheridan describes an “intellectual vacuum across the Australian political right”, calling it the “greatest long-term threat to the Libs and the Nats”.</p>
<p>As shocking at Morrison’s behaviour was, the reluctance of the Coalition parties to unequivocally condemn it may inflict even greater long-term damage to the conservative cause.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188816/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark Kenny does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>As shocking at Morrison’s behaviour was, it may be that the failure of the Coalition parties to clearly condemn it that inflicts the greater long-term damage.Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1889852022-08-18T12:48:54Z2022-08-18T12:48:54ZGrattan on Friday: The Scott Morrison horror show has a way to run yet<p>It’s not breaking news that Scott Morrison has trouble with women. His “woman problem” was one factor in his election defeat. </p>
<p>But really, his treatment this week of Karen Andrews, his former home affairs minister, was particularly gratuitous. </p>
<p>By Tuesday Morrison had contacted Mathias Cormann and Josh Frydenberg (both now out of parliament) to apologise personally for failing to tell them he was wading into their portfolios, unannounced. </p>
<p>It took until Thursday morning, after Andrews had said on TV that she hadn’t heard from him and Peter Dutton had publicly told him to contact her, for Morrison to finally get in touch. </p>
<p>Didn’t he think Andrews, who is shadow home affairs minister, deserved the same courtesy as the former finance minister and former treasurer? </p>
<p>If Morrison had called on Tuesday he certainly could have received an earful. Andrews was declaring he should quit parliament. </p>
<p>The Morrison affair might be about events in the past, but controversy around him will continue to flare, burning the opposition. </p>
<p>The former PM affirmed at his train-wreck Wednesday news conference that he would remain in parliament as “a quiet Australian […] doing my job as a local member”.</p>
<p>He’ll be a pariah in the party room, and a lightning rod for trouble for the Liberals. Fast forward and another book will be published in December, Bulldozed by journalist Niki Savva, a trenchant critic of Morrison. It will bring more stories and bad publicity. </p>
<p>Coalition members are acutely aware of the harm his continuing presence will do them. While most may be shy of saying publicly that he should leave, their blunt criticisms indicate the mood. Anger has deepened during the week.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-morrison-reverts-to-type-in-an-unconvincing-defence-188911">View from The Hill: Morrison reverts to type in an unconvincing defence</a>
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<p>But Morrison doesn’t have an alternative job. And there’s the question of a byelection. </p>
<p>Maybe his friends could help with the job search. The byelection is a weighing of downsides. Which would be worse: Morrison remaining in full target range or the hazards and cost of a Cook contest? </p>
<p>If he could be persuaded to go soon – as he is expected to do at some stage in the term – it would benefit the Dutton opposition. </p>
<p>There was a substantial swing against him in Cook at the election but he ended with a hefty 62.44% of the two-party vote. </p>
<p>We see some huge swings in byelections these days, as when former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian resigned (although her seat was retained). But Cook would be hard for Labor or a high-profile independent to win, and Liberal sources believe it would be held. The Liberals could benefit if they ran a credible local female candidate. (She could campaign on “Solving the woman problem” – just joking.)</p>
<p>The NSW Liberals, facing a March election, wouldn’t welcome an expensive federal byelection. But they’ve got bigger problems and the horror publicity around Morrison is unhelpful to the Liberal brand generally. </p>
<p>Having enjoyed days of political free kicks, the Albanese government is mulling its next steps as it awaits advice, due on Monday, from the Solicitor-General on the legality of Morrison’s actions.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/word-from-the-hill-on-scott-morrisons-bizarre-power-grab-188830">Word from The Hill: On Scott Morrison's bizarre power grab</a>
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<p>Separately, Morrison’s failure to inform parliament he’d had himself appointed to multiple ministries could be referred to the privileges committee. </p>
<p>It might also be (though this isn’t clear yet) that the present House of Representatives practice needs clarifying or strengthening on disclosure. </p>
<p>If Morrison’s conduct becomes an issue on the floor of the house, opposition members will have a delicate dance, between defending their former leader and distancing themselves from him. </p>
<p>Albanese has been heavily milking the story. On Thursday he said: “The issue isn’t whether an apology has been given to Mr Frydenberg or Karen Andrews or others. The issue is that the apology is owed to the Australian people.” </p>
<p>But the government knows it must be careful not to overstep the mark – that it must follow the proper procedures, especially in parliament. </p>
<p>Also, it will want the public’s attention on its own agenda. The next parliamentary sitting comes only a couple of days after the jobs summit. </p>
<p>The government will need focus on the positives out of that gathering. Many voters might be appalled about Morrison, but for most there are more immediate preoccupations, especially the rising cost of living.</p>
<p>Former ministers weren’t the only ones in for a nasty surprise with the revelations that flowed from the publication of Plagued, by Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers. Governor-General David Hurley has taken a degree of pillorying this week that has probably shocked him. </p>
<p>Obviously Hurley knew about the appointments because he formally made them. In doing so, he was acting quite properly, following government advice. </p>
<p>But the issue around him has become, did he do enough? Critics say no – that he should have questioned this unusual course and warned that the appointments should be disclosed. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-crossbencher-helen-haines-on-morrison-and-integrity-188986">Politics with Michelle Grattan: Crossbencher Helen Haines on Morrison and integrity</a>
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<p>Hurley is clearly feeling sensitive. He has issued two statements explaining his conduct, the second saying he had “no reason to believe that appointments would not be communicated”.</p>
<p>We don’t know precisely, but quite likely what happened was that Hurley got the paperwork – the process was administrative, Morrison was not sworn in face to face – and regarded it as routine, not giving it further thought. Remember also, the process was strung out, with a maximum of two ministries involved at one time. </p>
<p>Hurley said: “It is not uncommon for ministers to be appointed to administer departments other than their portfolio responsibility”. True, but the prime minister is not just any minister. Hurley didn’t twig that he was in fact dealing with something very uncommon.</p>
<p>Governors-general vary in how they operate in the more informal part of their role, which is to question and counsel. </p>
<p>Paul Hasluck, who held the office during 1969-1974, said in his 1972 lecture, “The Office of Governor-General”, that “the personality and qualifications” of the occupant may affect how they do the job. (Hurley is a former chief of the defence force and a former NSW governor.)</p>
<p>Hasluck went on to say the governor-general’s “dominant role is as one who uses his influence to ensure that there is care and deliberation, a close regard both for the requirements of the law and the conventions of the Constitution and for the continuing interests of the whole nation”. </p>
<p>The influence of governors-general will vary according to how they are respected, in terms of wisdom, experience, discretion and the like, Hasluck observed. But the governor-general’s “influence would disappear altogether if he were thought of as one who would do whatever he was told without asking the reasons why”.</p>
<p>Albanese is backing Hurley. As he should, even if Hurley fell short of what he might have done to curb Morrison. But it is clear Hurley’s reputation has been damaged by what he – apparently – didn’t do. </p>
<p>Scott Morrison leaves casualties all over the place. His own legacy is, of course, the biggest casualty of all.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188985/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>It’s not breaking news that Scott Morrison has trouble with women. His “woman problem” was one factor in his election defeat.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1889112022-08-17T12:18:02Z2022-08-17T12:18:02ZView from The Hill: Morrison reverts to type in an unconvincing defence<p>One of the more bizarre things Scott Morrison said in his hour-long, sometimes combative, Wednesday news conference was that he’d had a “wonderful” conversation with Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday. </p>
<p>Morrison contacted Frydenberg after the revelation the former prime minister had himself sworn into the treasury portfolio in May last year and never told the treasurer. On the same day he’d inserted himself in the home affairs ministry, unbeknown to occupant Karen Andrews. </p>
<p>When she learned this week of his action, Andrews exploded and called for Morrison to leave parliament. Frydenberg, now in the investment banking world although retaining a hankering for politics, acted with more restraint. </p>
<p>But for the ex-treasurer and ex-member for Kooyong, the affair must raise the “what if” question. </p>
<p>What if the story of Morrison’s extraordinary power-grab had come out a few months before the election? </p>
<p>At that time some colleagues, fearful for their prospects, had sounded out Frydenberg about a possible move on Morrison. Frydenberg didn’t entertain the idea, staying loyal to Morrison (as he had to PMs Turnbull and Abbott). </p>
<p>It’s just possible the power-grab story might have toppled Morrison, the Liberals under Frydenberg might have contained their losses, and Frydenberg might have held his seat. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-morrisons-passion-for-control-trashed-conventions-and-accountability-188747">View from The Hill: Morrison's passion for control trashed conventions and accountability</a>
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<p>Of course none of that might have happened. But if you were Frydenberg, Tuesday’s conversation would have seemed less than “wonderful”. Morrison, however, portrays the world just as he wants it to be seen. </p>
<p>Scott Morrison stripped of power is not so different from Scott Morrison clothed in the garb of office. On Wednesday there were elements of preacher and salesman. Except no one was buying the messages. </p>
<p>His news conference did nothing to counter the damage from what’s been revealed about his putting himself into five ministries, without announcement and in most cases without the occupants knowing. In many observers’ eyes, it left him worse off. </p>
<p>Meanwhile, Peter Dutton and even Morrison’s close mate Stuart Robert distanced themselves from the former PM’s actions. Teal independent Sophie Scamps said there should be a parliamentary inquiry.</p>
<p>Governor-General David Hurley, caught up in the imbroglio, indicated he’d had “no reason to believe that appointments would not be communicated”.</p>
<p>On the power-grab, Morrison’s explanation amounted to saying that everyone expected he was responsible for everything, so he acted accordingly. Understanding public expectations, “I believed it was necessary […] to have what were effectively emergency powers, to exercise in extreme situations that would be unforeseen”. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/word-from-the-hill-on-scott-morrisons-bizarre-power-grab-188830">Word from The Hill: On Scott Morrison's bizarre power grab</a>
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<p>There’s irony here. Morrison says he was responding to expectations about responsibility, but a chief criticism of him during the last term was that he dodged responsibility.</p>
<p>The pandemic played strongly to Morrison’s preferred command-and-control style. </p>
<p>“As prime minister, only I could really understand the weight of responsibility that was on my shoulders and on no one else, and as a result I took the decisions that I thought I needed to take.”</p>
<p>A revealing line came in his retort to one persistent journalist. “You’re standing on the shore after the fact. I was steering the ship in the middle of the tempest.” </p>
<p>But a ship is operated by a crew, not just a captain. Why not tell his cabinet colleagues he’d had himself put into multiple ministries? </p>
<p>“I did not want any of my ministers to be going about their daily business any differently”, he said. “I was concerned that these issues could have been misconstrued and misunderstood and undermine the confidence of ministers in the performance of their duties.” </p>
<p>This doesn’t bear scrutiny. If Morrison’s argument for his extraordinary action was so compelling, ministers would presumably have accepted the case. But it was full of holes and illogical. Indeed, he now says “in hindsight” it had been unnecessary to put himself into treasury and home affairs.</p>
<p>While Morrison’s behaviour can be seen as the weirdest of aberrations, looked at from another angle it is just the most extreme example of his default mode of secrecy. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-the-liberals-would-be-better-off-with-morrison-out-of-parliament-188838">View from The Hill: The Liberals would be better off with Morrison out of parliament</a>
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<p>There were cover-ups on everything from his Hawaii holiday to who knew what and when about the Brittany Higgins matter. The cover-ups were accompanied by lies, dissembling, and dodgy investigations. </p>
<p>In those cases, Morrison was trying to hide things from the media and the public. With his special ministerial arrangements, it was ministers, individually and collectively, who were to be kept in the dark (as well as media and voters). Morrison did not just think cabinet colleagues didn’t have a right to know. He apparently thought they could become flaky if they did know. </p>
<p>But while eschewing scrutiny, Morrison also wanted to have the story of his prime ministership told in a way that would put him in the best light. </p>
<p>So he gave extensive co-operation for the book Plagued, written by Simon Benson and Geoff Chambers, journalists from The Australian. Morrison had a long and close relationship with Benson. </p>
<p>He said at his news conference:“That book was written based on interviews that were conducted at the time, "in the middle of the tempest,” which was what made it an “interesting read”. </p>
<p>Plagued broke the initial story of Morrison’s secret arrangements, and then further information quickly came out. In another irony, the book Morrison hoped would put some shine on his legacy became the source of its latest tarnishing. </p>
<p>As for his future, Morrison said: “As a former prime minister, I intend to go on being a quiet Australian in the Shire and in St George doing my job as a local
member”.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188911/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>One of the more bizarre things Scott Morrison said in his hour-long, sometimes combative, Wednesday news conference was that he’d had a “wonderful” conversation with Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1888382022-08-16T12:01:14Z2022-08-16T12:01:14ZView from The Hill: The Liberals would be better off with Morrison out of parliament<p>Liberal frontbencher Karen Andrews wouldn’t be alone among her colleagues in believing Scott Morrison should quit parliament.</p>
<p>Andrews, home affairs minister in the former government, on Tuesday declared the Australian people were “betrayed” by Morrison’s installing himself in five portfolios, including hers, in secret arrangements. </p>
<p>She was one of the ministers not told he’d moved in. Nor, most remarkably, was treasurer Josh Frydenberg (who a few months later stayed at The Lodge) informed he had a ministerial bedfellow. Likewise finance minister Mathias Cormann. </p>
<p>Andrews has another reason for a heightened sensitivity to Morrison’s willingness to flout conventions and propriety. </p>
<p>When an asylum seeker boat was intercepted on election day, Morrison was determined to try to exploit it politically. The pressure coming from his office onto Andrews’ office to urgently publicise the incident has been documented in a recent inquiry. </p>
<p>While Andrews defended her actions after the report was released, she lost skin. </p>
<p>Without doubt the parliamentary Liberal Party would be better off if Morrison quit. </p>
<p>Even before this week’s revelations, there was nothing he could contribute – he sits as a failure from the past in a party that will have immense trouble adjusting to the future. Now he presents a live target for Labor. Anthony Albanese on Tuesday wouldn’t rule out Labor moving a censure against him. </p>
<p>He enjoys minimal respect among his colleagues. As long as he hangs around, he’ll be a distraction. </p>
<p>Former prime minister John Howard advanced the one pragmatic argument against Morrison quitting – it would create an unwanted and expensive by-election for the Liberals. </p>
<p>“Apart from anything else it is not in the interests of the Liberal Party to have a by-election at the moment in a very safe seat, particularly as in the state of New South Wales we will face a state election in the early part of next year,” Howard said bluntly, interviewed on the ABC on Tuesday night. </p>
<p>Some would add that in these volatile political times no seat is absolutely “safe”. </p>
<p>Morrison hasn’t been expected to see out the parliamentary term. But presumably he needs a job to go to. This week’s stories will have done nothing for his employability. </p>
<p>The disclosure of Morrison’s behaviour has put heat on Governor-General David Hurley.</p>
<p>Hurley was quick to issue a Monday statement setting out how he had acted in accordance with the Constitution. He said it was up to the government whether the arrangements were made public.</p>
<p>To suggest Hurley should not have done what he was asked totally misunderstands his role. He must act according to government advice, assuming what it proposes is legal. (It might be added, however, that a wise governor-general also questions and counsels when circumstances require.) </p>
<p>University of NSW law professor and constitutional specialist George Williams suggests the convention should be put into law that all ministerial appointments be announced to parliament. </p>
<p>On Tuesday Morrison made a belated effort to explain himself. He began on 2GB – his favourite radio roost – but it was a fiasco. He didn’t recall any portfolios other than those initially mentioned (health, finance, resources) into which he’d inserted himself. </p>
<p>It fell to Albanese to add home affairs and treasury. To have apparently forgotten you have made yourself treasurer is really something. </p>
<p>Later Morrison issued a long Facebook post, in which he invoked the “extraordinary times” of COVID that required “extraordinary measures” to justify his actions. </p>
<p>“I took the precaution of being given authority to administer various departments of state should the need arise due to incapacity of a minister or in the national interest.” This was where ministers had specific powers under legislation not subject to cabinet oversight. Health was the major example. </p>
<p>Morrison said treasury and home affairs were added as a “belts and braces” precaution in May 2021.</p>
<p>He explained his lack of memory of key portfolios by saying “there was a lot going on at the time” and the powers hadn’t had to be used. </p>
<p>Why not inform all the relevant ministers, the cabinet, the public? (Health Minister Greg Hunt knew and Morrison did think Cormann had been told, but there was some glitch.) Morrison said he didn’t want ministers “second guessing themselves”, or for their authority to be diminished.</p>
<p>The one area where Morrison used the power he’d acquired was in the resources portfolio, and this had nothing to do with COVID and everything to do with votes. There he became minister so he could overrule the publicly designated minister, Keith Pitt, on the issue of gas exploration off the NSW coast.</p>
<p>“Once having been given the authority to consider this matter I advised the minister of my intention to do so,” Morrison said. “This was the only matter I involved myself directly with in this or any other department”. </p>
<p>Morrison ended his post with an apology “for any offence to my colleagues”. But he showed little sign he comprehended why they would be so deeply offended by his lack of respect, represented by his unwillingness to take them into his confidence.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188838/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Liberal frontbencher Karen Andrews wouldn’t be alone among her colleagues in believing Scott Morrison should quit parliament.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1888302022-08-16T07:56:35Z2022-08-16T07:56:35ZWord from The Hill: On Scott Morrison’s bizarre power grab<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/479338/original/file-20220816-1531-2dp7ed.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=35%2C23%2C3958%2C1970&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption"></span> </figcaption></figure><p>As well as her interviews with politicians and experts, Politics with Michelle Grattan includes “Word from The Hill”, where she discusses the news with members of The Conversation politics team.</p>
<p>In this podcast, politics editor Amanda Dunn and Michelle discuss this week’s revelations that former prime minster Scott Morrison had himself secretly sworn into five different portfolios.
They talk about the criticisms some are making of Governor-General David Hurley for his role, and the political fallout which has seen one Liberal frontbencher, Karen Andrews, saying Morrison should leave parliament.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188830/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Michelle Grattan discusses politics with politics + society editor, Amanda DunnMichelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1888082022-08-16T03:49:49Z2022-08-16T03:49:49ZScott Morrison made himself treasurer days before the 2021 budget<p>Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison installed himself in five portfolios – including treasury – just days before the May 2021 budget. </p>
<p>Anthony Albanese gave details of his predecessor’s extraordinary actions at a Tuesday morning news conference. The prime minister said he had sought advice from the solicitor-general on the legality of what had happened, which he would receive on Monday.</p>
<p>“I am seeking further advice as to the use of these extraordinary powers by Scott Morrison.” </p>
<p>Morrison became health minister on March 14 2020, finance minister on March 30, 2020, home affairs minister and treasurer on May 6 2021, and minister for industry, science, energy and resources on April 15 2021. </p>
<p>Josh Frydenberg, who was treasurer and deputy Liberal leader, didn’t know Morrison had moved into his portfolio. He delivered the 2021 budget on May 11.</p>
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<h2>Liberal frontbencher calls for Morrison’s resignation from Parliament</h2>
<p>Karen Andrews, who was home affairs minister, said she had not known of the pairing arrangement and called for Morrison to resign from parliament. </p>
<p>“I had absolutely no knowledge and was not told by the PM, PMO nor the department secretary. This undermines the integrity of government,” she told The Australian. </p>
<p>Departmental secretary Mike Pezzullo did not know of the arrangement. </p>
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<p>Opposition leader Peter Dutton refused to back Andrews’ call for Morrison’s resignation. </p>
<p>Morrison, who refused to comment on Monday, went on 2GB to defend himself on Tuesday morning. </p>
<p>“They were very unconventional times,” he said. Ministers, including Dutton, had gone down with COVID. “We had Boris Johnson, who almost died one night, I remember that night very vividly. I was very concerned he wouldn’t be with us in the morning.”</p>
<p>Speaking before Albanese’s news conference, Morrison was asked whether he had assumed any control of any other portfolios beyond health, finance and resources (those initially revealed). </p>
<p>“Not to my recollection,” he said. “I’m pursuing that, but not to my recollection. There were a number that were considered at the time for safeguard reasons. But I don’t recall any others being actioned.”</p>
<p>He said he had apologised to Mathias Cormann, now secretary-general of the OECD, for not informing him of the arrangement. “I thought that had been done through offices to be honest, […] that was an oversight.”</p>
<p>Morrison admitted that becoming resources minister had nothing to do with the pandemic. He and resources minister Keith Pitt had opposing views on the PEP11 gas exploration off the NSW coast, with Morrison determined to veto it for political reasons. The decision-making power rested with the resources minister. </p>
<p>“If I wished to be the decision maker, then I had to take the steps that I took. And then I had to follow a very meticulous process in informing myself about the issue, taking briefs on the issue, and then making a decision in accordance with all the legal requirements, which I did. </p>
<p>"And when I put myself in a position to take that decision, I informed Keith at that point. And then as a result, I went forward and made that decision.”</p>
<p>Albanese sought to spread blame to Morrison’s colleagues. </p>
<p>“What has occurred here is also a flow-on, I believe, from the fact that Mr Morrison’s colleagues sat back and watched power be centralised within the Morrison government. They ticked off on the arrangements that had Scott Morrison as the only member of a cabinet committee.”</p>
<p>Dutton said Albanese’s seeking advice from the solicitor-general was appropriate. </p>
<p>“It’s time for cool heads to prevail,” Dutton told a news conference. “The
Prime Minister has come out of his holidays swinging. Obviously this is an issue that will get his teeth into.” But Australian families were dealing with bigger issues, Dutton said. </p>
<h2>Morrison’s Facebook explanation</h2>
<p>Morrison has posted a long Facebook explanation of his actions. Extracts are below: </p>
<p>“As Prime Minister I considered it necessary to put in place safeguards, redundancies and contingencies to ensure the continuity and effective operation of Government during this crisis period, which extended for the full period of my term. </p>
<p>"I took the precaution of being given authority to administer various departments of state should the need arise due to incapacity of a Minister or in the national interest. This was done in relation to departments where Ministers were vested with specific powers under their legislation that were not subject to oversight by Cabinet, including significant financial authorities.</p>
<p>"Given the significant nature of many of these powers I considered this to be a prudent and responsible action as Prime Minister.</p>
<p>"It is not uncommon for multiple Ministers to be sworn to administer the same Department. However, given that such additional Ministers were in a more junior position in the relevant Departments, and would not be familiar with all the details of the pandemic response, I considered it appropriate that the redundancy be put in place at a higher level within the Government and not at a more junior level. </p>
<p>"The major Department for which this was considered was the Health Department, given the extensive powers afforded to the Minister by the Biosecurity Act. </p>
<p>"As an added administrative precaution, as a ‘belts and braces’ approach, the Departments of Treasury and Home Affairs were added some time after in May 2021. </p>
<p>"As events demonstrated with the resurgence of COVID-19 in the second half of 2021, we could never take certainty for granted. In hindsight these arrangements were unnecessary and until seeking advice from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet today, I had not recollected these arrangements having been put in place. There was a lot going on at the time.</p>
<p>"Thankfully it was not necessary for me to trigger use of any of these powers. In the event that I would have to use such powers I would have done so disclosing the authority by which I was making such decisions. The authority was pre approved to ensure there would be no delay in being able to make decisions or take actions should the need arise. </p>
<p>"The crisis was a highly dynamic environment and it was important to plan ahead and take what precautions could lawfully be put in place to ensure I could act, as Prime Minister, if needed.</p>
<p>It is important to note that throughout this time Ministers in all Departments, where I was provided with authority to act, exercised full control of their Departments and portfolios without intervention. Ministerial briefs were not copied to me as Prime Minister in a co-Minister capacity, as this was not the nature of the arrangement. These arrangements were there as a ‘break glass in case of emergency’ safeguard. </p>
<p>"The use of the powers by a Prime Minister to exercise authority to administer Departments has clearly caused concern. I regret this, but acted in good faith in a crisis.</p>
<p>"I used such powers on one occasion only. I did not seek to interfere with Ministers in the conduct of their portfolio as there were no circumstances that warranted their use, except in the case of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources [when he vetoed offshore gas exploration off the NSW coast].</p>
<p>"I have endeavoured to set out the context and reasoning for the decisions I took as Prime Minister in a highly unusual time. I did so in good faith, seeking to exercise my responsibilities as Prime Minister which exceeded those of any other member of the Government, or Parliament. For any offence to my colleagues I apologise.”</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188808/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison installed himself in five portfolios – including treasury – just days before the May 2021 budget.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1838382022-05-25T14:04:51Z2022-05-25T14:04:51ZDutton, set to become Liberal leader, wants people to see ‘the rest of my character’<p>Peter Dutton has declared there is more to him than his tough side, as he formally announces he will stand for the Liberal leadership.</p>
<p>Dutton, set to be unopposed when the Liberals meet next week, also included with his statement a testament from wife Kirilly, who described him as compassionate and witty, saying he hid a lot of his emotion from the public. </p>
<p>The former defence minister, who is from Queensland, portrayed himself as more complex that his hard-man public image. But he also said that in a prime minister, “you need someone who won’t buckle in hard times and will stand up for our country and I have proven that in the portfolios I’ve had”.</p>
<p>Although accepting there is no one else, Liberals are divided over the prospect of Dutton, from the right, as leader. </p>
<p>This reflects the differences within the party about whether, after being defeated by Labor and losing seats to a wave of teals, it should now tack right or left. </p>
<p>There is concern about the entrenched negativity towards Dutton in the public mind, shown in his low rating in polls, and the difficulty of selling him in Melbourne and Sydney. </p>
<p>The Liberals had expected that if they lost the election Josh Frydenberg would become leader, but he was defeated by teal independent Monique Ryan.</p>
<p>Former home affairs minister Karen Andrews said on Wednesday Dutton would be elected unopposed and predicted former environment minister Sussan Ley, from NSW, would be deputy. </p>
<p>Dutton’s bid to broaden his image echoes a similar attempt during his challenge to Malcolm Turnbull in 2018, when he welcomed the chance to “smile and maybe show a different side”.</p>
<p>In his statement Dutton highlighted that he came from the suburbs, as some in the party are arguing its future lies more in the suburbs than in the urban seats that have been lost in this election.</p>
<p>Dutton said his “work ethic is second to none and I have the skill and experience having served five leaders and have learnt from each. I have held portfolios in government and opposition, including: defence, home affairs, health, finance, assistant treasurer, sport and employment.”</p>
<p>He said he’d had “tough jobs - firstly as a policeman dealing with serious sexual assaults and murders, to home affairs minister where I deported drug traffickers and child sex offenders”. </p>
<p>But “most people have only seen that side of me.</p>
<p>"I hope now, in moving from such tough portfolios, the Australian public can see the rest of my character. The side my family, friends and colleagues see. </p>
<p>"The side my community sees where they have elected me eight times. I come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I have come from.”</p>
<p>Dutton also indicated he accepted the Liberal party’s broad nature.</p>
<p>“We aren’t the Moderate Party. We aren’t the Conservative Party. We are Liberals. We are the Liberal Party.</p>
<p>"We believe in families - whatever their composition. Small and micro businesses. For aspirational hard working ‘forgotten people’ across the cities, suburbs, regions and in the bush.”</p>
<p>Dutton said he was raised by political mentors John Howard and Peter Costello. </p>
<p>“I was a minister under John and assistant treasurer under Peter.</p>
<p>"Things are going to be tough under Labor – higher interest rates, cost of living, inflation and electricity prices.</p>
<p>"Labor talked a big game on the economy. They now have to deliver and we will hold them to account.</p>
<p>"We will be a strong alternative at the next election with economic policies to help, not harm people. This will be in stark contrast to what we will get under Labor.”</p>
<p>Kirilly Dutton said her husband was “an amazing father and the kids adore him. </p>
<p>"He has a great sense of humour – very dry and witty but he also has an incredible compassion. Particularly when it comes to the protection of women and children. </p>
<p>"He hides a lot of his emotion from the public but he gets most upset at reports of children or women being sexually abused or harmed. It obviously stems from his time as a policeman working in that area but it’s also from being the eldest of five kids growing up in the suburbs.” </p>
<p>On Wednesday Dave Sharma, who lost Wentworth to “teal” candidate Allegra Spender, said people had been “almost visceral” in their reaction to Scott Morrison. </p>
<p>“They would say that he is too religious, didn’t like he carried coal into parliament, they didn’t believe his sincerity on climate change and didn’t like our handling of Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame,” Sharma said.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/183838/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Peter Dutton has declared there is more to him than his tough side, as he formally announces he will stand for the Liberal leadership.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1799492022-03-24T04:21:02Z2022-03-24T04:21:02ZMorrison government finally accepts deal with New Zealand to resettle refugees<p>In a major turnaround, the Morrison government has accepted New Zealand’s long-standing offer to resettle annually 150 refugees who came by boat. </p>
<p>The Coalition government previously refused to take up the offer, which goes back to 2013, on the ground that it could provide an incentive for people to get on boats to try to come to Australia. The government said sending refugees to New Zealand would provide a “pull factor”. </p>
<p>The agreement appears part of removing political “barnacles” before the May election. Shadow minister for home affairs, Kristina Keneally, said it “is just another pre-election promise to protect inner-city Liberal seats”.</p>
<p>The decision was announced in a joint statement by the federal Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi. </p>
<p>Under the agreement, up to 150 refugees will be settled annually for each of three years. They will be from Australia’s regional processing cohort.</p>
<p>The ministers said resettlement will initially be considered for refugees who </p>
<ul>
<li><p>are on Nauru or temporarily in Australia under the regional processing arrangements </p></li>
<li><p>meet New Zealand’s program requirements </p></li>
<li><p>are referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees </p></li>
<li><p>are not engaged in other third country resettlement pathways (such as the resettlement program Australia has with the United States). </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Andrews was anxious to stress the government’s tough border policy had not changed. No one who came illegally by boat would ever be allowed to settle here, she said. </p>
<p>“This arrangement does not apply to anyone who attempts an illegal maritime journey to Australia in the future,” she said. </p>
<p>“Anyone who attempts to breach our borders will be turned back or sent to Nauru.” </p>
<p>The government previously gave as a reason for not accepting New Zealand’s offer that the refugees once in New Zealand would be able to enter Australia by the back door. </p>
<p>Asked about this, sources said on Thursday that while the refugees, when they became New Zealand citizens, would be able to visit Australia, they would never be allowed to settle here. </p>
<p>Keneally said: “This is a humiliating backflip for Scott Morrison who claimed as recently as 2018 that New Zealand’s generous offer to resettle refugees would see people smugglers restart their evil trade”. She said the Liberals might never actually implement the deal.</p>
<p>The Refugee Council of Australia welcomed the agreement, saying “New Zealand’s generosity […] will make a life-changing difference to 450 of the refugees who have so far endured nine excruciating years suffering in Australia’s offshore arrangements, much of that time in locked detention”. </p>
<p>But several hundred people would still be left with nowhere to go, the council said.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/179949/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>In a major turnaround, the Morrison government has accepted New Zealand’s long-standing offer to resettle annually 150 refugees who came by boat.Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of CanberraLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1625052021-06-16T20:08:31Z2021-06-16T20:08:31ZResettling refugees in other countries is not reliable, nor is it fair. So, why is Australia doing it?<p>The federal government has scrambled in recent days to minimise the political fallout from its treatment of the Tamil family from Biloela. After almost two years stuck on Christmas Island, the Murugappans are now being permitted to return to the mainland under community detention while their asylum case is settled.</p>
<p>Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne raised the prospect of resettling the family in New Zealand or the US, before Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/10/new-zealand-or-us-not-possible-for-biloela-tamil-family-karen-andrews">dismissed the idea</a>, saying they are not eligible because they have not been found to be refugees.</p>
<p>All this talk has caused much <a href="https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/KarenAndrews/Pages/4bc-breakfast-10062021.aspx">confusion</a>, and sparked questions around what Canberra is doing to resolve the plight of other displaced people to whom it has refused entry — namely, the <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/what-we-have-learnt-from-the-latest-responses-to-senate-questions-on-notice/">hundreds</a> of refugees who have been held for years in Australia’s system of offshore processing.</p>
<p>Andrews has said the Australian government is exploring resettlement overseas for “<a href="https://twitter.com/karenandrewsmp/status/1402776110606163970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">broad cohorts</a>” of people. The minister’s <a href="https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/KarenAndrews/Pages/sunrise-10062021.aspx">focus</a> is apparently on refugees who were held offshore in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, and are currently in Australia for medical treatment.</p>
<p>The chance of a resettlement deal with New Zealand for these refugees is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/04/discussions-are-happening-to-resettle-refugees-from-australias-offshore-regime-in-new-zealand">reported</a> to be gaining traction — although there are no tangible results yet.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1398134652347453441"}"></div></p>
<p>Meanwhile, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/13/australias-deal-to-resettle-refugees-in-the-us-what-we-know-so">deal struck with Washington</a> in 2016 to offer resettlement to the US for up to 1,250 refugees held in PNG and Nauru is still playing out years later. </p>
<p>As of last month, there are approximately 200 refugees who have been approved for entry to the United States and are waiting to depart, and a further 260 <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/what-we-have-learnt-from-the-latest-responses-to-senate-questions-on-notice/">pre-approved</a> in advance of final health checks.</p>
<h2>Who is eligible for resettlement in another country?</h2>
<p>For a start, it helps to understand why Canberra wants other countries to resettle refugees who sought protection in Australia. </p>
<p>On July 19 2013, the Rudd Labor government introduced a hardline ban on entry: people who sought asylum by boat on or after that date, and were transferred to PNG or Nauru, would never settle in Australia. This has been maintained under successive Liberal governments, and a total of <a href="https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/operation-sovereign-borders-offshore-detention-statistics/2/">3,127</a> people were sent offshore. </p>
<p>The ban has been criticised for its “<a href="https://theconversation.com/robert-manne-how-we-came-to-be-so-cruel-to-asylum-seekers-67542">absolutist ambition</a>” — the idea that the admission of any one person would cause the entire system of border control to collapse. </p>
<p>This is despite the fact Australia has <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/publication/frequently-asked-questions-about-refugees">obligations</a> under international refugee and human rights law to protect people fleeing persecution or other serious human rights violations. </p>
<p>A central plank of this absolutism is that asylum seekers who arrive by boat, and are found to be refugees, will only ever be able to secure a durable and humane solution in another country – if such an opportunity can be found.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=392&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/406603/original/file-20210616-21-8127yc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=493&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Refugees protesting against Australia’s policies outside the UNHCR representative office in Indonesia in 2019.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Tatan Syuflana/AP</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For those not subject to the hardline ban on entry — some <a href="https://temporary.kaldorcentre.net/resources">30,000 people</a> who sought asylum by boat after mid-2012 and before January 1 2014, and were not transferred offshore — a complex legal regime narrows their path to protection in Australia. </p>
<p>These people are subject to <a href="https://temporary.kaldorcentre.net/introduction">limited-term visas</a> and a lot of uncertainty. The Biloela family have had to deal with this “<a href="https://www.themonthly.com.au/today/russell-marks/2019/19/2019/1568873174/tamil-family-remains-limbo">byzantine</a>” system, having arrived before the ban came into effect.</p>
<h2>Deals with third countries</h2>
<p>After the ban, successive Australian governments have tried to make deals with third countries to resettle those who were sent to PNG or Nauru. </p>
<p>A 2014 agreement with Cambodia was said to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/09/55m-cambodia-deal-that-resettled-two-refugees-a-good-outcome-says-dutton">cost A$55 million</a>, and was ultimately taken up by just a handful of refugees. In 2015, the Philippines was <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/labor-coalition-unite-on-philippines-asylum-seeker-deal">reportedly</a> wooed by Australian officials for a potential deal to resettle refugees worth $150 million that never eventuated.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/resettling-refugees-in-australia-would-not-resume-the-people-smuggling-trade-60253">Resettling refugees in Australia would not resume the people-smuggling trade</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The 2016 deal with Washington promised hope for those held offshore. Negotiated with the Obama administration, the deal was soon subject to the whims of President Donald Trump, with resettlement stalling several times. </p>
<p>In a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/leaked-call-transcript-reveals-trump-told-turnbull-you-are-worse-than-i-am-on-refugees-20170804-gxp0oh.html">testy phone call</a> with then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that was leaked to the media, Trump lambasted what he called a “stupid deal” that could allow Australia to export new “Boston bombers” to the US. Turnbull, in turn, provided reassurance that Australia would resettle Central American refugees from the US, telling Trump, “we will take anyone that you want us to take”.</p>
<p>While Trump and Turnbull bickered, the young writer Imran Mohammad, held in detention on Manus Island, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/imrans-story-arriving-on-manus-was-one-of-the-most-excruciating-days-in-my-life-20170718-gxdfcz.html">said he feared</a> “the Australian government has no proper plans for our future”.</p>
<p>Amid long delays in resettlement to the US, non-profit organisations have recently taken up the cause, with one group securing up to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/21/more-than-140-refugees-in-australian-detention-set-to-be-resettled-in-canada-under-sponsorship-scheme">140 places</a> in Canada last month for refugees still held in limbo under the offshore policy.</p>
<h2>Contrary to “common decency”</h2>
<p>Resettlement deals aren’t new. On several occasions since the 1960s, Australia has offered to resettle refugees whose journeys to the US were politically contentious. This includes generations of Cubans who have tried to flee their island nation since the early 1970s. As recently as 2017, Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/22/australia-resettles-cuban-refugees-found-clinging-to-lighthouse-off-florida-keys">resettled 17 Cubans</a> found clinging to a lighthouse off the coast of Florida.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"899924196205232129"}"></div></p>
<p>Washington has responded in turn. The most recent and well-known example is the 2016 resettlement agreement, but the practice has a longer history, involving refugees held under the Howard government’s version of offshore processing in the <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2245417">early 2000s</a>.</p>
<p>These transfers have been upheld by both governments as a sign of bilateral goodwill and cooperation. But the UN refugee agency UNHCR has been less impressed, noting that Canberra’s insistence on denying entry to Australia for even those refugees who have close family in the country is <a href="https://www.unhcr.org/en-au/news/press/2017/7/597217484/unhcr-chief-filippo-grandi-calls-australia-end-harmful-practice-offshore.html">contrary</a> “to common decency”.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-tamil-asylum-seekers-need-protection-and-why-does-the-australian-government-say-they-dont-162609">Why do Tamil asylum seekers need protection — and why does the Australian government say they don't?</a>
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<h2>No easy answer</h2>
<p>This coming year, Australia will spend around <a href="https://theconversation.com/with-billions-more-allocated-to-immigration-detention-its-another-bleak-year-for-refugees-160783">$2 billion</a> to maintain its onshore and offshore detention centres. Many of the people within that system have been held in limbo for years. </p>
<p>The government rhetoric has not softened on the issue, either, not even with Tharnicaa Murugappan <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/daughter-of-biloela-tamil-family-marks-her-fourth-birthday-in-hospital-as-a-decision-on-their-future-looms">marking her fourth birthday</a> in a Perth hospital after contracting a blood infection caused by untreated pneumonia.</p>
<p>To release these two young children and their parents back to Biloela, the argument goes, would reignite the people smuggling trade – what Attorney-General Michaela Cash has called the “<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/biloela-family-unaware-of-option-to-resettle-in-nz-or-us-20210609-p57zj3.html">consequences</a> of blinking”.</p>
<p>But this approach has a significant <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/publication/cost-australias-asylum-policy">human and economic cost</a>, and damages Australia’s reputation abroad. The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/26/world/australia/australia-manus-suicide.html">offshore system</a>, and the treatment of the young family from Biloela, have earned Canberra plenty of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57478788">criticism</a> in the international press. </p>
<p>With long delays and no guarantees, it is clear that resettlement deals cannot get Australia “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-04/donald-trump-malcolm-turnbull-refugee-phone-call-transcript/8773422">off the hook</a>”, either.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/162505/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Claire Higgins receives funding from the Australian Research Council. This article is part of a series on asylum seeker policy supported by a grant from the Broadley Trust.</span></em></p>The home affairs minister says Australia is exploring resettlement overseas for ‘broad cohorts’ of people. But such deals do not get Australia off the hook.Claire Higgins, Senior Research Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1622892021-06-08T04:29:27Z2021-06-08T04:29:27ZAs a young child is evacuated from detention, could this see the Biloela Tamil family go free?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/404991/original/file-20210608-23-51ixqi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A boy holds a poster in support of the Biloela Tamil family at a 2019 rally. </span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Joel Carrett/AAP</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>On Monday, the image of a small girl in a hospital bed, crying as her big sister gives her a kiss flooded social media feeds.</p>
<p>The girls are Tharunicaa and Kopika Murugappan, the <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/research-and-stats/files/immigration-detention-statistics-31-march-2021.pdf">only two children</a> in immigration detention in Australia. </p>
<p>The photo was released by advocates as three-year-old Tharunicaa was medically evacuated to Perth on Monday evening. She had reportedly been <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/youngest-daughter-of-biloela-tamil-family-medically-evacuated-from-christmas-island">unwell for ten days</a> with high temperatures, vomiting and diarrhoea, as her family called for more medical help.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, family supporter Angela Fredericks <a href="https://7news.com.au/politics/biloela-family-must-be-resettled-mps-c-3043111">told reporters</a>,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It looks like they have said she has untreated pneumonia that led to a blood infection.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>While the <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgnosis/status/1402087429692030976?s=20">government denies</a> there were treatment delays, it has once again raised the plight of the Tamil family, who have been detained since 2018.</p>
<h2>Why are the family on Christmas Island?</h2>
<p>Tharunicaa, her parents Priya and Nades and her sister, Kopika, have been in detention on Christmas Island since August 2019.</p>
<p>This followed a Department of Home Affairs attempt to deport the family from a detention centre in Melbourne to Sri Lanka. The deportation was interrupted mid-flight <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-31/tamil-asylum-seeker-family-taken-to-christmas-island-lawyer-says/11467312">after an urgent injunction</a> from the Federal Court. The plane was forced to land in Darwin, and the family was taken to immigration detention on Christmas Island, pending the outcome of their court appeal.</p>
<p>This came after the family had initially settled in the Queensland town of Biloela. Residents welcomed the family and have been actively campaigning for them to come “<a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-17/tamils-priya-and-nades-murugappan-asylum-seekers/13160708">home to Bilo</a>”. </p>
<h2>Where is their legal fight up to?</h2>
<p>The family has been engaged in legal appeals since 2012. Tharunicaa’s father and mother are both Sri Lankan nationals who arrived in Australia by boat in 2012 and 2013 respectively. </p>
<p>As they arrived without visas, they are considered in law to be “unlawful maritime arrivals.” Although Tharunicaa and six-year-old Kopika were born in Australia, they are also “unlawful maritime arrivals”. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-give-visas-to-the-biloela-tamil-family-and-other-asylum-seekers-stuck-in-the-system-155354">It's time to give visas to the Biloela Tamil family and other asylum seekers stuck in the system</a>
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<p>Both parents applied for visas claiming they would be persecuted if they returned to Sri Lanka. Kopika was included in their application. But they <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-biloela-tamil-family-deportation-case-highlights-the-failures-of-our-refugee-system-123685">were refused</a> and appeals to tribunals, courts and the immigration minister were not successful.</p>
<p>Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/using-every-trick-peter-dutton-accuses-detained-biloela-family-of-preventing-deportation">repeatedly said</a> the family is not owed protection. They are part of a caseload who had their claims for refugee status determined under a “fast track” process. The Australian Human Rights Commission found significant issues with the “fast track” process and <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/commissioners-call-compassionate-approach-tamil-family">has called for a compassionate</a> response to this family. </p>
<h2>Tharunicaa</h2>
<p>However, the family’s applications did not include Tharunicaa. </p>
<p>Current legal action centres around the obligations of the government to consider whether she can apply for a visa in Australia. As Tharunicaa is an “unlawful maritime arrival” she cannot apply for a visa unless the Home Affairs Minister (Andrews) personally intervenes. </p>
<p>Lawyers argue she has a strong claim for protection based on a <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCAFC/2021/12.html">range of factors</a> including: the extensive media coverage of the family, the family’s Tamil ethnicity and their “purported” connections to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers). </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Protesters hold signs in support of the Biloela Tamil family." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404988/original/file-20210608-135198-3nyrsc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=534&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">There have been ongoing protests in support of the family, calling for them to stay in Australia.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Julian Smith/AAP</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In April 2020, <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-the-federal-court-decision-on-the-tamil-asylum-seeker-family-mean-136504">Federal Court Justice Mark Moshinsky ruled</a> Tharunicaa had not given “procedural fairness” when her September 2018 request for permission to apply for a protection visa was rejected. That decision was <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-give-visas-to-the-biloela-tamil-family-and-other-asylum-seekers-stuck-in-the-system-155354">upheld</a> by the Full Court of the Federal Court in February. But further complicating matters, the court also found the immigration minister did not have an obligation to allow her to apply for a visa. </p>
<p>The ongoing litigation means the family will not be removed from Australia any time soon. But it is not clear whether the family or the government will take the next step and go to the High Court.</p>
<h2>What are the ongoing health dangers for the family?</h2>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/daughter-of-asylum-seekers-medically-evacuated/13377886">media reports</a>, Tharunicaa had been unwell for ten days and did not get hospital access until this week, despite her families’ requests. As <a href="https://twitter.com/HometoBilo/status/1401788959982710784?s=20">Priya said</a> in a statement</p>
<blockquote>
<p>She has been sick for many days, it took a long time for her to get to the hospital.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgnosis/status/1402087429692030976?s=20">denied</a> there had been any treatment delays. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The minor has been receiving medical treatment and daily monitoring on Christmas Island consistent with medical advice. This has included an IHMS general practitioner and the Christmas Island Hospital.</p>
<p>As soon as the ABF was advised by the treating medical practitioners that the minor required medical treatment in Western Australia, the minor was transferred to a hospital in Western Australia.</p>
<p>The Australian Border Force strongly denies any allegations of inaction or mistreatment of individuals in its care.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Health professionals have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/christmas-island-delays-in-medical-transfers-life-threatening-say-doctors">long warned</a> of the difficulties of placing vulnerable people in remote locations such as Christmas Island. While primary care is available, there is poorer access to specialist and complex services. </p>
<p>In 2018, a Queensland coroner <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/30/death-asylum-seeker-hamid-kehazaei-preventable-coroner-says">found delays</a> in diagnosing and removing Iranian asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei from Manus Island directly contributed to his death from septicaemia. </p>
<p>Tharunicaa has come to Perth with her mother, while her her father and sister have been left on Christmas Island. Last year, Priya <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/tamil-mother-flown-back-to-christmas-island-detention/12506818">was brought to Perth</a> for treatment of an abdominal condition and had to leave the family behind. </p>
<p>This is a grave concern. There is a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8090905/">substantial body of evidence</a> regarding child trauma to suggest that forced involuntary separation from family will have lasting mental health effects. The splitting up of the family will almost certainly compound existing trauma. Children are particularly vulnerable. </p>
<h2>What can Karen Andrews do?</h2>
<p>Andrews, as the senior minister responsible, is under increasing <a href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/06/08/biloela-family-evacuation-karen-andrews-petition/">public pressure </a> to do more for the family. </p>
<p>Dutton has previously said the <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/scott-morrison-says-exception-for-tamil-family-an-invitation-to-people-smugglers">reason the family was detained on Christmas Island</a> and not the mainland was that it would allow them to be flown back to Sri Lanka without protesters putting Border Force officers in a “difficult position.” </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews in the cabinet room." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/404987/original/file-20210608-21-a9ad40.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Karen Andrews was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in March.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Mick Tsikas/AAP</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>Due to their status as “unlawful maritime arrivals,” only Andrews or Immigration Minister Alex Hawke have the power to allow them to live in the community. This can either be on Christmas Island or on the mainland on bridging visas or in community detention. Andrews <a href="https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/KarenAndrews/Pages/interview-fran-kelly-abc-05052021.aspx">recently said</a> she was taking advice on whether she would allow them to live in the community on Christmas Island.</p>
<p>On Tuesday she added the government was “investigating a range of resettlement options”. </p>
<h2>The ‘public interest’</h2>
<p>The minister can grant any detainee a visa if they consider it to be in the “<a href="http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ma1958118/s195a.html">public interest</a>” to do so. </p>
<p>The published guidelines on the exercise of this power states Andrews can grant a visa if a person has particular needs that cannot be properly cared for in a secured detention facility. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/will-new-home-affairs-minister-karen-andrews-bring-a-more-compassionate-approach-158065">Will new Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews bring a more compassionate approach?</a>
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<p>In 2013, we were involved in a case with then immigration minister, Scott Morrison. He intervened to release a woman with intellectual disabilities into the community with her family, stating that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/23/morrison-advised-to-move-intellectually-disabled-asylum-seeker-into-community">this was necessary</a> due to her immediate mental health and welfare needs. </p>
<p>The health and welfare of Tharunicaa — at the very least — provides a clear reason to release the family from detention.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/162289/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mary Anne Kenny has previously received sitting fees from the Department of Home Affairs.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nicholas Procter has previously received grant funding and sitting fees from the Department of Home Affairs.
This article is part of a series on asylum seeker policy supported by a grant from the Broadley Trust.</span></em></p>Three-year-old Tharunicaa Murugappan’s hospitalisation has once again raised the plight of her family, who have been detained since 2018.Mary Anne Kenny, Associate Professor, School of Law, Murdoch UniversityNicholas Procter, Professor and Chair: Mental Health Nursing, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1580652021-03-30T18:54:46Z2021-03-30T18:54:46ZWill new Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews bring a more compassionate approach?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/392433/original/file-20210330-13-lyx3qj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP/Mick Tsikas</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Perhaps optimistically, Scott Morrison hopes his belated moves to involve women more formally in decision-making will arrest his government’s slumping fortunes, and grant space for other priorities.</p>
<p>Weeks of mealy-mouthedness in the face of horrendous claims of misogyny, boorishness, and even alleged sexual assault in Parliament House, had begun to take their toll. Morrison’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/morrisons-ratings-take-a-hit-in-newspoll-as-coalition-notionally-loses-a-seat-in-redistribution-158048">approval ratings have slid</a> and put his government behind Labor on two-party preferred in recent Newspoll surveys.</p>
<p>Before then, <a href="https://theconversation.com/embattled-albanese-uses-reshuffle-for-a-political-reset-154168">pressure had been mounting</a> on Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, amid fears within Labor of a possible spring election. Nobody’s worrying about that anymore.</p>
<p>Monday’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-morrison-sets-up-his-own-womens-network-but-will-it-produce-the-policy-goods-158072">female-friendly cabinet reshuffle</a> was the first significant concession from the prime minister that he faced something wholly more substantial than a common-or-garden governmental crisis. This was not some routine controversy to be managed, spun, and outlasted.</p>
<p>In politics, messages are important. The most significant messages in the reshuffle were the demotion of Attorney-General Christian Porter and the elevation of the Industry and Science Minister, Karen Andrews, to the hawkishly masculine, security-heavy mega-ministry of home affairs.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-morrison-sets-up-his-own-womens-network-but-will-it-produce-the-policy-goods-158072">View from The Hill: Morrison sets up his own women's network but will it produce the policy goods?</a>
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<p>Naturally quiet, Andrews is no household name.</p>
<p>As a Queenslander, she is a member of the colourfully conservative LNP, along with more bombastic alpha-males such as Peter Dutton, George Christensen, Matt Canavan, and Andrew Laming.</p>
<p>Yet for all their jaw-jutting, Andrews has impressed stakeholders in her industry sector. She has also attracted attention in the parliament for being both uncommonly capable, and refreshingly unpolitical.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392492/original/file-20210330-15-1f4at2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Karen Andrews takes over from Peter Dutton in home affairs, while Dutton moves to defence.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP/Mick Tsikas</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>However, competence is hardly a guarantee of promotion in Canberra. It can even be a liability. Indeed, not being a partisan attack dog can mean forgoing notoriety, and the phalanx of party true-believers that comes with it.</p>
<p>So while Morrison has sent the signal about upping the female participation in his executive, Andrews would certainly have made it had merit been the only selection criterion.</p>
<p>Breaking through glass ceilings is familiar territory for the 60-year-old former small business owner. In 1983, she joined another female student at the Queensland University of Technology to become the first females to receive a bachelor of mechanical engineering.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"1350704675767500803"}"></div></p>
<p>But all eyes now are on what her stewardship of the powerful home affairs ministry will mean for the government. More importantly, there will be much interest in what it might mean for asylum seekers and refugees, and the plethora of legal and security issues attaching to the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, immigration and settlement services, cyber-security, and other agencies.</p>
<p>Interest in her appointment is doubly spiced by the fact she replaces Dutton, the unrivalled hard man of the Morrison government and leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party’s national right grouping.</p>
<p>Dutton has been a lightning rod for criticism, most notably for his uncompromising approach to asylum seekers, and his outspoken attacks on the political left.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/scores-of-medevac-refugees-have-been-released-from-detention-their-freedom-though-remains-tenuous-156952">Scores of medevac refugees have been released from detention. Their freedom, though, remains tenuous</a>
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<p>Ahead of his move to defence, a portfolio he is known to have coveted, Dutton indicated he was considering <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/insiders-on-the-outer/news-story/afe1c64207efd1b5284e1b1ac832cdb8">possible defamation remedies</a> for a slew of attacks on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.</p>
<p>Andrews has declined to comment on the possibility of bringing a more compassionate approach to refugee applications and deportations. But she has nominated one area that will be of interest to women and to Dutton, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulvQkTaj2V0">telling Sky News</a> on Tuesday she wants to address the scourge of online disrespect – particularly by anonymous people:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[I] will certainly be taking an active interest and engaging as much as I possibly can on that issue.</p>
<p>Look, social media has significant challenges, one of those issues is the level of anonymity. We need to make it very clear that people can’t hide or should not be allowed to hide on these social media platforms so absolutely I will be taking a very close look at that.</p>
</blockquote>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=918&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=918&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=918&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1154&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1154&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/392491/original/file-20210330-23-1an8dxp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1154&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">The Murugappan family has been held on Christmas Island since August 2019.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">AAP/supplied</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>Top of mind for many, though, is the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-give-visas-to-the-biloela-tamil-family-and-other-asylum-seekers-stuck-in-the-system-155354">Biloela asylum seeker case</a>, in which a Tamil family of four has spent more than 1,000 days in immigration detention initially in Melbourne, and since August 2019, on Christmas Island.</p>
<p>Dutton’s department has been desperate to deport Nades and Priya Murugappan and their Australian-born daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa, but has been blocked by successive legal proceedings.</p>
<p>Advocates for the family say the deportation is cruel and the detention is unconscionable, especially in view of the willingness of the Biloela community in rural Queensland to host the family’s return.</p>
<p>While human rights groups will be looking for signs Andrews intends to soften the Dutton approach, she has refused to comment before extensive briefings.</p>
<p>Australia’s notoriously tough suite of border policies may be in for a more compassionate, case-by-case interpretation. It is possible changes could go beyond that and into broader policy.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/morrisons-ratings-take-a-hit-in-newspoll-as-coalition-notionally-loses-a-seat-in-redistribution-158048">Morrison's ratings take a hit in Newspoll as Coalition notionally loses a seat in redistribution</a>
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<hr>
<p>On the other hand, it is important to remember the trophy in the PM’s office, which rather crassly proclaims, “I stopped these”, above an unmistakable silhouette of an Asian fishing boat.</p>
<p>As a former immigration minister, Morrison is critically aware of how the Coalition’s harsh policies allowed it to position Labor as “soft” on borders.</p>
<p>Populist though it is, it is not an electoral advantage that Morrison, nor for that matter Dutton as a still influential cabinet figure, will surrender lightly.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/158065/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark Kenny does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>For the first time, a woman has been appointed to the hawkishly masculine home affairs portfolio. Whether this will bring a change of approach on asylum seekers and other issues remains to be seen.Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1179122019-06-10T20:07:05Z2019-06-10T20:07:05ZNASA and space tourists might be in our future but first we need to decide who can launch from Australia<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/278019/original/file-20190605-40723-1r96nkh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=18%2C0%2C2048%2C1364&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, US, May 2019.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/32826734977/">NASA Kennedy </a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>In a sign the Australian Space Agency is already opening up new doors for Australian industry, NASA <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/nasas-surprise-australian-location-pick-for-worldfirst-rocket-launch/news-story/aa14341726461cac0918ff79bfe2daa1">says</a> it will be launching rockets from Arnhem Space Centre, in Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, in 2020.</p>
<p>Minister for Industry, Science and Technology <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/another-part-of-the-puzzle-andrews-looks-to-the-science-on-climate-change-20190530-p51spy.html">Karen Andrews has also indicated</a> she will encourage space tourism from Australia. She wants passengers to experience zero-gravity from the convenience of a domestic airport.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/five-ethical-questions-for-how-we-choose-to-use-the-moon-116801">Five ethical questions for how we choose to use the Moon</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>But who gets to decide what can be launched into space? That depends on where the launch takes place, and in the case of Australia those rules are currently under review.</p>
<h2>International treaty</h2>
<p>The authority for who approves, supervises and grants permission for launch of space objects is based on UN treaties that provide a framework for international space law. The most important is the Outer Space Treaty (<a href="http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.html">OST</a>), which entered into force in 1967.</p>
<p>Article VI of the OST provides that nation states (that is, countries) bear “international responsibility” for “national activities” undertaken in outer space by government and commercial users alike. </p>
<p>States remain responsible for activities undertaken by commercial entities – for example, companies such as SpaceX – and are obliged to undertake ongoing supervision of such activities. </p>
<p>How individual countries choose to conduct such supervision is left entirely up to them, but in most cases it is done by way of domestic space law. </p>
<p>Another international treaty, the <a href="http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introliability-convention.html">Liability Convention</a> provides that the liability of the state extends to all launches that are made from that state’s territory. For example, the US is legally responsible for all launches that take place from that country as well as for launches elsewhere that it procures.</p>
<p>This imposes a significant burden on the state to ensure that international requirements are complied with. </p>
<p>Domestic space law regulates matters such as the granting of launch permits, and insurance and indemnity requirements. In Australia, this is achieved through the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018A00092">Space Activities (Launches and Returns) Act 2018</a>. In New Zealand, the <a href="http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2017/0029/latest/DLM6966275.html">Outer Space and High-altitude Activities Act 2017</a>, applies. </p>
<h2>The Starlink network</h2>
<p>In the US, it’s the Federal Communications Commission (<a href="https://www.fcc.gov/">FCC</a>) that gave Elon Musk’s SpaceX permission to launch <a href="https://theconversation.com/lights-in-the-sky-from-elon-musks-new-satellite-network-have-stargazers-worried-117829">thousands of Starlink satellites</a> as part of a plan to create a low-orbit internet network.</p>
<p>The licence is for one constellation of 4,409 satellites and a second constellation of 7,518 satellites. The FCC requires launch of half of the total number planned within six years.</p>
<p>The first <a href="https://www.space.com/spacex-launches-60-starlink-internet-satellites.html">60 satellites were launched into orbit</a> last month, and have already given rise to a number of concerns.</p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lights-in-the-sky-from-elon-musks-new-satellite-network-have-stargazers-worried-117829">Lights in the sky from Elon Musk's new satellite network have stargazers worried</a>
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<p>Scientists and <a href="https://theconversation.com/lights-in-the-sky-from-elon-musks-new-satellite-network-have-stargazers-worried-117829">astronomers are worried</a> such a large constellation of satellites will be <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2205172-astronomy-group-calls-for-urgent-action-on-spacex-starlink-satellites/">visible to the naked eye</a> in the night sky. In response, Musk has already agreed to make the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-worry-new-constellation-satellites-could-impact-night-sky-180972312/">next batch less shiny</a>.</p>
<h2>Penalties apply</h2>
<p>As well as granting launch licences, the FCC can also issue fines for any unlicensed launch by US operators.</p>
<p>Swarm Technologies <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/20/18150684/swarm-technologies-illegal-satellite-launch-fcc-settlement-fine">launched four SpaceBee satellites</a> from India in January 2018, after having been denied a licence from the FCC. The FCC was concerned the satellites were too small to be effectively tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network.</p>
<p>FCC subsequently <a href="https://spacenews.com/fcc-fines-swarm-900000-for-unauthorized-smallsat-launch/">fined Swarm US$900,000</a>, partly as a way to spread the word that licensing of launching is a serious business but because the company had also performed other activities that required FCC authorisation.</p>
<p>In addition to presenting issues for tracking, new satellites also presented a hazard in terms of their <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/spacexs-starlink-could-cause-cascades-of-space-junk/">potential to create large debris fields</a>.</p>
<p>Notably, there are no binding international laws with respect to the creation of space debris. There are <a href="http://www.unoosa.org/documents/pdf/spacelaw/sd/IADC-2002-01-IADC-Space_Debris-Guidelines-Revision1.pdf">non-binding Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines</a> issued by the UN Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. But these are only guidelines and are frequently overlooked in the interests of commercial expediency.</p>
<p>The 2018 Australian Act does require the applicant for various Australian licences (such as a launch permit) to include “a strategy for debris mitigation”. This may include, for example, a plan to de-orbit the satellite after a certain number of years.</p>
<h2>Launches from Australia</h2>
<p>Australia’s first claim to fame as a space-faring nation was the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-29/50-years-since-first-satellite-launch-wresat/9205878">launch of WRESAT (the Weapons Research Establishment Satellite)</a> from Woomera, South Australia, in 1967. </p>
<p>But the launch platforms on nearby Lake Hart were dismantled following the departure to French Guiana in 1971 of the European Launcher Development Organisation (<a href="https://digital.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/nodes/view/2805">ELDO</a>) – whose name ELDO still graces the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/eldohotel/">sole hotel in Woomera</a>, in outback South Australia. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/278038/original/file-20190605-40727-u9ls8z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The ELDO hotel in Woomera.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/kool_skatkat/198371680/in/photolist-iwGZo">Flickr/kool skatkat</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
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<p>From this time until the late 1990s there was <a href="https://theconversation.com/lost-in-space-australia-dwindled-from-space-leader-to-also-ran-in-50-years-83310">little interest in space launches</a> from Australia. </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/lost-in-space-australia-dwindled-from-space-leader-to-also-ran-in-50-years-83310">Lost in space: Australia dwindled from space leader to also-ran in 50 years</a>
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<p>The <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A00391">Space Activities Act 1998</a> was enacted in response to a <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-launch-from-australia-something-missing-from-our-plans-for-the-new-space-race-97924">brief interest in US company Kistler Aerospace developing a spaceport</a> at Woomera, SA. </p>
<p>But no spaceport was constructed nor any launches conducted. A review of the Space Activities Act and of the Australian space industry in 2016-2017 led to the new Space Activities (Launches and Returns) Act in 2018.</p>
<p>This Act envisions a broader role for domestic space industries, including but not limited to, launch.</p>
<p>The rules which flesh out the details of the application of that licensing regime are <a href="https://consult.industry.gov.au/space/space-launches-and-returns-act-2018-draft-rules/">currently open for public review and comment</a>. The deadline for making a submission closes at the end of this week.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/117912/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melissa de Zwart is a Board Member of the Space Industry Association of Australia. </span></em></p>This are looking up when it comes to launching things into space from Australia. The rules on what can be launched are currently under review and open for comment.Melissa de Zwart, Professor, Adelaide Law School, University of AdelaideLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1178262019-05-29T07:53:22Z2019-05-29T07:53:22ZEnough with the pilot programs: we need to kickstart innovation in Australia<p>Karen Andrews will continue as Australia’s Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, sworn in today with other cabinet members in Scott Morrison’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/infographic-whos-who-in-the-new-morrison-ministry-117909">refreshed Coalition government</a>. </p>
<p>As one of the shepherds of the Australian innovation system, Andrews finds herself between a rock and a hard place.</p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/infographic-whos-who-in-the-new-morrison-ministry-117909">Infographic: who's who in the new Morrison ministry</a>
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<p>The “rock” is the <a href="https://www.oecd.org/sti/businessinnovationpoliciesselectedcountrycomparisons.htm">consistent evidence</a> that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Innovation-Economics-Race-Global-Advantage/dp/0300205651">successful, developed country economies</a> – such as the US, Germany and the UK – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/handbook/handbook-of-the-economics-of-innovation">all commit</a> large amounts of public funds to the development of business capabilities. These countries have large programs to translate and commercialise research and diffuse new methods of production from leading to lagging businesses. </p>
<p>The “hard place” is the Australian reality that <a href="https://www.bca.com.au/tax">businesses</a> do not always voice strong support for public strategies to improve their long-term performance. Instead, on the whole they tend to <a href="https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/Australian-Chamber-of-Commerce-and-Industry.pdf">preference tax cuts</a> – although some prefer <a href="https://www.aigroup.com.au/policy-and-research/industrynewsletter/industry-extras/election-priorities-2019/">programs to build capabilities</a>. </p>
<p>It is against this context that, under a Coalition government, our public innovation policy bodies have to walk a tight rope. They must be seen to be doing something effective, but with minimal budget and some semblance of a traditional pro-business stance. </p>
<h2>National Innovation and Science Agenda</h2>
<p>The overarching need for innovation is clear. Innovation means change – for the better – and without these changes we will not experience improvement in productivity and a rise in standard of living.</p>
<p>With that in mind, in December 2015 the Coalition government established the <a href="https://theconversation.com/expert-panel-what-the-national-innovation-statement-means-for-science-51902">National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA)</a>. </p>
<p>NISA is coming to the end of its natural life span and it’s worth reflecting on how well its recommendations have been travelling.</p>
<p>A key part of the agenda was the establishment of a strategic advice body, <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/strategies-for-the-future/innovation-and-science-australia">Innovation and Science Australia</a>. As anyone involved in producing independent policy documents will attest, recommendations are usually vetted, at some level, by the relevant Ministers’ offices. Nothing too pointed gets said if the Ministers will not back it. </p>
<p>From the recommendations of this body came a policy document <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/data-and-publications/australia-2030-prosperity-through-innovation">Australia 2030: Prosperity through Innovation</a>, which contains a mixture of general aspirations – such as “business productivity in all sectors can be facilitated by healthy levels of competition” – and concrete suggestions.</p>
<h2>Keeping teachers and kids in STEM</h2>
<p>The first set of concrete recommendations aimed to reverse declines in both the quality of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) school teachers and the low enrolment of pupils in STEM subjects. </p>
<p>This policy is tricky for the Commonwealth government to enact, as school education is in the jurisdiction of the states and territories. Nonetheless, the Commonwealth has all the money and it can do much to address both these issues. </p>
<p>The 2030 Strategy recommends raising entry grades and prerequisites for teacher training, and increasing ongoing teacher professional development. </p>
<p>The difficulty here is that we <a href="https://ideas.repec.org/p/iae/iaewps/wp2004n28.html">already know</a> it is the low pay of teachers, compared with alternative careers, that causes STEM teacher shortages. So raising entry requirements and requiring more in-service training is likely to have no impact on teacher quality, and may reduce STEM teacher quantity. </p>
<p>Australia should look to <a href="http://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=FIN&treshold=10&topic=EO">Finland</a> if it wants to see how it’s done. Primary and secondary school teacher salaries are some of the highest among OECD countries and student outcomes are about the strongest. </p>
<h2>Research and development focus</h2>
<p>Strategy 2030 is quite sceptical about the ability of research and development (R&D) tax credit schemes to encourage business to do more R&D. </p>
<p>Many international empirical studies have looked at this question. The most recent of these are more positive about the effect of R&D subsidies than the strategy document. </p>
<p>For example, a <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/media/swinburneeduau/research/research-centres/cti/working-papers/CTI-Working-Paper-3-16-The-Additionality-of-R&D-Tax-Policy-in-Australia.pdf">comprehensive Australian study</a> estimates that A$1 of subsidy will lead to about A$1.90 R&D (so a net increment of 90c). </p>
<p>Nonetheless, the 2030 Strategy recommended capping the subsidy (which the government did) and targeting the subsidy at mission-oriented, impact-focused programs and collaborations (which the government did not do). It’s too early to analyse the effects of this policy change.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/its-the-only-way-to-save-australia-from-a-deep-hole-but-innovation-policy-is-missing-in-action-116966">It's the only way to save Australia from a deep hole, but innovation policy is missing in action</a>
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<h2>Missions and direct research programs</h2>
<p>The 2030 Strategy also recommended the government adopt a missions approach to public innovation strategy. To date, two missions have been established: <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2018/05/ScoMo-greenlights-national-missions">genomics and precision medicine</a> , and the <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2018/05/ScoMo-greenlights-national-missions">Great Barrier Reef</a>. </p>
<p>These missions need to be complemented with an evaluation process – which appears to be underway, although it is too early for results.</p>
<p>To complement the capping of the R&D subsidy, Strategy 2030 recommended increasing the funding for direct programs such as Cooperative Research Centres (CRC), the Entrepreneurs’ Programme and Industry Growth Centres. </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-04/2019-20-department-of-industry-innovation-and-science-pbs.pdf">2019 budget</a> indicated a 10% rise in CRC funding for 2019-20 but a decline in real terms for the subsequent three years. </p>
<p>However, there was no increase in the Entrepreneurs’ Programme or Growth Centres. Nor does there appear to be any evaluation process for these programs to assess whether they represent value for the Australian tax payer. We don’t know if these should be scaled up or scrapped.</p>
<h2>Working with the rest of the world</h2>
<p>A key to transforming any economy is engaging with global value chains. These allow specialist producers of R&D, design, parts and components to achieve economies of scale – even if they are located in a small local market such as Australia. </p>
<p>The 2030 Strategy report notes there is evidence that export market development grants and trade missions increase business exports (compared with exports in the absence of these programs). It recommends increasing funding for these programs – which the Government did for the export market scheme in April 2019, with a <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2019/04/EMDG-scheme-gets-60-million-boost">A$60 million boost</a>. But there has been no announcement for Austrade’s trade mission or tailored services programs.</p>
<p>Following a productivity commission review in 2017, Strategy 2030 also recommended exploiting the latent value present in government data through registrations and regulations. </p>
<p>Opening these data to the public may create financial value for companies and better service for governments. The strategy recommended the creation of a new national data custodian and a <a href="https://www.pmc.gov.au/public-data/national-data-commissioner">National Data Commission</a> is currently being established. </p>
<h2>We need to be more ambitious</h2>
<p>If we’re giving our country a mark on innovation, Australia’s score is not a ten, but neither is it zero. Genuine attempts have been made to implement many of the concrete recommendations from the 2030 Strategy. </p>
<p>Really though, it’s most pertinent to look at what’s missing from our current government’s approach. </p>
<p>The overall level of funding for innovation system programs in Australia still remains low. Most programs are so small they essentially constitute pilots. </p>
<p>The implementation of some of the big ideas – such as using government procurement to de-risk innovation – have been left untraceable. Though looking closely at procurement and NISA in general does appear to be on <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2019/05/Andrews-outlines-first-100-days">Andrew’s agenda</a> in the coming weeks. </p>
<p>The government has not announced any clear intentions to evaluate current programs to assess (and publish) whether they return value for the Australian public. </p>
<p>It is time for Australia to become more ambitious. As the world transforms away from thermal coal to renewable sources of energy, we may be in for the biggest terms of trade shock in a long time. We need to start transforming our economy and now is not the time to be timid.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/117826/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Beth Webster receives funding from the ARC and has been a research partner with the Victorian and Commonwealth industry departments. She is on the CEDA economic council.</span></em></p>The overall level of funding for innovation system programs in Australia still remains low. Most programs are so small they essentially constitute pilots.Beth Webster, Director, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1021852018-08-28T04:20:52Z2018-08-28T04:20:52ZAustralia needs boldness and bravery from Karen Andrews, the new minister for industry, science and technology<p>It’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/no-science-minister-and-its-unclear-where-science-fits-in-australia-91739">almost a year</a> since Australia had a named science minister in Cabinet. </p>
<p>Now the role has been revived, following a weekend ministerial reshuffle after Scott Morrison became the <a href="https://theconversation.com/scott-morrison-is-the-new-prime-minister-after-peter-duttons-giant-miscalculation-102105">new Australian prime minister</a>.</p>
<p>Today Karen Andrews was sworn in as minister for industry, science and technology, and she joins the cabinet for the first time.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/malcolm-frasers-political-manifesto-would-make-good-reading-for-the-morrison-government-102187">Malcolm Fraser's political manifesto would make good reading for the Morrison government</a>
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<p>I believe the incoming minister is likely to be a strong advocate and effective representative for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector. She should have solid support from some key members of cabinet who have a track record of supporting STEM, such as Josh Frydenberg (treasurer), Michaelia Cash (now minister for small and family business, skills and vocational education), and Greg Hunt (minister for health). </p>
<p>But this is a complex portfolio and as a new member she will need to work hard to build cabinet-wide support for solutions to key challenges in the sector.</p>
<p>Andrews is the member for <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/profiles/qld/mcpherson.htm">McPherson</a>, an electorate in southern Queensland. She has held the seat since her election in 2010, joining politics as a graduate of mechanical engineering and following a career in human resources and industrial relations. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/science-meets-parliament-doesnt-let-the-rest-of-us-off-the-hook-90692">Science Meets Parliament doesn't let the rest of us off the hook</a>
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<h2>Active in STEM</h2>
<p>During her eight years in parliament, Andrews has shown an avid interest in science and technology.</p>
<p>Previously assistant minister for vocational education and skills, and before that assistant minister for science, Andrews is the co-founder and co-convenor of the <a href="https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/parliamentary-friends-of-science/">Parliamentary Friends of Science</a> group alongside shadow minister for defence <a href="https://www.alp.org.au/richard_marles">Richard Marles</a>.</p>
<p>She has attended <a href="https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/what-we-do/science-meets-parliament/">Science meets Parliament</a> for many years and participates in Science and Technology Australia’s <a href="https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/stem-ambassador-program/">STEM Ambassador program</a>.</p>
<p>Andrews has <a href="http://www.karenandrewsmp.com.au/Newsroom/Media/ID/1725/Students-set-their-sights-on-studying-STEM-in-schools">promoted the value of STEM education</a>, voiced her support for the <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2015/10/Interview-Science-Minister-Karen-Andrews/">potential for nuclear power</a> for Australia, and publicly <a href="http://www.karenandrewsmp.com.au/Newsroom/Media/ID/992/New-campaign-to-encourage-parents-to-Get-the-facts-about-Immunisation">encouraged vaccination</a>. </p>
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<a href="https://theconversation.com/have-you-had-your-diphtheria-vaccines-heres-why-it-matters-98174">Have you had your diphtheria vaccines? Here's why it matters</a>
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<p><a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/science-class-for-the-ruling-class/news-story/f45a934bc1f3c6cc715b028d063b487c">In a recent interview</a> she said,</p>
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<p>I am very keen that my parliamentary colleagues understand science, technology, engineering and maths and the importance of evidence-based decision making. We all need to make sure we are making decisions based on evidence, not opinions. </p>
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<h2>We need a better plan</h2>
<p>Despite some recent positive actions, Australia still lacks a strong, comprehensive and long-term whole-of-government plan for the STEM sector. </p>
<p>The government showed support for STEM with the release of their <a href="https://docs.education.gov.au/node/50601">National Research Infrastructure Investment Plan</a>, additional funding for <a href="https://ministers.education.gov.au/turnbull/super-support-supercomputer">supercomputing facilities</a>, and through the establishment of the <a href="https://beta.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/medical-research-future-fund">Medical Research Future Fund</a>.</p>
<p>Given the <a href="https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/economics/articles/australias-health-and-medical-research-workforce.html">excellent returns</a> on investment in research and development, it is crucial that similarly bold, and long-term, approaches to investment in both basic and applied non-medical scientific research are soon to follow.</p>
<p>It has been noted that while <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/federal-budget-2018-rd-tax-break-overhaul-saves-24-billion-20180507-h0zq0p.html">around A$2 billion has been saved</a> over four years by the government’s changes to the research and development (R&D) tax incentive arrangements, none of that saving has been put towards <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/2018/05/Govt-lukewarm-on-ISA-strategy">the recommended premium on industry R&D partnerships with public research institutions</a>.</p>
<p>The sector still faces many challenges in increasing equity, diversity and inclusion. The government has shown support for women in STEM, through the <a href="https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/women-in-stem-and-entrepreneurship">women in STEM and entrepreneurship grants scheme</a> and <a href="https://ministers.jobs.gov.au/cash/stem-superstars-inspiring-next-generation">refunding of the Superstars of STEM</a> program.</p>
<p>However, we can do more to reduce harassment and bullying – and to support Indigenous scientists, LGBTQIA+ scientists and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-hunt-for-the-superstars-of-stem-to-engage-more-women-in-science-76854">The hunt for the Superstars of STEM to engage more women in science</a>
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<p>I hope to see expansion from the government’s vision outlined in the <a href="https://science.gov.au/scienceGov/NationalScienceStatement/index.html">National Science Statement</a>, that outlines a role for the sector more broadly, along with clear and measurable priorities and goals. This will allow Australian science and technology to move forward with more confidence and purpose.</p>
<p>Similarly, it’s important for Australia to address a shortage in STEM skills, <a href="https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/andrews/media-releases/stem-skills-key-australias-economic-success">an issue that was highlighted by Andrews in 2015</a>. </p>
<p>Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are predicted to be the fastest growing industries globally (<a href="http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/368546/lifting_our_stem_skills_13.pdf">it’s estimated up to 75% of the fastest growing occupations will require STEM skills</a>), and Australia has to prepare accordingly. We must reverse our declining <a href="https://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/2016/07/science-and-maths-in-australian-secondary-schools-datasheet/">participation</a> and <a href="https://www.aracy.org.au/publications-resources/area?command=record&id=266&cid=21">performance</a> in STEM subjects. </p>
<h2>Policy informed by evidence</h2>
<p>Finally, it’s important that as the spokesperson for science and technology in cabinet, Andrews is a bold and brave advocate for policy informed by evidence.</p>
<p>In a 2009 speech by the then Productivity Commission Chairman, Professor Gary Banks, <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/news-media/speeches/cs20090204/20090204-evidence-based-policy.pdf">emphasised the importance of evidence-based policy</a>, especially in regard to long-term and complex environmental, social and economic challenges.</p>
<p>Instances such as the Higher-Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and the shift to inflation targeting monetary policy are just two examples of long-term policy being developed from a strong evidence base. It is <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/boost-public-service-so-experts-can-do-research-needed-for-policy/news-story/361de8cd9fe8c982a720e7fa0b6ffcc0">clear that further investment in evidence-based policy formation is required</a>.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/take-it-from-us-heres-what-we-need-in-an-ambassador-for-women-in-science-93060">Take it from us: here's what we need in an ambassador for women in science</a>
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<p>With a new minister, and a new voice in cabinet to promote science and evidence, I am more optimistic about the future of Australian science and technology.</p>
<p>Having a representative that is qualified, demonstrably passionate, and who is engaged with the STEM sector at all levels, gives us hope that we will see visionary leadership and strength from the member for McPherson.</p>
<p>I look forward to continuing to work with the government to make STEM a top priority for Australia, and ensure that our scientists and technologists play a key role in the nation’s future environment, health, wealth and well-being.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/102185/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Emma Johnston is currently Dean of Science at UNSW Sydney and President of Science and Technology Australia.</span></em></p>Her track record suggests Andrews is likely to be a strong advocate and effective representative for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector. But many challenges remain.Emma Johnston, Professor and Dean of Science, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.