The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 09:30, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The committee met in private session on Tuesday, 13 June 2017.
2. The committee determined the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members' business on Monday, 19 June 2017 as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS
Presentation and statements
1 Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training:
Inquiry into Innovation and creativity: workforce for the new economy
The Committee determined that statements on the report may be made—all statements to conclude by 10.20 am
Speech time limits—
Mr Laming—5 minutes.
Next Member speaking—5 minutes.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS SHARKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 , and for related purposes. (Competition and Consumer Amendment (Safeguarding the Reputation of Australian Beef) Bill 2017 )
( Notice given 13 June 2017. )
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 MR WILKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 , and for related purposes. (Competition and Consumer Amendment (Paper Bills and Statements) Bill 2017 )
( Notice given 13 June 2017. )
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 KATTER: To present a Bill for an Act to require the equal treatment of the religious certification of products, and for related purposes. ( Religious Certification (Non-Discrimination) Bill 2017 )
( Notice given 2 8 March 2017. )
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.
4 MR CHRISTENSEN : To present a Bill for an Act to amend the law in relation to workplace relations, and for related purposes. (Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay of All Workers) Bill 2017 )
( Notice given 3 0 May 2017. )
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.
5 MR RAMSEY : To move:
That this House:
(1) expresses its support of Adani's decision to purchase $74 million worth of steel rail from Arrium's Whyalla steel works;
(2) recognises that the:
(a) order will help sustain jobs in South Australia and particularly in Whyalla;
(b) extra work comes at a vital time in the process of selling the Arrium business; and
(c) Arrium business in Whyalla is vital to the city's future and loss of this order would have a material impact on its future;
(3) rejects any further:
(a) attempts to delay the Adani project which was taken by both the Queensland and Commonwealth governments to their respective constituencies prior to their last elections; and
(b) delays which threaten the jobs of workers in Whyalla; and
(4) condemns actions that threaten Australian manufacturing jobs.
( Notice given 2 3 May 2017. )
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Ramsey—5 minutes.
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.
Orders of the day
1 Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017 : Second reading—Resumption of debate (from 29 May 2017 ) on the motion of Mr Shorten—That the Bill be now read a second time—And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr Christensen .
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 MR C. KELLY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) illicit drugs can cause untold harm in our communities and on our streets; and
(b) the Government:
(i) is committed to targeting the supply, demand, and harm caused to our communities by the scourge of illicit drugs; and
(ii) has made significant investments in our law enforcement agencies to do all they can to keep drugs off our streets;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) in the last two years alone, our agencies have detected and intercepted more than 12.5 tonnes of narcotics that have been attempted to be imported into Australia; and
(b) Australian law enforcement officers continue to confront Australia's drug market and combat the criminal syndicates that peddle illicit drugs; and
(3) calls on all members of the House to promote greater awareness of the harmful effects of illicit drugs on individuals and communities across Australia and support our law enforcement agencies in keeping drugs off our streets.
( Notice given 27 February 2017.)
Time allotted—50 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr C. Kelly—5 minutes.
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.
2 MR BURKE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) music fans are missing out on tickets because bots have bought up tickets in bulk and these tickets are being on-sold at inflated prices;
(b) music fans are also having to endure the disappointment and the loss of missing out on seeing live music through no fault of their own but because websites like Viagogo allow the selling of fake tickets and tickets that have been sold multiple times over;
(c) major search engines are profiting from advertising these websites and the tickets sold on these websites at the top of search results; and
(d) the loss felt by many people is not simply the loss of an experience but a substantial loss of money for what can be one of their biggest discretionary purchases of the year; and
(2) calls on the Government to explain the action being taken to ensure that if someone buys a ticket to live music, they know they can turn up and get entry to the music they love.
( Notice given 29 May 2017.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Burke—5 minutes.
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.
3 MR ENTSCH : To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that the Australian Government grants free access and unrestricted travel to officials, journalists and citizens from the People's Republic of China, and the same level of access and freedom to travel to Tibet is not afforded to Australian officials, journalists and citizens by the Government of the People's Republic of China;
(b) Australian officials, journalists and travellers wanting to visit China's Tibetan Autonomous Region and Tibetan autonomous prefectures in China's Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces are routinely denied access and if access is granted, are subjected to close monitoring, compelled to join government-organised tours, and/or face other restrictions;
(c) repeated requests since mid-2014, for the Chinese Government to respond positively to members of the relevant Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group seeking approval for a delegation to visit China's Tibetan areas, and that over the same period, delegations representing China's Tibetan Autonomous Region, Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces have received approval to enter Australia and travel freely within the country; and
(d) reciprocity is a fundamental principle of diplomatic practice that promotes mutual exchanges, mutual benefit and the development of friendly relations between countries;
(2) expresses concern that:
(a) China has regularly closed the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas in China to any entry by foreign tourists; and
(b) Australian officials, journalists and citizens regularly face refusals and restrictions when applying to visit Tibetan areas in China;
(3) calls on the Australian Government to:
(a) renew efforts to ensure reciprocal access to China for Australian officials, journalists and citizens and for travel within China—as Chinese officials, journalists and citizens have to Australia for travel within Australia; and
(b) ensure that visits to China by Australian officials and journalists, to a similar extent as visits to Australia by Chinese officials and journalists, are unrestricted and allow open interaction with the local population, freedom to move about and observe unhindered, and promote genuine understanding between the peoples of the two countries; and
(4) calls on the Chinese Government to lift restrictions on access to China's Tibetan Autonomous Region and Tibetan autonomous prefectures in Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces for officials, journalists and citizens from Australia and respond positively to the pending request by Australian parliamentarians to visit Tibetan areas in China.
( Notice given 20 March 2017.)
Time allotted—50 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Entsch—5 minutes.
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.
4 MS RISHWORTH : To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the Australian Medical Association's survey highlights that the freeze of the Repatriation Medical Fee Schedule (RMFS) is leading to some healthcare professionals no longer accepting Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) clients;
(2) recognises the negative impact that the DVA RMFS freeze has had on veterans accessing specialist medical care;
(3) notes that the Australian Institute for Suicide Research Prevention, the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists have raised the negative impact that the freeze is having on veterans accessing skilled clinicians;
(4) expresses concern that some mental health and allied health services are not accepting veterans into their service as a result of the indexation freeze; and
(5) calls on the Government to immediately drop the RMFS indexation freeze, which is significantly impacting on veterans' access to mental health and specialist medical services.
( Notice given 29 May 2017.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Ms Rishworth—5 minutes.
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.
It ems for Federation Chamber (4.00 pm to 6 .30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices—continued
5 MR WOOD : To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that on Friday 28 April 2017 four individuals faced court charged with terrorism offences in relation to a 2016 Christmas Day terror plot to attack Melbourne landmarks;
(2) acknowledges the:
(a) excellent work being undertaken by Australia's law enforcement and security agencies to keep the community safe, including:
(i) 61 people charged as a result of 26 counter-terrorism operations around Australia;
(ii) 38 people convicted of terrorism related offences;
(iii) 41 people before the courts for terrorism related offences; and
(iv) 12 major counter terrorism disruption operations in response to potential attack planning in Australia; and
(b) importance of providing law enforcement agencies with the appropriate powers and resources to disrupt terrorist activity and protect Australians; and
(3) congratulates the Government for its world leading counter-terrorism strategy, including:
(a) eight successful tranches of counter-terrorism and national security legislation;
(b) significant investment of $1.3 billion to support law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism;
(c) tripling investment in initiatives to counter violent extremism to $45 million; and
(d) investment in our law enforcement and security agencies to ensure they have the appropriate powers, skills and resources to fight terrorism.
( Notice given 27 February 2017.)
Time allotted—55 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Wood—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes. each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 10 mins + 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
6 MR ALBANESE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the growth of the craft brewing sector in recent years as a generator of employment, tourism and exports in capital cities and regional communities;
(2) further notes:
(a) there is an inequity between how Commonwealth excise is calculated for small and large scale brewers which disadvantages the craft brewing sector;
(b) that excise currently accounts for a disproportionate amount of the costs of production for small brewers and the calculation of excise imposes a significant burden on them; and
(c) this small business sector provides local employment and is an emerging tourism attraction; and
(3) urges:
(a) the Australian Government to ensure policy settings which encourage the realisation of the potential of the craft brewing sector; and
(b) state and local governments to update their planning controls and development approval to facilitate the growth of the craft brewing sector.
( Notice given 20 March 2017.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Albanese—5 minutes.
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.
7 MR T. R. WILSON : To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) there has been a significant increase in crime in Victoria;
(b) the latest figures from Victoria's Crime Statistics Agency show that the total number of offences reached 535,826 during the past financial year, an increase of 13.4 per cent, with assaults increasing by 11 per cent, robberies by 14 per cent, and aggravated burglaries by 7 per cent;
(c) Victorians increasingly feel unsafe in their homes and on their streets;
(d) the Victorian Government has lost control of the Victorian justice system; and
(e) Victoria has the most lenient bail laws in the country, a contributing factor in the prevalence of crime; and
(2) calls on the Victorian Government to:
(a) start taking crime and community safety seriously;
(b) dramatically strengthen Victoria's bail system;
(c) fix the crisis in the youth prison network, which has seen unprecedented riots and breakouts; and
(d) dedicate more resources to community safety and Victoria Police.
( Notice given 27 February 2017.
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr T. R. Wilson—5 minutes.
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.
8 MS CLAYDON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15; and
(b) two thirds of women who experience violence are in paid employment;
(2) recognises that:
(a) family violence isolates and excludes its victims and disconnects people from community, work, education, friends and family;
(b) the trauma experienced by an employee facing family violence will be lessened if they have the support of an understanding and accommodating employer that offers domestic and family violence leave; and
(c) access to a leave specifically allocated for situations of domestic and family violence protects employees from discrimination and allows them to maintain stable employment which increases their likelihood of leaving violent relationships;
(3) commends the many private companies that already provide domestic and family violence leave, including Telstra, Virgin, Qantas, National Australia Bank, to more than one million Australian workers;
(4) condemns the Government for its public service bargaining policy which has resulted in the removal of domestic and family violence leave provisions in some public service enterprise agreements; and
(5) calls on the Government to amend the National Employment Standards to include domestic and family violence leave as a universal workplace right.
( Notice given 24 November 2016.
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Ms Claydon—5 minutes.
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. Pursuant to the resolution of the House of 23 May 2017, the committee determined the order of precedence and times to be allotted for consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members' business on Wednesday, 21 June 2017 as follows:
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR HUSIC: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that 2017 marks 70 years since the Philippines established its first diplomatic office in Australia;
(2) celebrates the strength of the bilateral diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines over those 70 years; and
(3) acknowledges the importance of effective diplomatic relations with the Philippines, which are underpinned by our shared history and deep and enduring relationship.
( Notice given 23 March 2017.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Husic—5 minutes.
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.
2 MS MARINO : To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the work of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) through the ThinkUKnow program, a free, evidence-based cyber safety program, to provide educational presentations to parents, carers and teachers, and students across Australia;
(2) further recognises that ThinkUKnow is Australia's first and only nationally delivered crime prevention program that is delivered in partnership with law enforcement and industry;
(3) thanks the dedicated volunteers and federal, state and territory police forces that have delivered ThinkUKnow presentations to more than 150,000 school students from year three through to year 12; and
(4) congratulates the Government and the AFP for leading the way by partnering with state and territory police forces, and the private sector, to develop new measures to keep our children safe in the online environment.
( Notice given 27 February 2017.)
Time allotted—40 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Ms Marino—5 minutes.
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 MS KEAY: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that Tasmania has the defence knowledge, capabilities and capacities to participate in the defence industries sector;
(2) notes that:
(a) the University of Tasmania, through its world leading marine research, engineering and training facility the Australian Maritime College (AMC), is the acknowledged Australian leader in maritime education in both technical skills and research;
(b) the AMC has developed a range of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) which are suited for defence purposes and provide the opportunity for:
(i) increased consolidation of research and innovation at the University of Tasmania Inveresk site;
(ii) the redevelopment of the University of Tasmania, AMC Newnham site; and
(iii) associated local advanced manufacturing, particularly in North and North West Tasmania;
(c) the state-of-the-art AUV's enable a broad range of scientific, industry and defence related projects by facilitating exploration and data collection in remote and inhospitable locations;
(d) the AMC has the capability to lead or play a key role in any necessary training associated with significant defence projects, such as the Future Submarines Program;
(e) in addition to the defence opportunity that the AUV's represent, Tasmania already has a number of industries with the capability to participate in defence related industries supporting for example combat reconnaissance vehicles, shield and antenna protection and marine survival;
(f) defence industry opportunities for Tasmania will deliver a range of significant social and economic benefits across the state including a growth in industry research and increased employment through advanced manufacturing; and
(g) there is unequivocal and mutual support from both the Labor and Liberal parties at a state and federal level for Tasmania as a key centre for defence research, development and industry; and
(3) calls on the:
(a) Department of Defence to continue to work with industry with the goal of ensuring Tasmania is as integrated as possible in Australia's defence capability, including defence research, associated education, training and manufacturing; and
(b) Government to continue working collaboratively with the Tasmanian Government so Tasmania can play its role in the defence research and manufacturing industries sector.
( Notice given 14 February 2017.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Ms Keay—5 minutes.
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.
4 MR VAN MANEN: To move:
That this House:
(1) condemns the Queensland Government for failing the people of Queensland;
(2) notes that:
(a) Queensland is leading the nation on job losses;
(b) more than 30,000 jobs have disappeared from Queensland in the last year and almost 40,000 people have given up looking;
(c) Queensland's participation rate is at a more than 20-year low and more people are giving up looking for work; and
(d) Queensland is in a jobs crisis and it is clear that the Premier of Queensland has no plan for the future; and
(3) calls on the Queensland Government to end its empty rhetoric on jobs and actually start delivering for the people of Queensland.
( Notice given 27 February 2017.)
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 should continue on a future day.
5 MS T. M. BUTLER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the 2017 budget has ignored Queenslanders' calls for funding of the Cross River Rail (CRR) project;
(2) recognises that the:
(a) CRR project is urgently needed to keep pace with Brisbane's growing population;
(b) existing rail crossing over the Brisbane River in the CBD, the Merivale Bridge, is approaching full capacity; and
(c) CRR was declared ready to go by the independent experts at Infrastructure Australia in 2012; and
(3) acknowledges that the former Government allocated funding to the CRR project in its 2013 budget, only to have the current Government scrap the investment in its 2014 budget.
( Notice given 11 May 2017.)
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Ms T. M. Butler—5 minutes.
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.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices—continued
6 MR GEORGANAS : To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the important and vital role played by professional interpreters and translators in Australia;
(2) notes that:
(a) Australia has been at the forefront of the provision of language services since the late 1970s, becoming one of the first countries in the world to mandate and subsidise the use of interpreters and translators for all people whose first language is not English when accessing public services; and
(b) the provision of regulated and accredited language services is fundamental to enabling people whose first language is not English to fully participate in society and Australia;
(3) notes and commends the professionalism and ethical behaviour of National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters accredited interpreters and translators, and the important contribution of their work to our country's social cohesion; and
(4) acknowledges the importance of supporting the interpreting and translating industry and practitioners through appropriate training, professional development, regulation, recognition and remuneration.
( Notice given 25 May 2017.)
Time allotted—30 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Georganas—5 minutes.
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.
7 MR TED O'BRIEN : To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that electricity prices affect every Australian, whether it be the price of electricity at home or the cost to businesses that will flow on to threaten jobs and business competitiveness;
(2) acknowledges that since 2009, in Queensland the average price of electricity has risen from $35 MW/H to $95.27 MW/H which is a 180 per cent increase;
(3) further acknowledges that there has been a 59 per cent increase in the last year in electricity prices;
(4) notes that electricity prices have reached record levels in Queensland, including $14,000 MW/H in January 2017;
(5) notes with concern the allegations of Rio Tinto that the Queensland Government is manipulating the electricity grid to keep prices high and increase revenue for its state owned assets; and
(6) calls for a full and transparent inquiry to be conducted into the cost of electricity in Queensland with recommendations for solutions to fix the problem.
( Notice given 23 May 2017.)
Time allotted—70 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Mr Ted O'Brien—10 minutes.
Next Member speaking—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 10 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
8 MS HUSAR: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) reducing penalty rates will have a disproportionate effect on women;
(b) women make up 54 per cent of workers on the Fast Food Industry Award, 55 per cent on the General Retail Industry Award and 77 per cent on the Pharmacy Industry Award;
(c) in hospitality women are disproportionately part time and award reliant;
(d) the Government has refused to rule out cuts to the Hair and Beauty Industry Award, an award for an industry comprised of 87 per cent women; and
(e) thousands more women will be affected by these penalty rates cuts than men;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) women are more likely to rely on penalty rates to meet household expenses;
(b) the cuts in take home pay of up to $77 a week will make it harder for women to pay rent and feed their families; and
(c) the cuts to penalty rates in these industries will widen the gender pay gap;
(3) condemns the Government's:
(a) failure to protect the take home pay of low paid women workers; and
(b) support for further cuts to the Hair and Beauty Industry Award; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) support Labor's Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Take Home Pay) Bill 2017 to protect the take home pay of low paid workers;
(b) exercise some leadership and stand up for low paid workers; and
(c) start working to close the gender pay gap.
( Notice given 2 8 March 2017. )
Time allotted—20 minutes.
Speech time limits—
Ms Husar—5 minutes.
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.
9 MR EVANS : To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the ongoing work of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in the Pacific to keep our region safe and support our neighbours;
(2) recognises the Australian Government and the AFP's commitment to supporting our neighbour, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and the capacity building of the Royal PNG Constabulary;
(3) congratulates the Australian Government for announcing in January 2017 the extension of the PNG‑Australia Policing Partnership with 73 AFP personnel assisting PNG in planning for the 2018 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum; and
(4) recognises that the:
(a) increasingly transnational nature of crime, including illegal movement of drugs, weapons and people, highlights the importance of cooperation between Australia and PNG; and
(b) Australian and PNG governments share an important and enduring relationship, which will be further strengthened through this investment in law enforcement.
( Notice given 27 February 2017. )
Time allotted—remaining private Members' business time prior to 6.30 pm
Speech time limits—
Mr Evans—5 minutes.
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.
Regional Investment Corporation Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
Passports Legislation Amendment (Overseas Travel by Child Sex Offenders) Bill 2017
Treasury Laws Amendment (2017 Measures No. 3) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a second time.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Australian Embassy Project, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Main Building Refresh Project, Geoscience Australia Building, Symonston, ACT.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Proposed fit-out of leased premises for the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, 15 William Street, Melbourne, Victoria.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Proposed fit-out of new leased premises for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection Headquarters Project.
The House divided. [10:06]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Proposed Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation Project, Broadmeadows, Victoria.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Russell Offices buildings 5 and 6, infrastructure upgrade, Russell, ACT.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Seaward Village—Proposed upgrades to housing for Defence families at Seaward Village, Swanbourne, Western Australia.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Stage One of the Garden Island (East), Critical Infrastructure Recovery Program, Sydney, NSW.
That Mr Giles be appointed a supplementary member of the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training for the purpose of the committee’s inquiry into school to work transition.
Treasury Laws Amendment (GST Low Value Goods) Bill 2017
That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:
(1) notes:
(a) there is in-principle support in the Parliament for reforming the GST Low Value Threshold, and giving Australian retailers a level playing field with their overseas competitors;
(b) despite being introduced in the 2016 Budget, the Parliament is only debating this bill with less than a month to go before its proposed start date;
(c) the Government has completely mismanaged the implementation of this measure; and
(d) there is wide stakeholder dissatisfaction with the proposed model, with stakeholders saying:
(i) the proposed model will be complex and costly to administer;
(ii) there will be unfavourable impacts on consumers with the costs of implementation being passed on; and
(iii) there will be issues surrounding compliance; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) delay implementation of this measure for one year in order to get the measure right; and
(b) conduct a Productivity Commission review in order to determine the best method to implement this measure, with a report back to the Parliament by the end of 2017”.
In earlier periods of rising housing prices, the household sector was withdrawing equity from their housing to finance spending. Today, households are much less inclined to do this. Many of us feel that we have enough debt and don't want to increase consumption using borrowed money.
The House divided. [13:15]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That this bill be now read a third time.
International Monetary Agreements Amendment Bill 2017
There is a lesson which must be learned from the current financial stresses in much of the western world—if debt is the problem, more debt is clearly not the answer.
Here we are in Australia laden with debt—already with five budget deficits in a row and with a sixth and a seventh committed to by this government, were they to be re-elected—yet we are going to provide money to an international organisation that produces nothing.
They will then loan this money to even more irresponsible countries which have greater debt than we do. Under this bill, we will be borrowing money from countries such as China and lending it to places like Greece, which will use it to pay off the German banks—
which have financed a generous Greek welfare state. The process and the outcome of such folly cannot be good in the end.
… not very much; just peace and justice and decent standards of living for themselves perhaps, but mainly for their children.
… the lack of national policy certainty is now the … biggest driver of higher electricity prices.
New Immigration Minister Tony Burke says that people-smugglers have outsmarted Australian efforts to turn boats back to Indonesia, warning the Coalition plan would only succeed in towing "people around in circles" in the Indian Ocean.
Carbon capture and storage projects are already occurring throughout the world.
… carbon capture and storage … is a critically important technology.
I'm on record as supporting CCS.
In what is the first direct link between a donor to Australian politics and an operative of a foreign intelligence service, Fairfax Media can reveal one of Helen Liu's Australian companies sent $250,025 to a Hong Kong company that American authorities believe was a front for Chinese espionage.
Wincopy Pty Ltd, Helen Liu's Australian company which sent the money to Liu Chaoying's firm in 1996, later gave $20,000—
This LNG export market is having a significant impact on the domestic market …
… … …
… potential supply shortfalls to the LNG export and domestic markets may be seen …
The need for certainty in energy policy.
The lame claim that it is only when in government that the necessary facts to back up the targets can be found is, in my view, completely farcical. You can’t set policy on a wing, a hope and a prayer … Labor cannot out-green the Greens.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Seasonal Worker Incentives for Jobseekers) Bill 2017
Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017
International Monetary Agreements Amendment Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a third time.
Comcare and Seacare Legislation Amendment (Pension Age and Catastrophic Injury) Bill 2017
That this bill be now read a third time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2017
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House condemns the Government for giving a tax increase to low and middle income families, and giving a tax cut to millionaires".
The top tax bracket—$180,000 and above—seven per cent of all income earners or just under, they’ll pay 27 per cent of the increase in the Medicare levy so it is highly progressive.
… Scott Morrison proposed lifting the Medicare levy from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent from 2019 to meet the NDIS shortfall identified by the government. However unwelcome for taxpayers, that strategy at least affirmed “we are all in this together”. The levy is a progressive tax.
… raising the Medicare levy, which in fact means an overall tax increase, is sensible policy, and, crucially it is fair. It is not a flat-rate, across-the-board, slug …
… whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House condemns the Government for giving a tax increase to low and middle income families, and giving a tax cut to millionaires.
Native Title Amendment (Indigenous Land Use Agreements) Bill 2017
That the amendments be agreed to.
Treasury Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy and Medicare Levy Surcharge) Bill 2017
… a vote for the ALP = a vote for the Greens = a vote for the end of the Resource Sector ….. no miner or secondary industry that supports mining would even consider voting for these anti mining political parties !!!!! The silence by our State members on supporting mining is deafening !!!! But they are very happy to use Union funds from the industry to support their campaigns !!!! Unbelievable they are making a fool of the genuine hard working Miner ….. and laughing while they do it !!!!
… it is unbelievable to me that anyone in Coal would be a member of the Union or vote for the ALP !!! My husband and I both were Union members and voted ALP ….. wouldn't dream of it now ….. both of them are dictating the industry closure !!!!
We have had three children that have attended the local Catholic School at MacKillop, a K-12 school and currently still have a daughter in Year 9. The financial cost is a severe strain on our house already and any increase of fees could cause my daughter to have to leave a school she has attended since she was 5 years old.
Some teachers in our small system of Broken Bay Diocese schools are at risk of losing their jobs. Will this really improve students' learning.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Bird ) took the chair at 10:01.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2017-2018
It's unbelievable and disgraceful that the age pension age should be raised to 70 for those born after January 1966, and, as someone born in 1967, I find it particularly scary. My husband's in his early 50s and works in a very physical factory job which he couldn't possibly still work at when he's 70. I'm 50 and, after retraining for a new career start, I'm finding it impossible to find a job.
Your project looks like it has a strong case … I will ensure that it receives strong consideration from the Coalition.
The Australian Government and the states and territories, in consultation with the non-government sector, should develop and implement a schooling resource standard …
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2017-2018
The Assessment Team may apply an equitable funding formula to determine the amount services may require during their transition to the new child care scheme.
Never in my remotest dreams would I have thought that I would have the opportunity to be studying to be a medical doctor. I never believed that I would have the ability to achieve and participate in something so meaningful. Not just meaningful to myself, but also, my family, my friends and my Mob.
Our students require extensive assistance and their parents have jumped through bureaucratic and medical hoops to gain funding, so why are their needs deemed unworthy of additional assistance now?
Some teachers in our small system of Broken Bay diocese schools are at risk of losing their jobs. Will this really improve students' learning?
Personally, our family chose Catholic education for our two children. We are not rich. We work hard. We prioritise our budget to make this work. Why can't the government do the same?
We rent a house in Toukley … and we are surviving on one income. Where does our financial situation factor in and why are we potentially being penalised because we choose to make sacrifices to raise our child in an education system that I am familiar with?
… changes to a number of government financial incentives between 2012 and 2013 … appear to have contributed to a marked decline in the number of commencements in non-trade occupations from mid-2012.
The reduction in employer incentives in July 2012 was the primary reason for a dramatic drop in apprenticeship numbers …
The proposed changes will see university graduates paying a lot more – both in annual repayments and total amounts due to increases in the cost of degrees. And the ones who will feel the extra payments the most are the ones earning the least from their degree.
…fell short of the standard required to effectively manage a billion dollars of Commonwealth resources.
This is a bureaucratic report, a very important report for bureaucrats about what box was ticked and what box was not ticked.
There should be a justice target that will look into the high levels of Indigenous people [in prison along with] the funds that are provided to be used for prevention, reintegration and diversion programs.
… the actual cost of bringing on new coal in this country per megawatt hour is projected to be substantially more expensive than the cost of bringing on wind or solar.
… the actual cost of bringing on new coal in this country per megawatt hour is projected to be substantially more expensive than the cost of bringing on wind or solar.
Mr Abbott, who had not read the Finkel report, slammed the CET on Monday as a "magic pudding" and "a tax on coal".
TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
This petition of the undersigned residents of North West Tasmania draws to the attention of the House of road safety and transport issues associated with the Bass Highway from Marrawah to Burnie, Tasmania.
We therefore ask the House to call on the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport to provide the funding necessary to allow the planning works to commence so road safety and transport issues can be addressed. Improvements to the Bass Highway from Marrawah to Burnie will also support long term economic growth and development in Circular Head.