Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That:

(1)

paragraph (2) of the resolution of appointment of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade be amended to read:“That the committee consist of 34 members, 13 Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Government Whip or Whips, nine Members of the House of Representatives to be nominated by the Opposition Whip or Whips or by any independent Member, five Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, five Senators to be nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and two Senators to be nominated by any minority group or groups or independent Senator or independent Senators”; and

(2)

a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting its concurrence.

Briefly, this motion is being moved by the government in order to facilitate the appointment of the Independent member for Lyne to this committee. The member for Lyne has expressed an interest in it as a priority committee for him to serve on. As members would be aware, Independent members in the chamber are recognised as non-government members when it comes to committee positions. The opposition, up to this point, has not facilitated membership of the committee for the member for Lyne. Hence the government is taking this action in order to make sure that that is rectified. I commend the motion that I have moved to the House. I understand it has been the subject of discussion between the Chief Government Whip and the Chief Opposition Whip and will therefore receive the consensus support of the House.

Question agreed to.