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

I present report No. 35 of the Selection Committee, relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private members' business on Monday 7 April 2025. 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, 25 March 2025.

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, 25 March 2025, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 7 April 2025, 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 provide that major emitters of greenhouse gases are liable for climate change damage that occurs in Australia, and for related purposes. (Liability for Climate Change Damage (Make the Polluters Pay) Bill 2025)

(Notice given 25 March 2025.)

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 TINK: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) at three years, Australia's Commonwealth Parliament has one of the shortest parliamentary terms in the world;

(b) three years is an insufficient period for any government to effect meaningful change as the business of the House is curtailed, being sandwiched between post-election organisation and planning, and pre-election campaigning;

(c) the short period of effective governance reduces the efficiency of the House and is not in the public interest; and

(d) Australian states and territories have already moved to four-year terms;

(2) acknowledges that extending the parliamentary term has in principle bipartisan support; and

(3) calls on the 48th Parliament to immediately put this to a referendum.

(Notice given 25 March 2025.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Tink 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 CHESTERS: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges the Government's commitment to strengthen Medicare by delivering:

(a) more bulk-billing for all Australians by expanding the bulk-billing incentive;

(b) even cheaper medicines by lowering the maximum Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment to $25; and

(c) 50 new Medicare Urgent Care clinics, on top of the 87 already opened;

(2) recognises this stark contrast to the Opposition, which:

(a) tried to end-bulk billing with a tax on every General Practitioner visit when in government;

(b) voted against cheaper medicines; and

(c) called Medicare Urgent Care Clinics wasteful spending;

(3) notes the Leader of the Opposition's comments that 'the best indicator is past performance', when he as health minister:

(a) handed down a budget that cut $50 billion from public hospitals;

(b) tried to end bulk billing and make Australians pay for treatment in emergency departments; and

(c) was voted the worst health minister in the history of Medicare by Australian doctors; and

(4) further acknowledges that the only way to strengthen Medicare is having a Labor-led Government.

(Notice given 25 March 2025.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Chesters 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

1 SMALL BUSINESSES: Resumption of debate (from 25 November 2024) on the motion of Mr van Manen—That this House:

(1) notes that small businesses are struggling under the:

(a) burden of the Government's cost of living crisis; and

(b) weight of the Government's additional administrative red tape;

(2) acknowledges that according to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman:

(a) conditions for small business:

(i) have deteriorated by 3.5 per cent; and

(ii) continue to be well below the long-term average;

(b) the operating environment for business has been in decline for the past two years with rising concerns about regulations, increased costs and slowing demand; and

(c) fewer people are considering starting a small business and businesses are less likely to invest in expansion; and

(3) calls on the Government to address its failure to support small business, the backbone of Australia's economy.

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 matter should continue on a future day.

Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Notices

1 MS SHARKIE: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) house insurance premiums are increasing above the inflation rate, more than 100 per cent in many instances;

(b) many postcodes have been deemed uninsurable by insurance companies with little or no evidence of increased or increasing risk;

(c) insurance premiums for many businesses are also increasing above the inflation rate resulting in some businesses being forced to close;

(d) increases in insurance premiums are adding to existing historically high cost of living pressures; and

(e) regional areas are disproportionately affected by increasing insurance premiums; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) consider the broader implications on household budgets and businesses of insurance premium increases above the inflation rate;

(b) establish an inquiry into the insurance sector to determine fair pricing mechanisms are setting premiums; and

(c) consider underwriting premiums as a last resort for postcodes deemed uninsurable or experiencing insurance premium increases greater than 50 per cent.

(Notice given 7 November 2024.)

Time allotted 20 minutes.

Speech time limits

Ms Sharkie 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.

2 DR REID: To move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the Government's commitment to strengthen Medicare by delivering cheaper medicines;

(2) notes that these policies have already saved Australians $1.3 billion on Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) scripts;

(3) acknowledges that the Government's cheaper medicines were opposed by the Opposition; and

(4) further notes that the Government will lower the maximum co-payment on PBS scripts to $25, saving Australians over $200 million each year.

(Notice given 25 March 2025.)

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.

3 MR CHESTER: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that:

(a) councils across Australia make a vital contribution to the delivery of local services, roads and community infrastructure; and

(b) the Government has an important role to play in securing the financial sustainability of the local government sector;

(2) notes that the Government:

(a) has broken its promise to Australia's 537 local councils that it would deliver 'fair increases' to local government;

(b) has cut funding to regional programs which were essential for improving infrastructure; and

(c) cynically launched an inquiry into local government sustainability in March 2024 to avoid providing actual increases in funding; and

(3) urges the Government to release the findings of the inquiry and work constructively with councils across Australia to reduce the cost of living pressures on ratepayers, and deliver the infrastructure and services our communities need.

(Notice given 4 February 2025.)

Time allotted 30 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Chester 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 DR GARLAND: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Government is the first majority female government; and

(2) acknowledges that the Government is delivering better health care for Australian women by:

(a) listing new oral contraceptives, endometriosis treatments, and menopause therapies on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for the first time in decades;

(b) providing more choice, lower costs, and better access to long-acting contraceptives;

(c) delivering a public health campaign, first ever national guidelines, and more Medicare support for menopause; and

(d) establishing more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, now including specialist care for menopause and perimenopause.

(Notice given 25 March 2025.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Dr Garland 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.

5 MS WARE: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) one in eight children worldwide have been victims of sexual exploitation, equating to 302 million children last year;

(b) 2.5 per cent of Australian men have deliberately viewed child pornography;

(c) in the 2023-24 financial year, over 58,000 reports were made to the Australian Federal Police relating to online child sexual abuse;

(d) the global human trafficking industry is worth over $150 billion per year; and

(e) the livestreaming of child sexual abuse earns between $3 billion and $20 billion per year in Southeast Asia alone;

(2) acknowledges:

(a) that child exploitation continues to be a disturbingly prevalent issue both in Australia and abroad;

(b) the former Government's efforts in combating child sexual exploitation, including:

(i) the establishment of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation;

(ii) the development of Australia's first National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse; and

(iii) the allocation of $307.5 million towards combating child sexual abuse; and

(c) the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation's continued efforts in combating child exploitation; and

(3) calls upon the Government to:

(a) affirm Australia's commitment to upholding the following international instruments, to which Australia is a party:

(i) Optional Protocol on the Right of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; and

(ii) Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and

(b) increase efforts to minimise Australia's contribution to the global sexual exploitation of children.

(Notice given 20 November 2024.)

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

Speech time limits

Ms Ware 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.

Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)

PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS

Orders of the day

1 CHILD CARE: Resumption of debate (from 10 February 2025) on the motion of Ms Bell—That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) it has been almost three years since the Government was elected and the cost of child care has increased by a whopping 22.3 per cent;

(b) since the Government introduced its cheaper childcare policy, out of pocket costs for families have sky rocketed by 12.7 per cent;

(c) almost 30 per cent of child care services are charging over the hourly rate cap under the current Government, compared to 21 per cent under the previous Government; and

(d) this is just another broken promise from the Government, that continues to leave Australian families behind; and

(2) calls on the Government to deliver:

(a) more access to early childhood education and care places to support Australians to return to the workforce; and

(b) real cost of living relief to families.

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 matter should continue on a future day.

Notices — continued

6 MR LAXALE: To move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges:

(a) that:

(i) small businesses are the engine room of Australia's economy;

(ii) an average of 5,700 new small businesses are created each week; and

(iii) small businesses make up 97 per cent of all business in Australia, a record total of 2.6 million nationwide; and

(b) the release of Australia's first ever National Small Business Strategy, which will:

(i) elevate small businesses in government decision making;

(ii) complement existing work within jurisdictions; and

(iii) inform policy making to deliver better outcomes for small businesses; and

(2) notes that the strategy sits alongside the Government's $640 million package to support Australia's nearly 2.6 million small businesses, alongside:

(a) extending the $20,000 instant asset write-off;

(b) providing target energy bill relief of $325 to around a million eligible small businesses, on top of $650 in relief in the 2023-24 financial year;

(c) investing $60 million to help small businesses build their digital and cybersecurity capabilities;

(d) extending access to free mental health and financial counselling support for small business owners;

(e) updating Commonwealth Procurement Rules to ensure small businesses get their fair share of Government contracts;

(f) improving payment times for small businesses by naming and shaming big businesses who fail to pay on time; and

(g) remaking the Franchising Code of Conduct to help ensure a fairer franchising sector.

(Notice given 4 February 2025.)

Time allotted 40 minutes.

Speech time limits

Mr Laxale 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

2 ROAD SAFETY: Resumption of debate (from 10 February 2025) on the motion of Mr Pasin—That this House:

(1) notes that 1,300 lives were lost on Australian roads in 2024;

(2) recognises that:

(a) this is the highest road toll since 2012; and

(b) the national road toll has risen each of the past four years, a situation not seen since 1966, or before the introduction of compulsory seat belts;

(3) acknowledges that the annual fatality rate per 100,000 head of population is now 4.8, well over double the National Road Safety target of 2.0; and

(4) calls on the Government to take action on the road safety crisis that is now killing more than 100 Australians every month and hospitalising 100 Australians every day.

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 matter should continue on a future day.

Notices — continued

7 MS LAWRENCE: To move:

That this House:

(1) notes that the Government has stood up for and supported Australian families living in outer suburban and peri-urban communities through investments across a wide range of portfolios including:

(a) communications, including improvements to the National Broadband Network and mobile phone coverage;

(b) emergency management, and fire and flood preparedness;

(c) health, with vastly increased support for bulk billing, cheaper medicines and urgent care clinics;

(d) education, by cutting HECS debt, working with states and territories to fully fund public schools, and investing in more affordable and accessible early education;

(e) infrastructure, including road, rail and community facilities; and

(f) training, with free TAFE places available for in-demand areas, allowing young people to start a good career and older workers to reskill for the jobs of the future;

(2) acknowledges that:

(a) outer suburban and peri-urban areas contain many residents looking for housing and paying mortgages; and

(b) these people will benefit from the Government's record-breaking investments in housing and from the Government's sensible economic management, including two budget surpluses and the paying down of debt, which has seen inflation lowered from the 6.1 per cent and rising rate left by the former Government to the rate of 2.5 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2024;

(3) further notes that most or all of the measures taken by the Government to support families in outer suburban and peri-urban communities have been opposed by the Opposition, and that some have been opposed or delayed by the Australian Greens; and

(4) commends the work done by the Government thus far in each of these areas and encourages the Government to continue and consolidate that good work in a second term of office.

(Notice given 4 February 2025.)

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

Speech time limits

Ms Lawrence 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.

THE HON D. M. DICK MP

Speaker of the House of Representatives

26 March 2025