Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Hansard source

I inform the Senate that, at 8.30 am today, four proposals were received in accordance with standing order 75. The question of which proposal would be submitted to the Senate was determined by lot. As a result, I inform the Senate that the following letter has been received from Senator Burston:

Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today I propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:

The need to enforce compliance by all Australian importers and suppliers of building products with Australian Standards including by:

(a) preventing the importation of plumbing fittings that contain lead that can be leached into drinking water and banning of the sale of such fittings in Australia;

(b) ensuring that plumbing products are Water Mark certified;

(c) preventing the importation of other building materials which are non-compliant with the National Construction Code;

(d) adequately enforcing the National Construction Code requirements in relation to materials being installed to ensure compliance with Australian Standards; and

(e) ensuring there are sufficient measures in place to check materials used on building sites and in industry."

Is the proposal supported?

More than the number of senators required by the standing orders having risen in their places—

I understand that informal arrangements have been made to allocate specific times to each of the speakers in today’s debate. With the concurrence of the Senate, I shall ask the clerks to set the clock accordingly.