The SPEAKER ( Hon. Tony Smith ) took the chair at 09:30, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That the House:
(1) notes that:
(a) on 25 August 2020, the Member for Hughes gave a speech in the Federation Chamber supporting the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19;
(b) in his speech, the Member said that "media bias", "groupthink" and the "complete abandonment of reason" were driving a "war" on hydroxychloroquine and "the big hand of government … interfer[ing] in a doctor-patient relationship", and cited a number of medical commentators including:
(i) Professor Christian Perronne, who is being investigated by the French College of Physicians for his comments on hydroxychloroquine;
(ii) Dr Harvey Risch, who was rebuked by 25 Yale University colleagues for promoting "conspiracy theories, purported hoaxes, and the views of zealots"; and
(iii) Dr Kulvinder Gill, who was criticised by other Canadian doctors for misleading tweets on hydroxychloroquine;
(c) in Australia, potential therapies are assessed for safety and efficacy by the independent Therapeutic Goods Administration, and the TGA "strongly discourages the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 … or prevent COVID-19"; and—
(d) the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, comprised of 29 peak health bodies, has also advised that "hydroxychloroquine is potentially harmful and no more effective than standard care"; and
(2) affirms that it is the responsibility of all public officeholders to acknowledge and support the independence and expertise of the TGA and counter misinformation and conspiracy theories.
That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for McMahon from moving the following motion—That the House:
(1) notes that:
(a) on 25 August 2020, the Member for Hughes gave a speech in the Federation Chamber supporting the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19;
(b) in his speech, the Member said that "media bias", "groupthink" and the "complete abandonment of reason" were driving a "war" on hydroxychloroquine and "the big hand of government … interfer[ing] in a doctor-patient relationship", and cited a number of medical commentators including:
(i) Professor Christian Perronne, who is being investigated by the French College of Physicians for his comments on hydroxychloroquine;
(ii) Dr Harvey Risch, who was rebuked by 25 Yale University colleagues for promoting "conspiracy theories, purported hoaxes, and the views of zealots"; and
(iii) Dr Kulvinder Gill, who was criticised by other Canadian doctors for misleading tweets on hydroxychloroquine;
(c) in Australia, potential therapies are assessed for safety and efficacy by the independent Therapeutic Goods Administration, and the TGA "strongly discourages the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 … or prevent COVID-19"; and
(d) the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, comprised of 29 peak health bodies, has also advised that "hydroxychloroquine is potentially harmful and no more effective than standard care"; and
(2) affirms that it is the responsibility of all public officeholders to acknowledge and support the independence and expertise of the TGA and counter misinformation and conspiracy theories.
The House divided. [09:40]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That the Member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [09:45]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
That the question be now put.
The House divided. [09:47]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
The House divided. [09:50]
(The Speaker—Hon. Tony Smith)
Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Levy) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Civil Aviation Amendment (Unmanned Aircraft Levy Collection and Payment) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Radiocommunications Legislation Amendment (Reform and Modernisation) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Amendment Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Clean Energy Finance Corporation Amendment (Grid Reliability Fund) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Recycling and Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (General) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Bill 2020
Bill presented by Ms Ley.
Bill read a first time.
That this bill be now read a second time.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020
That this bill be now read a second time.
Customs Tariff Proposal (No. 2) 2020.
That Ms Payne be discharged from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit and that, in her place, Dr Leigh be appointed a member of the committee.
Treasury Laws Amendment (More Flexible Superannuation) Bill 2020
So much of the noise going on about superannuation at the moment comes from politicians who get 15% super themselves, but don't support superannuation for others and want to knock it off.
That … the House calls on the Government to ensure that all Australians can enjoy a dignified retirement, including by committing to:
(1) the scheduled and legislated increases to the superannuation guarantee; and
(2) adequate funding for the aged pension".
If someone used super money to buy a $20 pizza, that pizza might end up costing them $150 at the time of their retirement. It will be the most expensive pizza they've ever bought.
How can it be justified that a decision on compulsory super which is a fundamental element of a long-term national retirement incomes strategy should be made on "current circumstances"?
Australia supports the aims of initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative …
We look forward to working with China on the Belt and Road Initiative …
Australia welcomes the contribution that the Belt and Road Initiative can make …
The Australian Government will also be responsible for residential aged care facilities; working with other healthcare providers to set standards to promote the safety and security of people in aged care …
State and territory governments are responsible for the operational aspects of public health responses … implement infection control guidelines and healthcare safety and quality standards. They will establish systems to promote the safety and security of people in aged care and other institutional settings and support outbreak investigation and management in residential aged care facilities …
State/territory public health section in the Departments of Health will act in an advisory role to assist RCF—
to detect, characterise and manage COVID-19 outbreaks. This includes:
… … …
That leave of absence be given to every member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting.
That leave of absence from the determination of this sitting until 1 March 2021 be given to Ms Payne and Ms Wells for parental leave purposes.
The need for a National Integrity Commission in Australia.
Electorate Officers … are employed to assist the Senator or Member to carry out duties as a Member of Parliament, and not for party political purposes.
I very much doubt that Sukkar can or should remain a minister of the Crown. A minister is a position of real power and thus real trust and you cannot have it in the hands of people who abuse it
That:
(1) Mr Zimmerman be discharged from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit and that, in his place, Mr Joyce be appointed a member of the committee;
(2) Mrs Archer and Mr Ted O'Brien be discharged from the Standing Committee on Economics and that, in their place, Ms Hammond and Mr Simmonds be appointed members of the committee.
Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Improving Assistance for Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Families) Bill 2020
Superannuation Amendment (PSSAP Membership) Bill 2020
Product Stewardship (Oil) Amendment Bill 2020
Excise Tariff Amendment Bill 2020
Norfolk Island Amendment (Supreme Court) Bill 2020
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Consumer Law—Country of Origin Representations) Bill 2020
Treasury Laws Amendment (More Flexible Superannuation) Bill 2020
On certain measures, the rate of change in Australia is the fastest of any country in the world.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Zimmerman) took the chair at 10:00.
That the member be no longer heard.
We made difficult decisions, hard decisions, often contentious decisions.
There are now more active cases in aged care in Victoria than Queensland has had during the entire pandemic.
The executive director of the National Association for the Visual Arts, Esther Anatolitis, says artists and the creative industries are crucial to culture, the economy and social connectedness, and to envisioning and planning for the future. After all, artists, along with scientists, are the visionaries who offer us road-maps, practically and emotionally, to how things are likely to pan out.
Anatolitis says the ability to envision a complex set of possibilities is the basis of good government. "And it is of course the fundamental skill of the artist and anyone with a humanities degree who has been taught how to critically analyse risk and ethical implications, how to think outside the box. That is exactly what we need right now and into the future."
Anatolitis says she worries when she hears statements about "quiet Australians", a phrase regularly used by Prime Minister Scott Morrison …