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

I move:

That the message be considered immediately.

Senate’s amendments—

(1)

Omit paragraph (4), substitute:

(4)

that participating members may be appointed to the Committee. Participating members may participate in hearings of evidence and deliberations of the Committee, and have all the rights of a member of the Committee, but may not vote on any questions before the Committee;

(2)

After paragraph (7), insert:(7A)    that the Committee elect a member as its Deputy Chair who shall act as Chair of the Committee at any time when the Chair is not present at a meeting of the Committee, and at any time when the Chair and Deputy Chair are not present at a meeting of the Committee the members shall elect another member to act as Chair at that meeting;

(7A)

that the Committee elect a member as its Deputy Chair who shall act as Chair of the Committee at any time when the Chair is not present at a meeting of the Committee, and at any time when the Chair and Deputy Chair are not present at a meeting of the Committee the members shall elect another member to act as Chair at that meeting;

(3)

Omit paragraph (8), substitute:

(8)

that, in the event of an equally divided vote, the Chair, or the Deputy Chair when acting as Chair, have a casting vote;

(4)

Paragraph (9), omit “three”, substitute “five”

These are largely technical amendments. They simply mean that there will be the appointment of a deputy chair, which is standard procedure when it comes to the creation of committees. It will change the quorum requirement from three to five members. The government believe this is an important committee. It will be chaired by the independent member for Lyne. The committee is very broad in terms of its scope of inquiry, and the government commends the resolution, as amended, to the House.

Question agreed to.

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