Metadata laws pass Parliament

Bill passed ... Attorney-General George Brandis in Parliament. Source: News Corp Australia

AUSTRALIANS will have two years of their metadata stored by phone and internet providers after the Abbott government's controversial data retention laws passed parliament.

But it's still unclear how much will be added to internet users' monthly bills.

The latest suite of national security legislation passed the upper house on Thursday evening with bipartisan support.

The government believes the laws, which allow about 85 security and policing agencies to access two years of an individual's metadata, are crucial to thwart terrorism attacks and prevent serious crime.

The scheme is expected to cost up to $400 million a year, but the government won't reveal its share until the May budget.

A government-commissioned review found the scheme would cost about $3.98 per customer each year if no taxpayer assistance was provided.

Counter-terrorism ... Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the laws are crucial. Source: News Corp Australia

Metadata includes the identity of a subscriber and the source, destination, date, time, duration and type of communication. It excludes the content of a message, phone call or email and web-browsing history.

Attorney-General George Brandis said telcos had been collecting this type of data for 20 years, however billing changes and the cost of storage mean it's more likely to be discarded.

That degrades police and security agency investigations, he said.

Labor backed the laws after the government agreed to dozens of changes and a specific warrant safeguard for journalists.

Essential ... Attorney-General George Brandis says the discarding of data degrades police and security agency investigations, he said. Source: News Corp Australia

Palmer United Party Senator Zhenya Wang also sided with the coalition and opposition.

The government did not win support from the Australian Greens or several crossbenchers, who fear the laws are an invasion of privacy.

Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm condemned the laws as an ineffective anti-terrorism tool, arguing that adding more hay to a haystack would not make it easier to find the needle.

The Liberal Democrat accused Senator Brandis of being "more obedient to the Australian Federal Police than some of their sniffer dogs".

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said imposing the death penalty on convicted terrorists would be a more successful national security plan.

The Greens unsuccessfully tried to amend the bill to require warrants for most metadata access and reduce the time frame for data storage from two years to three months.

"If two dozen agencies want to know where you are at any time of the day ... and who you're talking to at any given time, get a warrant," Greens senator Scott Ludlam said.

Senator Brandis said it would be impractical to get a warrant for every access request, given last year there were 340,000 such instances.

Originally published as Metadata laws pass Parliament

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Quiet epidemic destroying our veterans

The hidden costs of service ... expert warn the prevalence of suicide among veterans is higher than has been officially noted. Picture: Alan Place Source: News Limited

LAST Wednesday night a veteran sent a desperate email to the Department of Veterans Affairs that read; "Thanks DVA. Am done. Talk to you in the next life. You say I have 0% depression. I'll show you."

The alarm bells rang and thanks to a private support organisation called RAR [Royal Australian Regiment] Overwatch the man was tracked to his home on the NSW south coast and a veteran was dispatched to talk him down.

His family and the police were also notified and he was prevented from joining the growing list of veteran suicides.

Earlier in the week ex-navy sailor Aaron McKinnon was not so lucky in receiving support when he decided to end his own life.

Another loss ... a picture from Aaron McKinnon's Facebook profile. Picture: Facebook Source: Supplied

The former leading seaman boatswain's mate and golf fanatic was discharged in 2010 with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after 12 years of service.

He also participated in the St Andrews golf tournament in Scotland sponsored by the veterans' charity Soldier On.

News Corp last Sunday revealed that Defence and Veterans Affairs had no accurate statistics about how many former members had committed suicide.

Following that article the Australian Veterans Suicide Register, run by army veteran and permanently incapacitated pensioner Aaron Gray, was bombarded with another 40 names to add to its list of 128 victims of this insidious epidemic.

That is 168 documented cases since 1986 including an alarming 92 since 2006 plus Aaron McKinnon. The true figure could be well over 200.

Compiling the statistics ... former soldier Aaron Gray from Bomaderry pictured during a deployment in Iraq. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Despite the tragic evidence the head of defence health Rear Admiral Robyn Walker — a Navy GP with no psychiatric qualifications — continues to deny that military service is a key contributor to the tragic total.

An online petition on change.org that had 1600 signatures calling for her removal on Saturday March 14 had increased to more than 3600 names by March 20.

Dozens of damaged veterans such as Annette Lambert from Goolwa North in South Australia have signed up and left strong comments on the petition.

"I am personally affected and disgusted by her statements now and in previous interviews over the years. I find it offensive and extremely detrimental to my health as do many other service and ex-service people whom I am in close contact with," Ms Lambert said.

Mr Gray, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and who runs the register on a voluntary basis, has been overwhelmed by the response.

"We have 168 names but the true figure is well over 200 and this response makes me wonder if the real number is not much larger," he said.

Mr Gray said the growth of the petition also indicated that there were a lot of very unhappy people out there.

"Hopefully defence and DVA will start to take notice."

Criticised on social media ... Rear Admiral Robyn Walker. Source: News Limited

He said that like many veterans he was mystified about where Defence spent the $140 million it devoted to mental health each year.

Defence told News Corp that it took the issue of suicide very seriously and it rejected claims that it had no statistics on the subject.

It said that since 2000 some 106 full-time serving members had died by suicide and that 61 of those had never deployed on operations.

Of the 45 who had deployed 17 had one or ore deployments to the Middle East.

Defence said the "vilification" of Rear Admiral Robyn Walker on social media was unwarranted and unacceptable.

"Rear Admiral Walker is a strong and vocal advocate for improving and delivering effective mental health services within the ADF and she works tirelessly to remove the stigma many feel still exists around the issue of mental health within the defence community and among our service men and women more generally," it said.

Australian Veterans Suicide Register. T Shirt for sale. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

"It is important that this debate focuses on the issues and not on individuals doing their best for the wellbeing of the serving and former members of the ADF."

Mr Gray runs the register with two other volunteers and he is seeking funds to establish a professional website to deal with the increasing workload.

He is selling fundraising T-shirts on the register's Facebook page and would welcome any assistance.

Meanwhile the government has released a new mobile phone app to help serving and ex-serving defnece personnel.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Michael Ronaldson and Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert launched the High Res app saying it was part of the government's innovative approach to improving mental health outcomes.

Any veteran or serving member who feels they need help should contact the RSL, Soldier On, Mates 4 Mates, the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust or Lifeline.

Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14 or by clicking here.

Originally published as Quiet epidemic destroying our veterans

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Mystery employees we’re paying for

Health bungle ... the Pharmacy Guild was paid $30 million in administration but can't say how many people it employed with the money. Picture Thinkstock Source: Supplied

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia was paid $29.3 million in administrative fees by taxpayers and refuses to say how many staff it employed with the money.

The money was to administer just $67 million worth of professional programs relating to rural pharmacy, Aboriginal pharmacy services and research under a $15 billion government agreement.

The staggering administrative costs mean taxpayers paid 43 cents for the Pharmacy Guild to administer every dollar spent.

The Guild's administrative costs amounted to 29 per cent of the total $96 million cost of the programs.

Questions unanswered ... the Pharmacy Guild could not tell the audit office how many people it employed with government administration money. Picture Getty Images Source: Getty Images

This compares to the 8 cents in every premium dollar it costs health funds to administer health insurance policies on average.

It also compares to the Human Services Department which received $16.4 million to administer $583 million worth of pharmacy program payments over five years

The department employed 123 staff with that money over a five-year period.

Consumer's Health Forum chief Adam Stanevicius says community groups in receipt of government funding are told their administrative fees can't go above 15 per cent of program costs.

"For us this highlights the lack of application by the department of broad financial guidelines," he said.

News Corp Australia revealed last week the current pharmacy agreement has turned chemists into millionaire businesses because it protects them from competition with supermarkets and even prevents new chemists opening within 1.5 kilometres of an existing chemist.

The shocking new administrative costs are revealed in an Australian National Audit Office report into a five year $15.4 billion government pharmacy agreement and come as the government is negotiating a new pharmacy agreement.

"Health entered into 62 contracts with the Pharmacy Guild, which provided the Guild with Commonwealth funding of $29 million to provide advisory services and administer program payments of $67 million over five years," the audit report says.

The Audit Office asked the Pharmacy Guild how many staff it employed with the money it received to administer the funds.

Bad medicine ... the Phamracy Guild was unable to supply the Australian National Audit Office with employment figures. Source: ThinkStock

"The Pharmacy Guild was unable to provide ASL (staffing) figures," an audit office report into a government pharmacy agreement reports.

The Guild also refused to supply staffing numbers when asked by News Corp but it says its administrative costs were only three per cent.

"Much of the money referred to in the global five-year $31 million "administration" amount is in fact distributed by the Guild to third parties as intended under the Agreement," a spokesman said.

"As a rule of thumb, the component paid to the Guild to employ staff and give them a desk to sit at was around 3 per cent of the program value — at or below the public sector average," the spokesman said.

The audit report provides a scathing insight into slack administration in the Department of Health which failed to take any notes during negotiations on the pharmacy agreement, and lost contracts it made with the Guild.

The audit concluded administration of $15.4 billion of public money under the agreement was so poor "the department is not well positioned to assess whether the Commonwealth is receiving value for money".

Despite the Guild's high administrative costs in March 2014 the government handed over, without tender, administration of more pharmacy programs to the Guild in a single $259 million contract.

The new contract gave the guild a further $1.8 million in administrative funding — bringing their total payments to $31 million — and provision to make use of $7.2 million in unexpended funds.

Originally published as Mystery employees we're paying for

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Where Aussies could spot Prince Harry

Prince Harry will spend several weeks based in Aust before attending the Anzac dawn service in Gallipoli.

Coming back? ... Prince Harry visits Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) at its home base at Campbell Barracks in 2013 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

PRINCE Harry will reportedly do a tour of duty in Australia after quitting the army, and these are the places he is tipped to be visiting.

It is understood the prince, known as Captain Harry Wales in the military, could be going to Western Australia, the Northern Territory or Queensland.

Prince Harry has previously expressed interest in training with Australia's SAS troops in Perth, admitting the elite unit would be his "dream job."

After a flying visit to the home of the SAS troops at the Campbell Barracks in Swanbourne two years ago, he vowed to return.

A keen surfer, the attraction of Perth's beaches are also believed to be a draw card as the royal prepares to spend time in Australia. He has previously grilled the WA Premier Colin Barnett on the best surfing spots in the state.

After visiting Australia in 2013, he flew to Perth onboard the Prime Minister's VIP aircraft to meet the SAS troops. At the time, he vowed to return.

"The next time I come back you will be struggling to get rid of me I am sure,'' he said at the time.

MORE: Prince Harry to quit the military after visiting Australia

REVEALED: What you need to know about the 'naughty' prince

Britain's Prince Harry is reportedly coming back to Australia. Picture: AFP Source: News Limited

The Prince has previously suggested that he would have "loved to have had a crack at SAS selection" but described it was an impossible dream because he was too well-known.

"Every member of the Army has had great admiration for the special forces – it is natural for most soldiers to consider SAS selection at some time in their career,'' Prince Harry said.

"I'm no different."

British media reports have previously suggested he was an admirer of the SAS ever since he visited the regiment as a child with his late mother Princess Diana.

He described the British SAS unit as "great soldiers – who always treated me as though I was just another officer".

As an Apache attack helicopter pilot, one of his most likely destinations could also be Darwin where the army's Eurocopter Aussie Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters are based.

He would need to undertake a conversion course to be able to fly the Tiger.

"That is probably where he would go," a defence source said.

Fond of Australia ... Prince Harry visits Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) at its home base at Campbell Barracks on October 6, 2013 in Perth, Australia. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Prince Harry could also be based at Townsville with the 5th Aviation Regiment flying Blackhawk helicopters or the new Eurocopter MRH90 multi-role machines.

The Prince could also be appointed Honorary Colonel of a Regiment during his tour Down Under.

Prince Harry's spokesman would also not comment on the fourth in line to the throne's reported personal request to join his father at Gallipoli in Turkey for 100-year anniversary commemorations on the peninsula this April for both Anzac Day ceremonies and one at Cape Helles for the British troop campaign.

COULD PRINCE CHARLES ALSO BE COMING?

News Corp Australia understands Prince Charles has also been planning another visit to Australia this year, after his last visit in 2012, and this could coincide with his son's stay there. Harry is also expected to stay in New Zealand where he will also undertake non-military charitable duties. Governor General and former chief of the defence force Peter Cosgrove has been personally coordinating Prince Harry's moves which have been approved by Prince Charles and the Queen.

"Officials are still working on the precise timings but he will leave the military this year after serving Down Under," a royal source told the Evening Standard. "Before that he will travel to both countries and be based there and is very much looking forward to that."

The 30-year-old has reportedly been thinking for sometime about a career change to concentrate on his charity work including working with wounded veterans integrating back into society and conservation and wildlife projects in Africa.

Returning to Australia? ... Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, could also be on his way. Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The prince had already decided to no longer fly Apache helicopters in combat, after completing two tours of Afghanistan, but was expected to return to his Blues and Royals regiment next year after a year off working with his charities.

But according to the London Evening Standard he will end his military career with "several weeks" seconded to units in Australia.

A spokesman for Kensington Palace would today neither confirm nor deny the reports about the Prince's future career path and secondment to the ADF that apparently could happen as early as next month.

The ADF would normally receive a document called a "HRH brief" warning of a royal visit, but it has not been issued.

It is understood that Prince Harry will be in New Zealand later this year for the Royal New Zealand Navy's Fleet Review.

Moving on ... Prince Harry is set to end his military career. here he poses with cadets at the United States Military Academy Camp Buckner in West Point, New York, in 2010. Source: AP

PRINCE HARRY'S INTEREST IN WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Royal insiders said Prince Harry's desire to focus on the rehabilitation and recovery of wounded soldiers was a natural progression in his recent duties. Last year he organised the Invictus Games, a Paralympics style competition for wounded ex-servicement and women, and in 2013 trek to the South Pole with former Aussie Diggers as part of his Walking With the Wounded charity.

"These issues fire him up as much as anything he has done in the military and that includes flying," a royal courtier told News.

"The Invictus Games particularly are such an important topic to him to make a difference.

"The military will always play a very important part in Prince Harry's life and especially supporting those who have served or are serving in the armed forces. It is a topic he is passionate about, both personally and professionally, and he will always want to use his position to help, regardless of his military role."

Aussie links ... Townsville's Paul Warren and wife Dee Acland meet Prince Harry at the Invictus Games. Source: Supplied

For the past several weeks it is understood Prince Harry has been shadowing case officers working with returned wounded veterans and visiting various recovery centres to gain knowledge about their treatment from the moment they are wounded.

His Africa-based charity Sentebale — which helps disadvantaged youngsters, mainly Aids orphans — is expected to open a major new centre in Lesotho later this year and Harry is expected to attend that and look at expanding the project.

Close ... Prince William and his brother Prince Harry hug during the Invictus Games. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Source: Supplied

Loyal royal ... Prince Harry has a passion for helping injured war veterans. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

The Prince is to also continue to represent the Queen on official duties both at home and abroad but when he leaves the armed forces the Royal Family will have no senior member on full time active service for the first time in a generation.

It is likely to be many years before any other royal high up the line of succession signs up to serve, with Prince George being only 19 months old and his baby brother or sister yet to be born.

The royals however maintain close links and ranks, with Prince Charles Admiral of the Fleet in the Royal Navy, Field Marshal in the British Army and Marshal of the Royal Air Force. Prince William quit the military in 2013 after seven and a half years and is now to be an air ambulance pilot.

Originally published as Where Aussies could spot Prince Harry

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