Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present report No. 21 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 12 February 2024. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today, 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 of private Members' business

1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 6 February 2024.

2. The Committee deliberated on items of committee and delegation business that had been notified, private Members' business items listed on the Notice Paper and notices lodged on Tuesday, 6 February 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 12 February 2024, as follows:

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

COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS

Presentation and statements

1 AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION

Report of the Parliamentary Delegation to the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) hosted by the Republic of Indonesia

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

Speech time limits

Ms Mascarenhas 5 minutes.

Next Member speaking 5 minutes.

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

2 Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security

Annual Report of Committee Activities 2022-2023

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

Speech time limits

Mr Khalil 5 minutes.

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS CHANEY: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995, and for related purposes. (Criminal Code Amendment (Telecommunications Offences for Suicide Related MaterialException for Lawful Voluntary Assisted Dying) Bill 2024)

Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.

2 MR GEE: To present a Bill for an Act to prohibit the purchase of residential property by foreign entities, and for related purposes. (Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Foreign Entities Bill 2024)

Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.

3 MR CHANDLER-MATHER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that since the House of Representatives' resolution of 16 October 2023 concerning Israel and Gaza, which supported the State of Israel's looming invasion of Gaza by stating that the House 'stands with Israel', the following have occurred:

(a) an appalling and increasing toll of deaths and injuries caused by the State of Israel's bombing and invasion of Gaza;

(b) a growing humanitarian catastrophe caused by the State of Israel's blockade, bombing and invasion of Gaza; and

(c) the State of Israel is the subject of recent International Court of Justice orders in South Africa's case regarding the prevention of genocide;

(2) does not support the State of Israel's continued invasion of Gaza, and calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire; and

(3) calls on the Government to end its support for the State of Israel's invasion of Gaza.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Chandler-Mather 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

4 MR VAN MANEN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that before the election, the:

(a) Government promised a $275 reduction in people's power bills; and

(b) Prime Minister promised 'cheaper mortgages', and promised that families would be 'better off', yet in just 18 months:

(i) food has gone up more than 9 per cent;

(ii) housing has gone up more than 12 per cent;

(iii) electricity has gone up more than 23 per cent;

(iv) gas has gone up more than 29 per cent;

(v) after 12 interest rate rises, interest rates are at their highest level since 2011, meaning a family with a $750,000 mortgage now needs to pay an extra $24,000 per year; and

(vi) rents are experiencing the highest increase since 2009;

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) this Government's economic and energy policies are making inflation worse with Australia's inflation still higher than almost every major advanced economy; and

(b) higher inflation means higher interest rates which contributes to higher rents; and

(3) recognises that in the past year, household disposable incomes fell by 5 per cent, more than any developed country.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 25 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr van Manen 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

5 MR BURNELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that cost of living pressures, including the cost of groceries, are putting Australians under the pump;

(2) notes that to ensure that Australian consumers and suppliers are getting a fair deal, the Government has:

(a) directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to conduct a pricing inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices and allegations of price gouging in the supermarket sector;

(b) commenced an independent review of the Food and Grocery Code led by Dr Craig Emerson, which will examine whether the code is effective in ensuring Australian suppliers and farmers are getting a fair go; and

(c) partnered with consumer advocacy group CHOICE to regularly provide shoppers with better information on the comparative costs of grocery goods at different retailers; and

(3) recognises these measures are further examples of the Government ensuring everyone is doing their bit when it comes to easing the cost of living crisis.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Burnell 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS STEGGALL: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) domestic and intimate partner violence is a national crisis and whilst impacting all genders, the casualties are overwhelmingly women;

(b) on average in Australia, one woman per week is murdered by her current or former partner;

(c) as of 4 February 2024, six women have been allegedly murdered by their male partner in Australia;

(d) in the year 2021-22, 5,606 women were hospitalised due to family and domestic violence, an average of 15 women per day;

(e) the number of Australian women killed by their partners each year has not changed significantly in over 30 years;

(f) women often experience multiple incidents of violence across their lifetime; and

(g) the men who abuse, violate and murder women are not so-called 'good blokes' and any such notion must be called out each and every time a woman faces violence at the hands of a male partner or male they know; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) urgently convene a crisis National Cabinet meeting of federal, state and territory ministers to:

(i) ensure the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 is bringing about the required action and policies to prevent violence against women and children across Australia;

(ii) commission, a review of all state criminal sentencing provisions and the use of character references for domestic violence and gender-based abuse to ensure they are fit-for-purpose in holding perpetrators of violence against women to account;

(iii) increase the capacity of specialist services to assist women fleeing domestic violence to stay alive, such crisis support, appropriate accommodation, leave advice and advocacy and income support and ensure they are properly funded;

(iv) fully fund proven programs that save lives, such as 'Staying Home Leaving Violence', which been shown by research to be an effective contributor to the long-term safety and housing stability of women and children who have left a violent and abusive relationship; and

(v) agree on further concrete, measurable and streamlined efforts at all levels of government based on sound evidence to bring down the horrific number of cases of domestic violence against women and children from this year.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Steggall 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

2 DR REID: To move:

That this House acknowledges the Government's commitment and actions to build a better and fairer education system from early education right through to university, by:

(1) delivering cheaper child care which is making early education and care more affordable for 1.2 million Australian families;

(2) tackling the teacher shortage through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan;

(3) delivering $275.2 million to schools to improve school infrastructure through the Schools Upgrade Fund;

(4) providing $203.7 million in funding to support student wellbeing across every school in the country through the Student Wellbeing Boost;

(5) working with state and territory governments to get all schools on a path to full and fair funding; and

(6) setting the higher education system up for the future through the Universities Accord, and implementing the priority actions of the accord interim report, which delivers:

(a) an additional 20 new regional university study hubs and 14 suburban university study hubs;

(b) demand driven places for First Nations students from metropolitan areas;

(c) the removal of the unfair 50 per cent pass rule; and

(d) university governance reforms.

(Notice given 14 November 2023.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Reid 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

3 MS BELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Government misled the Australian Parliament and Australian people when they falsely claimed that since May 2022 there were 123,000 early childhood educators and teachers in the pipeline;

(b) the Department of Education advised Government Ministers time and again that it was factually incorrect to claim that figure was from May 2022;

(c) the 123,000 figure was actually from 2021 higher education and 2022 vocational education and training data, meaning the record figures were as a result of the previous Government's policies; and

(d) during the previous Government's time in office, record investments into skills and training were delivered which helped hundreds of thousands of Australians to skill-up and enter the workforce;

(2) calls on the:

(a) Government Ministers who misled the Australian Parliament to front-up and apologise; and

(b) Government to admit their claimed record in the training and education pipeline of educators was in fact thanks to the previous Government's strong training and skills policies.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Bell 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

4 MR RAE: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that through the passage of its 'closing loopholes' legislation, the Government has closed loopholes used by some employers to undercut wages, conditions and safety for Australian workers, including by:

(a) stopping companies using labour hire as a means of underpaying their workers;

(b) making it a criminal offence for employers to deliberately steal their workers' wages;

(c) closing the loophole in which large businesses could claim small business exemptions during insolvency;

(d) introducing a new criminal offence of industrial manslaughter;

(e) ensuring better support for first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder;

(f) protecting workers subjected to family and domestic violence from discrimination at work; and

(g) expanding the functions of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency to include silica;

(2) recognises that many Australian families are doing it tough dealing with the cost of living, and that getting wages moving again is a key part of addressing the cost of living;

(3) notes that the Opposition has voted against legislation to get wages moving 36 times in this term of Parliament; and

(4) calls on the Opposition to support the remaining elements of the 'closing loopholes' legislation, including minimum standards for gig workers, reforms to the road transport industry and a better deal for casual workers who want to become permanent.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Rae 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

5 MR HOGAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large;

(2) notes that since being established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, there have been over 40,000 recipients of awards in the Order of Australia;

(3) recognises and celebrates the 1,042 Australia Day 2024 awards recipients, including 739 awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service;

(4) further acknowledges community members recognised through Australia Day 2024 Local Citizen of the Year Awards; and

(5) congratulates all the recipients of awards on Australia Day 2024.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hogan 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

6 MR LAXALE: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges:

(a) the work the Government has undertaken to support Australia's multicultural communities, including:

(i) launching the Multicultural Framework Review;

(ii) supporting a cohesive and inclusive multicultural society;

(iii) investing $20 million in the Adult Migrant English Program;

(iv) extending the Community Language Schools grant program to pre-schoolers;

(v) committing $7.5 million to fund the Australian Human Rights Commission to complete its National Anti-Racism Framework;

(vi) reducing citizenship processing times by 42 per cent to the lowest level in six years; and

(vii) clearing the visa backlogs for nearly 1 million people left behind by the Liberal Party and slashing wait time;

(b) that Australia is proudly one of the world's most vibrant and successful multicultural societies; and

(c) the positive contribution that migration has made to our country, culture and economy; and

(2) condemns the:

(a) Liberal and National parties for their neglect of the immigration system, as outlined in the Nixon Review; and

(b) comments from a former Prime Minister on 2 November 2023, when he stated that he 'always had trouble' with the concept of multiculturalism.

(Notice given 15 November 2023.)

Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.

Speech time limits

Mr Laxale 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices — continued

7 MS MASCARENHAS: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) financial abuse is a form of domestic and family violence;

(b) financial abuse has a serious impact on victims and survivors;

(c) the rates of the misuse of financial products to cause harm has risen since the expansion of online financial services; and

(d) there is a need to build evidence of the different types of financial abuse;

(2) condemns the:

(a) use of bank accounts to perpetrate abuse;

(b) use of money to control victims of economic abuse; and

(c) exploitation or sabotage of a person's finances to undermine their financial security and limit their ability to be independent and self-sufficient;

(3) acknowledges the:

(a) reforms by the finance sector in response to customers experiencing domestic and family violence;

(b) reforms by the major banks to amend the terms and conditions of a range of products to address financial abuse; and

(c) amendments to the industry code of conduct that raise the standard of acceptable customer behaviour;

(4) affirms that action on financial and economic abuse requires a coordinated response by banks, regulators, government, and consumer advocates; and

(5) commends the Government for its commitment to combat financial abuse.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Mascarenhas 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

8 MR BIRRELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Jobs and Skills Australia Acting Commissioner, David Turvey, has said overseas agricultural labourers could be included under a new visa for lower-paid employees to fill workforce deficits; and

(b) the agriculture sector was in contention for the lowest-tier visa, announced after the Government's review of the migration system;

(2) condemns the Government for its treatment of the agriculture sector including:

(a) scrapping the previous Government's agriculture visa designed specifically to address labour shortages; and

(b) failing to address the labour shortfall estimated at 172,000 workers, putting a handbrake on production and profitability of agricultural businesses; and

(3) calls on the Government to introduce a specific agriculture visa to address the serious gaps in the agriculture workforce.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Birrell 4 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]

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

9 MR LIM: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the commendable efforts of the Government in addressing the status of women and promoting pay equality;

(2) applauds the initiatives the Government has taken to improve conditions for working women, supporting their safety and economic equality;

(3) acknowledges that women still experience economic inequality, including a national gender pay gap of 13 per cent and an average of 47 per cent less super for women compared to men, equating to an $85,000 difference for the average superannuation fund;

(4) highlights the:

(a) disproportionate impact on working mothers who currently predominantly take parental leave and experience a significant gap in superannuation contributions during this period; and

(b) Government's significant expansion of paid parental leave which increases the scheme to 26 weeks by July 2026, and provides each parent four weeks of reserved leave from July 2026 when the full scheme is implemented in order to encourage shared care and send a strong signal that both parents play a role in caring for their children; and

(5) supports the continued efforts by the Government to close the gender pay gap and support women's economic equality over their lifetime.

(Notice given 14 September 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Lim 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

10 MR VIOLI: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the:

(a) Digital Economy Strategy 2030 delivered on the former Government's commitment to grow Australia's future as a modern and leading digital economy, including building on regulation as required; and

(b) absence of a minister for the digital economy under this Government has resulted in a slow and unclear development of policy concerning artificial intelligence (AI);

(2) expresses its concern that the lack of clarity on an AI policy framework is damaging to Australian businesses which need certainty to grow and innovate on the global stage; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) recognise the opportunities AI presents and implement a strategy that allows the Australian economy to reap the rewards of emerging technologies; and

(b) appoint a minister for the digital economy to ensure our nation remains globally competitive in what is an increasingly digital world.

(Notice given 14 November 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Violi 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

11 MS ROBERTS: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that currently no public schools in Australia, except for public schools in the Australian Capital Territory, are at the full and fair funding level;

(2) recognises the Government's commitment to make Australia's education system better and fairer by working with all states and territories to ensure every school is on a path to 100 per cent of its fair funding level;

(3) acknowledges the Western Australian Government on being the first state to sign a statement of intent to ensure every school in Western Australia receives full and fair funding;

(4) commends the Government and Western Australian Government on agreeing to support disadvantaged students first by prioritising the most disadvantaged schools to achieve their full and fair funding level; and

(5) further notes the importance of tying funding to reforms that will close the education gap.

(Notice given 6 February 2024.)

Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.

Speech time limits

Ms Roberts 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

7 February 2024