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

to move:

That standing order 80 (Closure of a Member speaking) be suspended for the remainder of this period of sittings, except when a motion is moved pursuant to the standing order by a Minister.

Don Randall (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Energy and Resources) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That the House:

(1)

notes that in December 2008 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services tabled its report entitled Opportunity not opportunism: improving conduct in Australian franchising;

(2)

condemns the Minister for Small Business for ignoring the calls of current and former franchisees, the Opposition and his own colleagues to urgently implement the recommendations of the Opportunity not opportunism: improving conduct in Australian franchising report;

(3)

acknowledges that adoption of Recommendation 8 to insert a new clause into the Franchising Code of Conduct imposing a good faith requirement on franchisors, franchisees and prospective franchisees to act in good faith in relation to all aspects of a franchise agreement, would impose a standard of behaviour that would discourage opportunistic and unethical conduct in the franchising sector; and

(4)

notes that:

(a)

amendments to the Trade Practices Act 1974, imposing pecuniary penalties for breaches of the Franchising Code of Conduct, would further act as a deterrent and ensure full compliance with the Code and also discourage opportunistic and unethical conduct in the franchising sector; and

(b)

while the Minister fails to implement all 11 recommendations, aggrieved franchisees will continue to lose their livelihoods and homes and many will continue to have no means for redress without recourse to expensive and often unaffordable litigation.

Bernie Ripoll (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That the House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

global food prices have risen 83 per cent since 2005;

(b)

the World Bank’s 2008 Agriculture for Development report predicts global cereal production must increase by 50 per cent and meat production by 85 per cent between 2000 and 2030 to meet demand;

(c)

Australia has recently suffered some of the worst droughts on record, increasing water scarcity and affecting our local crops and produce;

(d)

many Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development countries have diverted large proportions of crops to biofuel production; and

(e)

foreign aid to agriculture fell from 18 per cent of total aid 30 years ago, to 3.5 per cent in 2004; and

(2)

supports:

(a)

positive initiatives by the current Government to address climate change;

(b)

policies, projects and programs that deliver long term solutions for water security; and

(c)

the Government’s commitment to tackle the impact of rising food prices and shortages by addressing the root causes of global food security.