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

I present report No. 19 of the Selection Committee relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business, and private members' business on Monday, 13 November 2023. 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, 17 October 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, 17 October 2023, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 13 November 2023, as follows:

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

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 DR M RYAN: To present a Bill for an Act to establish a scheme to promote and enhance transparency, integrity and honesty in dealings between lobbyists and Government representatives, and for related purposes. (Lobbying (Improving Government Honesty and Trust) Bill 2023)

(Notice given 16 October 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 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and for related purposes. (Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Voter Protections in Political Advertising) Bill 2023)

(Notice given 17 October 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 BATES: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Government has released an Aviation Green Paper projecting a tripling of flight volumes by 2050;

(b) since the opening of the new parallel runway at Brisbane Airport, that airport is now by far the most complained about airport in Australia;

(c) increased large aircraft traffic and light aircraft flights are already posing significant noise issues for people in Melbourne; and

(d) the Prime Minister and the Government support a curfew and flight cap on Sydney Airport; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) support a curfew and flight cap on Brisbane Airport;

(b) accelerate the development of High Speed Rail to provide competition to the aviation industry, and reduce noise and pollution impacts on communities; and

(c) address the aircraft noise concerns of people living in Melbourne.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Bates 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 MR LAXALE: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the release of the Rapid Review into the Exploitation of Australia's Visa System on 4 October 2023, which found:

(a) abuses of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and other organised crime in Australia's immigration system;

(b) significant gaps and weaknesses in Australia's visa system; and

(c) criminals routinely abusing Australia's visa system;

(2) notes that the problems identified in the report are systemic and will take time to fix but commends the Government's commitment not to turn a blind eye to the exploitation of Australia's visa system by:

(a) increasing resourcing by $50 million;

(b) establishing a new division within the Department of Home Affairs to re-prioritise immigration compliance and protect the integrity of the visa and migration system;

(c) strengthening fit and proper person assessments for registered migration agents (RMAs);

(d) improving the ability of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) to sanction unscrupulous RMAs;

(e) providing a stronger framework for the OMARA to address criminality in the migration advice industry; and

(f) increasing financial penalties for providing unlawful immigration assistance; and

(3) condemns the Leader of the Opposition for overseeing a migration system that was used to facilitate some of the worst crimes in our society.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Laxale 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 MR PEARCE: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) obesity is a public health crisis;

(b) today about 14 million Australians, or two in three adults, are overweight or obese;

(c) the Class III category (body mass index of 40 or higher) has seen the highest relative growth during the past decade;

(d) according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in four children aged five to 17 years are either overweight or obese and one in two young people aged 18 to 24 are overweight or obese;

(e) vulnerable sections of our community, such as First Nations Australians, Australians living in regional and remote areas, and older Australians aged 65 to 74 are particularly affected;

(f) Australians living with obesity are at a far higher risk of developing chronic conditions, including at least thirteen different forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, back pain, chronic kidney disease, dementia, gallbladder disease, gout and osteoarthritis;

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) overweight and obesity are among the highest contributors to disease burden in Australia;

(b) by addressing obesity, benefits will be realised in multiple areas of the healthcare system and economy;

(c) despite the implementation of well-intentioned preventative health measures, more is needed to combat the surge of overweight and obesity rates;

(d) new pharmacotherapies for obesity have the potential to be a real game changer in the fight against obesity; and

(e) the former Government developed the first National Obesity Strategy and remains committed to policy that halts the rise and reverses the trend in the prevalence of obesity in adults; and

(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) elevate obesity as a National Health Priority Area;

(b) ensure pharmaceutical therapies that have been approved by Therapeutic Goods Administration can be made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to Australians as an additional tool against overweight and obesity, alongside a healthy and balanced diet and a regular exercise routine.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Pearce 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 (11 am to 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Orders of the day

1 STRONGER COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME: Resumption of debate (from 16 October 2023) on the motion of Mr Chester—That this House:

(1) notes that the:

(a) Stronger Communities Programme delivered on the former Government's commitment to deliver social benefits in communities across Australia;

(b) programme provided grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 to community organisations and local governments for small scale projects; and

(c) programme helped fund over 15,000 community-based projects across Australia; and

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) the Government has failed to provide funding for future rounds of the programme, with no replacement for small-scale projects; and

(b) community groups, already struggling with the increased cost of living, will have no other option than to fundraise for projects that otherwise could have been funded under the programme.

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

All Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

Notices

1 MR RAE: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that the Government was elected on the promise of getting wages moving again after a decade of deliberate wage stagnation under the previous Government;

(2) notes that Australian Bureau of Statistics' data released in August, and new analysis, shows that:

(a) the average earnings of a full-time worker increased 3.9 per cent in the first year of the Government, in dollar terms, an extra $3,700 per year;

(b) the average worker is earning $1,400 more than they would have because of the higher rate of wages growth under the Government compared to if wages had continued to grow at the sluggish pace they did under our predecessors; and

(c) low paid workers are receiving the largest pay rises;

(3) further notes that the Government's economic plan is all about getting wages moving in a sustainable way by:

(a) securing a pay rise for minimum and award wage earners;

(b) funding a wage rise for aged care workers;

(c) changing our industrial relations laws to support secure jobs and better pay; and

(d) funding more TAFE and university places and investing in strategic industries to help deliver well-paid jobs into the future; and

(4) acknowledges this is another example of the Government working for Australia and delivering on our election commitments to build a better future for Australians.

(Notice given 12 September 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Rae 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 DR HAINES: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) Commonwealth grants are vitally important to the positive and meaningful work carried out by community organisations, local governments, businesses and not-for-profits, particularly in regional and rural areas;

(b) the current system of Commonwealth grants administration means grants can be awarded based on the discretion of ministers and against official departmental advice, without merit and without meeting the aim of promoting proper use and management of public resources; and

(c) the current system means grants awarded by ministerial discretion escape parliamentary and public scrutiny;

(2) notes that Commonwealth grants programs administered by the former and current governments have been misused for political purposes, including the Building Better Regions Fund, the Commuter Car Parks Project, the Community Sport Infrastructure Grant Program, the Mobile Black Spot Program, and the Community Batteries for Household Solar Program; and

(3) calls on the Government to introduce legislation to reform grants administration to ensure public money is not misused, and that this legislation must include:

(a) clear requirements for published Commonwealth grant guidelines and selection criteria;

(b) robust and public reporting requirements about how grants programs are administered, including grants that are awarded contrary to departmental advice; and

(c) a framework for a parliamentary joint committee on grants administration to improve grant administration oversight.

(Notice given 16 October 2023.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Haines 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.

3 MS MURPHY: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the vital role played by Community Legal Centres in Australia, emphasising that Community Legal Centres:

(a) serve as pillars of support for individuals and families navigating legal matters, offering essential guidance and assistance; and

(b) contribute significantly to ensuring equal access to justice, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised communities;

(2) notes recommendation 12.4 of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme that states, 'When it next conducts a review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership, the Commonwealth should have regard, in considering funding for legal aid commissions and community legal centres, to the importance of the public interest role played by those services as exemplified in their work during the Scheme'; and

(3) acknowledges that the Government has initiated an independent review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Murphy 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.

4 MR CHESTER: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that Australia has a world-class and sustainable commercial fishing industry which contributes to national food security and delivers significant employment and economic benefits, particularly in regional areas;

(2) notes that:

(a) commercial fishing in Commonwealth waters is already highly regulated to ensure sustainable resource management;

(b) the world-wide demand for seafood is increasing; and

(c) reducing the Australian wild-catch will result in the consumption of more imported seafood products; and

(3) urges the Government to:

(a) recognise the:

(i) long-term sustainability of the commercial fishing industry is an issue of national importance because of the social, economic, environmental and cultural benefits of the industry; and

(ii) pressures placed on the commercial fishing industry by environmental activism and plans to lock up more productive fishing grounds in marine parks or other activities including offshore wind farms; and

(b) undertake to consult and work constructively with the commercial fishing industry to ensure its interests are fully respected and recognised in any proposals to increase exclusion zones which undermine the viability of operators.

(Notice given 8 August 2023.)

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

Speech time limits

Mr Chester 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 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)

PRIVAT E MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices — continued

5 MR BURNELL: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to transform access to the vocational education and training sector, support quality training and implement reforms to address critical skills needs, by delivering:

(a) a landmark five-year National Skills Agreement, that will take effect from January 2024, unlocking billions of dollars to build Australian skills and prosperity, including by:

(i) establishing nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence;

(ii) establishing a National TAFE Network to promote cutting edge curriculum;

(iii) growing the capability of the vocational education and training (VET) workforce;

(iv) implementing Closing the Gap initiatives to be designed in partnership with First Nations peoples and led by them;

(v) improving VET completions and access to foundation skills training; and

(vi) increasing women's participation and gender equality;

(b) 300,000 further Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education places from 2024, following the 180,000 Fee-Free TAFE places allocated in 2023; and

(c) investment in the creation of TAFE Centres of Excellence, to strengthen the collaboration between TAFEs, universities and industry, and the creation and delivery of higher apprenticeship qualifications, in critical areas of the economy;

(2) congratulates the Government along with state and territory governments on the historic five-year National Skills Agreement which will be delivered through a new National Stewardship model to coordinate strategic investment in skills across the economy and support delivery of skills needed in national and regional priority areas; and

(3) condemns the Liberal and National parties for their opposition to important skills policies such as Fee-Free TAFE and the former Government for their decade of neglect, and for failing to reach a National Skills Agreement with any state or territory government.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Sp eech time limits

Mr Burnell 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 MR VAN MANEN: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the sport of golf provides $3.3 billion in annual benefits to the Australian community, economy and environment;

(b) household expenditure on golf activities and facilities is $10.3 billion, including $6.7 billion by golfers and locals, and $3.6 billion for golf tourism;

(c) there are over 1,603 places to play golf across Australia, including 1,406 golf courses, 184 driving ranges, 115 mini golf courses and growing indoor simulator and entertainment venues;

(d) the social benefits of golf via physical and mental health and neighbourhood amenity by golf courses is valued at over $1 billion; and

(e) the health benefits of golf are highlighted by the fact that Australian golfers walk 280 million kilometres annually; and

(2) acknowledges the great work that peak national bodies including the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia have done and continue to do to promote the game of golf.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

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 matter should continue on a future day.

7 DR ANANDA-RAJAH: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes the clear message the Australian people sent in May 2022, demanding real action on climate change by electing the current Government;

(2) further notes the Government has not wasted a day by:

(a) increasing Australia's emission reduction targets from 26 per cent to 43 per cent;

(b) legislating to bring back the Climate Change Authority;

(c) putting net zero in the objects of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Australian Renewable Energy Agency Acts;

(d) legislating our $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund;

(e) taking substantial steps to create an offshore wind industry in Australia;

(f) agreeing to a sensible capacity investment scheme with the states;

(g) working with states and territories to put emissions reduction into the National Energy Objectives, and to develop a new National Energy Transformation Partnership;

(h) signing the Global Methane Pledge and joining the Climate Change Club and Global Offshore Wind Alliance;

(i) reforming the safeguard mechanism so that our biggest industrial emitters are doing their fair share;

(j) passing the electric vehicle discount, releasing the National Electric Vehicle Strategy and commencing the rollout of the Driving the Nation charging program;

(k) committing $1.7 billion to the Energy Savings Program, providing real financial support to households, businesses, and local governments to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency;

(l) signing funding agreements to deliver more than 50 community batteries around Australia;

(m) establishing the Net Zero Economy Agency to have a laser-like focus on the economic opportunities for the regions at the centre of the energy transformation; and

(n) budgeting $2 billion for the vital Hydrogen Headstart Program; and

(3) acknowledges that this is just another way the Government is working for Australia and delivering on the promise of building the better future Australians voted for.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Ananda-Rajah 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.

8 MRS ARCHER: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) 13 November to 16 November 2023 is 'Youth Voice in Parliament Week'; and

(b) the prompt of the 2023 Youth Voice in Parliament Week is 'What change would make Australia a better place for future generations?';

(2) acknowledges our responsibility for protecting the interests of future generations of Australians; and

(3) calls on the Government to consider opportunities to further engage with future generations across all areas of Government policy to secure our nation's long-term prosperity.

(Notice given 17 October 2023.)

Time allotted 35 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mrs Archer 5 minutes.

Other Members 5 minutes each.

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

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

9 MR PERRETT: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) decision not to list the Great Barrier Reef as in danger;

(2) notes that the Government is tackling climate change and protection of the Great Barrier Reef to make a real difference, including action that has:

(a) invested a record $1.2 billion in the reef;

(b) legislated to reach net zero, with a 43 per cent emissions reduction target in 2035, and committed to reaching 82 per cent renewable energy supply by 2030;

(c) invested $150 million to improve water quality through projects such as revegetation, grazing management and engineering work like gully stabilisation;

(d) with the Queensland Government, announced the phase-out of gillnets in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with a $160 million package;

(e) rejected a coal mine that could have direct impacts on the reef;

(f) engaged more Indigenous rangers to manage sea country, including combatting crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, marine plastics and ghost nets;

(g) withdrawn federal funding for dams that would have had a detrimental impact on reef water quality;

(h) invested an extra $163.4 million in the May 2023 budget to guarantee the future of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, doubling funding for reef science; and

(i) committed to rewriting Australia's broken environmental laws; and

(3) confirms that UNESCO's decision makes clear that Australia's environmental policies have fundamentally changed under this Government and changed for the better.

(Notice given 1 August 2023.)

Time allotted remaining private Members' business time prior to 7 .30 pm.

Speech time limits

Mr Perrett 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.

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

18 October 2023