316usman/thematic2c huggingface dataset:
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643375431.pdf (Australia)
To the Committee Secretary on Environment and Communications, RE: Inquiry into the impact of pornography upon children.

Please accept my submission of support into the Inquiry of Impact of pornography upon children.

At a time where we are rightly facing up to the blight of domestic abuse, the horrific effects of the drug ‘Ice’ and the dreadful problem institutional child abuse, it beggars belief that we would ignore such an obvious problem within our society.
It astounds me that we would neglect not only the women but also the under-age victims of internet pornography There is now a wealth of knowledge and research into the damage that pornography can do to a child’s behavioural development.

Why then have governments from both sides of the political divide continued to ignore this somewhat glaring omission in looking at the welfare of our children.
I hope that this Inquiry is an opportunity to expose the industry for the damage it is doing to our children’s health and the women of our nation.

In normalising violence and sexual crimes, pornography further entrenches the terrible stereotype that violence and sex go hand in hand and that women “like it” that way, even if they say they don’t.
This enquiry is absolutely crucial and should robust investigate the access of pornography despite the opposition it will no doubt face from the multi-billion dollar pornography industry and even political forces within that will try to claim it is a personal choice and use every avenue possible to deny the harmful effects of pornography from being exposed.
I urge the Senate to push ahead with this Inquiry for the wellbeing of the women and children of our country, because this isn’t about us getting out of their bedroom but about preserving and protecting the most vulnerable in our community.

Yours sincerely, Julia Manickam Harm being done to Australian children through access to pornography on the InternetSubmission 168
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643399430.pdf (Australia)
Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 27
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643461855.pdf (Australia)
Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 66
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643479477.pdf (Australia)
Dear committee secretary, I am highly concerned about the threat of plastic pollution on our marine environment and eco-systems because I am aware of how much one use plastic we are disposing in the oceans of our only planet.

We have become so lazy over the past few decades that we are disregarding the wastes that we are producing in terms of plastic pollution.

The world needs to come to realize the damage we are doing very soon or else we will have destroyed our oceans to an irreversible stage.
Our fish are dying.

Scientists have seen a dramatic decline in fish population over the last few decades which suggests that we are not doing a very good job of preserving our planet.

The Great Barrier Reef has already become the ‘Great Barrier Dumping Ground’ and scientists estimate that we are losing between 200 to 2 000 species of fish and marine life every year.

This must stop!

Please consider our ocean and marine life and take action against the threat of plastic pollution on our environment.
Regards, Taylor Springett Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 115
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643497851.pdf (Australia)
Submission by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) to National Inquiry: The age verification for online wagering and online pornography.

Children do best when their parents are well supported and all adults in the community understand their role in keeping children safe.

● NAPCAN commends the inquiry on its concern for the online safety of Australian children and urges that the inquiry prioritises the wellbeing of children and families.
● This is an area of concern for many parents who feel overwhelmed by the online safety of their children.

● Parents need support to protect their children from viewing pornography; this includes technical supports as well as high quality information.
● NAPCAN supports that the implementation of any new regulation be accompanied by a range of supports for families including education campaigns (such as Start the Chat), online and print materials for parents as well as children and young people (such as those provided by the eSafety Commission), and education for children and young people about their right to safety and how to seek help.

Inquiry into age verification for online wagering and online pornographySubmission 167
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643534650.pdf (Australia)
Dear Committee Secretary, I am very concerned with the threat for the oceans because I don't want to see them turn into a plastic soup like other oceans in the world.

The marine animals and their habitat need to be protected.

I am worried about the effects of plastic getting into the food chain.Who wants to eat seafood which contains plastic the marine animals have eaten?

Plastic is made from fossil fuels which is very unsustainable.
My friends and I are part of the school's Environment group and at the start of this year we did a Beach Clean Up.

We were planning to clean up about 5 beaches and we only got to clean up 2 beaches because there was so much rubbish!

I am only 13 and i want to make sure that during my lifetime the sea turtles, the sea birds and all the other marine life that i like so much will not disappear.

I also hope that the sea will not end up becoming a worse plastic soup than it is already.
When my great grandma was alive the beaches were pristine there were millions of sea turtles and all the fish and sea birds were healthy.

Plastics have destroyed our oceans.

Gabrielle King Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 157
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643549470.pdf (Australia)
Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 2 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 2 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 2
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643616080.pdf (Australia)
Dear Secretary, The threat that plastic pollution plays in degrading our marine ecosystems is a serious concern for Australia.

We urgently need effective action to address this issue, so I trust that such action will be the outcome of this enquiry.

The threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia and Australian waters I have observed the amount of plastic waste which gets washed up, blown to or directly dumped into marine ecosystems in SE Qld.
Not only is this aesthetically offensive, it poses very real threats to the lives of many marine creatures.

Much of our recreational and tourism activities revolve around our waterways and coastal areas.

Persistent plastic pollution detracts from this, and indicates the lack of will on the part of policy makers to address this obvious problem.
The products and materials that represent the major sources of marine plastic pollution I’ve found plastic pollution of all types, but plastic bags of all types are extremely common.

Plastic drinking containers (bottles, lids, etc) are also common, as are discarded bait bags.
The impacts of marine plastic pollution, including impacts on species and ecosystems, fisheries, small business, and human health Ingestion of plastic bags is a major problem for many marine creatures, as is entanglement in plastic waste.

Both can lead to slow, distressing and painful deaths.

Some of our most loved and often endangered species, such as whales and turtles, are dying horrible deaths due to swallowing plastic.
The Solutions The liberal and habitual handing out of single use plastic bags in the marketplace (supermarkets, etc) needs to be curtailed, if not eliminated.

I’ve proven myself that it isn’t hard to greatly reduce the number of plastic bags acquired in purchasing.

Simply bringing my own reusable bags has cut my need for plastic bags to a minimum.
In order to encourage consumers to BYO bags, a charge on plastic bags, or better still, eliminating them from shops, and offering the purchase of reusable and biodegradable bags, eg hessian / hemp, is an obvious solution.

ALDI stores are to be commended for not using the single-use plastic bags at their checkouts.

It is shameful that the two other major supermarkets have failed to implement an effective policy in this area.
Adopting a Container Deposit Scheme is long overdue to reduce the discarding of plastic and glass) bottles into the environment.

This needs to be seriously considered if the government hopes to deal with the problem.

Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 90 In conclusion: We can debate the problem indefinitely while our marine ecosystems continue to choke up with plastic debris and our precious marine life suffers.
Alternately, we can implement some of these simple policies and practices and very quickly clean up our act.

With our growing population, and ever increasing urbanisation along our coastlines and waterways, the need to act decisively is imperative.

Yours sincerely, Janenne Kornfeld Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 90
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643663561.pdf (Australia)
Hello, Considering the existential threat of climate change and the associated ecological catastrophes I urge you to do everything possible to minimise future emissions and focus on processes and developments in line with sustainability.

It does not make sense to open more coal mines and gas fields, rather we need to work towards closing the ones we have.

The catastrophic weather events we have been seeing worldwide are expensive in human and monetary terms.
Even with the best behaviour regarding emissions and all efforts directed towards green energy transition from today, the world temperature will go up.

We must do everything we can to keep this increase as low as possible.

In my mind it is worth giving up some of our current wealth and lifestyle to secure a habitable planet in the future.

One with people on it … Kind regards, Claudia Koller Climate Change Bill 2022 and the Climate Change (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2022Submission 129
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643720434.pdf (Australia)
 Commonwealth of Australia 2017 ISBN 978-1-76010-563-1 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License.

The details of http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au/.

licence are available on this the Creative Commons website: This document was produced by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee secretariat and printed by the Senate Printing Unit, Department of the Senate, Parliament House, Canberra.
ii Members of the committee Members Senator Louise Pratt (ALP, WA) (Chair) Senator the Hon Ian Macdonald (LNP, QLD) (Deputy Chair) Senator Patrick Dodson (ALP, WA) Senator David Fawcett (LP, SA) to replace Senator Linda Reynolds from 15.02.2017 Senator Nick McKim (AG, TAS) Senator Murray Watt (ALP, QLD) Former member Senator Linda Reynolds (LP, WA) until 15.02.2017 Participating member Senator Derryn Hinch (DHJP, VIC) Secretariat Ms Toni Matulick, Committee Secretary Ms Pothida Youhorn, Principal Research Officer Ms Charlotte Fletcher, Senior Research Officer Mr Nicholas Craft, Senior Research Officer Ms Jo-Anne Holmes, Administrative Officer Suite S1.61 Telephone: (02) 6277 3560 Parliament House Fax: (02) 6277 5794 CANBERRA ACT 2600 Email: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au iii iv
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643732605.pdf (Australia)
Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 29 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 29
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643787382.pdf (Australia)
Dear Sir, I am concerned about Labours threat to Franking Credits.

These are important to us to fund our retirement.

I feel this is most unfair.

I would like to hear the Liberal party voice their opposition to this threat.

We do not wish to live on the age pension.

Please make sure this does not happen.

Regards, Margaret Menzies Inquiry into the implications of removing refundable franking creditsSubmission 14
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643809648.pdf (Australia)
Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 33 Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 33
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643823015.pdf (Australia)
Name: Shirley Wang Submission: The Murdoch monopoly is a massive threat against democracy.

My main concern is their twisting of the facts on climate change, and how much confusion they've stirred up around such a relatively straightforward and internationally-recognized issue.

The amount of people who don't even think it's real is very.

very concerning to me; especially as a young Australian.

It is shameful to see how persistently we deny the facts.

Media diversity in AustraliaSubmission 2773
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643839723.pdf (Australia)
Dear Secretary, I am making a submission today on behalf of the youth population of Australia, to express my concern surrounding the threats posed y marine debris and I strongly urge you to address these growing problems.

Marine plastic pollution is a growing global threat to biodiversity, with its devastating impacts already being realised.
Marine life suffer fro starvation from ingestion of plastics, illness from toxic chemicals released from ingestion of plastics, entanglement and injury from plastic rubbish with indirect impacts across the food chain up to humans.

Microplastics act as sponges for toxic chemicals and last for a long time.

However practical, effective and comprehensive government action could eliminate much of the marine debris found across the Australia coastal and estuarine environments.
Plastic bags and microbeads in cleansing products are a considerable source of marine pollution, with high impact and I support urge a ban on this unnecessary product.

A Container Deposit Scheme would also reduce beverage litter by 60% and almost triple bottle and cans recycling rates to 85%.

This initiative is strongly supported by 85% of the public, according to Newspolls.

I large proportion of the public is concerned by the impacts plastic pollution is having on our marine environment.
I strongly urge you to act promptly and ensure that we move forward as a nation towards a better future for all.

Yours sincerely, Siobhan Paget Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 93
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643861629.pdf (Australia)
Dear Senators, We are very concerned about the threat to religious organisations to freely teach their beliefs to their people that is possibly connected to this legislation.

These beliefs in the Christian Faith that go back its beginning on human sexuality should not be interfered with.

Saying that, their is no evidence that Christian schools or organisations have discriminated against students who oppose our values on marriage and human sexuality.
However in our democratic society all organisations have the right to employ people who hold and support their values.

Please reject this dangerous bill.

Yours sincerely Dan and Adeline Keenan Sex Discrimination Amendment (Removing Discrimination Against Students) Bill 2018Submission 146
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643869099.pdf (Australia)
AASW AAT ABF ACEM ACFID AHRC AFP ALHR AMA ANAO APS ASRC AWSWN BCEO CAT CMO CPR CRC CSS DFAT DFR DIBP ERC FCA FCC FOI HREOC HRLC HRW ICC ICCPR ICESCR Abbreviations Australian Association of Social Workers Administrative Appeals Tribunal Australian Border Force Australasian College of Emergency Medicine Australia Council for International Development Australian Human Rights Commission Australian Federal Police Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Australian Medical Association Australian National Audit Office Australian Psychological Society Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Australian Women in Support of Women on Nauru Brisbane Catholic Education Office Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment Chief Medical Officer Commonwealth Procurement Rules United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child Connect Settlement Services Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Doctors for Refugees Department of Immigration and Border Protection Edmund Rice Centre Federal Court of Australia Federal Circuit Court Freedom of Information Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Human Rights Law Centre Human Rights Watch International Criminal Court International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights xi ICJ IHMS ILO IMA JSS LCA LGBT MOU MYEFO NGO OAIC ODA OPCAT OSSTT PBS PCBU PNG POMS PRC PTSD RACP RACGP RANZCP RCA RPC RPNGC RSD SKM UNHCR UNICEF UNLC USA WHO International Court of Justice International Health and Medical Services International Labour Organization Irregular Maritime Arrival Jesuit Social Services Law Council of Australia Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Memorandum of Understanding Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook Non-Government Organisation Office of the Australian Information Commissioner Official Development Assistance Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or other Cruel, Punishment Overseas Services to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Portfolio Budget Statement Person conducting a business or undertaking Papua New Guinea Planning and Operational Management System Peoples Republic of China Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Royal Australasian College of Physicians Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Refugee Council of Australia Regional Processing Centre Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Refugee Status Determination Sinclair Knight Mertz United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund University of Newcastle Legal Centre United States of America World Health Organisation xii
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643907532.pdf (Australia)
The threat from the Federal Government to extend the Northern Territory intervention for 10 more years, under the proposed Stronger Futures legislation is unjust.

It absolutely goes against the wishes and concerns of Aboriginal People across the Territory, and definitely leads to 10 more years of disempowerment and despair in Aboriginal Communities.

Therefore, I support social justice in this Northern Territory issue Walk in beauty, J Reuben Silverbird
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643910814.pdf (Australia)
93 Appendix 4 Goods that might contain asbestos Asbestos has been used in a wide number of products due to its flexibility, tensile strength, insulation, chemical inertness and affordability and is still used outside Australia in many applications.
The following goods are considered a risk for containing asbestos and ACM: • Asbestos bitumen products used to damp proof • Asbestos rope • Asbestos tape • Brake linings or blocks • Cement flat sheeting or panels • Cement pipes, tubes or fittings • Cement shingles or tiles (external or ceiling) • Clutch linings or brake disc pads • Crayons • Diaphragms • Ducts • Electrical cloth and tapes • Electrical panel partitioning • Fire blankets • Fire curtains • Fire resistant building materials • Friction materials for, or within, internal combustion and electric motor vehicles (for example, clutch linings, brake pads and shoes and gaskets) • Furnaces • Gas masks • Gaskets or seals • Gloves • Heat resistant sealing or caulking compounds • Heating equipment • Products containing certain types of talc • Lagging and jointing materials 94 • Mastics, sealants, putties or adhesives • Mineral samples for display or therapeutic purposes • Mixtures containing phenol formaldehyde resin or cresylic formaldehyde resin • Pipe spools • Raw materials from mining activities • Sheet vinyl backing • Sheeting • Textured paints or coatings • Tiles • Yarn and thread, cords and string, whether or not plaited Source: Department of Immigration and Border Protection, 'Asbestos', http://www.border.gov.au/Busi/cargo-support-trade-and-goods/importing- goods/prohibited-and-restricted/asbestos (accessed 9 November 2017).
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643927134.pdf (Australia)
Name: Catherine Krestyn Submission: Our democracy is clearly under threat when one corporate entity builds and promotes very specific, one directional news content.

What’s more, this content is deeply embedded with biases, misinformation and uninhibited propaganda with every intent to obfuscate or delineate the truth from its readership.
At 70% ownership of news media in Australia, the Murdocracy is destroying our democracy- all this from a foreign entity that enjoys ridiculous levels of loyalty from the serving LNP in exchange for what appear to be disturbing levels of public support through its various journalistic channels.

We need far greater diversity so that the Sustralian public is served with factual, unbiased reporting from which they can form opinions.
Currently we are inundated with opinion presented as fact - a dangerous and unwelcome slight on our democratic right to the TRUTH.

Media diversity has been severely neglected for years snd we the public continue to pay the price.

Our vote at the ballot box should be well informed, uninhibited by conspiracy rot and derived from truthful truth telling by a DIVERSE media.

Please go to every length to create a Royal Commission into media diversity.

Australian people and democracy deserve no less.


Thank you for considering my submission.

Media diversity in AustraliaSubmission 2398
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643947958.pdf (Australia)
Appendix 3 Countries with bans on all types of asbestos Asbestos has been banned in Australia since 2003.

All other OECD countries, except for Canada, Mexico and the United States, have also banned asbestos.

91 Country Algeria Date/year ban came into force 14 October 2009 Argentina 1 January 2003 Australia 31 December 2003 Bahrain 1996 Brunei Chile Egypt Date to be determined 12 July 2001 2005 Commenced in 1983, with complete ban on all forms of asbestos in all 28 member states by 1 January 2005.
European Union: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Portugal, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Spain, Luxembourg, Latvia, Ireland, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, Finland, The Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden.
Gabon between 2002 and 2004 Honduras Iceland Israel Japan 2004 1983 2011 1 March 2012 92 Country Date/year ban came into force Jordan Korea Kuwait Norway Mauritius 16 August 2006 2009 1995 1984 2004 Moldova late 2016 ban planned and confirmed Mozambique 24 August 2010 New Caledonia 2007 New Zealand 1 October 2016 Norway Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles 1984 2008 2010 1998 2011 2009 South Africa 28 March 2008 Turkey Ukraine 2010 June 2017 Uruguay May 2002 Source: https://www.asbestossafety.gov.au/countries-bans-all-types-asbestos
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643950829.pdf (Australia)
List of abbreviations ALDFG abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear AFGC AFMA AIMS ALGA AMDI AMSA APC APEC BPA CDS COAG CWA DDT EDC EPA EPBC Act GBRMPA GPML ICNA Act MARPOL MOU MPP NELA NEPC NEPM NICNAS Australian Food and Grocery Council Australian Fisheries Management Authority Australian Institute of Marine Science Australian Local Government Association Australian Marine Debris Index Australian Maritime Safety Authority Australian Packaging Covenant Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation bisphenol A container deposit scheme Council of Australian Governments Clean Water Act (US) dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane endocrine disrupting chemical Environment Protection Authority Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Global Partnership on Marine Litter Industrial Chemicals (Notification and Assessment) Act 1989 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Memorandum of Understanding marine plastic pollution National Environmental Law Association National Environment Protection Council National Environment Protection Measure National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme NPCIA National Packaging Industry Association xiii NRM PCB PCP PET PFOA PFOS POP RIS RVMS SCEW SOLAS SPREP TAP UNEP Natural Resource Management polychlorinated biphenyl personal care product polyethylene terephthalate perfluorooctanoic acid perfluorooctane sulfonate persistent organic pollutant Regulation Impact Statement Reverse Vending Machine Scheme Standing Council on Environment and Water International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Threat Abatement Plan United Nations Environment Programme
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643969136.pdf (Australia)
As a result of the threat on our rights, obviously we have had to strike to get the Organisation to take notice.

I would like to bring some of the issues that I have observed during striking to your attention and the impact this could have had to the integrity of our borders.

1.

2.

3.

Inexperienced ‘strike breakers’ used to man the primary line.
This impacted not only the wait times for the travelling public, but also due to inexperience, the Incoming Passenger Cards were coded incorrectly, or in some cases NOT AT ALL.

As a result people who may have been searched were missed.

I was working as marshal when strike breakers were working, and it was highly evident that the usual scrutiny that would occur at the primary line by experienced Officers DID NOT HAPPEN, thus further affecting the integrity of the border!
I was allocated a role in the CTU so was unable to strike.

Due to how ‘under the pump’ everyone is including management, I was incorrectly listed as striking on that day.

As a result, my pay was deducted and I am STILL yet to see these finds returned to me, thus directly having a financial impact on me!

In relation to the delay in finalisation of the EA in general, I am a mother in the process of getting my career back on track.
I would like to go to a district office again, but due to the withdrawal of crucial allowances and the potential of the crucial benefits of going to a DO being CUT, I am in LIMBO waiting to know what to do in relation to which direction to go with my career.

As a result this is directly affecting myself and my child and the uncertainty is causing me mental anguish.

Please contact me if you require any further information.
Regards, Aisha Olesinski Border Force Officer | Gold Coast International Airport Area Command Aviation (South East Queensland) | Regional Command QLD Strategic Border Command Australian Border Force The Government's APS Bargaining PolicySubmission 162
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643980773.pdf (Australia)
Dear Secretary, Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission to this inquiry.

The issue of marine debris, in particular plastic debris, is of great concern to me and I urge you to urgently act to address the growing problem.

I am a member of several environmental care groups around our bay.

I do a lot of snorkelling in the bay and am in charge of a monthly northern pacific seastar removal program and seagrass survey in St Kilda, and am part of the penguin research team with Earthcare St Kilda.
Whenever I am at St Kilda beach I like to collect rubbish along the beach from the pier northwards to the first groyne, this includes three different sections.

Two of these sections are not able to be cleaned by machine, the third is where a lot of people let their dogs run.

There is a storm water drain running into each section.

On Sunday 6 September I snorkelled between the pier and the slipway of the yacht club.
I collected a large catch bag of plastic bags, food wrappers, plastic drink bottles, glass bottles and an engine oil container.

The plastic bags and food wrappers outweighed everything else.

Collecting the rubbish along the beach was the same scenario, lots of plastic bags, straws, food wrappers and scraps of plastic.
Last week one of the St Kilda penguins was found in the rubbish bin area of the kiosk at the end of the pier, with fishing line caught around its foot, along with a plastic bag which was caught on a wheel of the big roller bin.

The penguin was under weight and would have been killed when the bin was emptied.

There is currently one living on the rocks with a plastic bag handle around its neck (we are trying to catch it to remove it).

I would like to see plastic bags banned.


I would also like to see some education on the marine environment - just because you can't see the rubbish doesn't mean it isn't doing harm.

Daily, marine animals have to fight with our rubbish.

A lot of it we use for 5 minutes, some of it can cause death.

We must be more accountable for what we do, and how we do it.

Using a fossil fuel to make an item for a single use is madness.
Please help to show humans are smarter than that and provide guidelines to ensure we make it a priority.

Please act promptly.

Our world needs this.

Yours sincerely, Julianne Stuart Threat of marine plastic pollution in AustraliaSubmission 123
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697704939874.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE: MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM (PREVENTION) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2017 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1.

Short title and construction.

2.

Amendment of section 11.

No.

37] Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) 335 No.
37 of 2017 I assent, (SIR COLVILLE N. YOUNG) Governor-General 21st July, 2017 AN ACT to amend the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act, Chapter 104 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, in furtherance of Belize’s Financial Action Task Force obligations to conduct a Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment, to give the Financial Intelligence Unit, the competent authority for anti money laundering in Belize, the specific power to conduct a money laundering and countering of terrorism risk assessment; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(Gazetted 22nd July, 2017.)

BE IT ENACTED, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives and Senate of Belize and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1.

This Act may be cited as the Short title and construction.

MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM (PREVENTION) (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2017, 336 Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) [No.
37 and shall be read and construed as one with the Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act, which, as amended, is hereinafter referred to as the principal Act.

CAP.

104.

4 of 2013 7 of 2014 7 of 2016 2.

The principal Act is amended in section 11 by inserting in subsection (1) next after paragraph (l) the following as paragraph (ll) – Amendment of section 11.
“(ll) may carry out such action as it considers necessary, including the conduct of research, consultation with or requesting information from, any person, to assess the risks to Belize related to money laundering, counter terrorism financing and proliferation financing; ” Printed in Belize by the Government Printer #1 Power Lane, Belmopan, Belize, C.A.
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697704960156.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.

HR22/1/13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, 10th March 2023 10:00 AM -*- -*- -*- S U P P L E M E N T A R Y (1) ORDERS OF THE DAY 6.

Paper.

No.

HR150A/1/13 - Annual Report 2020 – Office of the Supervisor of Insurance and Private Pension, Ministry of Finance.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment) 12.

Introduction of Bills.

1.

General Revenue Appropriation (2023/2024) Bill, 2023.
Bill for an Act to appropriate further sums of money for the use of the Public Service of Belize for the financial year ending on the thirty-first day of March, two thousand and twenty-four.

2.

Customs Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Regulation Act, Chapter 49 of the Substantive Laws of Belize Revised Edition 2020, to provide for measures to ensure compliance with the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations in relation laundering, combatting the financing of terrorism and combatting proliferation financing; to provide for the requirement to keep records; to provide for forfeiture of undeclared currency; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
regarding anti-money laws to 3.

Non-Profit Organisations Bill, 2023.

Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation of Non-Profit Organisations; to protect Non-Profit Organisations from terrorist financing abuse; to satisfy the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations with respect to laws regarding combating the financing of terrorism; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment) 2 4.

Supplies Control (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Bill for an Act to amend the Supplies Control Act, Chapter 293 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020; to provide for the power to issue of violation tickets for particular offences; to provide for the publication of the names and particulars of offenders; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, & Enterprise) 14.

Public Business.

A.

Government Business I MOTION (For Text of Motion see Notice Paper attached) 1.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2023.

Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified.

(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment)  3 BELIZE No.
HR22/1/13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Friday, 10th March 2023 10:00 AM -*- -*- -*- S U P P L E M E N T A R Y (1) NOTICES OF QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS M O T I O N 1.

Official Charities Fund Motion, 2023.

Notice given on 8th March 2023.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT this House approves the expenditure of $2,385,089 from the Official Charities Fund as detailed in Appendix A of the Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending 31st March 2024.

Cabinet’s recommendation to be signified.


(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment) 
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697704969180.pdf (Belize)
Resolution Authorizing the Ratification by Belize of the Agreement Establishing the Free Trade Area Between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic and its Protocol Motion, 2021.
WHEREAS, the Agreement Establishing the Free Trade Area between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”) which was signed on 22nd August 1998, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and its Protocol which was signed on 28th April 2000; AND WHEREAS, the objectives of the Agreement and its Protocol are the establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Parties; the promotion and expansion of the sale of goods originating in the territories of the Parties through, inter-alia, free access to the markets of the Parties, elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade, and the establishment of a system of rules of Origin, Customs Cooperation, and the Harmonization of Technical, Sanitary, and Phyto-Sanitary Procedures; the progressive liberalization of trade in services; the liberalization of the movement of capital between the Parties and the promotion and protection of investments; the promotion of the active participation of private economic agents, including the promotion and establishment of joint ventures; the promotion and development of cooperative activities in agriculture, mining, industry, construction, tourism, insurance, capital markets, transportation, professional services, and science and technology; and the discouragement of anti- competitive business practices between and within the Parties; telecommunications, banking, AND WHEREAS, the Government of Belize is desirous of ratifying the Agreement and its Protocol pursuant to Article 22 of the Agreement and Article XI of the Protocol; AND WHEREAS, section 61(A)(2)(a) of the Belize Constitution, as amended by the Belize Constitution (Sixth Amendment) Act (No.
13 of 2008), provides that the Senate shall authorize the ratification of any treaty by the Government of Belize; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate authorizes the Government of Belize to ratify the Agreement Establishing the Free Trade Area between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic and its Protocol, a full text of which are hereto annexed.
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697704979847.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE: INDICTABLE PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2017 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1.

Short title.

2.

Amendment of section 146.

3.

Repeal and replacement of section 160.

No.

23] Indictable Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2017 259 No.
23 of 2017 I assent, (SIR COLVILLE N. YOUNG) Governor-General 29th March, 2017 AN ACT to amend the Indictable Procedure Act, Chapter 96 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, to make new provision in relation to prescribed minimum sentences of imprisonment, having regard to, among other things, companion amendments to the Criminal Code in relation to sentencing for persons under 18 who are convicted of murder; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(Gazetted 29th March, 2017.)

BE IT ENACTED, by and with the advice and consent of the House of Representatives and Senate of Belize and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1.

This Act may be cited as the Short title.

INDICTABLE PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2017, 260 Indictable Procedure (Amendment) Act 2017 [No.

23 Amendment of section 146.

Repeal and replacement of section 160.

“Reduction of term of imprisonment.


and shall be read and construed as one with the Indictable Precedure Act which, as amended, is hereinafter referred to as the principal Act.

2.

The principal Act is amended in section 146 by, (a) deleting subsection (1) and substituting therefor the following: “(1) Where any person is convicted of a crime punishable with death, the court shall thereupon pronounce sentence of death”, and (b) deleting subsection (2).

3.
The principal Act is amended by repealing section 160 and subtituting therefor the following, 160 - (1) Where any person is convicted of a crime punish- able by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment under the Code or any other enactment, the court may, if it considers that the justice of the case so requires, having regard to special reasons which must be recorded in writing, exercise its discreation to sentence the person to a term of imprisonment, as the case may be, less than the mandatory minimum term prescribed for the crime for the Code or other enactment, as the case may be.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the court may not sentence an offender who is eighteen years of age or over, to less than the prescribed mandatory minimum term, where the crime he has been convicted of is, (a) murder; or (b) an offence under section 46 (rape), 47(1) (unlawful sexual intercourse with person under the age of fourteen years), 47A (rape of a child) or 62 (incest) of the Code.”.

Printed in Belize by the Government Printer
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697705323902.pdf (Belize)
Domestic Violence in Belize Motion, 2022.
WHEREAS, Domestic Violence is recognized as a widespread international public health and human rights issue which, in all its forms, has tremendous physical, mental and emotional consequences on its victims, children and other family members and has far reaching detrimental social, health and economic impacts on nations; AND WHEREAS, Domestic Violence constitutes abuse including physical, psychological, sexual, emotional, financial or other aggressions, inflicted by people in the family environment or in intimate partner relationships, which generally targets the most vulnerable populations, namely girls, women and older adults, and almost always occurs inside a residence and most often at the home of the victim or the perpetrator; AND WHEREAS, it is established that Domestic Violence is a crime and a violation of human rights which affects every member of our community and if the cycle is not broken it continues to tear apart our families and our social fabric; AND WHEREAS, as reported by the Belize Crime Observatory, at least 60% of Domestic Violence cases registered during 2020, were the result of intimate partner violence; AND WHEREAS, the Belize Crime Observatory reported that during January to November 2021, there were 2,155 reports of Domestic Violence to the police where 78% of these reports were made by females and 32% of these cases are open cases; AND WHEREAS, an effective response to Domestic Violence requires a multi- sectoral approach to ensure prevention, protection, and provision of services for survivors and successful prosecution of perpetrators; AND WHEREAS, Plan Belize, through the implementation of a progressive Women’s Agenda, aims to strengthen and expand measures to ensure the safety and security of women and children by, inter alia:      holding a zero-tolerance position on violence against women; financially supporting the operation of emergency shelters and transitional homes for women and their children; implementing the domestic violence and sexual violence laws and protocols for the protection of women and children; providing free counselling and legal aid service for survivors of violence; and supporting mandatory counselling for perpetrators of domestic violence; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Honourable House: 1.
Denounces and condemns Domestic Violence, in all its forms, as a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights; 2.

3.

4.

5.
Supports the call for additional resources to further strengthen the interventions, safeguards and public awareness required to effectively address Domestic Violence in Belize; Will undertake legislative review aimed at filling gaps and putting in the necessary reforms for the response to Domestic Violence; As national leaders, takes a zero-tolerance position with regard to Domestic Violence; Prioritizes Domestic Violence as a national issue of significance and pledges to take individual and collective actions to end this plague in our constituencies.
Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697705338758.pdf (Belize)
BELIZE No.

HR23/1/13 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 10:00 AM -*- -*- -*- S U P P L E M E N T A R Y (1) ORDERS OF THE DAY 7.

Presentation of Report from Select Committee.

No.

HR161/1/13 - Report from the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee on the Non- Profit Organisations Bill, 2023.

(The Honourable Chairman of the Public Service, Labour, Industry and Trade Committee) 14.

Public Business.

A.

Government Business I BILL FOR SECOND READING 1.


Non-Profit Organisations Bill, 2023.

Bill for an Act to provide for the regulation of Non-Profit Organisations; to protect Non-Profit Organisations from terrorist financing abuse; to satisfy the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations with respect to laws regarding combating the financing of terrorism; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
(The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment) II COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE ON BILL III BILL FOR THIRD READING 