98-497: The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme is an Australian Government scheme to provide financial assistance to shippers of freight between Tasmania and mainland Australia . The scheme aims to assist in alleviating the sea freight cost disadvantage incurred by shippers of eligible non‐bulk goods moved between Tasmania and the mainland of Australia. It provides a freight subsidy to producers selling into Australian domestic markets, but not for exports outside of Australia. The scheme
196-580: A Rhodes Scholar , where in June 1983 he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) and on 21 October 1989 proceeded by seniority to Master of Arts . During his university days, Abbott gained media attention for political opposition to the then dominant left-wing student leadership. Once he was violently beaten at a university conference. According to the Sun-Herald newspaper, it
294-518: A member of parliament (MP) for the division of Warringah at the 1994 Warringah by-election , before the election of the Howard government in 1996. Following the 1998 election , Abbott was appointed Minister for Employment Services in the second Howard ministry . He was promoted to cabinet in 2001 as Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business . In 2003, Abbott became Minister for Health and Ageing , retaining this position until
392-671: A 'Great big tax on everything' and opposed it. The Coalition and minor parties voted against the government's ETS legislation in the Senate and the legislation was rejected. Abbott announced a new Coalition policy on carbon emission reduction in February, which committed the Coalition to a 5 per cent reduction in emissions by 2020. Abbott proposed the creation of an 'emissions reduction fund' to provide 'direct' incentives to industry and farmers to reduce carbon emissions. In April, Rudd announced that plans for
490-671: A Catholic layman who led a movement against Communism within the Australian labour movement in the 1950s, culminating in the 1955 Labor Party split and the formation of the Democratic Labor Party . Santamaria has been described as Abbott's "political hero". He wrote the foreword to a novelisation of Santamaria's life written by Alan Reid , and in 2015 launched a biography of Santamaria written by Gerard Henderson . In 1977, Abbott faced charges of common and indecent assault after allegedly groping trainee teacher Helen Wilson while she
588-646: A Parliamentary Secretary, Abbott oversaw the establishment of the Green Corps program which involved young people in environmental restoration work. As Minister for Employment Services, he oversaw the implementation of the Job Network and was responsible for the government's Work for the Dole scheme. He also commissioned the Cole Royal Commission into "thuggery and rorts" in the construction industry and created
686-618: A biography and reflection on the Howard government, and potential future policy direction for the Liberal Party. In the book, Abbott said that in certain aspects the Australian Federation was "dysfunctional" and in need of repair. He recommended the establishment of local hospital and school boards to manage health and education, and discussed family law reform, multiculturalism, climate change, and international relations. The book received
784-559: A bit threatened … it's a fact of life and I try to treat people as people and not put them in pigeonholes." In later interviews Abbott apologised for the remark. In 2013, Abbott stated on 3AW that if his sister Christine Forster were to have a marriage ceremony with her partner Virginia he would attend. In March 2010, Abbott, announced a new policy initiative to provide for six months paid parental leave , funded by an increase in corporate tax by 1.7 percentage points on all taxable company income above $ 5 million. Business groups and
882-424: A cabinet minister. The cabinet consists of the prime minister and senior ministers and makes most of the important policy decisions of the government. Members of the cabinet are selected by the prime minister and may be added or removed at any time, usually through a cabinet reshuffle . Cabinet meetings are strictly private and occur once a week where vital issues are discussed and policy formulated. The cabinet
980-464: A concrete plant, and began to get involved in national politics. Throughout his time as a student and seminarian, he was writing articles for newspapers and magazines—first for Honi Soit (the University of Sydney student newspaper) and later The Catholic Weekly and national publications such as The Bulletin . He eventually became a journalist and wrote for The Australian . At birth, Abbott
1078-574: A favourable review from former Labor Party speech writer Bob Ellis and The Australian described it as "read almost universally as Abbott's intellectual application for the party's leadership after the Turnbull experiment". The number of unauthorised immigrant arrivals in boats to Australia increased during 2008. Abbott claimed that this was an effect of the Rudd government's easing of border protection laws and accused Kevin Rudd of ineptitude and hypocrisy on
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#17328692540001176-516: A first-term prime minister was unusual in Australian political history and the Rudd-Gillard rivalry remained a vexed issue for the Gillard government into the 2010 election and its subsequent term. On 17 July, Gillard called the 2010 federal election for 21 August. Polls in the first week gave a view that Labor would be re-elected with an increased majority, with Newspoll and an Essential poll showing
1274-417: A glowing reference and Abbott won pre-selection for the safe Liberal seat. Despite his conservative leanings, Abbott acknowledged he voted for Labor in the 1988 NSW state election as he thought that " Barrie Unsworth was the best deal Premier that New South Wales had ever had". Nevertheless, Abbott then clarified that he has never voted for Labor in a federal election. Abbott won Liberal preselection for
1372-557: A lead of 10 points (55–45) two party preferred . The two leaders met for one official debate during the campaign. Studio audience surveys by Channel 9 and Seven Network suggested a win to Gillard. Unable to agree on further debates, the leaders went on to appear separately on stage for questioning at community fora in Sydney and Brisbane. In Sydney on 11 August, Abbott's opening statement focused on his main election messages around government debt, taxation and asylum seekers. An exit poll of
1470-669: A mistake for the Howard government not to offer a national apology to the Stolen Generations ; spent time teaching at remote Aboriginal communities; and argued for the Rudd government to continue the Northern Territory National Emergency Response which restricted alcohol and introduced conditional welfare in certain Aboriginal communities. During this period in Opposition, Abbott wrote Battlelines ,
1568-578: A predominant influence over who was elected to Labor ministries, although the leaders of the party factions also exercised considerable influence. However, in 2007 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd , assumed the power to choose the ministry alone. Later, the caucus regained this power in 2013. According to reporting by the Sydney Morning Herald , ministerial positions are allocated by the Left and Right factions proportionally according to their representation in
1666-546: A writer, public speaker and advocate for conservative causes. Abbott was born on 4 November 1957 at the General Lying-In Hospital in Lambeth , London, England. He is the oldest of four children born to Fay (née Peters; b. 1933) and Richard Henry "Dick" Abbott (1924–2017). He has three younger sisters, including Christine Forster , who has also been involved in politics. His mother was born in Sydney, while his father
1764-597: Is an Australian former politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia and was the member of parliament (MP) for the New South Wales division of Warringah from 1994 to 2019. Abbott was born in London, England, to an Australian mother and a British father, and moved to Sydney at the age of two. He studied economics and law at
1862-418: Is difficult to apply as many actions by executive agencies are wide-ranging, binding and conducted independently of Parliament. The executive can also be delegated legislative power through provisions allowing for statutory instruments and Henry VIII clauses . Ultimately whether power is executive or legislative is determined on a case-by-case basis, and involves the weighing up of various factors, rather than
1960-749: Is needed to improve the lagging competitiveness of the Tasmanian economy." Despite the criticism, Prime Minister Tony Abbott was said to have given his personal assurances to retain the scheme shortly after the inquiry report was released. In 2016, the Federal Government expanded TFES to include international exports from Tasmania, provided they were shipped in containers through any Australian port. This expansion aimed to support Tasmania's agricultural exports to Asian markets. Majestic Timbers took advantage of this scheme by exporting low-value logs (residues) in containers from Hobart to Asia, thereby qualifying for
2058-471: Is no upper limit to the total annual payments that could be made to claimants. In 2010–11 the budget for the Scheme was A$ 114.4 million. The combined forward estimate for the Scheme over the four years to 2013–14 was $ 486 million. In 2010–11, 1,544 businesses and individuals lodged a total of 11,233 claims for assistance under the Scheme, resulting in the payment of a total of $ 100 million to eligible claimants. For
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#17328692540002156-560: Is not a legal entity; it exists solely by convention. Its decisions do not in and of themselves have legal force. However, it serves as the practical expression of the Federal Executive Council , which is Australia's highest formal governmental body. In practice, the Federal Executive Council meets solely to endorse and give legal force to decisions already made by the cabinet. All members of the cabinet are members of
2254-687: The Australian Capital Territory . The head offices of all the federal departments are located in Canberra, along with Parliament House and the High Court . The name of the government in the Constitution of Australia is the "Government of the Commonwealth". This was the name used in many early federal government publications. However, in 1965 Robert Menzies indicated his preference for
2352-474: The Australian Labor Party (ALP), in office since the 2022 federal election . The prime minister is the head of the federal government and is a role which exists by constitutional convention, rather than by law. They are appointed to the role by the governor-general (the representative of the monarch of Australia ). The governor-general normally appoints the parliamentary leader who commands
2450-707: The Commonwealth Government or simply as the Federal government , is the national executive government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy . The executive consists of the prime minister and other cabinet ministers that currently have the support of a majority of the members of the House of Representatives (the lower house) and also includes the departments and other executive bodies that ministers oversee. The current executive government consists of Anthony Albanese and other ministers of
2548-664: The Medical Research Future Fund ; and produced white papers on developing Northern Australia and the Agricultural Competitiveness . In international affairs, Abbott concluded free trade agreements with China, Japan and South Korea. He challenged the Russian president Vladimir Putin over Russia's actions in Ukraine and over the shooting down of Malaysian Flight MH17 in Ukraine. He committed Australian forces to
2646-586: The Monarchy in Australia amidst the Keating government's campaign for a change to a republic. Abbott renounced his British citizenship in 1993. Between 1993 and 1994, Abbott was Executive Director of ACM. According to biographer Michael Duffy, Abbott's involvement with ACM "strengthened his relationship with John Howard, who in 1994 suggested he seek pre-selection for a by-election in the seat of Warringah". Howard provided
2744-487: The University of Sydney , and then attended The Queen's College, Oxford , as a Rhodes Scholar , studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics . After graduating from Oxford, Abbott briefly trained as a Roman Catholic seminarian , and later worked as a journalist, manager, and political adviser. In 1992, he was appointed director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy , a position he held until his election to parliament as
2842-578: The $ 700 per container subsidy. While this use of the scheme was technically compliant, it drew criticism, notably from Independent MHR Andrew Wilkie, who accused the state government of substituting state subsidies with federal funds. Traditionally, wood residues were shipped as bulk commodities, but the closure of the Triabunna chip export facility in 2011 led to higher transport costs, making road-rail freight economically unfeasible. Sustainable Timber Tasmania had previously provided $ 5 million annually to support
2940-460: The 2000–10 period, freight headed north (to mainland Australia) accounted for approximately three-quarters of all claims. Major northbound commodities were newsprint, prepared vegetables and paper. Major commodities that were southbound were wood pulp, fodder/straw or pellets, and barley. On 6 February 2013, Tasmanian independent federal politician Andrew Wilkie called upon the Government to enhance
3038-455: The 2007 election. On 31 October, he apologised for saying "just because a person is sick doesn't mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things", after Bernie Banton , an asbestos campaigner and terminal mesothelioma sufferer, complained that Abbott was unavailable to collect a petition. In The Australian Doctor 's 2015 poll, Tony Abbott was ranked as the third "worst health minister in 35 years", as voted on by doctors. Peter Dutton
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3136-485: The 2009 vote on the Rudd government $ 42 billion stimulus package because he fell asleep in his parliamentary office after a night of drinking. When asked by a journalist whether he had been drunk, Abbott said "that is an impertinent question" and that he "wasn't keeping count" but thought it was "maybe two" bottles of wine. In a 60 Minutes interview aired on 7 March 2010, Abbott was asked: "Homosexuality? How do you feel about that?". He replied: "I'd probably feel
3234-512: The 2013 election, Abbott said of his time as a trainee priest: "The Jesuits had helped to instil in me this thought that our calling in life was to be, to use the phrase: 'a man for others'. And I thought then that the best way in which I could be a 'man for others' was to become a priest. I discovered pretty soon that I was a bit of a square peg in a round hole … eventually working out that, I'm afraid, I just didn't have what it took to be an effective priest." Abbott worked in journalism, briefly ran
3332-634: The Bass Strait leg even though this constitutes about half of the total freight cost from Tasmania to North America and other destinations. A month later, Leigh Titmus, the Managing Director of Webster Limited wrote that the scheme was inequitable and expressed his support for calls for assistance to be increased. Titmus claimed that, by extending the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme to include export as well as domestic freight,
3430-553: The Cabinet in 1998, Prime Minister Howard described him as an effective performer with an endearing style, whereas the Opposition described him as a "bomb thrower." Howard appointed Abbott to replace Kay Patterson as Minister for Health in 2003, during a period of contentious Medicare reform and a crisis in Medical indemnity Insurance, in which the price of insurance was forcing doctors out of practice. The Australian Medical Association
3528-456: The Constitution . These were defined by High Court Justice Anthony Mason , as powers "peculiarly adapted to the government of a nation and which cannot otherwise be carried on for the benefit of the nation". They have been found to include the power to provide financial stimulus payments to households during a financial crisis and the power to prevent "unlawful non-citizens" from entering
3626-534: The Dismissal of 1975. In that case, the Governor-General Sir John Kerr dismissed the prime minister and government due to his conclusion that the government had failed to secure supply. The propriety of the use of the powers during that event remain highly contested. The Federal Executive Council is the body that formally advises the governor-general in the exercise of executive power. Decisions of
3724-619: The Executive Council. A senior member of the cabinet holds the office of vice-president of the Executive Council and acts as presiding officer of the Executive Council in the absence of the governor-general. The cabinet meets not only in Canberra but also in state capitals, most frequently Sydney and Melbourne. Kevin Rudd was in favour of the cabinet meeting in other places, such as major regional cities. There are Commonwealth Parliament Offices in each state capital, with those in Sydney located in 1 Bligh Street . Until 1956 all members of
3822-455: The Federal Government could help Tasmanian freight export businesses to remain viable. Titmus argued that if Tasmanian businesses were better placed to compete with businesses in the mainland, the state's high unemployment rate might drop to levels more comparable to those in the rest of Australia. In the lead-up to the 2013 federal election , the Coalition promised a review of the scheme. After
3920-491: The Federal Infrastructure Minister maintained that Majestic's use of the scheme was appropriate. While the Tasmanian forestry sector has experienced stability and growth due to the private plantation sector and fewer protests, the challenge of finding sustainable uses for lower-value timber persists. Government of Australia [REDACTED] [REDACTED] The Australian Government , also known as
4018-459: The Howard government announced the scheme was an important Australian Government program and could continue. In 2012, Michael Deegan of Infrastructure Australia had labelled the scheme "reactive, disjointed, fragmented and costly" and possibly open to rorting. In June 2014, a Productivity Commission inquiry found that "there is no coherent economic rationale for the TFES and it falls well short of what
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4116-511: The King and the governor-general must follow the advice of the prime minister or other ministers in the exercise of his powers. Powers subject to the governor-general’s discretion are known as reserve powers. While certain reserve powers, such as the ability to choose the prime minister most likely to command the confidence of the lower house, are uncontroversial, others are subject to much greater debate. The most notable example of their use occurring in
4214-524: The Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner in response and to lift productivity. The Liberal Party allowed members a free choice in the 1999 republic referendum . Abbott was one of the leading voices within the party campaigning for the successful "No" vote, pitting him against future parliamentary colleague and leading republican Malcolm Turnbull . When Abbott was promoted to
4312-538: The Parliament. The King is not involved with the day-to-day operations of the government, belonging (according to the Bagehot formulation) to the "dignified" rather than the "efficient" part of government. While the executive power of the Commonwealth is formally vested in the monarch, the Constitution requires those powers to be exercisable by a governor-general, appointed by the monarch as their representative (but since
4410-636: The Queensland government's Wild Rivers legislation. Abbott and Pearson believed that the Queensland law would 'block the economic development' of indigenous land, and interfere with Aboriginal land rights . Abbott completed an Ironman Triathlon event in March 2010 at Port Macquarie , New South Wales. In April he set out on a 9-day charity bike ride between Melbourne and Sydney, the annual Pollie Pedal, generating political debate about whether he should have committed so much time to physical fitness. Abbott described
4508-574: The Rooty Hill RSL audience accorded Abbott victory. Gillard won the audience poll at Broncos Leagues Club meeting in Brisbane on 18 August. Abbott appeared for public questioning on the ABC's Q&A program on 16 August. Labor and the Coalition each won 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives , four short of the requirement for majority government , resulting in the first hung parliament since
4606-467: The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme. Wilkie told the Parliament that the amount of money available under the scheme was inadequate and that the scope of the scheme was too narrow, given that goods bound for export are excluded, saying: For example the boots made by Blundstone in Hobart must first be shipped to Melbourne before being transferred to overseas-bound vessels, but yet they attract no subsidy for
4704-573: The allocation of their portfolios. When Labor first held office under Chris Watson , Watson assumed the right to choose members of his cabinet. In 1907, however, the party decided that future Labor cabinets would be elected by the members of the Parliamentary Labor Party, the Caucus , and the prime minister would retain the right to allocate portfolios. This practice was followed until 2007. Between 1907 and 2007, Labor prime ministers exercised
4802-457: The annual out-of-pocket costs of Medicare cardholders to a maximum amount. In 2007, he attracted criticism over long delays in funding for cancer diagnostic equipment ( PET scanners). According to Sydney Morning Herald 's political editor, Peter Hartcher , before the defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 election , Abbott had opposed the government's centrepiece WorkChoices industrial relations deregulation reform in Cabinet, on
4900-488: The application of a strict test. As most executive power is granted by statute, the executive power of the government is similarly limited to those areas in which the Commonwealth is granted the power to legislate under the constitution (primarily under section 51 ). They also retain certain powers traditionally part of the royal prerogative , such as the power to declare war and enter into treaties. Finally, there exists certain "nationhood powers", implied from section 61 of
4998-444: The appointing of Sir Isaac Isaacs in 1931, always appointed according to the advice of federal ministers, rather than British ministers). Members of the government do not exercise executive power of their own accord but are instead appointed by the governor-general as ministers, formally as the "Queen's [or King's] Ministers of State". As such, while government ministers make most major decisions in cabinet, if those decisions require
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#17328692540005096-403: The basis that the legislation exceeded the government's mandate, was harsh on workers, and was politically dangerous to the government. John Howard wrote in his 2010 autobiography that Abbott was "never a zealot about pursuing industrial relations changes" and expressed "concern about making too many changes" during Cabinet's discussion of WorkChoices. Abbott campaigned as Minister for Health at
5194-815: The battle against ISIS during the Syrian conflict , and agreed to resettle an additional 12,000 refugees from the region. He launched the New Colombo Plan to encourage educational exchange with the Indo-Pacific region. Domestically, Abbott campaigned for recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Australian Constitution , and promised a plebiscite on the issue of same-sex marriage . Abbott's "budget repair" measures proved unpopular, with his government's austere 2014 budget being widely criticised. Due to Abbott's poor opinion polling and personal unpopularity, he
5292-414: The body give legal effect to decisions already deliberated at cabinet. All current and formers ministers are members of the council, although only current ministers are summoned to meetings. The governor-general usually presides at council meetings, but in his or her absence another minister nominated as the vice-president of the Executive Council presides at the meeting of the council. Since 1 June 2022,
5390-594: The bottom layer includes public servants , police, government departments and independent statutory bodies who directly implement policy and laws. Executive power is also difficult to clearly define. In the British context, it was defined by John Locke as all government power not legislative or judicial in nature. The key distinction is that while legislative power involves setting down rules of general application, executive power involves applying those rules to specific situations. In practice, however, this definition
5488-473: The burning house next door. On both of these occasions, he left the scene after the rescues and did not wait to be thanked. Following his time in Britain, Abbott returned to Australia and told his family of his intention to join the priesthood. In 1984 at the age of 26, he entered St Patrick's Seminary , Manly. Abbott did not complete his studies at the seminary, leaving the institution in 1987. Interviewed before
5586-466: The confidence of a majority of the members of the House of Representatives. Also by convention, the prime minister is a member of the lower house. The prime minister and their sworn ministers form the cabinet , the key decision-making organ of the government that makes policy and decides the agenda of the government. Members of the government can exercise both legislative power (through their control of
5684-566: The constitution . Abbott began his public life when he was employed as a journalist for The Bulletin , an influential news magazine, and later for The Australian newspaper. While deciding his future career path, Abbott developed friendships with senior figures in the New South Wales Labor Party , and was encouraged by Bob Carr , as well as Johno Johnson , to join the Labor Party and run for office. Abbott felt uncomfortable with
5782-485: The country . Ministers drawn from the Australian parliament form the core of the Australian Government. A subset of these ministers form the cabinet, the de facto highest executive body of the government. Ministers not part of cabinet belong to the outer ministry. Additionally, there are also assistant ministers (formally parliamentary secretaries ), responsible for a specific policy area, reporting directly to
5880-503: The defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 election . Initially serving in the shadow cabinets of Brendan Nelson and then Malcolm Turnbull , Abbott resigned from the front bench in November 2009, in protest against Turnbull's support for the Rudd government 's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Forcing a leadership ballot on the subject, Abbott narrowly defeated Turnbull to become
5978-566: The election, the coalition government confirmed that they would be going ahead with a joint Productivity Commission and Australian Competition & Consumer Commission review of Tasmania's shipping costs. The review will look at the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation scheme, among other things, and will be completed by mid-2014. The Productivity Commission previously found in 2006 that the scheme discriminated against industries that could not tap it and did not operate as intended, but
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#17328692540006076-534: The events as an opportunity to "stop at lots of little towns along the way where people probably never see or don't very often see a federal member of Parliament." In his first Budget reply speech as Opposition Leader, Abbott sought to portray the Rudd government's third budget as a "tax and spend" budget and promised to fight the election on the new mining "super-profits" tax proposed by Rudd . On 24 June 2010, Julia Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd as Australian Labor Party leader and prime minister. The replacement of
6174-437: The family first lived in the suburb of Bronte and later moved to Chatswood . Dick Abbott established what was to become one of the largest orthodontics practices in Australia, retiring in 2002. Abbott attended primary school at St Aloysius' College at Milson's Point , before completing his secondary school education at St Ignatius' College, Riverview , both Jesuit schools. During his time at St Ignatius' College, one
6272-525: The federal Division of Warringah by-election in March 1994 following the resignation of Michael MacKellar . He easily held the safe Liberal seat in the Liberals' traditional Northern Beaches heartland, suffering a swing of only 1 percentage point in the primary vote. He easily won the seat in his own right at the 1996 general election . Before 2019, he only dropped below 59 percent of the two-party vote once, in 2001 ; that year independent Peter Macdonald ,
6370-419: The formal endorsement of the governor-general in council, those decisions do not have legal force until approved by the Federal Executive Council , which is presided over by the governor-general. Similarly, laws passed by both houses of parliament require royal assent before being enacted, as the monarch is a constituent part of the Parliament. However, in all these cases, except for certain reserve powers,
6468-535: The former member for the state seat of Manly , held Abbott to only 55 percent. Abbott was the parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (1996–1998), Minister for Employment Services (1998–2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Small Business (2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (2001–03) and Minister for Health and Ageing from 2003 to November 2007. From early 2002 to October 2007, he
6566-585: The government opposed the plan, however it won support from the Australian Greens. While Opposition Spokesman for Indigenous Affairs, Abbott spent time in remote Cape York Aboriginal communities as a teacher, organised through prominent indigenous activist Noel Pearson . Abbott repeatedly spoke of his admiration for Pearson, and in March 2010, introduced the Wild Rivers (Environmental Management) Bill to Parliament in support of Pearson's campaign to overturn
6664-400: The industry. The government granted Majestic Timbers a contract to manage 180,000 tonnes annually for five years, with their business model heavily relying on the TFES subsidy. Critics argued that applying TFES to low-value commodities might discourage the development of better uses for residues, raising concerns about the long-term financial viability of these practices. Despite the criticism,
6762-662: The introduction his ETS would be delayed until 2013. When appointed to the Liberal leadership, Abbott's Catholicism and moral beliefs became subjects of repeated media questioning. Various commentators suggested that his traditionalist views would polarise female voters. He told press gallery journalist Laurie Oakes that he did not do doorstop interviews in front of church but regularly faced pointed questions about his faith which were not being put to Prime Minister Rudd, who conducted weekly church door press conferences following his attendances at Anglican services. Abbott reportedly missed
6860-431: The issue of unauthorised immigrants upon boats arriving, particularly during the Oceanic Viking affair of October 2009 , saying, "John Howard found a problem and created a solution. Kevin Rudd found a solution and has now created a problem". During November 2009, Abbott resigned from shadow ministerial responsibilities due to the Liberal Party's position on the Rudd government's Emissions trading Scheme (ETS), leading to
6958-400: The mainland to King and Flinders islands, retroactive from 1 May 2023 until June 2025. Administration of the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme is shared between the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Department of Human Services . The Scheme is demand driven, and while an annual budget is set for the total assistance available for claimants, in practice there
7056-639: The ministry differs depending on their party. When the Liberal Party and its predecessors (the Nationalist Party and the United Australia Party ) have been in coalition with the National Party or its predecessor the Country Party , the leader of the junior Coalition party has had the right to nominate their party's members of the Coalition ministry, and to be consulted by the prime minister on
7154-459: The ministry were members of the cabinet. The growth of the ministry in the 1940s and 1950s made this increasingly impractical, and in 1956 Robert Menzies created a two-tier ministry, with only senior ministers holding cabinet rank, also known within parliament as the front bench . This practice has been continued by all governments except the Whitlam government . The prime minister's power to select
7252-399: The name "Australian Government" in order to prevent confusion with the new Commonwealth of Nations . The Whitlam government legislated the use of "Government of Australia" in 1973 in line with its policy of promoting national goals and aspirations. However, academic Anne Twomey argues that the government was also motivated by a desire to blur the differences between the Commonwealth and
7350-604: The numbers, noting that he was "obviously very closely identified with the outgoing prime minister." He said he would not rule out contesting the leadership at some time in the future. Of the three candidates, Abbott was the only one who had previous experience in Opposition. Nelson was elected Liberal leader in December 2007 and Abbott was assigned the Shadow Portfolio of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As indigenous affairs spokesman, Abbott said that it had been
7448-404: The other two branches of government, however, membership of the executive is not clearly defined. One definition describes the executive as a pyramid, consisting of three layers. At the top stands the king, as the symbolic apex and formal repository of executive power. Below him lies a second layer made up of the prime minister, cabinet and other ministers who in practice lead the executive. Finally,
7546-418: The parliament) and executive power (as ministers on behalf of the governor-general and the monarch). However, in accordance with responsible government , and to ensure accountability, actions of the government in its executive capacity are subject to scrutiny from parliament. The Australian Government is headquartered in the executive wing of Parliament House , located in the nation's capital, Canberra , in
7644-621: The party's leader and leader of the opposition . Abbott led the Liberal-National Coalition to the 2010 federal election , which resulted in a hung parliament , and an eventual victory for the Australian Labor Party (ALP). Abbott remained leader, and led the Coalition to a landslide victory at the 2013 election . After assuming office, the Abbott government implemented Operation Sovereign Borders in an effort to halt illegal maritime arrivals. It abolished several reforms enacted by
7742-453: The party. However, Howard defended the honesty of Abbott in this matter. Abbott conceded that the political threat One Nation posed to the Howard government was "a very big factor" in his decision to pursue the legal attack, but he also claimed to be acting "in Australia's national interest". Howard also defended Abbott's actions saying "It's the job of the Liberal Party to politically attack other parties – there's nothing wrong with that." As
7840-466: The power to regulate this area of policy. During this time, Abbott likened the act of having an abortion to committing a murder, saying "we have a bizarre double standard, a bizarre double standard in this country where someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby is guilty of murder but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice". Abbott introduced the Medicare Safety Net to cap
7938-605: The preceding government, including the Minerals Resource Rent Tax and Australia's carbon pricing scheme . His government aimed to rein in a federal budget deficit that reached A$ 48.5 billion by June 2014, and established the National Commission of Audit to advise on restoring the federal budget to surplus. Abbott instituted the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption ; founded
8036-526: The resignation of other shadow ministers. On 1 December 2009, Abbott was elected to the position of Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia over Turnbull and Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey . Abbott proposed blocking the government's ETS in the Senate whereas Turnbull sought to amend the bill which the majority of the Liberal Party did not support. Abbott named his Shadow Cabinet on 8 December 2009. Abbott described Prime Minister Rudd's Emission Trading plan as
8134-458: The role of unions within the party, however, and wrote in his biography that he felt Labor "just wasn't the party for me." From 1990 to 1993, he was press secretary to Liberal Leader John Hewson , helping to develop the Fightback! policy. Prime Minister John Howard wrote in his autobiography that Abbott considered working on his staff before accepting the position with The Bulletin , and it
8232-509: The states in an attempt to increase federal power. The Parliament of Australia website also notes that the name "Australian Government" is preferable in order to avoid confusion with the Commonwealth of Nations and the US federal government by those not familiar with Australia's system of government. This terminology remains preferred by the government. However, the terms Commonwealth Government and federal government are also common. In some contexts,
8330-455: The term "government" refers to all public agencies that exercise the power of the State , whether legislative, executive or judicial. The government's primary role, in its executive capacity, is to implement the laws passed by the parliament. However, laws are frequently drafted according to the interests of the executive branch as the government often also controls the legislative branch. Unlike
8428-700: The vice-president has been senator Katy Gallagher . As of 17 August 2024 , there are 16 departments of the Australian Government. Additionally, there are four departments which support the Parliament of Australia : The following corporations are prescribed by Acts of Parliament: As of March 2024 , the following Corporate Commonwealth entities are prescribed as Government Business Enterprises (GBEs): The following Commonwealth companies are prescribed as GBEs: Tony Abbott Prime Minister of Australia Defunct Defunct Anthony John Abbott ( / ˈ æ b ə t / ; born 4 November 1957)
8526-551: Was "an ugly and often violent time", and Abbott's tactics in student politics were like "an aggressive terrier". Abbott organised rallies in support of Governor-General John Kerr after he dismissed the Whitlam government in November 1975, as well as a pro- Falklands War demonstration during his time at Oxford. At St. Ignatius College, Abbott had been taught and influenced by the Jesuits . At university, he encountered B. A. Santamaria ,
8624-512: Was a British citizen by birth in the UK and by descent from his British-born father. He did not hold Australian citizenship from birth, as at the time Australian citizenship by descent could only be acquired from the father. Abbott became a naturalised Australian citizen on 26 June 1981, apparently so as to become eligible for a Rhodes scholarship. On 12 October 1993, he renounced his British citizenship to be eligible to run for parliament under section 44 of
8722-559: Was also the Leader of the House in the House of Representatives. In 1998, Abbott established a trust fund called "Australians for Honest Politics Trust" to help bankroll civil court cases against the One Nation Party and its leader Pauline Hanson . Prime Minister John Howard denied any knowledge of existence of such a fund. Abbott was also accused of offering funds to One Nation dissident Terry Sharples to support his court battle against
8820-667: Was born in Newcastle upon Tyne , England. At age 16, Dick Abbott moved to Australia with his parents. Two years later, in 1942, he was called up to the Royal Australian Air Force . Dick Abbott and his mother returned to the UK in 1954 where he met and married Fay Peters, a dietitian. On 7 September 1960, Abbott, his parents, and younger sister Jane, left the UK for Australia on the Assisted Passage Migration Scheme ship SS Oronsay . Settling in Sydney,
8918-428: Was defeated by rival Malcolm Turnbull in a September 2015 leadership spill , and replaced as prime minister. He remained in the Parliament as a backbencher , until he lost his seat of Warringah to independent candidate Zali Steggall at the 2019 federal election . In September 2020, he was named an adviser to the British government's Board of Trade . Abbott continues to contribute to international public debate as
9016-689: Was first announced by Gough Whitlam . It began in July 1976, following the submission of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Transport to and from Tasmania , which is also known as the Nimmo Report, by Commissioner James Nimmo . Commencing 24 July 2024, the TFES was extended to include the transportation of drought-relief stockfeed to the Bass Strait islands. The amendment allows charitable organisations to receive assistance for sea freight costs for shipments from
9114-510: Was his teachers was John Kennedy , who would later go on to serve as the member for Hawthorn . He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (BEc) in 1979 and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1981 from the University of Sydney . He resided at St John's College and was president of the Student Representative Council . Influenced by his chaplain at St Ignatius', Father Emmet Costello, he then attended The Queen's College, Oxford , as
9212-509: Was holidaying with his family in Bali when the Bali bombings occurred. Abbott visited the victims of the bombings in hospital, and in his capacity as Health Minister organised for Australians who required lifesaving emergency surgery and hospitalisation to be flown to Singapore. In 2006, Abbott controversially opposed access to the abortion drug RU486 , and the Parliament voted to strip Health Ministers of
9310-530: Was making a speech at the College of Advanced Education in Kuring-gai, Sydney. Abbott pleaded not guilty, and the charges were ultimately dropped. Abbott was a student boxer, earning two Blues for boxing while at Oxford. When Abbott was a student, on one occasion he rescued a child who had been pulled out into the sea by the current. On another occasion, while drinking at a pub, he helped rescue children from
9408-463: Was on Howard's recommendation that Hewson engaged Abbott. According to Howard, he and Abbott established a good rapport, but Hewson and Abbott fell out shortly before the 1993 election , and Abbott ended up in search of work following the re-election of the Keating government . He was approached to head Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM), the main group organising support for the maintenance of
9506-547: Was ranked the overall worst. The Coalition lost government in 2007 and Abbott was re-elected to the seat of Warringah with a 1.8% swing toward the Labor Party. Following Peter Costello 's rejection of the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, Abbott nominated for the position of party leader , along with Malcolm Turnbull and Brendan Nelson . After canvassing the support of his colleagues, Abbott decided to withdraw his nomination. He seemingly did not have
9604-506: Was threatening to pull out all Australian doctors. Abbott worked with the states to address the crisis and keep the system running. Health care initiatives instigated by Abbott include the Nurse Family Partnership, a long term scheme aimed at improving conditions for indigenous youth by improving mother-child relationships. The scheme was successful in reducing child abuse and improving school retention rates. In 2005, Abbott
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