The SPEAKER ( Hon. Milton Dick ) took the chair at 09:00, 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, 27 February 2024.
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, 27 February 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 18 March 2024, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MR KATTER: To move:
That this House calls on the Government to immediately legislate for significant reform of Australia's food retail sector to better protect Australian farmers and consumers, by:
(1) divesting to reduce the market share of the major two corporations in the food retail sector;
(2) imposing a customs tariff of five per cent on imported products in recognition of the economic, social and environmental impacts of imports;
(3) introducing a maximum markup of 100 per cent on all produce between farmer (processor) and retail outlet; and
(4) removing the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct as a measure which has long been used to control and restrain suppliers and producers.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Katter — 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.
Orders of the day
1 COST OF LIVING: Resumption of debate ( from 12 February 2024 — Mr McCormack, in continuation ) on the motion of Mr Burnell—That this House:
(1) acknowledges that cost of living pressures, including the cost of groceries, are putting Australians under the pump;
(2) notes that to ensure that Australian consumers and suppliers are getting a fair deal, the Government has:
(a) directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to conduct a pricing inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices and allegations of price gouging in the supermarket sector;
(b) commenced an independent review of the Food and Grocery Code led by Dr Craig Emerson, which will examine whether the code is effective in ensuring Australian suppliers and farmers are getting a fair go; and
(c) partnered with consumer advocacy group CHOICE to regularly provide shoppers with better information on the comparative costs of grocery goods at different retailers; and
(3) recognises these measures are further examples of the Government ensuring everyone is doing their bit when it comes to easing the cost of living crisis.
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All 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.
Notices — continued
2 MR COLEMAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the eSafety Commissioner recommended a mandated trial of age assurance technology in her Roadmap for Age Verification, as a way of protecting children from online harm;
(b) the Government refused to support the eSafety Commissioner's recommendation and instead backed the development of industry codes as a stopgap measure; and
(c) the Government's decision has been widely criticised by leading child and women's safety advocates across Australia;
(2) further notes the evidence of the eSafety Commissioner during Senate Estimates on 13 February 2024, in which she confirmed there were already a range of age assurance technologies that can be used to protect children from online harm, and that such 'technologies are getting better all the time';
(3) condemns the Government for:
(a) its refusal to support the recommendations of the eSafety Commissioner to support a mandated trial of age assurance technology; and
(b) failing to support the Opposition private Member's bill for the introduction of such a trial; and
(4) calls on the Minister for Communications to:
(a) reverse her position on an age verification trial and support the Opposition's plan to implement a trial;
(b) announce plans for a new trial within 30 days; and
(c) commence a trial of age verification technology within three months.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Mr Coleman — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 10 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (11 am to 1.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 MS SPENDER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) expensive and unreliable fossil fuel energy has driven up power bills by over 20 per cent in eastern states;
(b) households can reduce their bills:
(i) by an average between $1,134 and $1,822 a year with rooftop solar;
(ii) between $514 and $1,594 with more efficient electric appliances; and
(iii) by even more with insulation and improved energy efficiency; and
(c) renters, apartment dwellers, and those on moderate and low incomes cannot get these savings, meaning over half of households are missing out on cost-of-living relief;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) the Government has taken significant positive steps in this area, including the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, Solar Banks Scheme, and funding for social housing;
(b) despite these positive steps, no funding has yet been disbursed from the Household Energy Upgrades Fund, and the 110,000 households that will be supported through the scheme are just a small fraction of the millions which need help; and
(3) calls on the Government to:
(a) accelerate disbursement of existing support via the Household Energy Upgrades Fund;
(b) fund a 'people power plan' to lower energy bills in the May budget, with significant additional support for renters, apartment dwellers, and those with lower incomes and savings, as well as new measures to help landlords, homebuilders, and people in regional and rural communities hosting large-scale renewable projects and transmission lines; and
(c) work with state governments to urgently implement promised mandatory energy performance disclosure for rental properties, and minimum energy performance standards.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Spender — 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.
2 MS J RYAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the Government's economic management has:
(a) delivered the first budget surplus in 15 years, something the former Government promised but never delivered;
(b) seen inflation begin to fall in the face of global pressures, helped by the Government's cost of living policies; and
(c) returned real wages growth faster than expected;
(2) further notes that the Government's cost of living tax cuts will see every Australian taxpayer receive a tax cut on 1 July, and means:
(a) 11.5 million taxpayers will receive a bigger tax cut than under the former Government's plan;
(b) Australians who earn up to $40,000 a year will receive a tax cut when they would not have under the former Government's plan; and
(c) these tax cuts come on top of the billions of dollars in targeted and responsible cost-of-living relief, much of which was opposed by the Opposition, including:
(i) energy bill relief;
(ii) cheaper medicines;
(iii) cheaper childcare;
(iv) strengthening Medicare;
(v) higher income support payments; and
(vi) the biggest boost to rent assistance in 30 years; and
(3) acknowledges the stark contrast in policies between the Government wanting Australians to earn more and keep more of what they earn, while the Opposition wants Australians to work longer and for less.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms J Ryan — 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.
Orders of the day
1 VOICE TO PARLIAMENT REFERENDUM: Resumption of debate ( from 26 February 2024 — Ms Scrymgour, in continuation ) on the motion of Ms Price—That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) this Government spent $450 million on the divisive Voice to Parliament referendum that was rejected by each state and territory, excluding the Australian Capital Territory;
(b) the proposal for a Voice to Parliament was put forward as an urgent solution to help close the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
(c) since the referendum this Government has been completely absent in this space and has demonstrated that they have no plan B; and
(d) there are proposals on the table that would make a demonstrable difference that this Government refuses to implement, including:
(i) announcing an audit into Commonwealth spending for Indigenous specific programs to identify waste in financial resources and programs that are making a difference;
(ii) establishing a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Indigenous communities; and
(iii) re-instating the cashless debit card in vulnerable communities; and
(2) calls on the Government to focus on practical actions like these to assist in closing the gap.
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 — continued
3 MS CHESTERS: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) March is Endometriosis Awareness Month;
(b) endometriosis is a progressive, chronic condition that can start at puberty and continue beyond menopause; and
(c) endometriosis affects one in nine Australian women and girls and approximately 200 million worldwide and can take an unacceptable average of seven years, often with crippling pain, before a diagnosis is made;
(2) acknowledges that the Government is addressing endometriosis at a national level with a significant $58.3 million package for endometriosis and pelvic pain announced in the 2022-23 budget, including:
(a) delivering 22 dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics around Australia;
(b) access to new Medicare funded MRI scans to assist investigations of infertility for those with severe endometriosis; and
(c) developing an endometriosis management plan, and other measures to better support those affected with endometriosis; and
(3) congratulates the many endometriosis patients, their families, organisations and health sector leaders for their continued advocacy on endometriosis awareness and education.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Chesters — 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 on a future day.
4 MR CONAGHAN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) the growing illicit tobacco industry is costing the country $4.2 billion in revenue each year this government fails to strengthen penalties and enforcement measures; and
(b) that the continued failure to seriously address the illicit tobacco trade:
(i) has enabled organised crime groups to fund serious criminal activity including large scale drug importation and human trafficking;
(ii) has seen an increase in violence and attacks on lawful retail tobacco businesses;
(iii) has had a detrimental effect to the health of individuals and community safety;
(iv) heavily impacts on public revenue to the amount of $4.2 billion annually, and;
(v) continues to severely impact the ordinary trade of lawful retail tobacconists;
(2) recognises the leadership of the previous Government on enforcement on the illicit tobacco trade by:
(a) establishing the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce in 2018, a multi-agency taskforce to protect Australian revenue and detect and disrupt organised crime syndicates that deal in illicit tobacco; and
(b) introducing amendments to the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023 for the establishment of a new Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner with the Australian Border Force;
(3) commends the valuable work of law enforcement and other agencies to detect and respond to the escalating illicit tobacco trade and related crime; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) increase the penalties for illicit tobacco offences;
(b) work with states and territories to implement compatible licencing systems for tobacco sales to assist in enforcement, detection, and disruption efforts; and
(c) ensure that multi-jurisdictional responses can be adequately funded.
(Notice given 15 February 2024.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Mr Conaghan — 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 on a future day.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices — continued
5 MS BYRNES: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) the Government's expanded Home Guarantee Scheme has now supported more than 100,000 people into home ownership since the election, bringing home ownership back into reach;
(b) almost one in three first home buyers in 2022-23 were supported by the scheme, a significant increase from the previous year under the former Government;
(c) the Government delivered on its commitment to introduce the new Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee three months ahead of schedule in October 2022, and it has assisted more than 15,000 people across regional Australia into home ownership; and
(d) the Government has also expanded eligibility of the Home Guarantee Scheme to help more Australians who were locked out under the previous Government into home ownership
(2) notes that:
(a) the Government wants to provide even more support for people to own their home through the Help to Buy scheme, which is due to start later this year following the passage of state legislation; and
(b) Help to Buy will support eligible home buyers with an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent for new homes and 30 per cent for existing homes, with eligible buyers needing as little as a 2 per cent deposit to buy a home; and
(3) further notes that the Home Guarantee Scheme and Help to Buy are just two parts of the Government's broad and ambitious housing agenda, with the Government committing funding of $25 billion in new housing investments over the next decade including committed funding to support thousands of new social and affordable rentals, with many already under construction.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 45 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Byrnes — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
6 MR HAMILTON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes comments by the Minister for Home Affairs in the House on Wednesday, 14 February 2024 in regard to 'parents who just cannot afford to buy the groceries they need for their families... parents who are struggling terribly with rents... people who can't afford to fill their car up with petrol';
(2) further notes comments in the CommBank iQ Cost of Living Insights Report for November 2023 that:
(a) Australians are spending more on essentials such as insurance, medical costs and pharmacies, leaving less funds for purchase of discretionary items such as household goods and clothing; and
(b) younger Australians between 25 and 29 years old have been the hardest hit with a 5.1 per cent decline in their total spending, the only age group to decrease both discretionary and essential spending;
(3) recognises that under the Government:
(a) the costs of food, housing, electricity, insurance and gas have all increased;
(b) real spending power has been reduced; and
(c) younger Australians, with and without children, are being especially impacted by rising living costs;
(4) condemns the Government for the current cost of living crisis which is due to the Government's mismanagement of the economy and failure to adequately address high inflation and increased interest rates; and
(5) calls on the Government to immediately develop and implement sensible economic policies to address Australia's cost of living crisis which is hurting all Australians.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 45 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Hamilton — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 9 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
7 MS MASCARENHAS: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) 20 and 21 March 2024 mark the Science Meets Parliament 2024 event in Canberra; and
(b) Science Meets Parliament provides the opportunity for parliamentarians to directly engage with Australian scientists;
(2) acknowledges the work of Science and Technology Australia to organise the event;
(3) recognises the:
(a) importance of science in helping Australia solve some of its biggest challenges and diversifying the economy; and
(b) Government's commitment to support and celebrate the achievements of Australian scientists; and
(4) further notes the Government's goals to embed science in government policy making.
(Notice given 26 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Mascarenhas — 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.
8 MR PASIN: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes the current crisis facing Australia's wine grape growers;
(2) recognises that inland wine regions of the Riverland in South Australia, the Murray Darling and Swan Hill regions in New South Wales and Victoria, and the Riverina in New South Wales are being disproportionately impacted by the structural disequilibrium in supply of, and demand for, wine grapes;
(3) further notes that since 2021, average revenue per hectare of vineyard in these inland regions has dropped by 52 per cent;
(4) further recognises that many growers have been unable to cover their cost of production;
(5) acknowledges that without government intervention to support growers to adapt in this critical period, the wine grape growing sector will experience forced exits and widespread vineyard abandonment which can lead to significant biosecurity risks, attrition of younger generations in the affected areas, and adverse mental health consequences across regional communities; and
(6) calls on the Government to urgently support Australian wine grape growers with a targeted financial support package for eligible vineyard owners to adapt to changing market conditions.
(Notice given 15 February 2024.)
Time allotted — 35 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Pasin — 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 on a future day.
9 DR FREELANDER: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) sleep is essential to good physical health and to mental and emotional wellbeing;
(b) insufficient sleep increases risks to long-term physical and mental health;
(c) four in every ten Australians currently experience inadequate sleep; and
(d) inadequate sleep has substantial economic and productivity costs for Australia;
(2) notes:
(a) the recent SBS television series 'Australia's Sleep Revolution' with Dr Michael Mosley and its role in raising awareness of the importance of sleep to health and wellbeing;
(b) the eleven recommendations of the inquiry and report, Bedtime Reading , which was completed in the 45th Parliament by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport;
(c) the committee's bipartisan and comprehensive recommendations which highlighted the need for sleep health to be recognised as a national priority due to its health significance;
(d) the Government's response to the report published in August 2023, which supported or supported in-principle ten of the eleven recommendations made by the committee; and
(e) the Government's focus on sleep health as a national priority alongside fitness and nutrition; and
(3) recognises the sustained attention required by the Government, in collaboration with states and territories, to ensure our health system acknowledges, addresses, and responds to the growing prevalence of inadequate sleep and its harmful impacts on health, well-being, and social and economic outcomes.
(Notice given 27 February 2024.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Dr Freelander — 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.
THE HON D. M. DICK MP
Speaker of the House of Representatives
28 February 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living Tax Cuts) Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Cost of Living—Medicare Levy) Bill 2024
Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Agriculture Legislation Amendment (Modernising Administrative Processes) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Social Services Legislation Amendment (Child Support and Family Assistance Technical Amendments) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
That:
(1) the House invite His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines, to attend and address the House on Thursday, 29 February 2024;
(2) unless otherwise ordered, at the sitting of the House on 29 February:
(a) the House shall meet, at the ringing of the bells, at no earlier than 10.20 am and the proceedings shall be welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition and an address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines;
(b) at the conclusion of the address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines the House shall suspend until the ringing of the bells, when business shall proceed in accordance with standing order 34;
(c) the provisions of standing order 257(c) relating to good order shall apply to the area of Members' seats as well as the galleries for the period set out at (3); and
(d) the Federation Chamber shall not meet;
(3) a message be sent to the Senate inviting Senators to attend the House as guests for the welcoming remarks by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and address by the President of the Republic of the Philippines; and
(4) any variation to the arrangement be made only by an action by the Speaker or by a motion moved by a Minister.
Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a third time.
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Military Invalidity Payments Means Testing) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a third time.
Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023
We've still got some products that we're struggling to get when we need them, particularly concrete.
Those products that do require a lot of energy also take up a lot of room on a truck, so the fuel required to get the bricks and concrete to site is definitely still rising in price.
The high pace of immigration is not compatible with the level of housing supply that we have in this country. We're just not building enough homes to keep up with our population growth.
Slowing migration would help vulnerable Australians whose rents are rising today.
… the most sensible solution is a short-term reduction in migration to release some pressure in the economy, to give homeowners and renters a break and to buy some time to allow our housing infrastructure to catch up with demand.
That is an enormous adjustment for an economy to bring in 500,000-600,000 people. If they're in family groups … we're talking about another 200,000 homes. No wonder we've got rental shortages in Australia.
Immigration is a really big driver of housing demand and from our perspective, from one of the largest providers of home loans in the market, it's a material driver.
Strong population growth has added to demand for rental properties, particularly in major cities …
… the government is doing the opposite—it's doing its bit to increase inflation and make life tougher for borrowers, in two ways: through "cost-of-living relief" subsidies and, most of all, through immigration.
The problem for the Albanese Government is that it cannot deny the blow out in net migration under its watch.
The rapid recovery in immigration is adding to the pressures in the housing market.
Current immigration levels are running well in excess of the ability of the housing industry to supply enough homes exacerbating an acute housing shortage and poor housing affordability.
Definitely the right choice for our nation's future. This was true leadership by the Labor party. Thank you and keep up good work like this.
The pain and trauma that has affected my family, as with all families in the same situation, is ongoing and we will never forget our kids. At the same time, our kids never got the opportunity to grow up, finish school, get married, have kids, and make their own difference in this world. DIPG is cruel and unforgiving.
… help balance the scales for some between those who have access to 'the bank of mum and dad' for their deposit and those who do not …
It's a whole hill of nonsense … It is a completely useless report … There's just no real evidence here for a large gender pay gap in Western countries.
We are proud to stand on our record of dramatically reducing the gender pay gap in Australia and of raising workplace standards for women in Australia.
My name is Peter Stray. I'm a fifth generation beef and sheep farmer in the Golden Plains region of Victoria.
Thank you for your promise to design and deliver fuel efficiency standards for Australia.
I am writing to urge you to make our standards strong and well designed. We need them to be competitive and effective so Australian farmers can get our hands on cleaner utes and cars that are cheaper to run.
… … …
Farming is getting harder.
With an El Nino declared, we started destocking because I don't want to go through another season wondering if I can feed my animals.
… … …
We want cleaner, lower emissions farm operations—including our vehicles. But we can't make the business case stack up because the choice of electric and fuel efficient vehicles on the market in Australia is so limited. They're also far too expensive.
There are utes being made with ranges of around 800km now. If we can sort our fuel efficiency standards out, those utes will make it to Australia instead of just to the EU and US.
I already drive further and pay more for fuel than those in the city, so the cost of living impact is getting increasingly real.
Australia is one of the only wealthy countries in the world without legislated national fuel efficiency standards. If we get our standards right, it'll be an incentive for manufacturers to send far more low and zero emissions new vehicles (including farm utes) to Australia.
Farmers and regional Australians want stronger Fuel Efficiency Standards.
The Member for Melbourne told the House:
North Melbourne's and Carlton's towers will be the first to go. People will be kicked out of their homes within the next few years. It's wrong to destroy these vibrant and diverse communities. The people there have a right to a home—a public home.
That sounds okay except that no-one is there because they're derelict.
What we're doing … is upgrading them into more homes for public housing …
… people who live in public housing should live in quality public housing—
The Government's failure to rein in the power of the supermarket duopoly and the necessity for legislating the regulation of food retailing.
Despite Australia being one of the most food secure countries in the world, recent developments both at home and abroad have shown that food security presents real and growing challenges to the nation. Food security is already a challenge for many in our community—particularly those on lower incomes and in remote communities. COVID-19 and recent flood events both impacted the integrity of the food supply chain. The war in Ukraine has driven up grain prices and the cost of energy and fuel. Outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease in Indonesia have highlighted biosecurity risks to our food system—as has the arrival of Varroa mite on Australia's shores. Food security is not something that any of us can take for granted. It requires ongoing attention from industry, the community and governments.
That, in accordance with paragraph (5) of the resolution agreed to by the House on 27 February 2024 relating to the consideration of the Help to Buy Bill 2023 and the Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023, the resolution be varied to insert a new sub-paragraph into paragraph (3), immediately following the existing sub-paragraph (a), which reads as follows:
"(aa) if required, a consideration in detail stage of the bill, with the bill being taken as a whole, and debate to continue until no later than 6.20 pm;"
Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023
A Shorten Labor Government will move quickly to deliver the much-needed Frankston to Baxter Rail Upgrade, building on the significant investment the Andrews Labor Government has made in Frankston infrastructure.
A Federal Labor Government will electrify and duplicate the track to Baxter, giving commuters better access to high quality public transport and park-and-ride options
Only a Federal Labor Government will make sure that the extension of the line to Baxter, benefiting residents in Frankston and the Peninsula, becomes a reality.
While seeking to keep out of current tax policy controversies, he says the top personal income tax should be no higher than 39 per cent, compared with the current 45 per cent rate (plus the 2 per cent Medicare levy).
"There's an issue that all societies should have of how much a person's conscientious efforts and wealth should be delivered to the state," he says.
"Once you start getting the top rate over, in my opinion, 39 [per cent], it becomes confiscatory and when they become confiscatory you just lose all that impetus to make a dollar and do clever things."
The House divided. [17:34]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Clause 24, page 16 (line 14), omit "Note 1", substitute "Note".
(2) Clause 24, page 16 (lines 17 to 19), omit the note.
(3) Clause 24, page 16 (after line 27), at the end of the clause, add:
(5) Despite regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 44(2)(b) of the Legislation Act 2003 , section 42 of that Act (about disallowance) applies in relation to a direction given under subsection (1) of this section.
The House divided. [17:54]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Clause 3, page 2 (line 14), before "The object", insert "(1)".
(2) Clause 3, page 2 (after line 18), at the end of the clause, add:
(2) This includes assisting cohorts of individuals who have historically experienced disadvantage or exclusion when attempting to buy homes.
Note: An example of such a cohort is single women who are at or near retirement age.
(3) Clause 45, page 33 (after line 22), after subclause (1), insert:
(1A) Without limiting subsection (1), the review must consider the extent that the operation of the Help to Buy program has assisted the cohorts of individuals referred to in subsection 3(2) to buy homes.
Note: Subsection 3(2) refers to cohorts of individuals who have historically experienced disadvantage or exclusion when attempting to buy homes.
(b) the number of residential properties in relation to which Housing Australia may enter into Help to Buy arrangements, taking into consideration the current demand and need for housing;
(e) the categories of individuals who will have priority under the Help to Buy Program, such as single parents, victims of domestic violence or individuals of a low socio-economic background.
(d) the amount, or amounts, that Housing Australia may contribute under Help to Buy arrangements in order to enable individuals to obtain home loans with lenders;
The House divided. [18:23]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Fair Go for Consumers and Small Business) Bill 2024
Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2024
That this bill now be read a third time.
Superannuation (Objective) Bill 2023
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) the former Government delivered major reforms to superannuation that supported better member outcomes, better performance, and transparent governance, and that were driven by the clear understanding that superannuation is Australians' money;
(b) the Prime Minister and the Treasurer promised no changes to superannuation prior to the election and the Prime Minister promised 'no major changes' to superannuation in February 2023, but have since broken that promise by introducing a new superannuation tax on unrealised capital gains, which is a world first wealth tax that will hurt farmers and family businesses and force Australians to pay tax on money they have not earned; and
(c) that the Government's failure to index their new superannuation tax means up to two million young Australians earning average wages today will face a wealth tax, according to analysis of Treasury modelling published in The Australian; and
(2) calls on the Government to abandon its broken promise on taxing superannuation".
… to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way.
… by the beginning of the next century, virtually all employees will be accumulating substantial superannuation savings to help fund their retirement income.
… will also enable future Commonwealth governments to improve the retirement conditions for those Australians who were unable to fund adequately their own retirement incomes.
An efficient superannuation system is critical to help Australia meet the economic and fiscal challenges of an ageing population.
To provide income in retirement to substitute or supplement the Age Pension.
The Victorian Government's recently announced updated renewable energy targets are 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035. It is also targeting at least 2GW of offshore wind energy generation by 2032, 4GW by 2035 and 9GW by 2040, with first power by 2028.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Archer ) took the chair at 09:30.
Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2024
Competition and Consumer Amendment (Fair Go for Consumers and Small Business) Bill 2024
Small businesses work hard, and they deserve to be heard. We are fulfilling our commitment to give small businesses and their representatives better opportunities to have their concerns addressed quickly.
"The proposed new designated complaints function will reinforce the importance of key issues impacting consumers and small business to the ACCC's work, as well as the role of advocate organisations in detecting and highlighting emerging issues," …
"… it will reinforce public confidence in the responsiveness of the ACCC to the competition, consumer and fair trading issues significantly impacting the community," …
Concentrated markets are not solely responsible for rising inequality, but it seems likely that they have played a part in the steady rise in inequality over the course of the past generation.
A number of our successful compliance and enforcement outcomes have come about from referrals to us by consumer or small business advocacy groups, so we welcome this proposed measure that will provide an official avenue for this information.
We consider it will reinforce public confidence in the responsiveness of the ACCC to the competition, consumer and fair trading issues significantly impacting the community.
(1) Page 2 (after line 14), after clause 3, insert:
4 Review of amendments made by this Bill
(1) The Minister must cause to be conducted a review of the operation of the amendments made by this Act (including their effect on consumers and small businesses).
(2) The review must start no later than 2 years after this section commences.
(3) The persons who conduct the review must give the Minister a written report of the review within 6 months of the commencement of the review.
(4) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of the review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.
… the combination of the Aboriginal, you know, fight for justice and, you know, what we know of the Irish and their fight.
… an extraordinary person of great courage and strength. Her leadership in the battle for justice was legendary. Hers was a strong voice, and her intelligent navigation for our rightful place in a resistant society resulted in many of the privileges we enjoy today.
She was our greatest leader of the modern era, …
… … …
… she was full of grace and fortitude. She was the definition of courage and never lapsed in her principles. Her love and loyalty to our people across the country was boundless.
We owed her an unpayable debt for the sacrifices she made while she lived. Her memory will never be forgotten and her legacy will endure.
I like to think that together, she and I were able to lead our respective political forces towards an historic outcome for a race of people dispossessed and decimated by the process of settlement.
A leader whose unfailing instinct for enlargement marks her out as unique.
Without any position of mandated authority from her people, she caused their mobilisation in what was, the first time, that Aboriginal people were brought fully and in an equal way to the centre of national executive power. In the 204-year history of the formerly colonised Australia, this had never happened. Never before had the Commonwealth government of Australia and its Cabinet nor any earlier colonial government laid out a basis of consultation and negotiation offering full participation to the country's indigenous representatives; and certainly not around such a matter as the country's common law where something as significant as native title rights could arise from a collection of laws which had themselves developed from European custom and tradition.
… … …
She knew that in the dismal history of indigenous relations with European Australia, this was an illuminated breakout, a comet of light in an otherwise darkened landscape.
… I'd resolved that one of the fights was to actually open the door for Aboriginal women to take up the nursing profession, and also for those young men to get into apprenticeships.
These were ATSIC's best years. They were years of great coherence in indigenous affairs …
Without Lowitja's Atsic we would never have defended Eddie Mabo's great legacy and negotiated the Native Title Act and Indigenous Land Fund.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Lowitja's story is the truth of this country.
By the time I met my mother, of course, it was far too emotional to talk about …
"I remember in my very earliest days standing up for what I believed in … One of the earliest memories I have is of coming between the matron and the strap. I would often stand in the way when the strap was intended for others, with the result being that I, too, got a beating."
… where is my mother, why doesn't she come for me, doesn't she love me?
I'd resolved that one of the fights was to actually open the door for Aboriginal women to take up the nursing profession, and also for those young men to get into apprenticeships.
… she decided, alone decided, that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia would negotiate, and I emphasise negotiate, with the Commonwealth government of Australia—and that the negotiators would be the leaders of the indigenous land councils. She decided that. And from that moment, for the first time in the 204-year history of the settled country, its indigenous people sat in full concert with the government of it all.
That further proceedings be conducted in the House.