Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to present a Bill for an Act to reduce the compliance burden for employers under the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010, and for related purposes.

Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

the announcement on 18 October 2010 by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship about the commissioning of a detention facility at Inverbrackie in South Australia costing $9.7 million to accommodate 400 people, consisting of family groups who are undergoing refugee status assessment;

(b)

that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship failed to consult with the State Government of SA, the Adelaide Hills Council and the local Woodside community on the commissioning of this facility; and

(c)

that the Prime Minister visited the Adelaide Hills on the Sunday 17 October 2010 immediately prior to the announcement and made no mention of the plan to commission the detention facility at Inverbrackie;

(2)

provides a reference to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration to undertake the following inquiry:

(a)

that the Joint Standing Committee on Migration inquire into the commissioning of a detention facility for 400 people comprising family groups at Inverbrackie, including:

(i)

the suitability of the site for locating a detention facility for the purpose of accommodating family groups in comparison with alternative options available to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship;

(ii)

the impact of the operation of the facility on the local community, including on health, education, recreation, transport, police and other community services;

(iii)

the impact on defence operations, personnel and family groups based at the Inverbrackie facility;

(iv)

the impact of the facility on the local economy and small business;

(v)

the level of community support for the commissioning of the facility;

(vi)

the level of cost and extent of services and facilities provided to clients at the detention facility; and

(vii)

potential risks that need to be managed for the successful operation of the facility;

(b)

that the Joint Standing Committee on Migration undertake public hearings in Woodside, SA and Canberra, ACT to facilitate the participation of community members, local service providers, council officers and state and federal departmental officials to assist the Committee with its inquiry; and

(c)

that the Joint Standing Committee on Migration report back no later than the first sitting week of Parliament in 2011; and

(3)

calls on the Government to postpone commissioning the detention facility for 400 people including family groups at Inverbrackie, until such time as the Committee has reported and the Government has provided a response to that report to the Parliament.

Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes with deep concern the ongoing human rights violations in Iran, including the:

(a)

use of the death penalty, especially the use of stoning as a method of execution;

(b)

violations of the rights of women;

(c)

repeated violations of due process of law;

(d)

use of violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrest to suppress peaceful opposition activity and the impact this has on the ability of Iranians to exercise their freedom of expression, association and assembly;

(e)

reported arbitrary arrest and detention, and torture of opposition protestors;

(f)

discrimination against and failure to protect the rights of minorities, including the Baha’f, Sufi, Baluch, and Kurdish communities; and

(g)

trial and reported sentencing of seven Baha’f leaders—Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naeimi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm—for insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the Islamic Republic; and

(2)

calls upon the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to:

(a)

ensure that the rights of all individuals are fully protected, without discrimination, and that it fulfils its obligations to its own citizens as set out in the Iranian constitution;

(b)

abide by its international human rights obligations, including the rights to freedom of religion or belief as set out in Article 18 of the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights; and

(c)

ensure that all trials, including the case of the seven Baha’f leaders, are fair and transparent and conducted in accordance with Iran’s international obligations.

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

South East Queensland is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions with 1 in 7 Australians living there;

(b)

South East Queensland will be home to over 4.4 million people by 2031;

(c)

the Federal Government has cooperated with the Queensland State Government in managing and planning for growth in South East Queensland ;

(d)

the Queensland State Government’s South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-31 has identified vital infrastructure to sustain communities in South East Queensland;

(e)

the Federal Government has embarked upon an unprecedented Nation Building Infrastructure Investment Program concerning South East Queensland for 2008-09 to 2013-14; and

(f)

the Federal Government proposes, through its Regional Infrastructure Fund, to invest in South East Queensland in road and rail; and

(2)

supports the Federal Government’s efforts to address capacity constraints, improve road safety, enhance transport connections and assist the various communities of South East Queensland.

Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

on 17 December 2010 Australia will celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child;

(b)

the Convention on the Rights of the Child is an attempt to ensure that children everywhere have the best opportunity in life regardless of where they live, their race or gender, including the right to go to school, to have access to shelter and food, to play and to have their opinions heard and respected; and

(c)

there has been significant progress in that 10 000 fewer children die per day than they did twenty years ago but there are still 8 million children dying each year before their fifth birthdays of causes that are easily preventable through such simple and inexpensive measures as insecticide-treated mosquito nets, vaccinations, breast-feeding for six months, clean water and sanitation;

(2)

applauds the work done for the benefit of children internationally by United Nations agencies, in particular UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund), and Non Government Organisations, such as World Vision, Save the Children and Marie Stopes International;

(3)

notes that while on the whole children in Australia fare better than children in other parts of the world, there remains significant issues to be tackled in Australia including child abuse and neglect, youth homelessness and the disadvantage suffered by indigenous children;

(4)

applauds the work done for the benefit of Australian children by the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, as well as the Australian Human Rights Commission and Child Commissioners in the States and Territories;

(5)

welcomes the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 as endorsed at the Council of Australian Governments meeting on 30 April 2009; and

(6)

calls upon the federal government to further consider:

(a)

incorporating the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Federal legislation; and

(b)

appointing a National Commissioner for Children.

Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

that during October and November Australian Hindus celebrate the Deepavali Festival;

(b)

Deepavali, is the most widely celebrated festival of people of Indian sub-continental heritage, and:

(i)

Deepavali means rows of lights, and is the festival symbolising the dispelling of darkness, myths and perceptions; and

(ii)

darkness represents ignorance and light is a metaphor for knowledge, therefore, lighting a lamp represents the destruction of all negative forces such as, wickedness, violence, lust, anger, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice and oppression, with knowledge; and

(c)

that Deepavali celebrations are being held in all capital cities around the country with the largest event, at Parramatta Stadium, growing from strength to strength; and

(2)

recognises:

(a)

the contribution of Hindu Australians and Australians of Indian Sub-Continent heritage to Australian society as a story of hard work and determination for a better life; and

(b)

thanks Australian Hindus and Australian’s of sub-continent heritage for sharing, with us, their rich and vibrant cultural traditions.

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

every year, on 11 November at 11 am—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month—we pause to remember those men and women who have died or suffered in all wars conflicts and peace operations;

(b)

by this act of remembrance, we remind ourselves that this special place that we live in, and the way of life we enjoy, has been hard won, through the commitment and sacrifice of those who served—paid for with lives cut off, with hopes and aspirations destroyed; and

(c)

it is a precious inheritance willed to us by the men and women who served, and continue to serve; and

(2)

honours and thanks:

(a)

the great gift given to us by those who serve our country;

(b)

those that gave their lives;

(c)

those whose loved ones lie in foreign soil; and

(d)

all those that lived through the mud and the horror and continue to stand with us today.

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

that 8 to 14 November is National Recycling Week;

(b)

now in its 15^th year, National Recycling Week is an established and highly regarded annual education and behaviour change campaign, aimed at improving the environmental benefits of kerbside, industrial and community recycling programs;

(2)

congratulates all Australians who take part in National Recycling Week by attending a Big Aussie Swap or a Friday File Fling; and

(3)

encourages all Australians to access accurate recycling information through the Recycling Near You Website—http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au, or by calling the Hotline on 1300 733 712.

Adam Bandt (Melbourne, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that there is:

(a)

a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Canada and South Africa; and

(b)

widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community; and

(2)

calls on all parliamentarians to gauge with their constituents’ views on the issue of marriage equality.

Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to move

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

that Australia is one of the most obese nations in the developed world;

(b)

that obesity is a growing problem in Australia;

(c)

the recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing tabled on 1 June 2009;

(d)

the findings and research of the George Institute and the Baker IMI Foundation;

(e)

the findings and strategies developed by the National Preventative Health Taskforce in relation to obesity; and

(f)

that the cost of the obesity epidemic to government at all levels is enormous and urgently needs to be addressed;

(2)

calls on all:

(a)

levels of government to recognise the severity of the obesity problem in Australia and its cost;

(b)

levels of government to continue to develop strategies to address Australia’s obesity epidemic; and

(c)

communities, and those living in them, adopt healthy lifestyles which include healthy eating and exercise;

(3)

acknowledge the contribution of the Minister for Health and Ageing in:

(a)

raising community awareness of the obesity epidemic; and

(b)

investing in preventative health programs.