Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Speaker I present the Selection Committee’s report No. 11 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 21 February 2011. The report will be printed in today’s Hansard and the committee’s determinations will appear on tomorrow’s Notice Paper. Copies of the report have been placed on the table.

The report read as follows—

Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business

and private Members’ business on Monday, 21 February 2011, and other matters

1.

The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 8 February 2011.

2.

The committee determined the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 21 February 2011, as follows:

Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)

COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS

Presentation and statements

1 Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and the Arts

Advisory Report on the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill 2010

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.20 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr Zappia—5 minutes.

Next Member speaking—5 minutes.

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

2 Joint Standing Committee on Treaties

Report 114: Treaties referred on 16 November 2010 (part 1)

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.25 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr K. J. Thomson—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 5 mins]

3 Standing Committee on Education and Employment

Statement concerning the Inquiry into school libraries and teacher librarians.

The Committee determined that statements on the inquiry may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.30 am.

Speech time limits—

Ms Rishworth—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 5 mins]

4 Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs

Statements concerning the Inquiry into higher levels of involvement of Indigenous juveniles and young adults in the criminal justice system.

The Committee determined that statements on the inquiry may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.40 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr Neumann—5 minutes.

Next Member speaking—5 minutes.

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

5 Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs

Statement concerning the Inquiry into the regulation of billboard and outdoor advertising.

The Committee determined that statements on the inquiry may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.45 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr Perrett—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 5 mins]

6 AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO INDONESIA, BRUNEI AND LAOS

Report of Australian Parliamentary Delegation to Indonesia, Brunei and Laos, 11 to 24 April 2010.

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.50 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr K. J. Thomson—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 5 mins]

7 AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO the 31st AIP GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Report of Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the 31st AIPA General Assembly, September 2010.

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.55 am.

Speech time limits—

Mr Murphy—5 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 5 mins]

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR ABBOTT: To present a Bill for an Act to establish a process for assisting victims of overseas terrorist acts. (Assisting the Victims of Overseas Terrorism Bill 2010). (Notice given 23 November 2010.)

Presenter may speak for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41.

2 MR DUTTON: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Patents Act 1990 to prevent the patenting of human genes and biological materials existing in nature, and for related purposes. (Patent Amendment (Human Genes and Biological Materials) Bill 2010). (Notice given 18 November 2010.)

Presenter may speak for a period not exceeding 10 minutes—pursuant to standing order 41.

3 MR BALDWIN: To move:

That this House:

(1)

condemns the Rudd-Gillard Government for:

(a)

reducing funding for Tourism Australia at a time when the high Australian dollar is putting pressure on local tourism operators; and

(b)

increasing business costs for local tourism operators through:

(i)

higher tourism taxes;

(ii)

the bungled award modernisation; and

(iii)

additional superannuation guarantee payments which will be entirely funded by employers; and

(2)

calls on the Rudd-Gillard Government to match the Coalition’s commitment to increase tourism funding by $100 million to:

(a)

focus on high-yielding business events tourists;

(b)

build stronger research foundations;

(c)

encourage tourism infrastructure and product development; and

(d)

boost domestic tourism marketing. (Notice given 26 October 2010.)

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Baldwin—10 minutes.

Next Member speaking—10 minutes.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

4 MS ROWLAND: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes the:

(a)

19 September 2010 Declaration by the members of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development to world leaders attending the 2010 Millennium Development Goals Summit at the United Nations on the benefits of broadband as the transformational technology for employment generation, productivity growth and the long term economic competitiveness;

(b)

OECD report of December 2009 which makes the case for investment in a competitive, open access national fibre network rollout based on benefits to four key sectors of the economy: electricity, health transportation and education;

(c)

the positive externalities of broadband in providing increased opportunities to access Australian health and education services, and the linkages between disparities in broadband access and social disadvantage; and

(d)

the technical limitations of non fibre approaches to national broadband development, particularly in respect of video and other ‘real time’ applications used to deliver health and education services; and

(2)

recognises the merits of the development of universal broadband access in Australia with an emphasis on options for niche broadband delivered content and applications to provide immediate benefits to areas and groups of identifiable need. (Notice given 19 October 2010.)

Time allotted—remaining private Members’ business time prior to 12 noon.

Speech time limits—

Ms Rowland—10 minutes.

Next Member speaking—10 minutes.

Other Member—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 1 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Items for House of Representatives Chamber (8 to 9.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Notices

5 MS HALL: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

Australia has an ageing population;

(b)

age discrimination exists within Australia and that this discrimination impacts on the strength of society, economy and the lives of older Australians;

(c)

ageing should not only be considered as an economic and social cost to government, rather, the positives of an older population should be recognised and promoted by government;

(d)

all older Australians deserve to live with dignity; and

(e)

the knowledge, life experience and skills of older people provide enormous benefit to Australia and the social fabric of the nation;

(2)

acknowledges that:

(a)

older workers have the ability to make an enormous contribution to the economic prosperity of Australia;

(b)

most volunteer work is undertaken by older Australians and provides an enormous economic social contribution to Australia; and

(c)

older Australians provide an enormous amount of child care which provides economic value to the nation; and

(3)

calls on the Government to consider:

(a)

new and innovative approaches to engage older Australians and address their needs;

(b)

encouraging Government departments to introduce senior friendly practices, such as dedicated seniors phone lines and customer service officers;

(c)

Aged Care Accountants for all workers to fund their needs as they become older; and

(d)

highlighting and promoting the advantage of employing older workers. (Notice given 18 October 2010.)

Time allotted—50 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Ms Hall—10 minutes.

Next 3 Members speaking—10 minutes each.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

6 MR MORRISON: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

Australia has a long and proud record of resettling more than 700 000 refugees since the Second World War;

(b)

there are 10.4 million refugees around the world and less than 1 per cent will be offered a resettlement place;

(c)

Australia’s current refugee and humanitarian program is set at 13 750 with 6000 of those places going to refugees mandated by the UNHCR and referred to Australia for resettlement;

(d)

the current Government has lost control of our borders with more than 9000 irregular maritime arrivals to Australia since August 2008;

(e)

as a result of the failure to protect our borders, places in the offshore Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) are being taken up by onshore protection visa applicants and their families; and

(f)

women who have been identified by the UNHCR as being in danger of victimisation, harassment or serious abuse have been rejected by Australia because there are no longer any places left in our offshore SHP; and

(2)

calls for the Government to:

(a)

give priority processing to the following visa applications within the SHP:

(i)

offshore applications for subclass 201—In Country Special Humanitarian Program Visa which offers resettlement to people who have suffered persecution in their country of nationality and who have not been able to leave that country;

(ii)

offshore applications for subclass 202—Global Special Humanitarian Visa for those subject to substantial discrimination and human rights abuses in their home country and who are sponsored for entry by an Australian citizen or permanent resident who is not, and has never been, a subclass 866 visa holder;

(iii)

offshore applications for subclass 203—Emergency Rescue Visa for people who are referred to Australia by the UNHCR and whose lives or freedom depend on urgent resettlement; and

(iv)

offshore applications for subclass 204—Women at Risk Visa for women who are registered as being of concern to the UNHCR;

(b)

confine immediate family members of sub class 866 protection visas holders, that includes irregular maritime arrivals, to eligibility for sponsorship only through the primary visa holder as a secondary applicant for a sub class 866 protection visa; and

(c)

cap the number of visas available in the refugee and humanitarian program in the following ways:

(i)

6000 subclass 200 visas for people identified by the UNHCR and referred to the Australian Government as mandated refugees;

(ii)

3750 subclass 866 protection visas for primary and secondary applicants, including irregular maritime arrivals and their immediate families; and

(iii)

4000 subclass 201, 202, 203 and 204 visas. (Notice given 15 November 2010.)

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

Speech time limits—

Mr Morrison—10 minutes.

Other Members—10 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Items for Main Committee (approx 11 am to approx 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Notices

1 DR STONE: To move:

That this House:

(1)

mourns the tragic loss of young Chase and Tyler Robinson, who died at Mooroopna on 30 May 2010 in a recently rented home;

(2)

notes that Chase and Tyler Robinson were the victims of a faulty gas wall heater emitting carbon monoxide; and

(3)

calls upon the Australian Government to work with the State and Territory governments through the Council of Australian Governments to:

(a)

urgently introduce legislation that requires:

(i)

approved carbon monoxide detectors to be fitted in all homes that have gas appliances; and

(ii)

landlords to arrange for suitably qualified contractors to biannually inspect all gas appliances and associated fittings in rental properties; and

(b)

institute a national safety awareness campaign alerting all Australians to the dangers and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and the need to regularly maintain gas appliances to ensure that they operate efficiently and safely. (Notice given 16 November 2010.)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Dr Stone—10 minutes.

Other Members—10 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

2 MS RISHWORTH: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

support for a solution to return the Murray Darling river system to health is widespread across Australia;

(b)

a poll by the Australian Conservation Foundation found that 77 per cent of Australians agree that environmental degradation in the Murray Darling Basin must be reversed;

(c)

the Government is working towards an effective strategy for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Murray Darling Basin; and

(d)

this strategy includes purchasing water for increased environmental flows, setting sustainable diversion limits on the quantity of water removed from the Basin, managing water quality and investing in water-saving infrastructure; and

(2)

recognises that the Government:

(a)

has already began the task of returning the Murray Darling River system to health though the Water for the Future plan;

(b)

is working towards ensuring the long term viability of this river system for all those who rely on its precious water resources; and

(c)

will continue to consult openly with all stakeholders in the Murray Darling Basin. (Notice given 25 November 2010.)

Time allotted—30 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Ms Rishworth—10 minutes.

Next Member speaking—10 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

3 MR COBB: To move:

That this House:

(1)

requires the responsible Minister to:

(a)

commission the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), with the assistance of ABARE, to prepare an information database on the foreign ownership of agricultural land and agribusiness, which should:

(i)

show the level of foreign ownership for Australia as a whole, by state and for key regions, and for particular agribusinesses;

(ii)

include an annual formal statistical release; and

(iii)

recommend what steps need to be taken to establish and maintain a public register of foreign ownership of agricultural land and agribusiness;

(b)

task the Productivity Commission, on the receipt of the initial ABS data, to:

(i)

review foreign ownership of agricultural land and agribusiness, with an evaluation of its contribution to the national interest in terms of economic development, food and water security, and agricultural sustainability; and

(ii)

recommend how the foreign investment policy on agricultural land and agribusiness should be modified, if necessary, to ensure the optimum outcomes for economic development and the national interest, including whether the Government needs to:-         lower the threshold for notification to the Foreign Investment Review Board for rural land and agribusiness acquisitions;-         introduce a national interest test for food security; and-         ensure that foreign entities do not establish monopoly or near monopoly positions in key sectors.

(2)

commit to establishing a Joint Parliamentary Committee to consider the information provided by the ABS, ABARE and the, Productivity Commission, taking into account public concern in this area. (Notice given 23 November 2010.

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Cobb—10 minutes.

Other Members—10 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

4 MS SAFFIN: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that the Government:

(a)

deeply regrets recent reports of violence in Western Sahara, and allegations of human rights violations with respect to Western Sahara;

(b)

urges parties to uphold international human rights standards, and to maintain their resolve to work peacefully through these issues in the United Nations led process currently underway;

(c)

strongly supports the efforts of the United Nations to find an enduring and mutually acceptable settlement in relation to Western Sahara;

(d)

welcomes progress made during the third round of informal talks here on 8-9 November in New York between Morocco and the Polisario Front, facilitated by the United Nations Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Christopher Ross, including agreement to further informal talks later in 2010;

(e)

calls on the parties to continue to work through these issues in the United Nations process underway; and

(f)

hopes the next round of informal talks, scheduled for December 2010, will make further progress; and

(2)

fully supports:

(a)

the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General, his Special Envoy, and the United Nations to find an enduring settlement to the Western Sahara issue; and

(b)

these concerns, calls, hopes and actions. (Notice given 25 November 2010.)

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Ms Saffin—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

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

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

5 MS VAMVAKINOU: To move:

That this House:

(1)

condemns the New Year’s Day attack on the Al-Qiddissin Church, the Church of the Two Saints, in Alexandria, Egypt;

(2)

acknowledges the historical role of the Coptic Orthodox community of Egypt;

(3)

expresses its condolences to all victims of violence and terrorism;

(4)

reaffirms the Australian Government’s call for fundamental political reform in Egypt and the protection of the rights of all Egyptian citizens; and

(5)

recognises:

(a)

the contributions made by the Coptic Orthodox community of Australia under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Suriel of the Coptic Orthodox Church Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions;

(b)

the value and role of interfaith dialogue in building a diverse and harmonious society; and

(c)

the value of democratic rights and the right to freedom of religion and culture. (Notice given 8 February 2011.)

Time allotted—remaining private Members’ business time prior to 1.30 pm

Speech time limits—

Ms Vamvakinou—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

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

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Items for Main Committee (approx 6.30 to 9 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BUSINESS

Notices

6 MR PERRETT: To move:

That this House:

(1)

recognises the conclusion of a great television police drama, The Bill, and thanks the ABC for its long standing commitment to the program;

(2)

acknowledges that since 1983, The Bill, has kept many of us from fully engaging with the broader Australian arts community on a Saturday night;

(3)

recognises the broad contribution that our local arts make to Australian society and culture;

(4)

reaffirms our commitment to the arts and to engaging with our local performers, artists and writers (particularly on our now Bill less Saturday nights); and

(5)

calls on the Minister for the Arts to lead Australia into a new era of artistic development and excellence and for all Australians to better support their local live performances. (Notice given 18 October 2010.)

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Perrett—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

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

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

7 MR BALDWIN: To move:

That this House:

(1)

condemns the Rudd-Gillard Government for:

(a)

reducing funding for Tourism Australia at a time when the high Australian dollar is putting pressure on local tourism operators; and

(b)

increasing business costs for local tourism operators through:

(i)

higher tourism taxes;

(ii)

the bungled award modernisation; and

(iii)

additional superannuation guarantee payments which will be entirely funded by employers; and

(2)

calls on the Rudd-Gillard Government to match the Coalition’s commitment to increase tourism funding by $100 million to:

(a)

focus on high-yielding business events tourists;

(b)

build stronger research foundations;

(c)

encourage tourism infrastructure and product development; and

(d)

boost domestic tourism marketing. (Notice given 26 October 2010.)

(See PMB Notice No. 3 page 6)

Time allotted—30 minutes.

Speech time limits—

First 2 Members—10 minutes each.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

8 MR HAYES: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes the importance of public libraries in communities across Australia;

(2)

recognises that:

(a)

various state based research provides clear evidence of the contribution and value of public libraries in terms of the triple bottom line: economic, environmental and social impact; and

(b)

recognises that libraries provide access to information technology, research, educational resources and recreational materials for many people who otherwise could not afford them;

(3)

congratulates public library staff for their commitment to facilitating life long learning in the community;

(4)

supports the wide availability of public library collections as a way to help address disadvantage by ensuring free and equitable access to collections for all community members;

(5)

notes that in 2008 09, 7.7 million Australians visited a library and the total asset value of library collections in this country was $4.3 billion;

(6)

expresses concern over the action instigated by Liverpool City Council to investigate the viability of closing Green Valley, Miller, Moorebank and Casula public libraries; and

(7)

specifically notes the community outrage and concern as a result of this decision, giving regard to the proven benefits of local public libraries as noted above. (Notice given 18 October 2010.)

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Hayes—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes each.

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

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

9 MR ROBERT: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) is the professional manager of Defence houses;

(b)

the Department of Defence still retains over 1650 homes that have not been handed over to DHA; and

(c)

the Government is using some of these 1650 homes, notably over 50 at Inverbrackie, as a detention facility to house Irregular Maritime Arrivals (IMA), rather than Defence families; and

(2)

calls on the Government to:

(a)

cease using Defence housing as an immigration detention facility;

(b)

hand over all houses managed by the Department of Defence to DHA; and

(c)

categorically state that it will not acquire the homes of Defence families for the purpose of housing the ever increasing number of IMA arriving in Australia as a result of the Government’s soft border protection policies. (Notice given 8 February 2011.)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Robert—10 minutes.

Other Members—10 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 10 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

10 MS A. E. BURKE: To move:

That this House:

(1)

notes:

(a)

the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo continues to suffer from high levels of poverty, insecurity, and a culture of impunity, in which illegal armed groups and military forces continue to commit widespread human right abuses;

(b)

that, according to a study by the International Rescue Committee released in January 2008, conflict and related humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo hav