House debates

Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Committees

Selection Committee; Report

9:36 am

Photo of Tony SmithTony Smith (Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

I present report No. 24 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday, 21 May 2018. The report will be printed in the Hansard for today, and the committee's determinations will appear on 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, 8 May 2018.

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, 8 May 2018, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 21 May 2018, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS LEY: To present a Bill for an Act to restrict the long haul export of live sheep, and for related purposes. (Live Sheep Long Haul Export Prohibition Bill 2018)

(Notice given 8May 2018.)

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 MR BANDT: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Fair Work Act2009, and for related purposes. (Fair Work Amendment (Making Australia More Equal) Bill 2018)

(Notice given 6 February 2018.)

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 MR BANDT: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the law in relation to air services, and for related purposes. (Air Services Amendment Bill 2018)

(Notice given 27March 2018.)

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.

4 MR WATTS: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the role of Government leadership in ensuring the productivity and liveability of Australian cities; and

(2) notes:

(a) the importance of public transport infrastructure in shaping cities and regions;

(b) the record funding commitments for urban public transport infrastructure made under the previous Labor government, including $3.2 billion for the Regional Rail Link project and a further $3 billion committed to the Melbourne Metro rail project (Metro Tunnel);

(c) the recent Infrastructure Australia report, Future Cities: Planning for our growing population, which highlights the need for Australian governments to increase investment in public transport in areas experiencing rapid population growth, including in Melbourne's west;

(d) that if an appropriate route is selected, the construction of an airport rail link to Melbourne Airport through Melbourne's west has the potential to create social and economic benefits across the region; and

(e) that further public transport infrastructure projects for fast growing regions like Melbourne's west will needed in the near future to meet the challenge of population growth.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Watts—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

5 MR CHRISTENSEN : To move—that this House recognises that:

(1) the Australian Labor Party has abandoned workers in Queensland, to chase Green votes in Victoria;

(2) Opposition Leader Bill Shorten:

(a) tells workers in Queensland he is pro coal, and in Victoria that he is against it; and

(b) promised green activist Geoff Cousins that he would tear up the approvals for the Adani Carmichael mine;

(3) the opening up of the Galilee Basin has the potential to create over 16,000 jobs in Queensland;

(4) the Australian Labor Party is gambling with the integrity of Australia and has created a sovereign risk; and

(5) Australia should utilise its natural resources and encourage investment in our mining sector to create much needed jobs for regional areas.

(Notice given 26March 2018.)

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

Speech time limits—

Mr Christensen—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS HUSAR: To move—that this House:

(1) acknowledges that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS):

(a) supports a better life for hundreds of thousands of Australians with a significant and permanent disability, and their families and carers; and

(b) will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life;

(2) notes that:

(a) the NDIS began in a number of trial sites around Australia from July 2013;

(b) the NDIS is now operational across Australia;

(c) as at 31 December 2017, there were 132,743 participants with an approved plan with the NDIS and 9,523 children receiving support through the Early Childhood Early Intervention approach; and

(d) the NDIS roll-out in Western Australia will commence 1 July 2018;

(3) calls on the Government to urgently address delays and inadequacies in the NDIS operations and roll-out, including:

(a) funding adequacy and access to the scheme;

(b) NDIS plan approvals and plan renewals;

(c) access to adequate health services, care and supports, housing and other essential services; and

(d) ensuring that the pricing structure of the NDIS enables service providers to deliver high quality support to participants in the scheme including for group activities that are being threatened by the current model;

(4) reaffirms its commitment to:

(a) ensuring Australians with a disability continue to get the support they need;

(b) the scheme roll-out continuing to ensure a smooth transition for people with disability and support providers; and

(c) an adequately funded and resourced NDIS; and

(5) encourages all Members of Parliament to support the NDIS roll-out and the access to support it provides to people with disability.

(Notice given 26 March 2018; amended 7May 2018.)

Time allotted—50 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Ms Husar—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 10 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

2 MR RAMSEY : To move:

That this House:

(1) expresses its support for continued trials into suicide prevention in rural and regional Australia;

(2) recognises:

(a) the huge toll suicide takes on regional communities;

(b) that people in regional areas are more likely to take their own lives than those in metropolitan areas;

(c) that suicide is the leading cause of death in people aged between 15 and 44; and

(d) that regional communities are affected by economic stress, the effects of natural disasters, isolation and loneliness, leading to increased risk of suicide;

(3) encourages the National Suicide Prevention Strategy to:

(a) commission regionally appropriate suicide prevention activities; and

(b) identify young people at high risk of self-harm or suicide and support them; and

(4) supports funding into mental health research and trials in electoral divisions across regional Australia, such as those conducted in Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln and Yorke Peninsula, in the electoral division of Grey.

(Notice given 28 February 2018.)

Time allotted—50 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Ramsey—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 10 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

3 MR GOSLING: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the importance of Australia's bilateral relationship with Indonesia;

(2) notes that:

(a) two-way investment between Australia and Indonesia was valued at $10.4 billion in 2016;

(b) 16,200 Indonesian tourists visited Australia and 1.248 million Australians visited Indonesia in 2016, making Indonesia Australia's second most popular holiday destination;

(c) cultural engagement programs like those fostered by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, the Australia-Indonesia Centre and CAUSINDY: the Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth, are paramount to continuing to develop strong people-to-people links;

(d) Darwin has a key role to play in Australia's relationship with Indonesia through:

(i) educational opportunities such as Charles Darwin University's exchange programs, research groups, and international student places;

(ii) assisting Indonesia in building their emergency and disaster management capacity;

(iii) quick-response health resources like the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre; and

(iv) further strengthening trade capabilities and opportunities in the cattle industry, with Indonesia taking approximately 60 per cent of Australia's overall live cattle exports and more than a third of Australia's live cattle exports currently shipped through the Port of Darwin; and

(e) there are many areas in which cooperation between Indonesia and Australia could be strengthened for mutual benefit, including:

(i) countering transnational crime through cyber-security capacity building;

(ii) improving Defence capabilities and humanitarian aid/disaster relief assistance;

(iii) sharing the expertise of NT health professionals through clinical training and trainee/specialist exchange programs;

(iv) partnering on tourism initiatives like Indonesia's Beyond Bali campaign to provide opportunities to regional areas such as Eastern Indonesia; and

(v) expanding trilateral cooperation with Timor-Leste to improve humanitarian aid/disaster relief and strengthen maritime security, with opportunity for inclusion of other nations;

(3) encourages Members to reflect on recent occasions when the strength of the Australia-Indonesia relationship has been strained by decisions that, with the benefit of hindsight, didn't adequately balance all aspects of the relationship between our nations; and

(4) calls on Members to ensure our words and actions at all times demonstrate our deep, enduring respect for Indonesia and the value we place in maintaining a positive relationship.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Gosling—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Orders of the day

1 Mental health: Resumption of debate (from 16 October 2017) on the motion of Mr Wallace—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures one in five Australians report having a mental or behavioural condition, while the prevalence is highest among people aged 18 to 24; and

(b) data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare suggests that 54 per cent of people with a mental illness do not access treatment;

(2) congratulates the Government for its engagement with the mental health community and for its measures to support mental health in Australia including:

(a) additional investment of $170 million in mental health programs in the 2017 budget including $80 million to maintain community psycho-social services for people with mental illness who are not eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, $11.1 million to prevent suicide in specific locations where it is a frequent occurrence, $15 million to support mental health research initiatives such as the Thompson Institute on the Sunshine Coast and $50 million for mental illness prevention and support for serving Australian Defence Force members, veterans and their families; and

(b) investment of:

(i) $9.5 million to expand mental health first aid training in 14 high risk communities; and

(ii) $9.1 million to support rural telehealth services for mental health and the appointment of the first National Rural Health Commissioner;

(3) encourages the Government to continue this focused work and to seek additional ways to support the mental health of Australians; and

(4) further encourages anyone who believes that they might be suffering from a mental illness to seek immediate help from their General Practitioner or a qualified mental health practitioner.

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

Speech time limits—

All Members speaking—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices—continued

4 MR HAYES: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the deteriorating humanitarian crisis that has ensued between the Myanmar security forces in Rakhine State and Rohingya Muslims, since 25 August 2017;

(2) notes with grave concern, evidence from Human Rights Watch of a series of brutal crackdowns carried out by security forces against ethnic Rohingya Muslims, including:

(a) extrajudicial killing;

(b) the torture and suffering of Rohingya women, men and children;

(c) the forced displacement of more than 600,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh;

(d) the destruction, arson and takeover of more than 300 villages by the Myanmar military; and

(e) endemic rape and sexual violence;

(3) further notes:

(a) that Myanmar was home to an estimated 1.3 million Rohingya Muslims;

(b) the long history and persecution of the Rohingya population, including the denial of citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law and the denial of most basic government services;

(c) the poor living conditions and widespread inequality facing Rohingya Muslims isolated in Rakhine State and those now living in Bangladesh, including limited access to food, water, shelter, medical treatment and humanitarian assistance; and

(d) that the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have described the situation in Rakhine State as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing;

(4) urges the government of Myanmar to:

(a) recommit to the pursuit of peace and national reconciliation;

(b) allow unfettered humanitarian access to all parts of Rakhine State; and

(c) unconditionally release the two Reuters reporters currently detained in Myanmar; and

(5) echoes the voices of the international community and calls on Australia to:

(a) consider additional humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis, particularly to assist Bangladesh respond to the unprecedented levels of Rohingya refugees that have moved across its border;

(b) ensure that the development assistance that Australia provides to Myanmar is appropriately targeted to those most in need, and does not risk contributing to the further suffering of minority groups in Myanmar such as the Rohingya;

(c) exert maximum pressure on the Myanmar authorities to allow independent examination of claims of human rights abuses in Rakhine State, and to hold those responsible for abuses to account; and

(d) continue condemnation of the human rights abuses against the Rohingya.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

Time allotted—30 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr Hayes—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

5 MR VAN MANEN : To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Australian Government:

(a) is acting to provide critical upgrades to the M1 Motorway to deliver safer, less congested roads for the people of Queensland, which will mean people spend less time in traffic and more time with their families;

(b) is delivering a $1 billion upgrade including between Varsity Lakes and Tugun on the Gold Coast end of the M1 corridor, and between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill within the Brisbane urban area; and

(c) has previously committed funding to two projects on the M1 which are scheduled to commence construction in coming weeks, being:

(i) $115 million for the M1 Pacific Motorway-Gateway Merge; and

(ii) $110 million for the M1 Pacific Motorway-Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes project; and

(2) calls on the Queensland Government to match the funding on a 50:50 basis.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mr van Manen—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

Orders of the day—continued

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE: Debate to be resumed on the motion of Mr Watts—That this House:

(1) acknowledges the role of Government leadership in ensuring the productivity and liveability of Australian cities; and

(2) notes:

(a) the importance of public transport infrastructure in shaping cities and regions;

(b) the record funding commitments for urban public transport infrastructure made under the previous Labor government, including $3.2 billion for the Regional Rail Link project and a further $3 billion committed to the Melbourne Metro rail project (Metro Tunnel);

(c) the recent Infrastructure Australia report, Future Cities: Planning for our growing population, which highlights the need for Australian governments to increase investment in public transport in areas experiencing rapid population growth, including in Melbourne's west;

(d) that if an appropriate route is selected, the construction of an airport rail link to Melbourne Airport through Melbourne's west has the potential to create social and economic benefits across the region; and

(e) that further public transport infrastructure projects for fast growing regions like Melbourne's west will needed in the near future to meet the challenge of population growth.

Time allotted—20 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All Members speaking—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

6 MRS MARINO: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the importance of infrastructure to the future prosperity of our nation;

(2) acknowledges the actions the Government is taking in delivering a record $75 billion investment in infrastructure and transport projects focused on building local communities, connecting the regions and our cities, busting congestion and boosting productivity, while creating local jobs;

(3) notes that for the first time, the Government has committed to a 10 year infrastructure investment pipeline with the recently announced significant infrastructure projects; and

(4) congratulates the Government in working to deliver the infrastructure that will help secure Australia's prosperity into the future.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Mrs Marino—5 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 8 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.

7 MS SHARKIE : To move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) the key role that volunteers play in our communities across Australia;

(b) National Volunteer Week is an annual celebration of the contribution of volunteers and this year is from 21 to 27 May 2018;

(c) there are over 6 million Australians volunteers who generously donate their time to a wide range of social and community causes;

(d) volunteering Australia estimates that the annual economic and societal benefit of volunteering is valued at $290 billion or more; and

(e) volunteering provides clear benefits to both volunteers and Australian society;

(2) thanks the Government and Parliament for their support of volunteering and volunteering support services; and

(3) calls on the:

(a) Government to continue its funding support for volunteering support services; and

(b) Parliament to join together to thank our volunteers for their generous contribution to Australia.

(Notice given 8 May 2018.)

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

Speech time limits—

Ms Sharkie—10 minutes.

Other Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 10 mins + 5 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.