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

I present report No. 24 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 25 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, 19 March 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, 19 March 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 25 March 2024, 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 Employment, Education and Training

Shared vision, equal pathways: report of the inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made all statements to conclude by 10.35 am.

Speech time limits

Ms Chesters 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR COLEMAN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the criminal law and the law relating to online safety, and for related purposes. (Crimes and Online Safety Legislation Amendment (Combatting Online Notoriety) 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 KATTER: To present a Bill for an Act to provide for a Commissioner for Food Retailing and for various other matters in relation to market share of supermarkets, and for related purposes. (Reducing Supermarket Dominance 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 MS CHANEY: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and for related purposes. (Electoral Legislation Amendment (Fair and Transparent Elections) 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.

4 MS MASCARENHAS: To move:

That this House:

(1) commends the Government's commitment to build a Future Made in Australia that includes a strong, diverse economy with greater opportunity and security for all;

(2) notes the Government is taking advantage of Australia's strengths and natural resources to create job opportunities across the value chain through:

(a) the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund and its key priority areas, which includes a focus on value-add in resources;

(b) investing $840 million to help deliver Australia's first combined rare earth mine and refinery in the Northern Territory;

(c) expanding the Critical Minerals Facility to $6 billion to bolster the sector in Australia;

(d) the $392 million Industry Growth Program to support Australian small and medium enterprises that fall under the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas;

(e) developing Australia's first National Battery Strategy;

(f) updating the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Investment Mandate to allow further investments in clean energy technologies; and

(g) supporting the development of Australian manufacturing through the Capacity Investment Scheme; and

(3) calls on the Opposition to support Australia's manufacturing future and the creation of more secure, well-paid jobs.

(Notice given 19 March 2024.)

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.

5 MR RAMSEY: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Australia's live sheep export industry employs more than 3,500 people in Western Australia and is worth $85 million in direct payments to producers with an assumed multiplier effect close to $300 million;

(b) Australia has developed world-leading animal welfare standards which are applied to animals exported by sea and the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System ensures animal welfare right through to point of slaughter in destination markets;

(c) the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Government have committed to phasing out live sheep exports from Australia, but have not released a timeframe for this;

(d) the independent panel appointed by the Minister to consult with stakeholders and provide advice on how and when the Government will phase out exports provided its report to the Minister on 25 October 2023;

(e) despite numerous requests, the Government and the Minister have refused to release the report to stakeholders, famers or industry groups, claiming it is 'cabinet-in-confidence';

(f) the Coalition's Agriculture, Water and Environment Backbench Committee met with livestock farmers in South Australia and Western Australia from 5 to 8 March to hear firsthand the concerns of those in the region most likely to be affected;

(g) the committee heard from farmers, industry participants and community representatives who work hard to ensure the welfare of their animals throughout the export process is maintained at the high levels Australians expect; and

(h) attendees at eight meetings over four days indicated that confidence in the sheep industry was at its lowest point in decades and were fearful for the industry's future and the future of family farms and businesses and their wider rural communities

(2) condemns the Government for its reckless and ideological decision to forcibly shut down Australia's live sheep export industry in order to try and hold seats in the inner cities where they are competing with the Australian Greens;

(3) recognises that any decisions made in respect to the trade should always be predicated on science and independent of the Government;

(4) calls on the Government to urgently explain what factual evidence or science its decision to ban the live sheep export industry is based on;

(5) demands the Government to immediately release the report of the independent panel to allow proper discussion with stakeholders; and

(6) urges the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to urgently re-open the inquiry into the grooming of and payments made to Faizal Ullah by Animals Australia in the light of a second statutory declaration coming forward after the closure of its initial investigation.

(Notice given 19 March 2024.)

Time allotted 15 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Ramsey 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 3 x 5 mins]

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

6 MS CHANEY: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that under its Inflation Reduction Act, the United States of America (USA) has committed more than one trillion (AUD) in incentives to accelerate the USA's transition to net zero by 2050;

(2) acknowledges that, with our abundant natural resources, Australia is well-placed to become a renewable energy superpower;

(3) further notes that business representatives have raised concerns that Australia is lagging in the race to decarbonise, in part due to:

(a) unwieldly state and federal approvals processes;

(b) low investor confidence due to decades of climate inaction;

(c) the comparatively high cost of doing business; and

(d) competition from other countries with stronger support structures for new industries; and

(4) calls on the Government to commit to an urgent, comprehensive and well-funded plan to increase our international competitiveness in decarbonised industries.

(Notice given 19 March 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Ms Chaney 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 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 MR CHANDLER-MATHER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) in the 2023 financial year the Government collected more money from HECS/HELP debt than it did from gas companies;

(b) millions of Australians with student debt were hit with a 7.1 per cent indexation increase last year; and

(c) many federal politicians received free university themselves; and

(2) calls on the Government to wipe student debt and make university and TAFE free.

(Notice given 19 March 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.

2 MS CLAYDON: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March and that the theme for 2024 is Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress;

(2) acknowledges that the Government has made significant investments in areas to improve the lives of women by delivering more tax relief to women and making it easier to work, making childcare cheaper, expanding the Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme and paying superannuation on this leave, investing in women's safety, improving how the industrial relations system works for women and improving pay and conditions in the care economy;

(3) welcomes the difference this is already making, noting that:

(a) the gender pay gap is now at a record low of 12 per cent;

(b) Australia has jumped up 17 places from 43rd to 26th in global gender equality rankings in the last 12 months;

(c) 60.4 per cent of women over the age of 15 are now employed, compared to 59.9 per cent in 2023;

(d) for the first time in history, Australia has a majority female Federal Government;

(e) women's wages are up; and

(f) the Government's Paid Parental Leave Scheme will be expanded to 26 weeks, with a 12 per cent superannuation contribution being paid to help boost retirement incomes for millions of mums; and

(4) congratulates the Government on releasing Australia's first ever strategy for gender equality Working for Women, which sets out a path to get us there over the next 10 years, with a focus on driving action in five priority areas:

(a) gender based violence;

(b) unpaid and paid care;

(c) economic equality and security;

(d) health; and

(e) leadership, representation and decision-making.

(Notice given 18 March 2024.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Claydon 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.

3 MR FLETCHER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes with concern that during a cost-of-living crisis:

(a) call-wait times at Services Australia remain unacceptably high; and

(b) processing times for key claims, such as the Age Pension and Disability Support Pension, continue to blow out;

(2) acknowledges that this is a result of the Government's:

(a) failure to embrace digital service delivery;

(b) inept mismanagement of Services Australia's workforce; and

(c) failure to commit to a top-to-bottom customer service mindset; and

(3) expresses its support for a root and branch review into Services Australia.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Fletcher 5 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.

Orders of the day

1 MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES: Resumption of debate (from 26 February 2024) on the motion of Mr Laxale—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.

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

4 MR HOGAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) that estimated budget allocations for the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program decreased from $169 million in the financial year 2022-23 to $110 million in the financial year 2025-26;

(b) the current pause between rounds 3 and 4 of the EMDG program means no financial support will be available to businesses in the 2024-25 financial year; and

(c) stakeholder concerns that the Government is considering, through a strategic refocus, removing eligibility for grants under the program for exports to certain markets; and

(2) calls on the Government to reverse its policy intention and ensure that exporters can continue to access the program, regardless of the markets they seek to market and export to.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

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

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.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices — continued

5 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 50 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hamilton 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.

6 MS FERNANDO: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises that the National Anti-Scam Centre's second quarterly report shows that scam losses from October to December 2023 reduced by 43 per cent from the same quarter in 2022, and 26 per cent from the July to September 2023 quarter;

(2) observes that these results are a complete reversal of the trend, which saw scam losses double and double again between 2019 and 2022; and

(3) commends the Government for delivering on its commitment to combat scams and online fraud by investing $86.5 million in a coordinated, whole-of-government approach, including:

(a) establishing the National Anti-Scam Centre under the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission;

(b) launching Australia's first SMS Sender ID registry to prevent scammers imitating trusted brands; and

(c) boosting Australian Securities and Investments Commission's investment scam disruption activities, enabling it to identify and take down investment scam and phishing websites.

(Notice given 19 March 2024.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Fernando 5 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.

Orders of the day — continued

LIVE SHEEP EXPORT: Resumption of debate on the motion of Mr Ramsey—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Australia's live sheep export industry employs more than 3,500 people in Western Australia and is worth $85 million in direct payments to producers with an assumed multiplier effect close to $300 million;

(b) Australia has developed world-leading animal welfare standards which are applied to animals exported by sea and the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System ensures animal welfare right through to point of slaughter in destination markets;

(c) the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Government have committed to phasing out live sheep exports from Australia, but have not released a timeframe for this;

(d) the independent panel appointed by the Minister to consult with stakeholders and provide advice on how and when the Government will phase out exports provided its report to the Minister on 25 October 2023;

(e) despite numerous requests, the Government and the Minister have refused to release the report to stakeholders, famers or industry groups, claiming it is 'cabinet-in-confidence';

(f) the Coalition's Agriculture, Water and Environment Backbench Committee met with livestock farmers in South Australia and Western Australia from 5 to 8 March to hear firsthand the concerns of those in the region most likely to be affected;

(g) the committee heard from farmers, industry participants and community representatives who work hard to ensure the welfare of their animals throughout the export process is maintained at the high levels Australians expect; and

(h) attendees at eight meetings over four days indicated that confidence in the sheep industry was at its lowest point in decades and were fearful for the industry's future and the future of family farms and businesses and their wider rural communities

(2) condemns the Government for its reckless and ideological decision to forcibly shut down Australia's live sheep export industry in order to try and hold seats in the inner cities where they are competing with the Australian Greens;

(3) recognises that any decisions made in respect to the trade should always be predicated on science and independent of the Government;

(4) calls on the Government to urgently explain what factual evidence or science its decision to ban the live sheep export industry is based on;

(5) demands the Government to immediately release the report of the independent panel to allow proper discussion with stakeholders; and

(6) urges the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to urgently re-open the inquiry into the grooming of and payments made to Faizal Ullah by Animals Australia in the light of a second statutory declaration coming forward after the closure of its initial investigation.

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

All 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.

2 HOME GUARANTEE SCHEME: Resumption of debate (from 18 March 2024) on the motion of Ms Byrnes—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.

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.

DECARBONISED INDUSTRIES: Resumption of debate on the motion of Ms Chaney—That this House:

(1) notes that under its Inflation Reduction Act, the United States of America (USA) has committed more than one trillion (AUD) in incentives to accelerate the USA's transition to net zero by 2050;

(2) acknowledges that, with our abundant natural resources, Australia is well-placed to become a renewable energy superpower;

(3) further notes that business representatives have raised concerns that Australia is lagging in the race to decarbonise, in part due to:

(a) unwieldly state and federal approvals processes;

(b) low investor confidence due to decades of climate inaction;

(c) the comparatively high cost of doing business; and

(d) competition from other countries with stronger support structures for new industries; and

(4) calls on the Government to commit to an urgent, comprehensive and well-funded plan to increase our international competitiveness in decarbonised industries.

(Notice given 19 March 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

All Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 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

20 March 2024