Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That for the sitting on Wednesday, 4 February 2009:

(1)

standing orders 31 and 33 be suspended;

(2)

so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended to enable the following to occur during and after the periods set aside in standing order 34 for government business:

(a)

debate on the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2009, the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 2) 2009, the Household Stimulus Package Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009, and the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Amendment Bill 2009 to be adjourned until a later hour after their introduction;

(b)

when the order of the day for the resumption of debate on the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2009 is called on, for a cognate debate to take place with the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 2) 2009, the Household Stimulus Package Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009, and the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Amendment Bill 2009;

(c)

in relation to proceedings on the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2009, at the conclusion of the second reading debate, without delay, the immediate question before the House to be put, then any question or questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of the Bill to be put without amendment or debate; and

(d)

immediately after proceedings on the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 1) 2009 have concluded, the Appropriation (Nation Building and Jobs) Bill (No. 2) 2009, the Household Stimulus Package Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians Bill 2009, the Tax Bonus for Working Australians (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2009, and the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Amendment Bill 2009, to be called on consecutively with no business intervening, and after each Bill is called on the immediate question then before the House to be put, then any question or questions necessary to complete the remaining stages of each Bill to be put without amendment or debate; and

(3)

any variation to this arrangement to be made only by a motion moved by a Minister.

The global financial crisis has had an enormous impact on the world economy. Australia is not immune from it. The government will not be sitting back and watching. The government will take decisive and strong action. That is what yesterday’s announcement of the $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan does, precisely. That is what the six bills that are about to be introduced into this chamber do, precisely.

There is an urgent need for these bills to be carried by the House of Representatives today. There is an urgent need for these bills to be carried by the Senate this week. That is because, as part of the economic stimulus, tax bonuses need to be paid through the Australian tax office to eligible taxpayers by the beginning of April 2009. But there are also four household measures. The single-income-family bonus and back-to-school bonuses are meant to be paid through Centrelink in the fortnight commencing 11 March 2009. The training and learning bonuses and the farmer hardship bonus are meant to be paid in the period commencing 24 March. Centrelink—and, indeed, its CEO—have advised that their strong preference is for the bills to be passed this week to enable the system changes to be made which would enable these payments to begin in March. The nation-building and jobs measures are contained in the appropriation bills, with $1.7 billion of funding estimated to occur in 2008-09. Prompt passage of the legislation is needed so that the approval and administrative processes which involve other levels of government can be established and the measures begin as soon as possible.

These are not ordinary times. These are times that require urgent action from the government. The government have done that. The government, on the first day of sitting of this year, have indicated that we are prepared to take the action that is needed in the interests of the national economy and in the interests of families throughout Australia. The passage of these bills will be facilitated by the resolution that I have moved that is before the House. Members would note that the resolution that I have moved is similar to other motions that were moved over the period of the previous government—with the exception that it does not contain a cut-off time for debate and a gag facilitation. We are quite prepared to engage in debate with the opposition over the need for these measures to be carried—and I appreciate the fact that the Manager of Opposition Business and I have had discussions yesterday about these circumstances. If that means the parliament not rising at eight o’clock tonight in order to facilitate an increased participation by members, then so be it.

I have requested of members on this side of the House that they do what they can to restrict the time for which they speak to these bills. We would certainly not expect shadow ministers who have particular responsibility for measures to restrict their time. We would say that the shorter the period for which backbenchers on both sides of the House speak, the quicker we will move to a determination of these measures. But move to a determination of these measures we will, because there is a need to not stand in the way of these payments. To do that would be, frankly, totally economically irresponsible.

So I commend the motion before the House to honourable members and ask for their cooperation today in what will be a difficult day but a historic day—one in which the Australian government and, I hope, the Australian House of Representatives, all of the House of Representatives, recognises the need to take strong action as a result of the global financial crisis.

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