Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present report No. 8 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation reports and private members' business on Monday 13 February 2023. The report will be printed in the Hansard today, and the committee's determination 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, 7 February 2023.

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, 7 February 2023, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 13 February 2023, as follows:

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

COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS

Presentation and statements

1 Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters

Advisory report on the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2022

The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made all statements to conclude by 10.20 am.

Speech time limits

Ms Thwaites 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR WILKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and for related purposes. (Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Cleaning up Political Donations) Bill 2023)

(Notice given 6 February 2023.)

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 MS STEGGALL: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, and for related purposes. (Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Stop PEP11 and Protect Our Coast) Bill 2023)

(Notice given 7 Feb ruary 2023.)

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 TEHAN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Migration Act 1958, and for related purposes. (Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2023)

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjour ned pursuant to standing order 142.

4 MS TINK: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) Australia's housing stock has lagged behind that of many countries in terms of its thermal performance and the performance of heating, cooling and other energy systems; and

(b) inefficient buildings are unhealthy for occupants and lead to a range of poor respiratory and cognitive outcomes, particularly when inefficient fossil fuels are used indoors for heating or cooking; and

(2) calls on the Government to consider incentives and regulation to accelerate building improvements such as:

(a) a specific economy wide target for improvement in energy performance;

(b) a specific target within the National Energy Performance Strategy for building electrification;

(c) improving the thermal envelope of buildings through insulation, double glazing, draught-proofing and other initiatives; and

(d) providing assistance to low-income households, in particular those living in rentals and strata buildings, to reduce energy consumption and associated bills.

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Time allotted 10 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Tink 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]

The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour this day.

5 MS MILLER-FROST: To move:

That this House notes that the Government:

(1) has been delivering on its plan for a better future over the 2022-23 summer break;

(2) is being a responsible and honest government, accountable and upfront with the Australian people in the tough times we face;

(3) is cleaning up the mess left to us by the Governments of Prime Ministers, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison; and

(4) will continue to deliver targeted and responsible cost of living relief to Australians in 2023 as part of delivering on our plan for a better future.

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Miller-Frost 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

6 MRS ANDREWS: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Northern Territory Safe Measures Bill 2023 being introduced into the Senate by Senator Price;

(2) recognises the need for immediate action to address underlying issues across parts of the Northern Territory following months of escalating crime incidents; and

(3) condemns the lack of urgent action taken by the Commonwealth Government in addressing community concerns in relation to alcohol-related harm across vulnerable communities in the Northern Territory.

(Notice given 6 February 2023.)

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

Speech time limits

Mrs Andrews 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MR HOGAN: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Order of Australia is the highest national honour awarded to Australian citizens for outstanding contributions to our country or humanity at large;

(2) notes that since being established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1975, there have been 40,000 recipients of awards in the Order of Australia;

(3) recognises and celebrates the 1,047 Australia Day 2023 awards recipients, including 736 awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service;

(4) further acknowledges community members recognised through Australia Day 2023 Local Citizen of the Year Awards; and

(5) congratulates all the recipients of awards on Australia Day 2023.

(Notice given 6 February 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Hogan 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

2 MR R MITCHELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that Tuesday, 7 February 2023 marked 14 years since the Victorian Black Saturday Bushfires that saw:

(a) 173 lives lost;

(b) 414 injuries; and

(c) over 3,500 structures destroyed, including over 2,000 homes;

(2) thanks the:

(a) brave men and women of the respective emergency service organisations for their brave work on that day, fighting around 400 individual fires; and

(b) dedicated volunteers who came to the aid of the devastated communities; and

(3) remembers the people who lost their lives on that day and those who we have lost since then.

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr R Mitchell 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

3 MS CHANEY: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the:

(a) increased use of unregulated nicotine vaping products (vapes) in Australia, particularly among young people;

(b) serious health implications of the unregulated use of vapes; and

(c) increasing community concern about the prevalence and accessibility to vapes;

(2) acknowledges that the Therapeutic Goods Association has sought public comment on potential reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products aimed at preventing children and adolescents from accessing vapes, while supporting access to products of known composition and quality for smoking cessation with a doctor's prescription; and

(3) calls on the Government to address the problems associated with increased access to and use of vapes, particularly among young people.

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Chaney 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

4 MS STANLEY: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) according to Volunteering Australia's Key Volunteering Statistics, volunteers contributed almost 600 million hours of voluntary work to local communities in 2019;

(b) the Australian Bureau of Statistic's General Social Survey estimates that 30 per cent of Australians, aged 15 and over, participated in volunteer work in 2019 dropping to 25 per cent in 2020; and

(c) volunteering contributes billions of dollars in economic value to the economy as well as substantial social and community value;

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the recruitment efforts and operational ability of many local and national charity organisations;

(b) volunteering rates decreased substantially in 2020 and the 2021 Census showed a 19 per cent decrease in volunteering compared to the 2016 data;

(c) people in our community rely on the critical role of volunteers and any decrease in volunteering numbers impacts the most vulnerable in our community;

(d) the Government is continuing to provide support through grant programs for organisations;

(e) Australia needs a new approach to encourage people to participate with a greater focus on younger people; and

(f) the 'National Strategy for Volunteering' by Volunteering Australia is an important process in modernising Australia's volunteering systems

(3) encourages all Australians to volunteer for the betterment of their local communities; and

(4) expresses support for the organisations and individuals who dedicate their time for the betterment of our communities.

(Notice given 26 September 2022.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Stanley 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

5 MRS MCINTOSH: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) serious mental health issues are often at their highest two to three years after a crisis, pandemic or natural disaster;

(b) the previous Government made significant progress in supporting the mental health of Australians by doubling Medicare-subsidised sessions through the Better Access initiative; and

(c) the current Government has halved the 20 sessions to ten from 1 January 2023;

(2) condemns the Government for prioritising their budget over the health and wellbeing of Australians; and

(3) further notes the Government's use of the independent evaluation of the Better Access initiative to defend their decision to rip away mental health support from Australians, is disingenuous given that Recommendation 12 clearly states, 'the additional 10 sessions should continue to be made available and should be targeted towards those with complex mental health needs'.

(Notice given 6 February 2023.)

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

Speech time limits

Mrs McIntosh 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices — contin ued

6 MR VAN MANEN: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the significant contributions made by the more than 180,000 Australians who participate in a variety of motorsports nationwide, every year;

(2) recognises that motorsports have a substantial impact on the Australian economy, which:

(a) is estimated to be worth as much as $8.6 billion a year;

(b) supports a workforce of over 65,000 people, including:

(i) 46,800 direct and indirect jobs; and

(ii) 18,900 unpaid volunteers and officials; and

(c) in 2019 included almost 10,000 events across Australia, from the Grand Prix to club meets, attracting thousands of competitors and fans, boosting local economies through retail, hospitality, and tourism expenditure; and

(3) supports the ongoing development of motorsports in Australia, particularly at a grassroots level.

(Notice given 23 September 2022.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr van Manen 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

7 DR FREELANDER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) skin cancer, particularly melanoma, is and remains a greatly concerning health problem in Australia;

(b) Australians require more equitable access to skin cancer checks with the need for greater access through general practitioner (GP) clinics and dermatologists;

(c) early diagnosis is the key to good outcomes;

(d) not-for-profit groups, such as the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Council, are the key to better awareness of skin cancer and the importance of early diagnosis; and

(e) diagnosis is being inhibited by the costs involved in GP and dermatologist skin cancer checks; and

(2) calls for the consideration of a separate bulk-billed GP and specialist item number for skin cancer checks.

(Notice given 6 September 2022.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Freelander 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Orders of the day

HOUSING: Resumption of debate on the motion of Ms Tink—That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) Australia's housing stock has lagged behind that of many countries in terms of its thermal performance and the performance of heating, cooling and other energy systems; and

(b) inefficient buildings are unhealthy for occupants and lead to a range of poor respiratory and cognitive outcomes, particularly when inefficient fossil fuels are used indoors for heating or cooking; and

(2) calls on the Government to consider incentives and regulation to accelerate building improvements such as:

(a) a specific economy wide target for improvement in energy performance;

(b) a specific target within the National Energy Performance Strategy for building electrification;

(c) improving the thermal envelope of buildings through insulation, double glazing, draught-proofing and other initiatives; and

(d) providing assistance to low-income households, in particular those living in rentals and strata buildings, to reduce energy consumption and associated bills.

(Notice given 7 February 2023.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

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 matter should continue on a future day.

Notices — continued

8 DR REID: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the Government will have delivered cheaper medicines from 1 January 2023 with millions of Australians paying almost 30 per cent less for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) scripts; and

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) for the first time in its 75-year history, the maximum cost of general scripts under the PBS will fall; and

(b) the Government is helping to ease the squeeze on household budgets for millions of Australians.

(Notice given 30 November 2022.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Reid 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Orders of the day — continued

1 NUCLEAR ENERGY: Resumption of debate (from 6 February 2023) on the motion of Dr Gillespie—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Australia has been at the forefront of nuclear science and technology since 1953 when the Australian Atomic Energy Commission was established and operated two research reactors at Lucas Heights in Sydney;

(b) since the Australian Atomic Energy Commission became the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation in 1987, it has operated the HIFAR Research Reactor, and subsequently the OPAL Research Reactor, which has delivered significant benefits for nuclear medicine in Australia and around the world;

(c) Australia has developed one of the world's leading regulatory and safety authorities to oversee the operation of its nuclear industries with the establishment of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency; and

(d) Australia is a signatory to international non-proliferation treaties which is overseen by the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office;

(2) considers the deployment of nuclear energy to deliver energy security for the nation, as part of Australia's transition to a decarbonised electricity grid, utilising emerging nuclear technologies such as Generation III+, Generation IV Small Modular Reactors and Micro Modular Reactors; and

(3) further considers the following legislative actions:

(a) removing the blanket prohibition on:

(i) the Minister for Environment and Water declaring, approving, or considering actions relating to the construction or operation of certain nuclear facilities as described in sections 37J, 140A and 146M, and paragraph 305(2)(d) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, by repealing those provisions; and

(ii) the construction or operation of certain nuclear facilities as described in section 10 of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998, by repealing that section; and

(b) leaving unaffected:

(i) the other elements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, pursuant to which the Minister would assess any application to establish a facility previously named in the repealed provisions;

(ii) state and territory powers to protect their citizens and the environment from potential adverse radiation impacts; and

(iii) the power vested in the Minister for Foreign Affairs to determine whether or not to issue a permit under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation (Safeguards) Act 1987 for such a proposed facility.

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 = 9 x 5 mins]

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

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

8 February 2023