Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 135, standing in my name, relating to the establishment of a select committee, in the terms circulated.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

(1) That a select committee to be known as the Select Committee on Strengthening Multiculturalism be established on 27 March 2017 to inquire into and report on ways of protecting and strengthening Australia's multiculturalism and social inclusion, with particular reference to:

(a) the views and experiences of people from culturally and linguistically diverse, and new and emerging communities;

(b) the adequacy and accessibility of settlement and social inclusion services and resources available to individuals and communities;

(c) the adequacy of existing data collection and social research on racially motivated crimes;

(d) the impact of discrimination, vilification and other forms of exclusion and bigotry on the basis of 'race', colour, national or ethnic origin, culture or religious belief;

(e) the impact of political leadership and media representation on the prevalence of vilification and other forms of exclusion and bigotry on the basis of 'race', colour, national or ethnic origin, culture or religious belief;

(f) how to improve the expected standards of public discourse about matters of 'race', colour, national or ethnic origin, culture or religious belief;

(g) how to better recognise and value the contribution that diverse communities bring to Australian social and community life;

(h) the potential benefits and disadvantages of enshrining principles of multiculturalism in legislation;

(i) the potential benefits and disadvantages of establishing a legislative basis for the Multicultural Advisory Council, or for an ongoing Multicultural Commission; and

(j) any related matters.

(2) That the committee present its final report on or before 14 August 2017.

(3) That the committee consist of 7 senators, 2 nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, 3 nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, 1 nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens and 1 nominated by minority groups and independent senators.

(4) That:

(a) participating members may be appointed to the committee on the nomination of the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, the Leader of the Australian Greens or any minority party or independent senator; and

(b) participating members may participate in hearings of evidence and deliberations of the committee, and have all the rights of members of the committee, but may not vote on any questions before the committee.

(5) That the committee may proceed to the dispatch of business notwithstanding that all members have not been duly nominated and appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy.

(6) That the committee elect as chair a member nominated by the Leader of the Australian Greens and, as deputy chair, a member nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

(7) That the deputy chair shall act as chair when the chair is absent from a meeting of the committee or the position of chair is temporarily vacant.

(8) That, in the event of an equally divided vote, the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, have a casting vote.

(9) That the committee have power to send for and examine persons and documents, to move from place to place, to sit in public or in private, notwithstanding any prorogation of the Parliament or dissolution of the House of Representatives, and have leave to report from time to time its proceedings, the evidence taken and such interim recommendations as it may deem fit.

(10) That the committee be provided with all necessary staff, facilities and resources and be empowered to appoint persons with specialist knowledge for the purposes of the committee with the approval of the President.

(11) That the committee be empowered to print from day to day such documents and evidence as may be ordered by it, and a daily Hansard be published of proceedings which take place in public.

Question agreed to.