Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the report of the recommendations of the whips relating to committee and delegation reports and private members’ business on Monday, 15 September 2008. I understand that copies of the report have been placed on the table.

The report read as follows—

Pursuant to standing order 41A, the Whips recommend the following items of committee and delegation reports and private Members’ business for Monday 15 September 2008. The order of precedence and allotments of time for items in the Main Committee and Chamber are as follows:

Items recommended for Main Committee (6.55 to 8.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Orders of the day

1 INFRASTRUCTURE: Resumption of debate (from 1 September 2008) on the motion of Mr Ripoll—That the House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

infrastructure planning provides the platform for regional economic growth;

(b)

the rapid growth in many regional centres has placed the nation’s infrastructure network under significant pressure;

(c)

the changing social and demographic environment in major regional centres presents significant economic and development challenges; and

(d)

the past 12 years have been a missed opportunity for the nation to invest in the future beyond the current mining boom; and

(2)

supports the Government’s:

(a)

agenda of creating a stronger and more participatory regional development structure through the establishment of Infrastructure Australia, Regional Development Australia and the Major Cities Unit; and

(b)

commitment to regional development and the delivery of regionally significant infrastructure.

Time allotted—30 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Ripoll—5 minutes.

First Opposition Member speaking—5 minutes.

Other Member—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 min.]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

Notices

1 MR BROADBENT: To move—That the House:

(1)

notes the recent decision of the Federal Court to award costs against the incorporated community group, Your Water Your Say, following an unsuccessful action against the Australian and Victorian Governments in relation to the proposed construction of a Water Desalination plant at Wonthaggi, in the Electorate of McMillan;

(2)

recognises that community groups such as Your Water Your Say:

(a)

have a democratic right to express their legitimate concerns about the environmental impact of major infrastructure projects;

(b)

have the right to pursue their concerns through legal action if they consider these concerns are not being properly addressed; and

(c)

should not be constrained from seeking recourse to legal process because of a threat of onerous costs; and

(3)

calls on the Australian Government to:

(a)

waive the court costs awarded to the Commonwealth as a result of the failed court action by Your Water Your Say; and

(b)

agree not to pursue individual members of Your Water Your Say for the recovery of the costs.

Time allotted—10 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Broadbent—5 minutes.

First Government Member speaking—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins.]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

2 MS RISHWORTH: To move—That the House:

(1)

notes with concern, the previous Government’s termination of Australia’s Social Security Agreement with the United Kingdom in March 2001;

(2)

notes:

(a)

that the termination of this agreement led to a lost opportunity for the previous Australian Government to negotiate indexation of the British pension for those British migrants living in Australia;

(b)

that many British pensioners made substantial contributions to the United Kingdom’s National Insurance system but many have not received an increase in their British pension for a decade, and as a result their payment has not kept up with the cost of living; and

(c)

that the United Kingdom has entered into social security agreements that include pension indexation with many other nations, including the United States, Israel and Switzerland;

(3)

calls on the Commonwealth Government to commence negotiations for a new social security agreement with the United Kingdom that includes provisions for the indexation of British pensions.

Time allotted—35 minutes

Speech time limits—

Ms Rishworth—5 minutes.

First Opposition Member speaking—5 minutes.

Other Member—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

3 MR SLIPPER: To move—That the House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

the continuing human rights concerns in Tibet; and

(b)

the continuing restrictions on entry to Tibetan areas for journalists, international observers, non government agencies and foreign diplomats;

(2)

welcomes the informal talks between the Chinese Government and representatives of His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama on 4 and 5 May 2008 in Shenzhen, China, and the agreement to hold a further round of the China Tibet dialogue;

(3)

encourages both parties to work sincerely towards a peaceful and mutually agreed resolution on the China Tibet issue;

(4)

welcomes the Prime Minister’s forthright statements to the Chinese Premier and President in public and in private on the need for constructive dialogue during his recent visit to China;

(5)

recognises that the China Tibet issue was also raised with the Chinese authorities by the former Government;

(6)

acknowledges there is bi partisan support in the Australian Parliament for a peaceful resolution on the differences between Tibet and China; and

(7)

requests the Government actively to support and monitor progress of the China Tibet dialogue and to offer its support to help bring about a positive outcome.

Time allotted—10 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Slipper—5 minutes.

First Government Member speaking—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 min.]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

4 MR BRADBURY: To move—That the House:

(1)

notes that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month;

(2)

notes that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men after skin cancer and the second highest cause of male cancer deaths;

(3)

acknowledges the work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia in promoting greater awareness of prostate cancer within the broader community and the need for men to undergo regular testing; and

(4)

congratulates the Rudd Government for developing Australia’s first ever men’s health policy.

Time allotted—remaining private Members’ business time prior to 8.30 pm.

Speech time limits—

Mr Bradbury—5 minutes.

First Opposition Member speaking—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 min.]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

Items recommended for House of Representatives Chamber (8.40 to 9.30 pm)

COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION REPORTS

Presentation and statements

1 AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION

Report on the inquiry into the Australian Crime Commission Amendment Act 2007

The Whips recommended that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 8:50pm

Speech time limits—

Each Member—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 min.]

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR SIDEBOTTOM: To move—That the House:

(1)

recognises the heroic efforts of Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean and his crew mates upon the sinking of the HMAS Armidale on 1 December 1942 off the Timor coast;

(2)

implores the Government to award a posthumous Victoria Cross of Australia to Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean to recognise properly his valour and sacrifice on 1 December 1942; and

(3)

urges the Government to establish a mechanism to address outstanding issues and anomalies in the military honours system such as recognising the courageous deeds of people such as Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean on 1 December 1942.

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Sidebottom—5 minutes.

First Opposition Member speaking—5 minutes.

Other Member—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins.]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

2 MR MORRISON: To move—That the House:

(1)

notes that Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic condition characterised by skin fragility and blister formation, which is incurable and in its most severe forms can be fatal in infancy and childhood;

(2)

notes that children afflicted by EB are known as “butterfly children” and are required to pierce, drain and dress their blisters each day in an endless routine that lasts up to three hours in the most severe cases;

(3)

notes there are currently 229 patients formally diagnosed and registered on the Australasian EB Registry and that based on international estimates there may be up to 1,000 people affected by this condition in Australia, of whom 100-150 have the most severe form;

(4)

acknowledges the support and assistance provided to sufferers and their families by DebRA Australia, the national Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa research association;

(5)

recognises that families with a child suffering from EB have problems accessing dressings because of expense or availability from the public system, and in the more severe cases families must spend up to $5,300 per month on dressings; and

(6)

calls on the Australian Government to establish a 12 month trial program, managed by the Department of Health and Ageing in partnership with DebRA, to:

(a)

fund delivery of dressings directly to patients currently registered on the Australasian EB registry from suppliers identified through a public tender process;

(b)

provide access to a dedicated nurse in each state and territory for patients suffering from EB; and

(c)

review the program upon conclusion, with a view to establishing a permanent scheme.

Time allotted—remaining private Members’ business time prior to 9.30 pm

Speech time limits—

Mr Morrison—5 minutes.

First Government Member speaking—5 minutes.

Other Member—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]

The Whips recommended that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.

Report adopted.