House debates

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Committees

Selection Committee; Report

9:31 am

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

I present report No. 37 of the Selection Committee relating to consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business for Monday, 15 April 2019. 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, 2 April 2019.

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 determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 15 April 2019, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1   Mr Shorten: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the law to give effect to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry to strengthen consumer protection, and for related purposes. (Treasury Laws Amendment (Banking Royal Commission Recommendations Implementation—Enhancing Consumer Protection) Bill 2019)

(Notice given 19 February 2019.)

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 Shorten: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Corporations Act 2001 to give effect to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry to strengthen AFCA processes, and for related purposes. (Corporations Amendment (Banking Royal Commission Recommendations Implementation—Strengthening AFCA Processes) Bill 2019)

(Notice given 19 February 2019.)

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 Shorten: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Corporations Act 2001 to give effect to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry to end grandfathering of commissions in financial advice, and for related purposes. (Corporations Amendment (Banking Royal Commission Recommendations Implementation—Ending Grandfathered Commissions) Bill 2019)

(Notice given 19 February 2019.)

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.

Orders of the day

1 ASIC: Resumption of debate (from 20 August 2018) on the motion of Mr Robert—That this House:

(1) notes the appointment of the new Deputy Chair of ASIC, Mr Daniel Crennan QC;

(2) further notes that the Government invested in ASIC to give it the tools it needs to be a tough cop on the beat including:

(a) the introduction of an industry funding model to secure ASIC's funding base;

(b) a new product intervention power to enable ASIC to intervene in the sale of harmful products to retail customers; and

(c) legislating to:

(i) remove ASIC employees from the Public Service Act 1999 to enhance ASIC's ability to attract and retain the best staff, and

(ii) include competition considerations within ASIC's mandate;

(3) notes Mr Crennan's appointment builds on the reforms to strengthen criminal and civil penalties for corporate misconduct; and

(4) further notes that this appointment boosts the powers of ASIC to protect Australian consumers from corporate and financial misconduct.

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All 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.

2 Funding for public schools: Resumption of debate (from 18 February 2019) on the motion of Ms Ryan—That this House:

(1) acknowledges that our public schools are at the heart of our education system;

(2) notes that:

(a) public schools teach two in three of all school students, and the overwhelming majority of Australia's neediest children, including:

(i) 82 per cent of the poorest children;

(ii) 84 per cent of Indigenous children; and

(iii) 74 per cent of children with disabilities;

(b) under the current Government, almost nine in ten (88 per cent) of public schools will never get to their fair funding level because the Government has capped federal funding for public schools at just 20 per cent of the Schools Recommendation Scheme;

(c) after spending a year trying to deny there were cuts, the fact the Government has restored funding to Catholic and independent schools was finally an admission that it is cutting billions of dollars from schools;

(d) Labor has announced a plan to restore funding to public schools; and

(e) Labor's plan will transform public schools across Australia and give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter where they live, or what amount their parents earn; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) immediately adopt Labor's plan to restore funding to public schools to ensure every public school reaches its fair funding level; and

(b) work with school systems to get every school to its fair funding level.

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

Speech time limits—

All 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

Orders of the day

1   Fair Work Amendment (Restoring Penalty Rates) Bill 2018 (Mr Shorten): Second reading—Resumption of debate (from3December2018).

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All 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.

2 M ental health : Resumption of debate (from 10 September 2018) 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—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All 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.

3 Preschool/kindy funding: Resumption of debate (from 3 December 2018) on the motion of Ms Claydon—That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) 90 per cent of the brain develops before the age of five;

(b) nearly one in four Australian children—22 per cent—start school without the foundational skills to be successful learners; and

(c) those children who are missing out on early education are children from disadvantaged backgrounds and are the ones who would benefit most from a preschool program;

(2) agrees that:

(a) according to the Lifting our Game report prepared by early education experts for state and territory education ministers, two years of preschool is a key recommendation to achieving educational excellence in Australia; and

(b) age appropriate early learning programs have been proven to have a positive impact on children's outcomes through school;

(3) notes that:

(a) the Government has left parents and providers in limbo with its refusal to provide funding certainty;

(b) without ongoing funding to four year old preschool/kindy, providers are unable to plan ahead;

(c) since Labor introduced Universal Access to Early Childhood Education in 2008, preschool enrolment for four year olds has increased from 77 per cent to 93 per cent; and

(d) the Government's lack of commitment has left us falling behind other OECD countries in early education; and

(4) calls on the Government to properly fund four year old preschool/kindy and follow Labor's commitment to provide ongoing funding to four year olds and extend this to three year olds.

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All 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.

4 Infrastructure: Resumption of debate (from 10 September 2018) on the motion of Mrs Marino—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.

And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr Albanese, vizThat all words after paragraph (1) be omitted and the following be inserted:

(2) condemns the Government for cutting infrastructure investment from $8 billion in 2017-18 to $4.5 billion in 2021-22;

(3) notes research from the Parliamentary Budget Office which has found Commonwealth investment will fall from 0.4 to 0.2 per cent of GDP over the next decade;

(4) condemns the Government for its incompetence in underspending by $4.7 billion on its own infrastructure investment commitments in its first four budgets;

(5) notes that off budget financing of public transport projects is misleading; and

(6) condemns the Government for failing to deliver investment to construct the Melbourne airport rail line, Western Sydney rail or Brisbane cross-river rail project.

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

Speech time limits—

All 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.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Orders of the day—continued

Funding for public schools: Debate to be resumed on the motion of Ms Ryan—That this House:

(1) acknowledges that our public schools are at the heart of our education system;

(2) notes that:

(a) public schools teach two in three of all school students, and the overwhelming majority of Australia's neediest children, including:

(i) 82 per cent of the poorest children;

(ii) 84 per cent of Indigenous children; and

(iii) 74 per cent of children with disabilities;

(b) under the current Government, almost nine in ten (88 per cent) of public schools will never get to their fair funding level because the Government has capped federal funding for public schools at just 20 per cent of the Schools Recommendation Scheme;

(c) after spending a year trying to deny there were cuts, the fact the Government has restored funding to Catholic and independent schools was finally an admission that it is cutting billions of dollars from schools;

(d) Labor has announced a plan to restore funding to public schools; and

(e) Labor's plan will transform public schools across Australia and give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter where they live, or what amount their parents earn; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) immediately adopt Labor's plan to restore funding to public schools to ensure every public school reaches its fair funding level; and

(b) work with school systems to get every school to its fair funding level.

Time allotted—45 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All Members—5 minutes. each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]

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

5 Farm Household Allowance: Resumption of debate (from 10 September 2018) on the motion of Mr Gee—That this House:

(1) notes that a significant part of rural Australia is currently drought declared;

(2) further notes that farming families and the agriculture sector more widely are a vital part of the Australian economy as well as the Australian psyche;

(3) recognises the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources for their efforts in touring drought declared areas in NSW and Queensland;

(4) congratulates the Government for deciding to extend the Farm Household Allowance from three years to four years; and

(5) acknowledges that this assistance will help the nation's farmers.

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

All 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.

Notices

1   Ms Sharkie: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) craft distillers:

(i) make an increasingly important contribution to the Australian economy; and

(ii) are a significant tourism attraction and have a significant multiplier effect on the wider economy, particularly in rural and regional areas;

(b) the excise regime faced by craft distillers is excessively complex, burdensome, and is a major obstacle for smaller operators;

(c) the timing of excise payments can have a negative effect upon cashflow for start-up craft distillers; and

(d) the levying of excise payments on tastings and samples is limiting opportunities for tourism, export, and growth; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) take steps to reduce the tax complexity and barriers to growth faced by craft distillers;

(b) assess the effect that the timing of excise payments has on cash flow for smaller businesses and the resultant influence this has on growth;

(c) target the excise refund scheme more effectively towards craft distillers; and

(d) consider the removal of excise payments on samples and tastings.

(Notice given 27 November 2018)

Time allotted—40 minutes.

Speech time limits—

Ms Sharkie—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

6 Agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors: Resumption of debate (from 17 September 2018) on the motion of Mr Joyce—That this House:

(1) commends the hard working men and women of Australia's farms and rural industry;

(2) notes that Australia's total farm production is worth $62.3 billion in 2016-17, which is up almost 30 per cent since the Government came to office;

(3) notes that the value of agricultural exports is $49 billion in 2016-17, which is up 28 per cent since the Government came to office;

(4) notes the contribution of agriculture, forestry and fishing sector's to Australia's economy is $45.7 billion in 2016-17, which is up 9 per cent since the Government came to office;

(5) commends the Government for its investment in Australian agriculture to create jobs and prosperity in rural communities; and

(6) stands with farmers across Australia facing severe hardship as a result of drought and recognises the Government's drought assistance measures.

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

Speech time limits—

All 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.