The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2022-2023
Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2022-2023
Narcotic Drugs (Licence Charges) Amendment Bill 2022
Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2022
Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2022
Income Tax Amendment (Labour Mobility Program) Bill 2022
Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 3) Bill 2022
Biosecurity Amendment (Strengthening Biosecurity) Bill 2022
Health Legislation Amendment (Medicare Compliance and Other Measures) Bill 2022
Maritime Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022
Australian Crime Commission Amendment (Special Operations and Special Investigations) Bill 2022
High Speed Rail Authority Bill 2022
Crimes Amendment (Penalty Unit) Bill 2022
Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Bill 2022
Treasury Laws Amendment (2022 Measures No. 2) Bill 2022
Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Respect at Work) Bill 2022
Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Bill 2022
Financial Sector Reform Bill 2022
National Anti-Corruption Commission Bill 2022
National Anti-Corruption Commission (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2022
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the arrangement of business for this sitting being as follows:
(1) a Minister presenting the Treasury Laws Amendment (Energy Price Relief Plan) Bill 2022;
(2) following the Minister's second reading speech, debate continuing immediately;
(3) the time limits for the second reading debate being 10 minutes for the Minister and first Opposition speaker, and five minutes each for all other Members;
(4) the bill proceeding through all stages without interruption;
(5) the second reading debate concluding no later than 11.15 am, and questions being immediately put on any amendments moved to the motion for the second reading and on the second reading of the bill and any message from the Governor-General under standing order 147 being announced;
(6) if required, a consideration in detail stage of the bill, with all government amendments to be moved together, all opposition amendments to be moved together, and any crossbench Members' amendments to be moved as one set per Member, with:
(a) one question to be put on all government amendments;
(b) one question to be put on all opposition amendments;
(c) separate questions to be put on any sets of amendments moved by crossbench Members; and
(d) one question to be put that the bill [as amended] be agreed to;
(7) any question provided for under paragraph (6) being put after no more than 10 minutes of debate on each set of amendments, unless a Minister sets a further period of debate;
(8) at 12 noon, any remaining questions required to conclude consideration in detail being put with no further debate;
(9) when the bill has been agreed to, the question being put immediately on the third reading of the bill;
(10) following the third reading of the bill, a Minister moving leave of absence for all Members;
(11) following resolution of the leave of absence motion, a condolence motion being moved and debated on the deaths of Queensland Police Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and Mr Alan Dare;
(12) at 1.30 pm, or when no further Members rise to speak, if earlier, provided that a message from the Senate has not been received in relation to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Energy Price Relief Plan) Bill 2022, the House suspending until the ringing of the bells;
(13) the condolence motion on the deaths of Queensland Police Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and Mr Alan Dare, standing referred to the Federation Chamber;
(14) when received if the House is sitting, or upon resumption of the sitting after a suspension, any message from the Senate relating to the bill being considered, and no further business being considered, after which the House immediately adjourning until 10 am on Monday, 6 February 2023;
(15) the only business to be conducted during this sitting being as provided in this motion;
(16) standing orders 31 and 33 being suspended for this sitting; and
(17) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.
That all words in paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (11), (15) and (17) be omitted and the following be inserted:
(1) new paragraph (1A) as follows: "that as the first priority for the House there be a condolence motion in relation to the deaths of Queensland Police Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and Mr Alan Dare";
(2) at the start of paragraph (1) as follows: "as its second item of business,";
(3) new paragraph (3) as follows: "that the question on the second reading of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Energy Price Relief Plan) Bill 2022 not be put until such time as every other Member wishing to speak on the question has spoken for up to 15 minutes as provided for under standing order 1";
(4) new paragraph (4) as follows: "that any question put during the consideration in detail stage of the bill not be put until such time as every other Member wishing to speak on an amendment has spoken for up to five minutes as provided for under standing order 1";
(5) new paragraph (5) as follows: "that Question Time be conducted from 2 pm to 3.30 pm or until such time as 22 questions have been asked and answered, whichever is first"; and
(6) new paragraph (6) as follows: "that after Question Time or when no further Members rise to speak, if earlier, provided that a message from the Senate has not been received in relation to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Energy Price Relief Plan) Bill 2022, the House suspending until the ringing of the bells".
In terms of legislation that comes before the Parliament, quite often, it's just aimed at dividing people and being tricky . And I call it 'wedgislation' rather than putting the national interest first. … I want proper processes. I want to consult people.
The House divided. [09:32]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
The House divided. [09:36]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
Treasury Laws Amendment (Energy Price Relief Plan) Bill 2022
That this bill be now read a second time.
In terms of legislation that comes before the Parliament, quite often, it's just aimed at dividing people and being tricky. And I call it 'wedgislation' rather than putting the national interest first … I want proper processes. I want to consult people.
That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"the House declines to give the bill a second reading and:
(1) notes the Prime Minister’s failure to deliver on his promise to reduce electricity prices by $275;
(2) notes that Prime Minister has instead delivered the most expensive average wholesale electricity prices on record, with electricity prices set to rise by more than 63 per cent and gas prices to rise by 40 per cent over the next two years;
(3) notes that after six months of doing nothing to bring down power prices and provide cost of living relief, the Government is attempting to rush through legislation without any consultation;
(4) notes the Government continues to ignore expert advice that this bill will destroy investment confidence in Australia’s energy sector, leading to higher prices, job losses and blackouts;
(5) criticises the Prime Minister and the Government for putting the energy security and economic prosperity of Australia at risk; and
(6) criticises the Prime Minister and the Government for the contempt that they have shown the Australian Parliament during this legislative process".
There is a process that happens with legislation that I have to say does matter. It does matter that members have the opportunity to read legislation …
You don't have a Code and a cap at the same time, right.
That all words after "the House" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
"agrees to give the bill a second reading and:
(1) notes that this legislation gives the government the power to stop power bills rising at all and to freeze electricity bills at pre-crisis levels;
(2) calls on the government to immediately use those powers and address the urgent cost of living crisis by freezing electricity bills;
(3) does not consider it acceptable that electricity bills are set to rise by over 20% while coal and gas corporations keep getting subsidies and don't pay their fair share of tax; and
(4) considers that any price rise from here on in is squarely the government’s responsibility".
BHP delivered strong operational performance and disciplined cost control to realise record underlying earnings of US$40.6 billion and record free cash flow of US$24.3 billion.
It would have been the easiest thing in the world to borrow more money and spray more cash around but that wouldn't have been right or responsible. My job is always to prioritise what's right and responsible and affordable, and not just what's popular.
If we look at what has been put forward by the Labor Environment Action Network, they want to get rid of gas stoves and gas heaters. They want to get rid of gas water heaters …
He is not going to alternative policies at all. He is going to wild fantasies that he is making up.
That the following words be added after paragraph (4):
"and
(5) calls on the Government to produce the ACCC report and any other supporting evidence which the Government cites as the basis for establishing this domestic gas price cap of $12/gigajoule".
The combination of actions chosen by the Federal Government, while far from perfect, is likely to be helpful overall in reducing energy affordability pressures on industry and households over the next few years and improving the long-term position of energy users.
Now that Labor has violated industry trust, they are going to see how hard it is to keep the lights on without industry cooperation.
Any collapse of the heads of agreement is a sign that industry cooperation cannot be assumed any longer, raising the prospect of a 'Bowen blackout' before the next election.
The House divided. [11:20]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
The House divided. [11:30]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
The House divided. [11:33]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (line 24), omit "12 months", substitute "18 months".
(2) Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (line 25), omit "12 months", substitute "18 months".
(3) Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (line 28), omit "12 months", substitute "18 months".
The damage has already started: nearly all gas contracting has shrivelled up in the last few days.
The Commonwealth Government will partner with States and Territories to deliver targeted and temporary relief on power bills to eligible Australian households and small businesses that are customers of electricity retailers.
The House divided. [12:04]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
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 so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the resolution agreed to today being varied as follows: paragraph (12) omit "1.30 pm" and substitute "3 pm".
That the House record its deep regret at the death on 12 December 2022 of Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold and Mr Alan Dare, place on record its acknowledgement of their bravery and sacrifice in the line of duty, and tender its sympathy to their families in their bereavement.
The events of today remind us that our job as police is always dangerous. It never stops, and it comes at a heavy cost to us all.
It is also a stark reminder of what we risk every day… We know that when we leave home to go to work each day, there are never any guarantees we will come home at the end of the day.
These officers' lives have been cut tragically short for one reason and one reason alone, for simply doing their job, and we Queensland police remember and honour them.
… police are the public and the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
… our hearts are breaking for our Queensland colleagues.
… … …
This incident highlights the volatile, dangerous nature of policing, and the bravery of every police officer who puts on their uniform every day not knowing what they'll face.