PM attends National Prayer Breakfast

19/10/2019

(Translation appears in Arabic Section)

Canberra - M E Times Int'l: The Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivers a speech on Monday at the National Prayer Breakfast in which he said: "Thank you very much and can I thank you and particularly members of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship, the chairs do a tremendous job and I want to thank them for pulling this together today. Can I also thank the Governor-General, His Excellency, and Mrs Hurley for being with us here today and for that wonderful address that we’ve just heard. It encourages us all. It’s been absolutely tremendous. Just yesterday I was with the Premier of NSW in Rappville, a very small little community in Northern NSW that has been absolutely devastated by the fires that ripped through and surrounded their community and our prayers must also be with them and all of those affected by all of the natural disasters which in this country we face with great frequency.

I often talk about miracles being founded in prayer and recently I was in the United States - and I welcome Ambassador Culvahouse here this morning - and I was there with Jenny, and I can report that Jenny and I did meet at a Christian camp. We were very young [inaudible] and we were there, and as we were heading into the South Lawn of the White House, I turned to Jenny and said, ‘We’re a long way from the Central Coast now, darling.’ But while I was in Washington we went along to a wonderful church there, the National Capital Community Church, the Church of Pastor Mark Batterson and there’s a whole range of campuses there. He’s written a wonderful book on prayer which they gave me and I’ve been reading it since I’ve come back and where he talks about the only prayers that you can be assured are never answered, are the ones that are never prayed. I think that’s true and it’s a reminder of the importance of prayer.

What I like about prayer and what is so important about us coming together in our Parliament and praying, is prayer gives us a reminder of our humility and our vulnerability, and that forms a unity. Faith, religion, is actually first and foremost an expression of our human frailty and vulnerability and an understanding that there are things far bigger than each of us.

Australia resettles people most in need

Canberra: Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs David Coleman said that Australia continues to resettle people most in need, with more than 18,750 refugee and humanitarian visas granted in 2018-19.

17,112 visas were granted under the offshore component of the Humanitarian Program, with a continued focus on resettling vulnerable people from protracted and emerging refugee situations. 

The onshore component of the Humanitarian Program delivered 1,650 grants.

More than 50 per cent (8,660) of all people resettled under the offshore component of the Humanitarian Program were women – the highest proportion on record.

Homeless Sector Cruelly Abandoned by Berejiklian

Sydney: The NSW Labor Opposition has expressed outrage at the Berejiklian Government’s announcement today of short 12-month contracts for organisations to provide specialist homeless and domestic violence services.

This almost certainly guarantees further funding cuts.

The 12-month period is well short of the three-year contracts the sector was seeking to handle massively escalating needs.

Since the Liberals and Nationals came to Government in 2011, homelessness in NSW has gone up by 33 per cent. Tonight in NSW, around 38,000 people are unable to access crisis accommodation and will be homeless.

'The time is now to build regional infrastructure'

Sydney: Nationals MP Keith Pitt says Australia is in a “critical time” to come up with drought infrastructure for regional communities. Mr Pitt said the time is now to come up with solutions for drought-stricken communities “in desperate need”. ”I think this is a critical time for forward planning for critical infrastructure for those regions,” Mr Pitt said.

Morrison extends the Farm Household Allowance

Canberra: The prime minister has revealed he will provide additional payments for those on the Farm Household Allowance for longer than four years. Scott Morrison announced the extension and said instead of the payment finishing abruptly after four years, couples will receive $13,000 and single farming farmers will receive $7,500. The new measure is designed to counter the ongoing criticism the government has been facing over its support for farmers struggling through the drought.

Rate cuts 'not making an impact' on economy

Canberra: Former Treasurer Peter Costello says monetary policy has "run its race", arguing interest rate cuts are no longer helping to boost the economy as designed. The global growth outlook has been slashed to the lowest in a decade after the International Monetary Fund downgraded its forecasts for Australia and backed the Reserve Bank's move to cut interest rates to a record low. The growth forecast has been cut from 2.1 per cent to 1.7 per cent - a figure below the government and RBA's forecast. Global trade growth has dropped to 1 per cent, the slowest in seven years, amid the US-China trade tensions. “If we have a rate cut, and I think there will be one, I don’t think it’s going to make much difference,” he said. “I believe that monetary policy has run its race… I don’t think there is much stimulation left in monetary policy.”

'Govt is in a state of drift and going nowhere with the economy'

Canberra: Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says the Morrison government is “going slowly, soft and nowhere when it comes to the economy”. The global growth outlook has been slashed to the lowest in a decade after the International Monetary Fund downgraded its forecasts for Australia and backed the Reserve Bank's move to cut interest rates to a record low.

Aust, US not at odds on trade: Sinodinos

Canberra: Outgoing Senator Arthur Sinodinos admits he isn't much of a performer on the golf course, a favoured haunt for Donald Trump.

But he believes he has another important asset as he prepares to become Australia's next ambassador to the United States.

"There's a very strong relationship between the prime minister and the president and that makes the job of the ambassador easier," he said.

Senator Sinodinos addressed the upper house for the last time on Wednesday night before moving to Washington to succeed Joe Hockey.

There's 'no magic wand' to help drought-stricken communities

Canberra: During a fiery radio interview, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there was "no magic wand" to help farmers keep livestock alive. The Morrison Government is under increasing pressure to extend the farm household allowance payment, which is currently only accessiblefor four-years in every decade. Speaking to 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones, Mr Morrison defended his government's performance on providing relief to drought-hit areas. “There was $115.8 million that went directly into drought communities, $15 million to help them with looking after the pests and weeds in their property,” he said.

Number of skilled migrants settling in Australian regions doubles

Canberra: The number of skilled migrants settling in regional areas has more than doubled after a federal government push to encourage newcomers to live outside major cities. There were 6,300 regional visas granted in the first three months of the program from July to September, up from close to 3,000 for the same period last year. Queensland experienced the biggest uptake in regional visas, with South Australia and Tasmania also seeing a major boost in migrant workers. Immigration Minister David Coleman said regional migration was easing pressure on the big cities, while supporting growth in the regions that needed more people.

No more negative gearing for vacant land

Canberra: Property owners will no longer be able to claim a tax break on vacant land after the Senate backed changes to negative gearing rules.

Legislation passed the upper house, with the negative gearing changes set to raise $50 million over four years.

Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has previously said the measure would address concerns some people have been improperly claiming deductions.

Negative gearing was a hot-button election issue, with Labor promising to wind back rules in a move which would have raised $32 billion over 10 years.

Welfare drug test laws on way to Senate

Canberra: Legislation underpinning the Morrison government's drug testing of Australians on welfare has passed the first parliamentary hurdle.

The coalition is now hoping the third time will be lucky for its controversial proposal.

After passing the lower house, the bill is on its way to the Senate, where the crossbench is expected to torpedo the plan.

NSW Project to Revolutionise Solar Construction

Sydney: Australia’s solar industry is set for a major boost thanks to research involving a startup company and UNSW Sydney, supported by the NSW Government to embed solar panels into building materials.

Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the project with startup Solspan Pty Ltd - supported through the NSW Government’s Boosting Business Innovation Program, aimed to integrate solar panels into sheet metal for use on building roofs and walls.

“I encourage our entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists to think big about our future energy needs. It’s innovation like this, that will make energy more affordable, reliable and clean and will shape our 21st century grid,” Mr Kean said.