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

I present report No. 26 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 24 June 2024. The report will be printed in today's Hansardand the committee's determinations will appear in 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, 4 June 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, 4 June 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 24 June 2024, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS TINK: To present a Bill for an Act to require the preparation of a National Housing and Homelessness Plan, and for related purposes. (National Housing and Homelessness Plan 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 DR WEBSTER: To present a Bill for an Act to support rehabilitation of the environment affected by electricity projects, and for related purposes. (Requiring Energy Infrastructure Providers to Obtain Rehabilitation Bonds 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 DR SCAMPS: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that following the dire State of the Environment Report released in 2021, the Government promised to act decisively to turn the tide in this country from nature destruction to nature repair;

(2) places on record its concern that:

(a) in December 2023, the Government legislated an expansion of the water trigger in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act);

(b) the Government now refers to that step (one part of the promised broader environment reforms) as 'Stage 1' of its nature positive reforms; and

(c) despite this new emphasis on the importance of the expanded water trigger, fossil fuel projects which are caught by the trigger have not been referred to or called in by the Minister for the Environment and Water for assessment;

(3) further notes its concern that:

(a) the Government has now introduced 'Stage 2' of its nature positive reforms (being the establishment of Environment Protection Australia (EPA) and Environment Information Australia);

(b) to be effective, the EPA should have an independent board, clear, legislated objectives, and be properly funded from commencement;

(c) the Government has now resiled from its commitment to introduce 'Stage 3' of the nature positive reforms (comprising the substantive, urgent and significant reform of the underlying environment laws) in this term of government; and

(d) the Government has no current plan to implement its promise to enhance protections for critical habitat or threatened species in this term of government; and

(4) calls on the Government, as part of its 'Stage 2' nature positive reforms, to:

(a) remove two current exemptions in the EPBC Act which are catastrophic to its stated aim of conserving critical habitat and preventing extinctions (being the Regional Forestry Agreement exemption and the continuous use exemption in the EPBC Act); and

(b) integrate consideration of climate change into the EPBC Act, in recognition of the threat posed by climate change to nature and to Matters of National Environmental Significance.

(Notice given 4 June 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Scamps 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 BURNELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review was handed down on 3 June 2024;

(2) acknowledges the decision means:

(a) 2.6 million low paid workers on awards or the minimum wage will receive a pay rise of 3.75 per cent from 1 July 2024;

(b) fulltime workers on the minimum wage will receive an extra $33.10 per week, or $1,721 per year; and

(c) that since the election of the Government, the minimum wage has increased by $143.30 per week and by $7,451.60 per year;

(3) further acknowledges the Government has delivered on its commitment for Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn while also delivering cost of living relief without adding to inflation with measures such as:

(a) a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer;

(b) cheaper medicines;

(c) energy bill relief;

(d) cheaper childcare;

(e) strengthening Medicare; and

(f) increased support payments; and

(4) further notes that leaked plans from the Opposition reveal they want Australians to work longer for less by:

(a) making it easier to sack people by removing criteria including 'procedural fairness' and 'harshness' from unfair dismissal protections;

(b) abolishing the better off overall test;

(c) forcing workers to sign away their rights as a condition of employment in 'take it or leave it' contracts; and

(d) removing award protections for thousands of workers.

(Notice given 4 June 2024.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Burnell 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.

5 MR PASIN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) 677 lives were lost on Australian roads in the six months to 31 December 2023; and

(b) the second half of 2023 was the deadliest six months on Australian roads since 2010;

(2) recognises that the data needed to understand Australia's worsening road toll is being collected by state and territory governments but is not consistent and not being shared;

(3) further notes that:

(a) before the 2022 election, the federal Labor Party committed 'to cooperate with the states and territories to improve the timeliness and quality of road trauma data and look for opportunities to extract better quality road safety data from states and territories in return for funding of road projects'; and

(b) the Government has failed to deliver on that promise; and

(4) calls on the Government to compel the states and territories to collect and share data relating to the quality of Australian roads, the causes of crashes, and the effectiveness of road safety measures as a condition of the $50 billion in federal road funding allocated over the next five years under the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects.

(Notice given 15 February 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Pasin 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 WATSON-BROWN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) too many people in Australia are not able to access essential dental healthcare, and are living with preventable diseases and oral conditions;

(b) additionally, Australia is experiencing a mental health crisis, and the ten psychology sessions available under the Better Access Scheme is not enough; and

(c) dental and mental healthcare is essential and should be accessible free of charge to everyone; and

(2) Calls on the Government to tax the big corporations and billionaires so that we can make dental and mental healthcare free under Medicare.

(Notice given 4 June 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Watson-Brown 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) recognises the investments the Government is making in cleaner, cheaper, reliable renewable energy as we undergo the transformation to next zero by 2050, including:

(a) supporting investment in 32 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable generation and storage across Australia through the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme;

(b) delivering Australian homes and businesses cheaper, cleaner energy now and into the future, and

(c) a $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia package which will help Australia become a renewable energy superpower;

(2) notes the latest GenCost report prepared by the independent expert bodies, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Australian Energy Market Operator found that:

(a) the cost of power from small modular nuclear reactors would be up to eight times more expensive than finned large-scale wind and solar;

(b) building just one large-scale nuclear power plant would cost up to $16 billion; and

(c) bringing nuclear online would be too slow to keep the lights on, with GenCost confirming that 'the first full operation would be no sooner than 2040' for small modular nuclear reactors, and years later for large-scale nuclear reactors; and

(3) agrees that the Opposition's risky reactor thought bubble is not a viable solution for energy shortages between now and 2040, after 24 coal plants totalling 26.7 GW announced closure dates under the former Government.

(Notice given 4 June 2024.)

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Claydon 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.

3 MR HAMILTON: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the importance of superannuation for all Australians, particularly younger Australians;

(2) notes that, according to the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia in March 2023, $595,000 is the amount required to retire 'comfortably' in Australia;

(3) recognises that young people are becoming increasingly disheartened at the prospect of saving for their future, given the current Government-induced cost of living crisis continues to erode their disposable income;

(4) further notes:

(a) that plans by the Government to impose higher taxes on superannuation earnings from 1 July 2025 will hinder the growth in retirement savings of younger Australians and is an attack on hard-working Australians; and

(b) comments by the Grattan Institute, that within 30 years, about one in ten workers will begin to retire with super balances that will be subject to the Government's higher taxes on superannuation, which is 200 times more people than the Government is claiming;

(5) further acknowledges that young people will be especially impacted by the Government's plans to impose higher super taxes; and

(6) calls on the Government to:

(a) abolish plans to introduce higher taxes on superannuation so that all Australians, particularly young Australians, are incentivised to save for a comfortable retirement;

(b) consider enabling young Australians to invest in their super by facilitating them to use their tax advantaged superannuation contributions to buy a first home; and

(c) commit to protecting all Australians, especially young Australians, from a bleak future through better economic management, lower taxes and cutting wasteful and inflationary spending in the current cost of living crisis.

(Notice given 27 February 2024.)

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hamilton 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.

Orders of the day

1 ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT: Resumption of debate (from 3 June 2024) on the motion of Ms Swanson—That this House:

(1) notes the:

(a) Government is delivering a responsible budget that provides cost of living help now, builds a stronger and more resilient economy and invests in a future made in Australia; and

(b) budget delivers for all Australians by:

(i) easing cost of living pressures;

(ii) building more homes for Australians;

(iii) investing in a Future Made in Australia, and in the skills and universities needed to make it a reality;

(iv) strengthening Medicare and the care economy; and

(v) broadening opportunity and advancing equality; and

(2) acknowledges:

(a) the Government's number one priority is delivering cost of living relief to Australians; and

(b) that the responsible economic management by the Government has:

(i) delivered back-to-back budget surpluses;

(ii) seen 82 per cent of revenue upgrades returned since coming to government over the forward estimates;

(iii) saved and reprioritised $77.4 billion of spending since coming to government;

(iv) limited real spending growth to an average of 1.4 per cent;

(v) improved the budget position by a forecast $214.7 billion over the six years to 2027-28 compared to the former Government;

(vi) reduced debt as a share of the economy;

(vii) improved Australia's debt position with gross debt $152 billion lower in this financial year than was forecast at the time of the election; and

(viii) avoided $80 billion in interest costs over the decade due to the improved budget position compared to what was inherited at the election.

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 MS LANDRY: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) the cattle industry within the Queensland 'Beef Corridor' road network consists of a quarter of Australia's cattle herd and makes an important contribution to the Queensland economy worth $2.7 billion;

(b) the Beef Corridor, consisting of a 457 kilometre network of roads, serves as a crucial interconnected system for agricultural supply chains spanning from east to west;

(c) this infrastructure facilitates the seamless movement of premium beef throughout every stage of the production cycle;

(d) beef produced within the Beef Corridor road network is of world-class quality but is transported on dangerous sub-standard roads; and

(e) in 2022, the former Government committed $400 million to make the crucial improvements to the Beef Corridor roads;

(2) condemns the Government for its reckless decision to delay the full funding amount of $400 million for the Beef Corridor road network upgrades and creating uncertainty around this critical road safety project; and

(3) calls on the Government to reinstate the original 2023-24 funding profile of $400 million back to the 2025-26 start date to ensure the much-needed road upgrades can begin so the beef industry can deliver its high-value product to market safely.

(Notice given 4 July 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Ms Landry 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

Orders of the day — continued

2 AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES ACCORD: Resumption of debate (from 3 June 2024) on the motion of Ms Fernando—That this House:

(1) recognises that the Government is putting in place significant reforms in response to the Australian Universities Accord to provide cost of living relief and to make higher education better and fairer for students, including those from low socio-economic status or disadvantaged backgrounds and those from the outer suburbs and from regional Australia;

(2) welcomes the Government's target of 80 per cent of the workforce having a tertiary qualification by 2050;

(3) further recognises that if the broader accord targets are achieved, $240 billion will be added to the economy over the period to 2050; and

(4) commends the Government for progress on all five priority actions from the Australian Universities Accord interim report and its response to 29 of the Australian Universities Accord recommendations in full or in part, including to:

(a) change the way indexation is calculated, wiping around $3 billion in student debt from more than 3 million Australians;

(b) introduce a Commonwealth Prac Payment for teaching, nursing and midwifery and social work students undertaking mandatory placements;

(c) fully fund Fee-Free Uni Ready courses to provide more students with an enabling pathway into higher education;

(d) guarantee funding for student led organisations; and

(e) establish an independent National Student Ombudsman.

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

5 MR CHESTER: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) Australia's local government sector is a vital partner in the delivery of local infrastructure and services across our nation; and

(b) a financially sustainable local government sector is essential for the social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits it can deliver;

(2) notes that the:

(a) budget failed to provide the funding required to allow Australia's 537 local councils to meet the needs of their communities;

(b) Government has failed to keep its promise to deliver 'fair increases' to local government; and

(c) Australian Local Government Association described the budget as 'incredibly disappointing to many councils and communities'; and

(3) urges the Government to work with councils across Australia to reduce the cost of living pressures on ratepayers and deliver the infrastructure and services our communities need.

(Notice given 3 June 2024.)

Time allotted 45 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Chester 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.

Orders of the day — continued

3 STRENGTHENING MEDICARE: Resumption of debate (from 3 June 2024) on the motion of Dr Freelander—That this House:

(1) notes the Government is continuing to improve our health system by:

(a) strengthening Medicare by:

(i) growing the number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to 87;

(ii) expanding the range of free mental health services;

(iii) increasing the number of Medicare eligible magnetic resonance imaging machines;

(iv) delivering funding for Medicare rebates for nuclear medicine imaging and common medical tests; and

(v) boosting the supply of healthcare in areas of shortage; and

(b) easing cost of living pressures with cheaper medicines, and through:

(i) reducing patient costs and improving access to medicines;

(ii) listing new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme;

(iii) making Australia a destination for clinical trials; and

(iv) investing in ground-breaking new health and medical research; and

(2) acknowledges:

(a) that only a Labor-led Government can be trusted to invest in and strengthen Medicare; and

(b) the damage done to Australia's health system by the Leader of the Opposition who, as the Minister for Health:

(i) tried to tax visits to general practitioners;

(ii) tried to tax visits to emergency departments; and

(iii) cut $50 billion from Australian hospitals.

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

6 MR L O'BRIEN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the reduction in the provision of maternity services in rural Australia:

(a) has increased significantly since the 1990s due to closure of rural maternity services and centralisation of services to metropolitan areas;

(b) greatly increases the chances of a woman having her baby outside of appropriate maternity services;

(c) increases the risk of complications for both mother and baby; and

(d) places increased financial and time costs on the woman and family; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) remove the structural barriers and address any outstanding funding recommendations to primary maternity care as outlined in the Medicare Benefits Schedule's report of Participating Midwives Reference Group, and the Senate Community Affairs References Committee's inquiry into the universal access to reproductive healthcare, both of which included recommendations for supporting rural maternity services; and

(b) ensure funding agreements with the states and territories enforce the provision of adequate rural maternity services through the Rural Birthing Index, and provide direction for the types of state-based maternity services that should be operating in rural communities.

(Notice given 3 June 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr L O'Brien 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.

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

5 June 2024