House debates

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

Committees

Selection Committee; Report

9:31 am

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

I present report No. 3 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday, 9 September, 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, 30 July 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 notices lodged on Tuesday, 30 July 2019, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 9 September 2019, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1   Mr Bandt: To present a Bill for an Act to establish the National Integrity Commission, and for related purposes. (National Integrity Commission Bill 2019)

  (Notice given 30 July 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.

Mr Hayes: To move—That this House:

(1) acknowledges Australia is a major contributor to the Syria humanitarian response plan, designating approximately $220 million dollars to Syria and neighbouring countries between 2016 and 2019;

(2) notes that:

(a) western Sydney is a primary settlement region and has received one-fifth of Australia's recent humanitarian intake, as a result of years of ongoing conflict in the Middle East; and

(b) local health, education and migrant service providers, particularly in Fairfield and Liverpool, are running beyond their funded capacity and as a result, have been put under considerable pressure when trying to assist families to settle and integrate into our local community; and

(3) further acknowledges:

(a) that the insufficient funding to support these frontline services has widened the gap between supply of and demand for settlement services to support vulnerable individuals, particularly from the minority Christian, Assyrian, Chaldean and Mandaean communities; and

(b) the need to effectively invest in the settlement of refugees to enable them into integrate into the community, fulfil their potential and make a positive contribution to this country.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 20minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hayes 5minutes.

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.

Dr Allen: To move—That this House:

(1) recognises National Science Week took place from 10 to 18 August 2019;

(2) acknowledges:

(a) National Science Week is an opportunity to recognise the economic and social contribution of those working in science disciplines;

(b) National Science Week highlights the importance of sparking an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects from an early age and maintaining participation by students throughout primary and secondary schooling;

(c) last year almost 1.2 million people participated in more than 2,100 events around the country; and

(d) Questacon's leadership role during National Science Week and throughout the year in inspiring young people and promoting STEM study; and

(3) notes the Government's ongoing investment in science, research and innovation, which totalled $9.6 billion in 2018-19.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 50minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Allen 5minutes.

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.

Orders of the day

1   Prostate cancer: Resumption of debate (from22July2019) on the motion of Mr Gorman—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) according to Cancer Australia an estimated 3,306 men have died from prostate cancer in 2019;

(b) there is an estimated one in six risk of a male being diagnosed with prostate cancer by his 85th birthday; and

(c) it is vital that men take their health seriously;

(2) acknowledges the tireless work of men's health advocate, prostate cancer survivor and Maylands resident, Mr David Dyke, for raising awareness about prostate cancer and promoting the importance of men's health in the electoral division of Perth and across Australia;

(3) commends Mr Dyke for his:

(a) advocacy in championing men's health;

(b) efforts in producing a deeply personal documentary on his battle with prostate cancer; and

(c) committed work in raising awareness about prostate cancer; and

(4) encourages Members to watch Mr Dyke's YouTube documentary 'David Dyke Prostate Journey: From Diagnosis to Rehabilitation'.

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 = 6 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 Owens: To move—That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) that western Sydney is home to two million people, which is nearly 10 per cent of Australia's population and Australia's third largest economy;

(b) that western Sydney's population is expected to grow by an additional one million people in the next 20 years while the population in the corridor between Parramatta and Sydney is expected to grow by 420,000;

(c) that more than 300,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the same period and that traffic congestion is expected to cost Sydney nearly $15 billion by 2031;

(d) that Parramatta is western Sydney's Central Business District (CBD) and is Sydney's second CBD;

(e) the benefit of the proposed Sydney Metro West project to connect Parramatta and Sydney via the Bays Precinct and Sydney Olympic Park; and

(f) that the project, when operational, is expected to slash travel times between the two CBDs to just 20 minutes (on trains running every two minutes) and reduce traffic congestion;

(2) recognises the NSW Government's commitment of $6.4 billion in funding to the project and additional commitment to fast-track the project to begin construction in 2020;

(3) further notes that Federal Labor committed to $3 billion funding to the project prior to the 2019 federal election; and

(4) calls on the Federal Government to urgently allocate the funding that will ensure the project can begin construction in the fast-tracked timeframe.

  (Notice given 29 July 2019.)

Time allotted 40minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Owens 5minutes.

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.

2   Mr Entsch: To move—That this House:

(1) notes that 31 July 2019 is World Ranger Day;

(2) acknowledges the significant contribution that indigenous rangers make to our national parks, including environmental management, restoration and education;

(3) pays tribute to rangers that have lost their lives while at work;

(4) supports the Government's funding of indigenous ranger groups with $254.6 million invested through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy over three years from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021, including $61.8 million in the state of Queensland; and

(5) welcomes the work of 123 ranger groups nationally, which provided 2,160 jobs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in 2016-17.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 40minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Entsch 5minutes.

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.

3   Mr Dick: To move—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) it has been more than four years since the Government established the independent Review of Small Amount Credit Contracts (SACC);

(b) the review panel provided the final report to the Government on 3 March 2016, listing 24 recommendations relating to the SACC and consumer leasing laws;

(c) the Government released its response to the report on 28 November 2016, in which it agreed with the vast majority of recommendations in part or in full;

(d) the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services at the time said 'the implementation of these recommendations will ensure that vulnerable consumers are afforded appropriate levels of consumer protection while continuing to access SACCs and leases';

(e) the Government released draft legislation on 23 October 2017, whereby the Minister for Small Business and now Deputy Prime Minister said that the 'Government will introduce legislation this year to implement the SACC and consumer lease reforms';

(f) the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer pledged in May 2018 that SACC and consumer leasing laws would be progressed in 2018;

(g) former Prime Minister Turnbull confirmed the Government supported the vast majority of recommendations from the independent Review of SACC and also pledged to introduce legislation enacting the recommendations in 2018;

(h) the Assistant Treasurer in December 2018 also noted the importance of protecting vulnerable consumers from harmful financial practices, but would wait until the conclusion of the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry;

(i) the Royal Commission has now been completed, however there is still no legislation before the house to enact the 24 recommendations from the independent Review of SACC;

(j) on 22 February 2019 the Senate Economics References Committee completed an inquiry into credit and financial services targeted at Australians at risk of financial hardship, which recommended that the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Small Amount Credit Contract and Consumer Lease Reforms) Bill 2017 exposure draft released by Treasury be introduced, and passage facilitated by the Government; and

(k) the Government has continuously broken its promises to legislate these important reforms; and

(2) calls on the Government to introduce legislation without any further delay so that Australians are given the protections they need from harmful pay day lending practices.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 40minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Dick 5minutes.

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.

Mr C. Kelly: To move—That this House:

(1) notes the Council of Australian Governments Disability Reform Council met on 28 June 2019 and resolved a number of long-standing issues, including the interaction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) with the health system;

(2) welcomes the council's agreement to a range of disability-related health supports that will be provided through the NDIS; and

(3) notes the:

(a) NDIS will fund disability-related health supports where the supports are required as a result of the participant's disability and assist the participant to undertake activities of daily living;

(b) types of health supports that will be funded by the NDIS include continence supports, dysphagia and nutrition supports, respiratory supports and supports for wound and pressure care; and

(c) approach agreed to by the council to fund disability related health supports under the NDIS recognises participants need to be placed at the centre of all decisions.

  (Notice given 4 July 2019.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr C. Kelly 5minutes.

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.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices—continued

Ms Sharkie: To move—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the OECD:

(i) calculates that Australia's expenditure on age pensions is currently 4 per cent of public spending, and is projected to be 4 per cent in 2050, which compares with 9 per cent and 10 per cent respectively for the OECD, and

(ii) has stated that 'the old age income poverty rate in Australia is high at 26 per cent compared to 13 per cent across the OECD in 2015';

(b) the Benevolent Society:

(i) released The Adequacy of the Age Pension in Australia: An assessment of pensioner living standards report in September 2016, concluding from its research that 'the age pension in Australia is inadequate', and

(ii) also concludes that 'home ownership constitutes the single biggest factor contributing to financial hardship among pensioners' and 'age pensioners who are renting, in particular those who are single, are the worst off';

(c) deeming rates dramatically affect the wellbeing of Australian pensioners; and

(d) whilst the Government has reduced deeming rates for the first time since 2015, it has not been adequately responsive to changes in the cash rate; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) establish an independent tribunal to:

(i) assess the base rate of the pension,

(ii) assess the Commonwealth Assistance Rate,

(iii) assess the deeming rate, and

(iv) determine the best mechanism for regular review, and

(b) reduce the financial gap between age pensioners who are home owners and those who are renters.

  (Notice given 22July 2019.)

Time allotted 30minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Sharkie 5minutes.

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.

6   Mr Thompson: To move—That this House:

(1) notes the important role Australian small business has in the future of our national and economic security through its integral role in our defence industry;

(2) recognises the defence industry's potential for growth in electoral divisions like Herbert and other regional electoral divisions across Australia;

(3) supports opportunities to maximise the participation of Australian companies in all facets of defence procurement; and

(4) acknowledges the Government's commitment to deliver a robust, resilient and internationally competitive Australian defence industry.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 40minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Thompson 5minutes.

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   Mr Zappia: To move—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) as at 30 June 2019 there were 221,415 applications for Australian citizenship by conferral;

(b) under this Government the backlog has risen from 27,037 in 2013-14;

(c) the timeframe for finalisation of 90 per cent of applications is now within 24 months;

(d) some applicants wait longer than two years for their applications to be finalised; and

(e) Australian Citizenship provides a number of important benefits including,

(i) the right to enrol and vote,

(ii) eligibility for a HECS-HELP loan for university,

(iii) access to an Australian passport, and

(iv) sometimes satisfying a requirement for employment; and

(2) calls on the Government to immediately address the backlog and lengthy wait times for citizenship applications so that people who want to fully participate in Australian civic life are able to do so.

  (Notice given 30 July 2019.)

Time allotted 30minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Zappia 5minutes.

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.

8   Mr van Manen: To move—That this House:

(1) notes with concern the growing congestion in our major cities, which makes it harder for workers to commute and takes time away from people to enjoy with their families;

(2) recognises that governments at every level need to invest in congestion busting infrastructure to provide the best outcomes for their citizens; and

(3) commends the Government on committing additional funding across urban and regional Australia, in particular the additional $3 billion to the Urban Congestion Fund so that $4 billion is now available through the fund to target pinch points in major cities to further reduce congestion.

  (Notice given 23 July 2019.)

Time allotted 45 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr van Manen 10minutes.

Next Member speaking 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 10 mins + 7 x 5 mins]

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

Orders of the day

1   Home care packages: Resumption of debate (from29July2019) on the motion of Ms Owens—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the latest Government report indicates more than 129,000 older Australians are waiting for their approved home care package;

(b) more than 75,000 older Australians on the waiting list have no home care package at all; and

(c) since 2017 the wait list for home care has grown from 88,000 to more than 129,000 older Australians;

(2) recognises:

(a) the majority of older Australians are waiting for level three and level four packages, who have high care needs;

(b) some older Australians have been waiting more than two years for their approved package; and

(c) older Australians are entering residential aged care or even emergency departments instead of receiving their approved home care package;

(3) condemns the Government for failing to stop the wait list growing; and

(4) calls on the Government to immediately fix the home care packages waiting list and properly address this growing crisis.

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 = 4 x 5 mins]

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

THE HON A. D. H. SMITH MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

31 July 2019