The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That further statements in relation to the death of Allan Gyngell AO be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
That further statements in relation to the death of John Olsen AO be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
That further statements in relation to the death of Barry Humphries AO CBE be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
That further statements in relation to the death of Robert Maguire AM be permitted in the Federation Chamber.
Report relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and of private Members' business
1. The Committee met in private session on Tuesday, 9 May 2023.
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, 9 May 2023, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 22 May 2023, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR LEESER: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code Act 1995 , and for related purposes. (Criminal Code Amendment (Prohibition of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2023 )
(Notice given 22 March 2023.)
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 SHARKIE: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 , and for related purposes. (Interactive Gambling Amendment (B an on Gambling Advertisements) Bill 2023 )
(Notice given 27 March 2023.)
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 MS DANIEL: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 , and for related purposes. (Broadcasting Services Amendment (Prohibition of Gambling Advertisements) Bill 2023 )
(Notice given 28 March 2023.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading fo r a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
4 MS BYRNES: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that Sunday, 21 May 2023 marks 12 months since the election of the current Government;
(2) acknowledges that after a decade of mismanagement, chaos and neglect by the former Government, this Government is delivering on its election promises and continues to deliver and build on our plan for a better future;
(3) further acknowledges that this Government's second budget handed down during the last sitting week:
(a) provides responsible cost of living relief;
(b) creates more opportunities for Australians; and
(c) builds a more secure economy into the future; and
(4) further notes that this Government is delivering on our plan for a better future in the face of relentless negative opposition from the Liberal-National coalition.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Byrnes — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5m inutes 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.
5 MR BATES: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that in the Budget the Government chose to:
(a) spend half a trillion dollars on Stage 3 tax cuts for the wealthy, handouts for wealthy property investors, handouts for fossil fuel corporations and nuclear submarines; and
(b) not adequately address the cost-of-living pressures people are facing; and
(2) calls on the Government to lift people out of poverty by raising JobSeeker above the poverty line, wiping student debt, and taking urgent action to address the housing and rental crisis.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 15 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Bates — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 3 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
6 MR VAN MANEN: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that the budget handed down on 9 May 2023 must deliver:
(a) fiscal restraint to take pressure off families;
(b) simpler and fairer taxes, not higher ones;
(c) real action on productivity to make small businesses and families' lives easier;
(d) measured relief for small businesses and families that does not add to inflation; and
(e) no more broken promises; and
(2) recognises that:
(a) the Government's second budget is an opportunity to correct the mistakes of its first; and
(b) in its first budget, the Government increased spending by $115 billion, made the structural deficit worse, and abandoned all goals of balancing the budget.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
T ime allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Mr van Manen — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 7 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS BELL: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the Government's superannuation tax will unfairly impact younger Australians;
(2) recognises that:
(a) a 20-year-old today earning an average salary will be caught in the net of the Government's doubling of superannuation taxes;
(b) an analysis of Australian Taxation Office and Australian Bureau of Census data reveals that this means more than two million Australians under the age of 25 today will be slugged with the Government's latest tax grab; and
(c) the Government has been misleading Australia and it is time for the Treasurer to come clean and confirm exactly how many people will lose out under these changes; and
(3) acknowledges that young Australians today will pay the price for the Government's reckless spending.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Bell — 5 minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
2 MS THWAITES: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the Government's second Budget delivers a record 15 per cent pay increase for aged care workers across Australia, and that this represents the biggest ever pay rise for aged care workers;
(2) recognises the work of the Government supporting the aged care sector to improve facilities and lift the quality of care for residents, including through increasing average care minutes and greater transparency; and
(3) commends the Government for having directly addressed 37 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety since coming into office, and its commitment to continue delivering reform for the aged care sector.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Thwaites — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
3 MS DANIEL: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the consequences of harm from gambling are poorer health and wellbeing for individuals who gamble, their family members, friends and community;
(b) family and relationship problems, emotional and psychological issues, including distress, depression, suicide and violence and financial harms are all costs of gambling;
(c) the potential for harm has increased with the proliferation of online gambling, and the proliferation of sports bettors gambling online which significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
(d) a three-year study by La Trobe University with 50 thousand respondents revealed that more than three quarters felt they should be able to watch sport on television free from gambling ads and that young people are exposed to too much gambling advertising; and
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) expenditure on gambling advertising in Australia has increased by 320 per cent in the past 11 years;
(b) exposure to gambling advertising normalises betting and increases the risk of harm;
(c) current restrictions have failed to reduce children and young people's exposure to gambling, especially sports betting; and
(d) the prolific promotion of sports betting does not align with community values.
(Notice given 21 March 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Daniel — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
4 MS SITOU: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that Australia's millions of small businesses are the engine room of our nation's economy, at the heart of local communities across the country and employ millions of Australians;
(2) acknowledges that deadly flooding, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic have hit our small businesses hard which is why the Government is delivering for small business, helping them to bounce back from these challenges and improve their long-term resilience by:
(a) providing $15.1 million for small business owners across Australia to access free mental health and financial counselling support through the New Access for Small Business Owners and Small Business Debt Helpline programs;
(b) updating Commonwealth Procurement Rules so small businesses get a bigger slice of the $70 billion in contracts that the Commonwealth Government spends every year, with a 20 per cent target;
(c) reviewing the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 to consider what other policy measures are necessary to achieve better payment terms and practices for small businesses;
(d) opening the first round of $62.6 million in energy efficiency grants to eligible small and medium businesses to help address rising costs; and
(e) passing legislation to make unfair contract terms illegal so small businesses can negotiate fairer agreements with large partners; and
(3) notes that the Government's wider agenda will benefit small businesses by:
(a) delivering an increase in skilled migration;
(b) accelerate the delivery of 465,000 additional fee-free TAFE places, with 180,000 to be delivered in 2023, helping get more skilled workers into the job market quicker; and
(c) delivering cheaper childcare to make life easier and increase workforce participation.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Sitou — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
5 MR WALLACE: To move:
That this House acknowledges that:
(1) the Government:
(a) has not consulted with or listened to the genuine concerns of community pharmacists in regard to its proposed pharmaceutical 60-day dispensing changes;
(b) must provide a strong guarantee that this change will not:
(i) harm the viability of community pharmacies;
(ii) affect medicine supplies especially in regional and rural communities; and
(iii) increase the stockpiling and wastage of medicines;
(2) the increased cost of living has placed enormous pressure on Australians, but questions remain on whether this policy will have perverse and unintended consequences; and
(3) community pharmacists play an integral role in the provision of primary healthcare in Australia, particularly in rural and regional Australia, as they stepped up when the nation needed them most through the COVID-19 pandemic and they deserve the support of the Government.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Wallace — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minut es 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.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices — continued
6 MS SCRYMGOUR: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that the Government will invest an extra $262.3 million in the 2023-24 budget to address the chronic underfunding of Australia's iconic national parks;
(2) acknowledges that after a decade of mismanagement and neglect by the former Government, our national parks have been left with broken infrastructure, out-of-date equipment, and inadequate facilities; and
(3) further notes that the Government's investment will address critical infrastructure needs, including updating unsafe equipment, fixing inadequate signage, providing essential ranger housing, and refurbishing rundown facilities.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Scrymgour — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5m inutes 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.
7 MS LANDRY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) Australian manufacturers continue to be significantly impacted by the cost-of-living crisis;
(b) the Government still has no plan to tackle inflationary pressures contributing to the rising input costs of manufacturers, with no plans to address:
(i) rising power prices;
(ii) rising interest rates;
(iii) damaging labour shortages; and
(iv) disrupted supply chains; and
(c) the National Reconstruction Fund has not issued a single dollar to our manufacturers and will have a contributory impact on inflation; and
(2) calls on the Government to reveal when the National Reconstruction Fund will make its first investment.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Landry — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
8 MS J RYAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) celebrates:
(a) the close trans-Tasman relationship between Australia and New Zealand; and
(b) the contribution New Zealanders living in Australia have made to our country;
(2) notes that changes under the former Howard Liberal Government made it more difficult for New Zealanders living, working, and paying taxes in Australia to become citizens;
(3) further notes the announcement made on 22 April 2023 that will mean all Special Category Visa holders will be able to apply directly for citizenship without becoming permanent residents first, as long as they meet a four-year residence and other eligibility requirements; and
(4) commends the Government's commitment to build a fairer, better managed, and more inclusive migration system for New Zealanders living in Australia.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms J Ryan — 5 mi nutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
Orders of the day
BUDGET: Resumption of debate on the motion of Mr van Manen—That this House:
(1) acknowledges that the budget handed down on 9 May 2023 must deliver:
(a) fiscal restraint to take pressure off families;
(b) simpler and fairer taxes, not higher ones;
(c) real action on productivity to make small businesses and families' lives easier;
(d) measured relief for small businesses and families that does not add to inflation; and
(e) no more broken promises; and
(2) recognises that:
(a) the Government's second budget is an opportunity to correct the mistakes of its first; and
(b) in its first budget, the Government increased spending by $115 billion, made the structural deficit worse, and abandoned all goals of balancing the budget.
(Notice g iven 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes 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.
Notices — conti nued
9 MS MILLER-FROST: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) in 2022, Australians lost an estimated $3.1 billion to scams; and
(b) in the last 12 months to April 2023, almost half of all Australians have been scammed, deceived, or exposed to a fake text message; and
(2) commends the Government's commitment to crack down on fake text message scams by:
(a) establishing a SMS sender ID registry in the 2023-24 Budget; and
(b) committing to tackling illegal scams and keeping Australians safe; and
(3) further notes that the Government's commitment compliments:
(a) the rules registered by the Australian Communications and Media Authority that saw telecommunications companies block more than 90 million scam texts between July and December 2022; and
(b) the Government's investment to establish a National Anti Scam Centre within the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as an innovative, world-leading public-private sector partnership to disrupt and stop scammers in Australia.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Miller-Frost — 5 minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes 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.
10 MR VASTA: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises that;
(a) financial literacy rates in Australia are in decline;
(b) enrolments in economic based subjects, which incorporate financial literacy in the national curriculum, has declined by 70 per cent over the past three decades;
(c) enrolments in maths-based subjects has decreased from 76 per cent to 66 per cent in 2020, and boys outnumber girls 2 to 1 in these subjects;
(d) only around 50 per cent of Australians are considered financially literate, with women having significantly worse outcomes compared to their male counterparts;
(e) on average, 50 per cent of Australians live pay-check to pay-check;
(f) financial hardship is one of the most commonly cited contributors to poor mental health;
(g) Australian students are falling behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations in financial literacy performance, based on the Program for International Student Assessment Survey data;
(h) 20 per cent of Australian students do not meet baseline levels of financial literacy; and
(i) the 2021 Australian Government Australian Financial Capability Survey indicates that 94 per cent of young Australians aged 14 to 17 either agreed or strongly agreed that is important to learn how to manage their money; and
(2) calls on:
(a) the Government to make financial literacy a compulsory part of the national curriculum and extend this into the senior years of schooling; and
(b) all Members of Parliament to support measured and considered action to improve financial literacy outcomes in this country across all demographics.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — 25 m inutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Vasta — 5 minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 5 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
11 DR REID: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the Government is easing cost-of-living pressures and making hundreds of common medicines cheaper by allowing millions of Australians to buy two months' worth of medicine for the price of a single prescription;
(2) acknowledges that for at least 6 million Australians, this will:
(a) halve their medicine costs;
(b) require fewer visits to the general practitioner and pharmacist;
(c) save Australians more than $1.6 billion over four years; and
(3) further notes that this policy comes after the Government's policy to reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme general co-payment from $42.50 to $30, which has saved Australians more than $58 million on 5.1 million prescriptions in the first 3 months of the laws coming into effect; and
(4) commends the Government for its commitment to make responsible and targeted cost-of-living relief.
(Notice given 9 May 2023.)
Time allotted — re maining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Dr Reid — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 4 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should conti nue on a future day.
THE HON D. M. DICK MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
10 May 2023
Defence Legislation Amendment (Naval Nuclear Propulsion) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a second time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 2) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a second time
That the resolution of appointment of the Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services be amended as follows:
(1) replace 'final report no later than 29 September 2023' in paragraph 2 with 'final report no later than 30 November 2023'; and
(2) replace 'until presentation of the committee's final report' in paragraph 6 with 'until 31 December 2023'.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Child Support Measures) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a third time.
That Ms Vamvakinou be discharged from the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs and that, in her place, Ms Doyle be appointed a member of the committee.
Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023
Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023
GV DAMA has provided us with a new pathway to appease labour shortages and meet the demands of our industry. Not only does it provide benefits for our business, but it allows our regional community to realise its true economic potential.
Imagine, you, your family, your friends are forced to live out of your car or not know where your next meal will come from.
Well, this is the … reality for many of the Australians who live below the poverty line. As the cost of living rises dramatically, more people are falling under the poverty line.
It might seem like it doesn't affect anyone you know, but it's more likely than it seems.
According to a 2020 ACOSS report it's 1 in 8 adults and 1 in 6 children.
Those are the horrifying figures that really put it into perspective. That it could be you. It could be your family. It could be your friends.
This issue runs deeper than individuals, it affects the people around them and the communities that they're a part of.
And I'm sure that we can all agree … that no person should have to live a life in which they wonder if they'll be able to pay rent or have to make a choice between food and medicine.
It's too little, too late. This is a decision that should have been made 100 days ago when the government was elected, but of course they didn't do that.
… we need migration.
The government's announcement to increase the permanent migration intake has been delayed because of union pressure.
… Australia's migration program is not fit for purpose …
Australia now has a migration program that fails to attract the most highly skilled migrants and fails to enable business to efficiently access workers … there is clear evidence of systemic exploitation and the risk of an emerging permanently temporary underclass.
We'll be constructive with this government in saying that we welcome the changes that they're bringing forward, we believe permanent migration is important.
I had thought the Reserve Bank was done and dusted, but this has notably raised the chance that they will do another swing of the baseball bat.
We support those payments to families in the way in which the government has proposed them.
What about the energy bill relief?
Well, we've been supportive of that all the way along.
As you know, we've always supported that …
There is support for small and family businesses to tackle immediate pressures, particularly with high energy input costs, an asset write-off boost to help re-equip and invest in productivity, tax administration changes that will help with vital cash flow challenges and much needed advice to deal with cyber security fears …
Energising enterprise can deliver a stronger economy and these measures are a step towards delivering that.
This budget has provided welcome breathing space for households and small businesses in the form of energy relief.
… we expect inflation to be stubbornly higher than the Reserve Bank of Australia's target until fiscal 2026.
The failure of the Government to lift people out of poverty in this year's budget.
Five dollars? Hell, what will it buy? It might buy you a sandwich and a milkshake if you're lucky. Not much.
People in our community on low incomes, and those with chronic severe diseases will now have a fighting fair chance at affordable health care again.
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023
That this bill be now read a third time.
Jobs and Skills Australia Amendment Bill 2023
When I had a seat in the Liberal party room, I'd regularly feign tolerance over the ignorance of some of the so-called political leaders of Dutton and Morrison's ilk. Whether the debate was about climate change, marriage equality or business and the economy, I would often reflect that many of them wouldn't survive two weeks in a good corporation.
I firmly believe that JSA is, and will be understood widely as, one of Australia's essential social and economic agencies.
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023
This proposal will create additional administrative burden upon employers to take on the role of notifying employees of a change in the amount of a deduction due to actions of which the employee may not be aware. In order to minimise employee confusion, the employer will now have to instigate communication of changes whereas the current system of the employee requesting a change to their salary arrangements maintains a simple and understood process.
Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights
Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Claydon ) took the chair at 09:34.
This is your reminder, check, and if something doesn't look right, feel right or you are just worried, seek your doctors advice or a second opinion.
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2023
(1) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 3), after item 6, insert:
6A At the end of Part 2
Add:
8A Prohibition on assistance for fossil fuel-based infrastructure
(1) Financial assistance must not be provided under this Act for the development of fossil fuel-based infrastructure.
(2) It must be a condition of any grant of financial assistance under this Act that the financial assistance not be used (whether directly or indirectly) for the development of fossil fuel-based infrastructure.
(3) Without limiting subsection (1), neither the Facility nor a subsidiary of the Facility may invest (whether directly or indirectly, including as a participant in a partnership, trust, joint venture or similar arrangement, through subsidiaries or other investment vehicles, or by any combination of these means) in fossil fuel-based infrastructure.
(4) In this section:
fossil fuel-based infrastructure:
(a) includes fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity; and
(b) does not include electricity transmission infrastructure.
fossil fuels includes any of the following:
(a) coal;
(b) oil and other petroleum-based products;
(c) natural gas;
(d) products, by-products and wastes from extracting or processing fossils fuels to which paragraphs (a) to (c) apply.
Family Law Amendment Bill 2023
(a) what arrangements would promote the safety (including safety from family violence, abuse, neglect, or other harm) of:
(i) the child—
(ii) each person who has care of the child …
(b) any views expressed by the child;
(c) the developmental, psychological, emotional and cultural needs of the child;
(d) the capacity of each person who has or is proposed to have parental responsibility for the child to provide for the child's developmental, psychological, emotional and cultural needs;
(e) the benefit to the child of being able to have a relationship with the child's parents, and other people who are significant to the child, where it is safe to do so;
(f) anything else that is relevant to the particular circumstances of the child.
In our experience, the confusion surrounding the presumption … has led to many families agreeing to unsafe care arrangements in cases resolved by consent
The father of my daughter was described by author on gendered violence Jess Hill as 'one of the most terrifying coercive controllers and users of physical and sexual violence that I have practically ever heard of'. Though he's been found guilty of multiple breaches of the Family Violence Intervention Order, and indictable criminal offences following a violent attack on my daughter, keeping her safe from him has been, at times, a seemingly impossible task, despite spending more money than the value of our home in Goldstein on legal advice in order to protect her.
As a victim/survivor of severe family violence, I understand the dire need for family law reform to prioritise the safety of children. I see it as the most poorly understood danger facing Australian children currently.
While we recognise that it is often in the best interests of children to spend time with both parents, this must be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the safety of children and adult victims-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence and abuse must be prioritised.
… the changes increase the focus on prioritising the interests, safety and wellbeing of the child and each person who has parental responsibility for the child, often women. This acknowledges that the safety of a child's carer is an important factor in ensuring the safety of a child.
Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.
One of the highlights of committee work for parliamentarians is the people we meet. During this inquiry our greatest delight was hearing from the nine children and five young adults at our final meeting of the inquiry. These children and young adults were a microcosm of what this inquiry was all about.
These 14 young people talked about the important issues of the inquiry—what it was like for them when their parents were separating and how their living arrangements were decided.
These children and young adults were articulate, open, funny, serious and sometimes sad.
They told us their stories and as a result the real meaning of this inquiry was clearly understood.
Another young boy, Jack, who we were unable to meet with, told us his story through his four drawings. We are so grateful to Jack for the pictures which we have used on the cover and inside cover of our report. Jack's story is a simple and complex one at the same time. It is a story we can all identify with in some way. Every picture tells a story.
Over the past six months of the inquiry many people have assisted the committee with its work. Over 2000 people have contributed to this inquiry through tasks such as making submissions, appearing at a hearing, making a community statement, facilitating the committee's visits to the courts and mediation centres and providing exhibits.
As the chairman of the House Family and Community Affairs Committee I always think that every inquiry is the hardest that we have undertaken. However, I can say that this definitely was, and will be the most difficult inquiry any member will ever have to undertake. The committee devoted all of their individual electorate time outside of the parliamentary sittings, to travel to the hearings right across Australia.
When making a parenting order in relation to a child, the court must apply a presumption that it is in the best interests of the child for the child's parents to have equal shared parental responsibility for the child.
The committee recommends that the Australian Government urgently draft and release an exposure draft of legislation which would amend section 61DA of the Family Law Act 1975 to address the current misunderstanding of the provision that equal shared parental responsibility equates to equal time with the children.
… goes very far beyond what is necessary and justified in order to remedy perceived deficiencies in the current law.
For instance, in roundtable discussions with family dispute resolution service providers in Canberra on 29 November 2022, it was the common view of the representatives in attendance that the presumption of the ESPR is misunderstood, even by parties with legal representation. Council was advised that the presumption can cause difficulties in negotiations "including that parties can be fixated on the presumption as an entitlement, even after receiving legal advice". It was further noted "that the best interests of the child are often overshadowed by perceived entitlements as a misunderstanding of the presumption."
Problems associated with the application of sections 61DA and 65DAA were identified by judges at an early stage following the implementation of the SP reforms. In a 2007 judgement, Carmody J cautioned about the legislature "trying to entice courts into the dangerous realm of finding a stock standard or 'off the shelf' response to unique and multi-faceted parenting problems".
The Law Council supports reform to Australia's family law system, including the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (Family Law Act), that may facilitate the resolution of parenting disputes and places the best interests, safety and wellbeing of any child to a family law proceeding at the centre of the decision-making process. It makes the observation that many of the proposed changes are intended not only to improve the substantive law but to make it easier to understand for both self-represented litigants and for separating couples who are negotiating their own parenting arrangements without litigation, and likely without the assistance of any family law professional.
From our work, we see how important it is to consider the best interests of children and the safety of victim-survivors. The changes proposed in the Family Law Amendment Bill appropriately put the best interests of children at the heart of care arrangements for families post separation.
These changes are long overdue and will significantly improve the family law system's ability to ensure the safety of victim-survivors and children.
Family Law Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2023
(1) The court may make an order in child-related proceedings requiring a prescribed State or Territory agency to provide the court with the documents or information specified in the order.
(2) The documents or information specified … must be documents recording, or information about, one or more of these:
(a) any notifications to the agency of suspected abuse of a child to whom the proceedings relate or of suspected family violence affecting the child;
(b) any assessments by the agency of investigations into a notification of that kind or the findings or outcomes of those investigations;
(c) any reports commissioned by the agency in the course of investigating a notification.
Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus) Bill 2023
Infrastructure Australia Amendment (Independent Review) Bill 2023
The pictures of the mother duck and her ducklings standing behind the workers who did nothing to help them when there dam was removed, then seeing the pictures of the dead ducklings over the next few days, the Powerful Owl killed by a bus, minor birds (although not the native ones) building nests in traffic lights are some of the horror stories that the cause and effect by the government removing a once beautiful park.
I feel powerless. It seems all the pleas from locals and residents have been ignored and the NSW government is continuing to destroy native habitat, cut down trees, and destroy the local environment.
Investing in greener technologies and getting to net zero isn't something we can pick and choose. It's an obligation on all of us.
The future is clean. The future is coming and we need to ensure that it comes with jobs and investment here in Australia. This is an attitude that is now spread across my department and … across Government.
The legislation that is before parliament, moved by the infrastructure minister, will make sure that there's transparency and will make sure that there's proper analysis. That's because there's a finite level of resources, and that is why we should make sure that productivity drives that agenda going forward. That is what my government is committed to, and that's what we will get on with …
Since then, Infrastructure Australia has been sidelined with a lack of genuine influence. It's been stretched too far and too thin and has lacked focus.