Hello and welcome to question time rep we play the highlights, question time and australias parliament. While the fires the ravaged the east coast oster all over the summer have died down, the political fallout is just beginning. Question time in parliament began with a bipartisan day honoring those fire victims and also thinking t all volunteers o help to fight the fires. It didnt take long before the conversation quickly turned to quality. The member for deal more. My question is to the Prime Minister. Why does the Prime Minister claim of these acted on the advice of fire commissioners when he ignored for two years their advice to provide a permanent boost to australias aerial firefighting y capabilit . Mr. Speaker, i thank the member for question and can i threw her pass on again my sincere condolences and sympathies and support to all those members in her electorate. I have members of my family who live in your electorate and a what to thank you for the work youve done as all members have done over the course of his bushfire season. I would be grateful if you could do that if you have the opportunity. Mr. Speaker, the member has raised the matter of the recommendations that were made through fire chiefs regarding the aerial firefighting assets. What the government had done was respond to that with two separate trenches the funding which matched what they originally asked for, mr. Speaker and i dont want this matter in the course of the bushfire season but in addition to those allocations of 11 million, on top of that we announced a further 20 million, and that was over and above the 15 million that was being provided each and every year as part of the arrangement that we had, after speaker. Where please to do that. I also noted the ongoing funding being sought would be addressed in this years budget. In the house of representatives the Prime Minister was asked about the government prepared this and whether they are acted on the advice of fire chiefs in the lead up to the catastrophic season. My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. Does that Prime Minister regret saying that volunteer firefighters dont meet economic compensation for lost income because they quote want to be out there . Thank you, mr. Speaker. Once again the leader of the opposition is misrepresenting what occurred for political purposes. For political purposes as he always does, mr. Speaker. There is no issue that the leader of the opposition will not seek to exploit the personal political gain. This is just another example, another example of his lack of character. Now, mr. Speaker, mr. Speaker members on both sides that was not what a outline when those remarks were made. Mr. Speaker, what was raised in the press conference i was at was in relation to, for the first time when the suggestion was made that there may be some mr. Speaker, at the may be raised by the journalists about whether, mr. Speaker, we woulder be considering, he keeps interjecting. Id be happy toeaea address question. [shouting] it was being raised with me whether the commonwealth would be providing opposition for Rural Fire Service volunteers. Now, mr. Speaker, that is not a matter that is normally dealt with by the federal government. [shouting] mr. Speaker, i sonoma it is done with by the federal government. It is a matter that is traditionally m done by the rurl Fire Services, mr. Speaker. I was reflecting, its made back to mese when i visited with rurl Fire Services members, mr. Speaker, and they had put it to me when they were out there, mr. Speaker, the wanted tout be out there protecting their community, mr. Speaker. About. What i was talking they know that they would prefer not to have fires. They know that there would prefer to be at home with their families and their communities. What i was saying is that when duty calls, mr. Speaker, they add to the call to duty because thats what our volunteers do. The leader of the opposition has willfully for months sought to misrepresent that comment to take political advantage of the bushfires, mr. Speaker, and it shows an appalling [shouting] to politicize any event. Now, mr. Speaker, this government acted on the basis of the advice we received and working closely with the New South WalesRural Fire Services to provide for income lost payments, for Rural Fire Service members went out there for more than ten days, mr. Speaker, and we did so at the request of the New South WalesRural Fire Service commissioner. When we received that request from the New South Wales government acted on that request, and i think one of 6 million has since been paid to those Fire Service Members on the basis of the answer for more than ten days. That same offer was made to other states. It has not been taken up by the time has concluded. Fears about coronavirus quickly quipped the world and us tell you with no exception. Thousands foundri himself strand in areas impacted by coronavirus. The government forced to organize evacuations flights to rescue australians. I think a much mr. President. My question iss to the minister for defense. Can a miniature update the cyrano their reporting the whole of government efforts to repatriate australians from coronavirus affected areas . The minister for defense, senator reynolds. Thank you very much, mr. Prey much to p senator anderson for e question but also for his ongoing support for defense and particular the state industry. Yesterday i was very proud to outline in this gym all the work we are doing on operation bushfire assist, which is the largest mobilization of the adf domestically in our nations history. Im also very proud the adf has been able to quickly mobilize and provide veryy significant support to government efforts on fighting and tackling the coronavirus. These efforts are being led by the departments of Foreign Affairs and trade, health and also Public Affairs but the fence fed to play a significant role. We are working across governments very well to ensure the best interest of the australians love got caught up the disease, particularly in wuhan. The adf currently has 236 personnel supporting the departure of australias strong word hand and are doing what they do best, they are providing a wide range of logistical support, and those things as i said yesterday, the many things that can be measured like statistics and by quantities and numbers, but they are also providing support that is not directly measurable. That is, providing Additional Support and helping hand and kindness to the australians and the families are returning to australia. Can the minister expand on how the fence is supporting home affairs, particularly on the island . Thank you very much him and thank you for the question. Defense has directly supported Australian Border force with the transfer of the first two groups of australians evacuees to Christmas Island. Adf people are existing the departure of australians from wuhan to Christmas Island. When hundred 68 personnel are providing direct harrison support at Christmas Island and 49 others which is currently being this bad and relocated due to an depending cyclone in the northwest region. There are 19 members who are coordinating this effort also from adf headquarters, and defense support includes the reestablishment and the operation of the facility at Christmas Island, including the provision of food and many other Life Essentials and comfort to those are currently at Christmas Island. The garrison support is also very wide. Everything from sorry, senator vitter. But as the bushfire crisis has continued to dominate including the impact on australian wildlife. Its estimated 1 billion animals died in the bushfires. The government has pledged 50 billion help with her rehabilitation of critically endangered animals. Thank you, mr. President. My question is to the minister representing the ministry for environment. Over a billion animals have been killed by this, fires over the summer. As many as 25,000 koalas have been killed on Kangaroo Island alone. Thousands were under threat of the loss of habitat, starvation and thirst. Over 10 million hectors the bush forest fires, bushland have decimated. Over 80 of the World Heritage listed bluemound has been burned we seem inn the midst of an extinction crisis by these fires. Ecologists warn some species may never recover. The government has already said that 50 million is not enough. When willol the government front up and fun fund the recovery, e restoration of the protection that our environment desperately needs . When will the government announce the money that we need right now . Will i think the senator to ask the specific question. Mr. President , these are serious issues and the government has acted and acknowledged pretty much the devastation caused by bushfires over the recent summer, is that i slid to tragic loss of life which this chamber acknowledged on tuesday, nor is it isolated to the loss of property or economic assets, but very much does include the loss of habitat and harm to environment and you ecosystems. Thats why the treasurer announced an additional 50 Million Investment to support immediate work to protect wildlife and habitat recovery, and acknowledged this this is n payment for emergency intervention. In terms of further investment about other longterm aspects of recovery the government has been very clear whetherer its in relation to infrastructure rebuild and its support for individuals and its support for its support for tourism sector, support for the environment, investment and Mental Health services, allll of which weve taken decision to do in the wake of these bushfires. Weve indicated in all of those cases that they are initial decisions and that we will then monitor the impacts across in those sectors and respond further when necessary and appropriate. Immediately we have pursued amongst that 50 million funding to provide, care for and rehabilitation of injured wildlife and secure and viable population that threaten species to control feral predators, noxious waste thats a major threat, to scientific map and understand the true impact of these fires and work with landowners around protecting their precious unremitting unburned areas allowing them to support our native plants andre animals to o recover. An extensive engagement in the conservation sector a supplementary question. Thank you, mr. President. Vertical habitats of native wildlife have been destroyed as prepas outline but it may never recover. The government commitment to a moratorium on land colluding to protect the only habitat our wildlife and a precious koalas havee left . Thanks, mr. President , and the senator seeks in that request a sweeping policy decision, asking that it be made verbally on the run. The government has in place at a national levelt environmental laws that ensure the when it comes to land colluding decision or other decisions, the federal government has as i say the five matters of national environmentall importance. Those matters take into consideration environment for habitat for endangered and threatenedci species if those matters take into consideration scientific advice, it is not the governments holsey for us to take over the responsibilities of states and territories when it comes to Land Management actresses over all. The states and territories have clear responsibilities they are. Bushfires have brought into sharp focus the National Debate on Climate Change including the extent to which hot weather and dry conditions contributed to the catastrophic fires. My question is to the Prime Minister. Australia is an record drought, catastrophic megafires have burned our country. Our Capital Cities have ranked amongst the worlds most polluted, and now were facing a flood disaster. Do you now extent that we are facing except we are facing a coal fueled Climate Emergency . Thank you, mr. Speaker. As i advise of the house week, the commission that the government will be moving on once i receive feedback from the states and the territories on the terms of reference for the world commission, and at that time i was in for for a copy ot to the opposition before announcing what we intend to do with that rural commission. Starts from the premise that we deal with longer, harder, drier summers, and we have always, and ive always acknowledged the link between the Climate Change and these broader whether climatic events. That is not been in dispute by our government, and is not in dispute by our government. Those opposite, they asked, they laugh and a giggle and the smirk but that is because, mr. Speaker, they are seeking, their seeking to put forward a false conflict in this place. Mr. Speaker, our government is taking action to reduce emissions, and they have followed by 12. 8 . Our government has put in place policies that have led to one of the highest levels of Renewable Investment that this country has ever seen. Mr. Speaker, they can deny the facts if they likeen but they ae the facts. Also sent in response to this dreadful lack some of that we have been experiencing that taking action on Climate Change isnt just about taking action on emissions. Its about taking action on climate resilience. Its about taking action on climate adaptation. About taking action on Hazard Reduction which is a form of climate resilience. It is about building dams like, mr. Speaker, the billions of dollars were investing in those projectsse to the National Water grid. Building dams is Climate Action now. Hazard reduction is Climate Action no. I noticed the leader of the greens doesnt agree with that. Hes entitled not to agree with that but the site suggests that it is. Our government will act on that. He may want to select and choose those you want to listen to to make Climate Change about being anticapitalism but thats not what w we think it is. We think capitalism and technology isis the way you ense a Brighter Future for this world and for this country. Has the Prime Minister concluded his answer . The lead of the greens on a point of order. A short question was about does he accept Climate Emergency. I would point out again the leaders of the green members of my right to point it many times the question also had ao long preamble, and when there is are long preamble it leaves it open to the responder to do with that part of the question. The Prime Minister is in order. Let me be very clear. Our government will meet and beat our kyoto targets on emissions reduction. Our kyoto targets. And we will meet and beat our paris targets, mr. Speaker. We will go 411 million the leader of thehe opposition cant even formit a policy of what the emissions target should be for 2030. And, mr. Speaker, we will do that without putting attacks a tax on people and will do that without wiping out the jobs particularly of those in regional australia for whom they depend on that for their livelihood. While bushfires dominate the headlines, the increasing number of coronavirus cases adopted calls are Stricter Border control and eventually led to a travel ban on noncitizens coming back from china are biting in australia. Senator patrick. Thank you, mr. President. My question is for the minister representing minister of health and concerns by a secret measures directed against the 2019 coronavirus which has now claimed over 1000 lives. Can the minister advise how many people arriving in australia from china since the first of february have been the subject of Fire Security screening and advised to implement some isolation at home . How has theho government been ae to confirm incoming travelers are following so i false some isolation protocols and or chinas probably under china under any legal obligation to comply with self isolation . Thank you, mr. President , and i think senator patrick for the question and for some time now in relation to the details that ive been able to get, have been provided to you. In terms of the latest data as of midday today, approximately 43,723 confirmed cases and 1013 deaths have been reported globally. Of the 1013 confirmed deaths, 1011 have been from Mainland China. Of thech confirmed cases reportd globally, the mortality rate is approximately 2 . The morrison government is doing everything in our power to protect australians from ongoing coronavirus outbreak. With elevated border measures including a direction to shipping interest in a stripper foreign nationals have remained in england china will not be allowed to enter australia. As result as a result the overaf arrivals since the fifth of february Mainland China is approximately 28,500. I advise this represents a very substantial decrease in numbers arriving from Mainland China. I also advise this has not result in any significant increase indicating the restrictions are proving effective. E all arrivals undertakeer appropriate screening and are provided with information on the virus, and what to do if symptoms presented. These measures are effec