Hollie Hughes (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators Griff and Steele-John, move:

(1) That a select committee, known as the Select Committee on Autism, be established to inquire into and report on the services, support and life outcomes for autistic people in Australia and the associated need for a National Autism Strategy, with particular reference to:

(a) current approaches and barriers to consistent, timely and best practice autism diagnosis;

(b) the prevalence of autism in Australia;

(c) misdiagnosis and underrepresentation of females in autism data, and gender bias in autism assessment and support services;

(d) international best practice with regards to diagnosis, support services and education;

(e) the demand for and adequacy of Commonwealth, state and local government services to meet the needs of autistic people at all life stages;

(f) the interaction between services provided by the Commonwealth, state and local governments, including:

  (i) health and mental health,

  (ii) education,

  (iii) employment,

  (iv) justice, and

  (v) housing;

(g) the social and economic cost of failing to provide adequate services, including to support key life stage transitions of autistic people;

(h) the adequacy and efficacy of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for autistic people, including:

  (i) autism understanding within the NDIS,

  (ii) the utility of the Early Childhood Early Intervention Pathway for autistic children,

  (iii) the ability of the NDIS to support autistic people with complex needs, including those transitioning from prison settings, and

  (iv) the adequacy and appropriateness of supports to empower autistic people to participate in the NDIS planning process, and exercise self-determination through choice and control over their support services;

  (i) the development of a National Autism Strategy and its interaction with the next phase of the National Disability Strategy;

(j) the adequacy of funding for research into autism;

(k) the social inclusion and participation of autistic people within the economy and community;

(l) the capacity and sustainability of advocacy for autistic people;

(m) any bill that relates to matters within the scope of this inquiry that is referred to this committee; and

  (n) any other related matters.

(2) That the committee present its final report on or before the first sitting day of October 2021.

(3) That the committee consist of six senators, two nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, two nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Griff and Senator Steele-John.

(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 or any minority party or independent senator;

(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; and

  (c) a participating member shall be taken to be a member of the committee for the purpose of forming a quorum of the committee if a majority of members of the committee is not present.

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

(6) That the committee elect as chair one of the members nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and Senator Stirling Griff as deputy chair.

(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 the chair, or the deputy chair when acting as chair, may appoint another member of the committee to act as chair during the temporary absence of both the chair and deputy chair at a meeting of the committee.

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

(10) That the committee have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of three or more of its members, and to refer to any such subcommittee any of the matters which the committee is empowered to examine.

(11) That the committee and any subcommittee 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.

(12) 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 of the Senate.

(13) 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 such proceedings as take place in public.

Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move the amendments as circulated in my name in the chamber:

1. In subparagraph (1) (d) after "education" add: ", effectiveness, cost and required intensity"

2. In subparagraph (1) (g) after "adequate" add: "and appropriate"

3. Omit subparagraph (1) (1), substitute:

" (1) (1) the capacity and sustainability of advocacy, self-advocacy and self-determination supports for autistic people, including mechanisms to self-represent to government as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; "

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For the information of Senator Steele-John, the Labor Party are not listed on this motion and these amendments just came to us then. In accordance with good practice, we would have appreciated a heads-up that you were seeking to amend this so that we could have been across the amendment. But we will, with the concurrence of all movers, support the amendment.

Question agreed to.

Original question, as amended, agreed to.