Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Kitching, I move:

That the following matter be referred to the Environment and Communications References Committee for inquiry and interim report by Tuesday, 11 August 2020 with the final report due by the first sitting Tuesday of March 2021:

the future of Australia Post's service delivery, with particular reference to:

(a) the Australian Postal Corporation (Performance Standards) Amendment Regulations 2020 and their impact on services, the Australia Post workforce and affected businesses;

(b) the impact of COVID-19 on the financial position of Australia Post and its future;

(c) a sustainable plan for Australia Post to provide:

  (i) services that meet community needs and expectations,

  (ii) job security for its workforce, and

  (iii) support for regional and metropolitan licensed post offices;

(d) international and domestic trends with parcels, letters and pricing; and

(e) any related matters.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to the motion to the effect of substituting 'Environment and Communications Legislation Committee' for 'Environment and Communications References Committee'.

Leave granted.

I move:

Omit "Environment and Communication References Committee", substitute "Environment and Communications Legislation Committee".

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I have a question with regard to this. The amendment is to move the reference to a different committee, but are the dates the same?

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

Given the amendment is in the chamber, the minister has said to me that there is no change to the date, so it's only the change moved by the minister. Is the minister given leave to explain the issue?

Leave granted.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

To assist the chamber, the subject matter of this motion and this referral is a temporary regulatory change that the government has initiated in the context of COVID-19. The period for the disallowance to be dealt with is by 25 August. Given there is provision in the reference, as moved, to have an interim report by 11 August, we would anticipate that, at that time, a recommendation could be made by that committee, but, if it is the wish of the chamber to bring the reporting date forward, I'm happy to move to that effect. The disallowance does come to a close—we've got to deal with it as a chamber—by 25 August. But you can move to that effect if you want to change it.

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to move after having negotiations and talks with the post office workers union and the CEO. They are quite happy to have the hearing sooner rather than later and the reporting date down.

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

Senator Hanson, I've got to now start to enforce the rules. It was a statement by leave, I appreciate that. I call the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to move an amendment to substitute 'Environment and Communications Legislation Committee' for 'Environment and Communications References Committee' and to bring forward the reporting date for the final report of that committee to 11 August.

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

Senator Cormann, you were granted leave to move the first amendment. I was about to put that. Would you like me to deal with first amendment separately to your second one or do both? Alright. Senator Cormann has withdrawn, with the leave of the chamber, his first proposal and he is now seeking leave to move the amendment in the terms he just sought.

Leave granted.

Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

(1) Omit "Environment and Communication References Committee", substitute "Environment and Communications Legislation Committee"; and (2) amend reporting date to 11 August 2020.

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

The question is the motion moved by Senator Cormann to amend business of the Senate No. 5 be agreed to.

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

The question now is that business of the Senate motion No. 5 as amended be agreed to.

Question agreed to.