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

I present report No. 23 of the Selection Committee relating to consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 18 March 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, 27 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, 27 February 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 18 March 2024, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR KATTER: To move:

That this House calls on the Government to immediately legislate for significant reform of Australia's food retail sector to better protect Australian farmers and consumers, by:

(1) divesting to reduce the market share of the major two corporations in the food retail sector;

(2) imposing a customs tariff of five per cent on imported products in recognition of the economic, social and environmental impacts of imports;

(3) introducing a maximum markup of 100 per cent on all produce between farmer (processor) and retail outlet; and

(4) removing the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct as a measure which has long been used to control and restrain suppliers and producers.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Katter 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.

Orders of the day

1 COST OF LIVING: Resumption of debate (from 12 February 2024Mr McCormack, in continuation) on the motion of Mr Burnell—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.

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

All 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.

Notices — continued

2 MR COLEMAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the eSafety Commissioner recommended a mandated trial of age assurance technology in her Roadmap for Age Verification, as a way of protecting children from online harm;

(b) the Government refused to support the eSafety Commissioner's recommendation and instead backed the development of industry codes as a stopgap measure; and

(c) the Government's decision has been widely criticised by leading child and women's safety advocates across Australia;

(2) further notes the evidence of the eSafety Commissioner during Senate Estimates on 13 February 2024, in which she confirmed there were already a range of age assurance technologies that can be used to protect children from online harm, and that such 'technologies are getting better all the time';

(3) condemns the Government for:

(a) its refusal to support the recommendations of the eSafety Commissioner to support a mandated trial of age assurance technology; and

(b) failing to support the Opposition private Member's bill for the introduction of such a trial; and

(4) calls on the Minister for Communications to:

(a) reverse her position on an age verification trial and support the Opposition's plan to implement a trial;

(b) announce plans for a new trial within 30 days; and

(c) commence a trial of age verification technology within three months.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Coleman 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 10 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 SPENDER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) expensive and unreliable fossil fuel energy has driven up power bills by over 20 per cent in eastern states;

(b) households can reduce their bills:

(i) by an average between $1,134 and $1,822 a year with rooftop solar;

(ii) between $514 and $1,594 with more efficient electric appliances; and

(iii) by even more with insulation and improved energy efficiency; and

(c) renters, apartment dwellers, and those on moderate and low incomes cannot get these savings, meaning over half of households are missing out on cost-of-living relief;

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) the Government has taken significant positive steps in this area, including the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, Solar Banks Scheme, and funding for social housing;

(b) despite these positive steps, no funding has yet been disbursed from the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, and the 110,000 households that will be supported through the scheme are just a small fraction of the millions which need help; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) accelerate disbursement of existing support via the Household Energy Upgrades Fund;

(b) fund a 'people power plan' to lower energy bills in the May budget, with significant additional support for renters, apartment dwellers, and those with lower incomes and savings, as well as new measures to help landlords, homebuilders, and people in regional and rural communities hosting large-scale renewable projects and transmission lines; and

(c) work with state governments to urgently implement promised mandatory energy performance disclosure for rental properties, and minimum energy performance standards.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Spender 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 MS J RYAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the Government's economic management has:

(a) delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years, something the former Government promised but never delivered;

(b) seen inflation begin to fall in the face of global pressures, helped by the Government's cost of living policies; and

(c) returned real wages growth faster than expected;

(2) further notes that the Government's cost of living tax cuts will see every Australian taxpayer receive a tax cut on 1 July, and means:

(a) 11.5 million taxpayers will receive a bigger tax cut than under the former Government's plan;

(b) Australians who earn up to $40,000 a year will receive a tax cut when they would not have under the former Government's plan; and

(c) these tax cuts come on top of the billions of dollars in targeted and responsible cost-of-living relief, much of which was opposed by the Opposition, including:

(i) energy bill relief;

(ii) cheaper medicines;

(iii) cheaper childcare;

(iv) strengthening Medicare;

(v) higher income support payments; and

(vi) the biggest boost to rent assistance in 30 years; and

(3) acknowledges the stark contrast in policies between the Government wanting Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn, while the Opposition wants Australians to work longer and for less.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms J Ryan 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.

Orders of the day

1 VOICE TO PARLIAMENT REFERENDUM: Resumption of debate (from 26 February 2024Ms Scrymgour, in continuation) on the motion of Ms Price—That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) this Government spent $450 million on the divisive Voice to Parliament referendum that was rejected by each state and territory, excluding the Australian Capital Territory;

(b) the proposal for a Voice to Parliament was put forward as an urgent solution to help close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;

(c) since the referendum this Government has been completely absent in this space and has demonstrated that they have no plan B; and

(d) there are proposals on the table that would make a demonstrable difference that this Government refuses to implement, including:

(i) announcing an audit into Commonwealth spending for Indigenous specific programs to identify waste in financial resources and programs that are making a difference;

(ii) establishing a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities; and

(iii) re-instating the cashless debit card in vulnerable communities; and

(2) calls on the Government to focus on practical actions like these to assist in closing the gap.

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

All 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.

Notices — continued

3 MS CHESTERS: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) March is Endometriosis Awareness Month;

(b) endometriosis is a progressive, chronic condition that can start at puberty and continue beyond menopause; and

(c) endometriosis affects one in nine Australian women and girls and approximately 200 million worldwide and can take an unacceptable average of seven years, often with crippling pain, before a diagnosis is made;

(2) acknowledges that the Government is addressing endometriosis at a national level with a significant $58.3 million package for endometriosis and pelvic pain announced in the 2022-23 budget, including:

(a) delivering 22 dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics around Australia;

(b) access to new Medicare funded MRI scans to assist investigations of infertility for those with severe endometriosis; and

(c) developing an endometriosis management plan, and other measures to better support those affected with endometriosis; and

(3) congratulates the many endometriosis patients, their families, organisations and health sector leaders for their continued advocacy on endometriosis awareness and education.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Chesters 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.

4 MR CONAGHAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) the growing illicit tobacco industry is costing the country $4.2 billion in revenue each year this government fails to strengthen penalties and enforcement measures; and

(b) that the continued failure to seriously address the illicit tobacco trade:

(i) has enabled organised crime groups to fund serious criminal activity including large scale drug importation and human trafficking;

(ii) has seen an increase in violence and attacks on lawful retail tobacco businesses;

(iii) has had a detrimental effect to the health of individuals and community safety;

(iv) heavily impacts on public revenue to the amount of $4.2 billion annually, and;

(v) continues to severely impact the ordinary trade of lawful retail tobacconists;

(2) recognises the leadership of the previous Government on enforcement on the illicit tobacco trade by:

(a) establishing the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce in 2018, a multi-agency taskforce to protect Australian revenue and detect and disrupt organised crime syndicates that deal in illicit tobacco; and

(b) introducing amendments to the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023 for the establishment of a new Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner with the Australian Border Force;

(3) commends the valuable work of law enforcement and other agencies to detect and respond to the escalating illicit tobacco trade and related crime; and

(4) calls on the Government to:

(a) increase the penalties for illicit tobacco offences;

(b) work with states and territories to implement compatible licencing systems for tobacco sales to assist in enforcement, detection, and disruption efforts; and

(c) ensure that multi-jurisdictional responses can be adequately funded.

(Notice given 15 February 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Conaghan 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.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices — continued

5 MS BYRNES: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) the Government's expanded Home Guarantee Scheme has now supported more than 100,000 people into home ownership since the election, bringing home ownership back into reach;

(b) almost one in three first home buyers in 2022-23 were supported by the scheme, a significant increase from the previous year under the former Government;

(c) the Government delivered on its commitment to introduce the new Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee three months ahead of schedule in October 2022, and it has assisted more than 15,000 people across regional Australia into home ownership; and

(d) the Government has also expanded eligibility of the Home Guarantee Scheme to help more Australians who were locked out under the previous Government into home ownership

(2) notes that:

(a) the Government wants to provide even more support for people to own their home through the Help to Buy scheme, which is due to start later this year following the passage of state legislation; and

(b) Help to Buy will support eligible home buyers with an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes, with eligible buyers needing as little as a 2 per cent deposit to buy a home; and

(3) further notes that the Home Guarantee Scheme and Help to Buy are just two parts of the Government's broad and ambitious housing agenda, with the Government committing funding of $25 billion in new housing investments over the next decade including committed funding to support thousands of new social and affordable rentals, with many already under construction.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 45 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Byrnes 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]

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

6 MR HAMILTON: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes comments by the Minister for Home Affairs in the House on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 in regard to 'parents who just cannot afford to buy the groceries they need for their families... parents who are struggling terribly with rents... people who can't afford to fill their car up with petrol';

(2) further notes comments in the CommBank iQ Cost of Living Insights Report for November 2023 that:

(a) Australians are spending more on essentials such as insurance, medical costs and pharmacies, leaving less funds for purchase of discretionary items such as household goods and clothing; and

(b) younger Australians between 25 and 29 years old have been the hardest hit with a 5.1 per cent decline in their total spending, the only age group to decrease both discretionary and essential spending;

(3) recognises that under the Government:

(a) the costs of food, housing, electricity, insurance and gas have all increased;

(b) real spending power has been reduced; and

(c) younger Australians, with and without children, are being especially impacted by rising living costs;

(4) condemns the Government for the current cost of living crisis which is due to the Government's mismanagement of the economy and failure to adequately address high inflation and increased interest rates; and

(5) calls on the Government to immediately develop and implement sensible economic policies to address Australia's cost of living crisis which is hurting all Australians.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 45 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hamilton 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]

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

7 MS MASCARENHAS: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) 20 and 21 March 2024 mark the Science Meets Parliament 2024 event in Canberra; and

(b) Science Meets Parliament provides the opportunity for parliamentarians to directly engage with Australian scientists;

(2) acknowledges the work of Science and Technology Australia to organise the event;

(3) recognises the:

(a) importance of science in helping Australia solve some of its biggest challenges and diversifying the economy; and

(b) Government's commitment to support and celebrate the achievements of Australian scientists; and

(4) further notes the Government's goals to embed science in government policy making.

(Notice given 26 February 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Mascarenhas 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.

8 MR PASIN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the current crisis facing Australia's wine grape growers;

(2) recognises that inland wine regions of the Riverland in South Australia, the Murray Darling and Swan Hill regions in New South Wales and Victoria, and the Riverina in New South Wales are being disproportionately impacted by the structural disequilibrium in supply of, and demand for, wine grapes;

(3) further notes that since 2021, average revenue per hectare of vineyard in these inland regions has dropped by 52 per cent;

(4) further recognises that many growers have been unable to cover their cost of production;

(5) acknowledges that without government intervention to support growers to adapt in this critical period, the wine grape growing sector will experience forced exits and widespread vineyard abandonment which can lead to significant biosecurity risks, attrition of younger generations in the affected areas, and adverse mental health consequences across regional communities; and

(6) calls on the Government to urgently support Australian wine grape growers with a targeted financial support package for eligible vineyard owners to adapt to changing market conditions.

(Notice given 15 February 2024.)

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Pasin 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.

9 DR FREELANDER: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) sleep is essential to good physical health and to mental and emotional wellbeing;

(b) insufficient sleep increases risks to long-term physical and mental health;

(c) four in every ten Australians currently experience inadequate sleep; and

(d) inadequate sleep has substantial economic and productivity costs for Australia;

(2) notes:

(a) the recent SBS television series 'Australia's Sleep Revolution' with Dr Michael Mosley and its role in raising awareness of the importance of sleep to health and wellbeing;

(b) the eleven recommendations of the inquiry and report, Bedtime Reading, which was completed in the 45th Parliament by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport;

(c) the committee's bipartisan and comprehensive recommendations which highlighted the need for sleep health to be recognised as a national priority due to its health significance;

(d) the Government's response to the report published in August 2023, which supported or supported in-principle ten of the eleven recommendations made by the committee; and

(e) the Government's focus on sleep health as a national priority alongside fitness and nutrition; and

(3) recognises the sustained attention required by the Government, in collaboration with states and territories, to ensure our health system acknowledges, addresses, and responds to the growing prevalence of inadequate sleep and its harmful impacts on health, well-being, and social and economic outcomes.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Dr Freelander 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.

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

28 February 2024