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, 8 October 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, 8 October 2024, and determined the order of precedence and times on Monday, 4 November 2024, as follows:
Items for House of Representatives Chamber (10.10 am to 12 noon)
COMMITTEE AND DELEGATION BUSINESS
Presentation and statements
1 Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
Report 505: Inquiry into Policy and Program Design and Implementation
Report 506: Inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2022-23
The Committee determined that statements on the reports may be made — all statements to conclude by 10.20 am.
Speech time limits —
Ms Burney — 10minutes.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 1 x 10 mins]
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Notices
1 DR HAINES: To present a Bill for an Act to reform the governance, performance and accountability of grants, Investment Mandates and use of public resources, and for related purposes. ( Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024 [No. 2] )
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
2 MR TAYLOR: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 , and for related purposes. (Competition and Consumer Amendment (Tougher Penalties for Supermarket and Hardware Businesses) Bill 2024 )
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
3 MR LITTLEPROUD: To present a Bill for an Act to apply the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct as a mandatory industry code for large retailers and wholesalers, and for related purposes. ( Food and Grocery (Mandatory) Code of Conduct Bill 2024 )
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
4 MR VAN MANEN: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Corporations Act 2001 , and for related purposes. (Corporations Amendment (Streamlining Advice Process) Bill 2024 )
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Presenter may speak to the second reading for a period not exceeding 10 minutes — pursuant to standing order 41. Debate must be adjourned pursuant to standing order 142.
5 MS LE: To present a Bill for an Act to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and for related purposes. (Higher Education Support Amendment (Fair Study and Opportunity) Bill 2024 )
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
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.
6 MS SPENDER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) Australia is currently committed to a ten-year, $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline;
(b) infrastructure investment is important but does compete directly with housing for materials and skills within the construction sector;
(c) two independent inquiries, namely the Independent Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects and the Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, have been critical of the processes for determining Commonwealth Government infrastructure allocations; and
(d) Infrastructure Australia noted that in 2019 the construction sector was at capacity and since then infrastructure spending as a share of gross domestic product has increased 50 per cent while construction costs have increased by more than 30 per cent; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) publish a response to the independent reviews;
(b) commit to implementing long-term investment strategies and publishing businesses cases for large-scale infrastructure projects; and
(c) identify and pause non-essential infrastructure projects until capacity has returned to the construction sector.
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Time allotted — 10 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Spender — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue at a later hour.
7 MR RAE: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the Government is taking decisive action to help consumers get fairer prices at supermarkets, in stores and online, including:
(a) the release of an interim report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which looks at a wide range of concerns, from land-banking to shrinkflation;
(b) making suppliers follow the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, a mandatory code, following the recommendations of former competition minister Craig Emerson; and
(c) revitalising the National Competition Policy to boost productivity and living standards;
(2) notes the Government believes that alleged misconduct in the supermarket sector is unfair, unacceptable, and it makes cost of living pressures worse for Australians, so it is:
(a) providing $30 million package of additional funding for the ACCC to crack down on misleading pricing practices and poor conduct; and
(b) funding CHOICE, the consumer organisation, over three years to report on supermarket prices across Australia; and
(3) recognises the Government's number one priority is tackling the cost of living pressures facing hard working Australians and making sure they are paying a fair price at the checkout, and Australian farmers are getting a fair price for their goods.
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Rae — 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 MR HAMILTON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) on 15 November 2023, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced it was investigating tighter liquidity and capital requirements for smaller Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs);
(b) in making this announcement, APRA did not provide any evidence to justify this change, had failed to consult with industry, provided no evidence to support the change in policy, and did not consider the impacts on competition in the Australian banking sector;
(c) the Australian banking sector is subject to considerable prudential regulation and is intelligent in its approach to ensuring the banking sector's resilience to financial market stress;
(d) the changes would have required smaller ADIs on the Minimum Liquid Holding (MLH) regime to change their liquidity and capital composition, and re-value liquidity risk over both short and longer periods;
(e) on 24 July 2024, APRA announced it would implement two of the three proposed changes;
(f) APRA will not proceed with changes to a phase-out of the bank debt securities, pending a holistic review of the MLH regime in 2025, ensuring smaller ADIs can continue to compete;
(g) these changes presented a real risk to the smaller banking sector, particularly those ADIs on the MLH regime which would have been subject to tighter liquidity requirements and reduced capital;
(h) the changes would have resulted in less competition, less access to capital and higher costs for consumers; and
(i) mutual banks and credit unions play an important role in our economy and communities; and
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) APRA's proposed requirements will have a significant negative impact on smaller banks;
(b) competition in the banking sector is important for the economy, consumers and for strong markets; and
(c) unnecessary Government regulation will further erode competition in the banking sector and hinder efforts to bolster Australia's economic dynamism, particularly at a time when banks are managing 130 new regulatory changes.
(Notice given 12 September 2024.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 12 noon.
Speech time limits —
Mr Hamilton — 5minutes.
Other Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 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 MR WILKIE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that Australia has an animal welfare crisis, and that cruelty is commonplace in greyhound and horse racing, live exports, the industrial production of food and fibre, rodeos, and puppy and kitten farms;
(b) this cruelty has been on full display recently in:
(i) intensive commercial dog breeding facilities in Tasmania which operated under grossly inhumane and inadequate conditions, where female dogs were forced to breed at appalling rates;
(ii) the treatment of dogs in the greyhound racing industry, which results in unbearable cruelty, injury and even death, for example, in 2024 alone there has been almost 100 on-track deaths and 8,449 injuries Australia-wide; and
(iii) overbreeding of retired racehorses, where the aim is to produce as many foals as possible that might one day generate a return on investment—sadly, as in the case of Black Caviar, this is poorly regulated and often involves almost constant pregnancy and birthing for so-called 'retired' horses, dramatically increasing the risks of injury, infection and death; and
(c) that state and territory governments have not done enough to address this crisis; and
(2) therefore calls on the Government to:
(a) establish a statutory Independent Office of Animal Welfare which will take a leadership role on animal welfare matters at a federal level, including developing a national animal welfare strategy; conducting inquiries and reviews into the effectiveness and implementation of our animal welfare laws; and providing independent, science-based advice to governments on animal welfare issues; and
(b) work with states and territories to improve, harmonise and implement strict animal welfare standards, guidelines and laws.
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Wilkie — 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 COKER: To move:
That that this House acknowledges the Government's commitment and actions to build a better and fairer school education system, by:
(1) putting an additional $16 billion of Commonwealth investment in public schools on the table as part of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, to deliver reforms focused on:
(a) lifting student outcomes;
(b) wellbeing for learning and engagement; and
(c) a strong and sustainable workforce;
(2) working to address the teacher shortage through the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan;
(3) delivering $284.3 million to schools to improve school infrastructure through the Schools Upgrade Fund; and
(4) providing $203.7 million in funding to support student wellbeing across every school in the country through the Student Wellbeing Boost.
(Notice given 10 September 2024.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Coker — 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 DR WEBSTER: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is reviewing the approved usage levels of paraquat and diquat in Australia;
(b) the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ran a story titled 'After the Harvest' on 31 August 2024 and 1 September 2024 seeking to link paraquat use to the incidence of Parkinson's Disease, claiming that children were being 'coated head to toe in chemicals' and spraying was occurring without gloves or a mask;
(c) the APVMA responded saying such practices were 'historical' and 'do not meet current requirements for the use of agvet chemical products'; and
(d) three OECD-nation regulators in the past four years have found no causal link between paraquat and Parkinson's Disease; and
(2) calls upon the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to:
(a) listen to the voices of farmers who responsibly rely upon paraquat and diquat to control weeds, avoid heavy-tillage farming and retain soil and moisture in their cropping lands;
(b) listen to the science; and
(c) refrain from rewarding sensationalist journalism from the national broadcaster.
(Notice given 8 October 2024.)
Time allotted — 30 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Dr Webster — 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 WORKPLACE RELATIONS: Resumption of debate ( from 9 September 2024 ) on the motion of Ms Stanley—That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) the Government's workplace relations policies are getting wages moving again, with annual real wages growing for the past three consecutive quarters;
(b) nominal real wages grew 4.1 per cent in the year to the June quarter 2024;
(c) annual real wages grew 0.3 per cent through the year to the June quarter 2024; and
(d) this result comes off the back of inheriting a real wage decline of 3.4 per cent at the time of the election; and
(2) recognises the Government is laying strong foundations for a better future for Australian workers, their families and communities, by:
(a) advocating for the wages of Australia's low paid in three consecutive submissions to the Annual Wage Review that the real wages of low paid workers not go backwards;
(b) supporting pay rises for aged care workers of up to 28 per cent through submissions to the Fair Work Commission's Aged Care Work Value Case;
(c) having a 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood education and care workers;
(d) getting almost half a million more workers covered by current enterprise agreements, boosting wages and conditions; and
(e) making gender equality an object of the Fair Work Act and narrowing the gender pay gap to 12 per cent, the lowest level on record.
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
4 MS LANDRY: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges that:
(a) agriculture is a cornerstone of Australia's social, economic and environmental sustainability, and plays an essential role in our nation's prosperity;
(b) in the 2023-24 financial year, the agriculture sector generated over $82 billion, driving Australia's economy forward;
(c) the agriculture sector employs 257,000 Australians; and
(d) over 90 per cent of the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, milk, and eggs available in Australia are produced locally, safeguarding our nation's food security; and
(2) notes that:
(a) the Australian agriculture sector is facing increased pressure due to this Government's destructive actions;
(b) this Government's decision to scrap the dedicated agriculture visa has left the industry with severe and widespread workforce shortages;
(c) Australia's water security is being jeopardised by this Government's reckless slashing of over $7 billion from critical water infrastructure projects; and
(d) this Government's misguided agriculture policies have driven food prices up by 12 per cent, piling even more financial strain on everyday Australians.
(Notice given 12 September 2024.)
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 1.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
Ms Landry — 5minutes.
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.
Items for Federation Chamber (4.45 pm to 7.30 pm)
PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Orders of the day — continued
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT: Resumption of debate on the motion of Ms Spender—That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) Australia is currently committed to a ten-year, $120 billion infrastructure investment pipeline;
(b) infrastructure investment is important but does compete directly with housing for materials and skills within the construction sector;
(c) two independent inquiries, namely the Independent Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects and the Independent Strategic Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program, have been critical of the processes for determining Commonwealth Government infrastructure allocations; and
(d) Infrastructure Australia noted that in 2019 the construction sector was at capacity and since then infrastructure spending as a share of gross domestic product has increased 50 per cent while construction costs have increased by more than 30 per cent; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) publish a response to the independent reviews;
(b) commit to implementing long-term investment strategies and publishing businesses cases for large-scale infrastructure projects; and
(c) identify and pause non-essential infrastructure projects until capacity has returned to the construction sector.
Time allotted — 10 minutes.
Speech time limits —
All Members — 5minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
2 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE EDUCATORS: Resumption of debate ( from 19 August 2024 ) on the motion of Mrs Phillips—That this House:
(1) recognises:
(a) the vital role early childhood education and care (ECEC) educators and teachers play in supporting young children's early learning and development;
(b) properly valuing and recognising the ECEC profession—including through fair wages—is critical to reversing attrition and growing the workforce;
(c) paying ECEC workers fairly is a crucial step in charting the course to a truly universal ECEC system; and
(d) the Government's historic announcement for a two-year, 15 per cent ECEC worker retention payment for ECEC workers, phased in from December 2024;
(2) notes that:
(a) one year on, the Government's cheaper child care reforms are delivering real cost of living relief to household budgets;
(b) the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's child care inquiry found that out-of-pocket costs dropped 11 per cent following the introduction of the Government's cheaper child care measures; and
(c) the Government's ECEC worker retention payment will be tied to a commitment from early learning services to limit fee increases to 4.4 per cent, an important condition that will keep downward pressure on fees for Australian families; and
(3) acknowledges that:
(a) since the election, there are 860 more ECEC services, around 68,000 more children in ECEC, and around 30,000 more ECEC workers; and
(b) between 2018 and 2022, fees under the previous Government increased by 22.8 per cent compared to the OECD adjusted average of 6.2 per cent.
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
5 MR PEARCE: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) investment in equitable access to disease prevention is critical to tackle the major diseases of our time such as cancer and heart disease;
(b) genetic screening provides a novel opportunity for disease prevention, especially screening for genetic risk factors for certain types of hereditary cancer and heart disease that manifest in early adulthood;
(c) identifying people with medically actionable genetic risk for certain diseases can allow at risk individuals to take steps to reduce risk or in some cases, avoid developing disease altogether;
(d) in Australia, funded testing for these genetic risk factors is only available to individuals who meet narrow criteria, usually only after a person develops symptoms of disease, and this criteria-based testing fails to identify most high-risk individuals in the population, who remain unaware of their risk and are unable to access preventive measures until it is too late;
(e) investment in prevention will save significant downstream healthcare costs, as well as saving lives and improving the health of at-risk Australians; and
(f) the costs of genetic testing have decreased considerably, and health economic modelling now suggests it would be cost-effective in the Australian health system to offer DNA screening to all adults for such genetic risk factors, as part of a population screening program;
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) in August 2022, Monash University launched DNA Screen, a study funded by the Medical Research Future Fund and led by Professor Paul Lacaze and Dr Jane Tiller, which aimed to test 10,000 young adults (18 to 40 years of age) for genetic high risk of developing certain types of cancer (breast, ovarian, colorectal and others) and heart disease, that can be prevented or identified and treated early;
(b) the study was extremely popular, with almost 10,000 people registering their interest in the first 24 hours of the study launch, and over 30,000 people registering interest to date;
(c) the study has now completed testing of 10,263 young adults, finding 202 individuals at high, medically actionable risk of developing cancer or heart disease, and three in four of those high-risk people would not have qualified for reimbursed genetic testing; and
(d) in May 2024, the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs' inquiry into equitable access to diagnosis and treatment for individuals with rare and less common cancers specifically noted the potential of genetic testing for prevention and the high level of public interest and engagement in the DNA Screen study, and recommended that 'the outcomes of the study should be monitored closely, and that further investment to gauge the effectiveness and appropriateness of such screening programs should be explored further';
(3) recognises the:
(a) strain that population DNA screening could place on the current downstream risk management pathways; and
(b) need for genetics services and the health system to be prepared for population-scale DNA screening; and
(4) calls on the Government to:
(a) consider the urgent need to leverage the preventive potential of genomic testing for adults at high, medically actionable risk of developing conditions such as cancer and heart disease; and
(b) fund the next stage of DNA Screen to scale up testing for these medically actionable conditions, test the feasibility of a population-wide screening program, and develop and test methods for the delivery of downstream care and risk management at scale.
(Notice given 12 September 2024.)
Time allotted — 40 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Pearce — 5minutes.
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.
6 MS MASCARENHAS: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the commitment of the Government to Western Australia and its understanding of the specific needs of the Western Australian community;
(2) commends the Government for its investment in:
(a) the future of the critical minerals industry in Western Australia, noting its support for projects such as Pilbara Minerals' Pilgangoora lithium project and International Graphite's graphite battery anode material project, as well as the announcement of the $17 billion production tax incentive for critical minerals processing; and
(b) critical infrastructure, noting the support for the following major projects:
(i) Causeway Cyclist and Pedestrian Bridges;
(ii) Westport Project Development;
(iii) Metronet;
(iv) Tonkin Highway Corridor; and
(v) Outback Way;
(3) acknowledges the ongoing commitment of the Government to the goods and services tax deal for Western Australia;
(4) supports the Government as it continues to pay attention to the needs of Western Australia and respond to those needs strategically and responsibly; and
(5) calls on the Opposition to support the Government's initiatives that will secure a future for all Western Australians.
(Notice given 20 August 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.
7 MR HAMILTON: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes:
(a) that 3 August 2024 marked ten years since Islamic State (ISIS) militants attacked the Yazidi people of Sirijar;
(b) that the Yazidi people are one of the most ancient nations in the world, and their cultural identity, memories and practices are central to their ancient culture, yet many Yazidis have lived through unimaginable trauma and persecution;
(c) the important role played by former Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott, in enabling the resettlement in Australia of 12,000 refugees escaping the Yazidi genocide in the northern parts of Syria and Iraq;
(d) that the electoral division of Groom is home to one of the largest groups of Yazidi people in Australia, and that their traditional language, Kurdish Kurmanji, is the second most spoken language in Groom, behind English;
(e) that by properly managing the immigration system, Australia was able to offer this important humanitarian assistance; and
(f) that by ensuring proper process, vetting and verification, the Government was able to reassure people on national security concerns and maintain social cohesion; and
(2) calls on the Government to:
(a) recognise the Yazidis as a significant minority religious group in Australia;
(b) denounce the continuing persecution of Yazidis by ISIS militants;
(c) continue to provide funding for programs such as the Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Service program that provide support to refugees and migrants; and
(d) apologise to the Yazidis and other refugees and migrants for changing the rules to fast-track one group of people over another.
(Notice given 12 September 2024.)
Time allotted — 25 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Mr Hamilton — 5minutes.
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.
8 MS STANLEY: To move:
That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and that Sunday 15 October 2024 marks Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day; and
(b) this day acknowledges the shared loss experienced by parents, friends, and healthcare workers of those little ones lost too soon whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or any other loss;
(2) acknowledges:
(a) that there is a significant impact on families who have lost a baby;
(b) that every year 110,000 Australians experience a miscarriage, more than 2,000 experience stillbirth, and almost 700 lose a baby within the first 28 days;
(c) that stillbirth occurrence is higher in Aboriginal and culturally diverse communities; and
(d) all families who have experienced loss, either recently or over time; and
(3) commends the Government for providing $5.1 million to organisations to support women and families following stillbirth or miscarriage.
(Notice given 19 August 2024.)
Time allotted — 20 minutes.
Speech time limits —
Ms Stanley — 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 — continued
BANKING SECTOR: Resumption of debate on the motion of Mr Hamilton—That this House:
(1) notes that:
(a) on 15 November 2023, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) announced it was investigating tighter liquidity and capital requirements for smaller Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions (ADIs);
(b) in making this announcement, APRA did not provide any evidence to justify this change, had failed to consult with industry, provided no evidence to support the change in policy, and did not consider the impacts on competition in the Australian banking sector;
(c) the Australian banking sector is subject to considerable prudential regulation and is intelligent in its approach to ensuring the banking sector's resilience to financial market stress;
(d) the changes would have required smaller ADIs on the Minimum Liquid Holding (MLH) regime to change their liquidity and capital composition, and re-value liquidity risk over both short and longer periods;
(e) on 24 July 2024, APRA announced it would implement two of the three proposed changes;
(f) APRA will not proceed with changes to a phase-out of the bank debt securities, pending a holistic review of the MLH regime in 2025, ensuring smaller ADIs can continue to compete;
(g) these changes presented a real risk to the smaller banking sector, particularly those ADIs on the MLH regime which would have been subject to tighter liquidity requirements and reduced capital;
(h) the changes would have resulted in less competition, less access to capital and higher costs for consumers; and
(i) mutual banks and credit unions play an important role in our economy and communities; and
(2) acknowledges that:
(a) APRA's proposed requirements will have a significant negative impact on smaller banks;
(b) competition in the banking sector is important for the economy, consumers and for strong markets; and
(c) unnecessary Government regulation will further erode competition in the banking sector and hinder efforts to bolster Australia's economic dynamism, particularly at a time when banks are managing 130 new regulatory changes.
Time allotted — remaining private Members' business time prior to 7.30 pm.
Speech time limits —
All 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
9 October 2024
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the resolution agreed to by the House on 11 September 2024 relating to the time and order of business for the House and Federation Chamber on Wednesday, 9 October 2024 being varied to read as follows:
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent:
(1) the following from occurring in relation to business in the House for Wednesday, 9 October 2024:
(a) a Minister introducing a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to companies associated with the national broadband network, and for related purposes, with the second reading debate on the bill proceeding immediately and continuing without interruption until 10 am;
(b) at 10 am, the Speaker interrupting business before the House and calling on questions without notice;
(c) immediately after question time, any documents being presented by the Speaker and by Ministers, and any ministerial statements, by leave, being made;
(d) then, a definite matter of public importance being discussed, provided that a written statement of the matter to be discussed has been given to the Speaker by 9.30 am, and the matter being dealt with in all other respects in accordance with the standing orders and the practice of the House;
(e) immediately following the matter of public importance, the Speaker calling on Members' statements;
(f) Members' statements continuing for no longer than 30 minutes; and
(g) government business continuing from the conclusion of Members' statements until 7.30 pm, at which point the adjournment of the House being proposed in accordance with standing order 31;
(2) on Wednesday, 9 October 2024, the Federation Chamber meeting from 11.30 am until no later than 7.30 pm and considering the following business:
(a) Members' three minute constituency statements until 12 noon; and
(b) government business and/or committee and delegation business; and
(3) any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.
National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
… do we really want to invest $50 billion of hard-earned taxpayers' money in what is essentially a video entertainment system?
It's pretty obvious that the main usage for the NBN is going to be internet-based television, video entertainment and gaming … do we really want to invest $50 billion worth of hard-earned taxpayers' money in what is essentially a video entertainment system?
… when I was Health Minister … we put a record amount of money into health. When I was Health Minister, the bulk-billing rate was much higher than what it is today.
This Government's mismanagement of the immigration portfolio.
Australians from a migrant and refugee background contribute to every sector of the economy and community, and by sharing positive stories, we can build a deeper understanding that as Australians—regardless of colour, race, circumstance or background—we are simply, better together.
Violent crime syndicates run by Albanian immigrants on temporary visas have so successfully exploited holes in the country's border security and migration system they are now challenging bikie gangs for control of Australia's lucrative cocaine market.
All imputations of improper motives to a Member and all personal reflections on other Members shall be considered highly disorderly.
The basis of anyone's life is our health, and in rural and farming communities we suffer a severe lack of access to healthcare.
Within my area, I know of many people waiting months for a doctor's appointment. Emergency Departments are no better with extensive wait times even for those arriving by ambulance.
For my community, and the Australian public I wish to see this amended: to have greater level of access to adequate healthcare when needed and to enable those of us that live regionally to live full and healthy lives.
To achieve this, I ask that the government provide incentives for doctors to relocate to regional communities and grants to help with the expansion and improvement of regional practices.
This would give us in rural spaces the flexibility and quality in our medical centres we need to keep our lives running. This is a problem of all Australians; our healthcare system is supposed to serve all and currently it does not. Our Farmers are the lifeblood of our great country, feeding us, clothing us and looking after our land. It is time we look after them.
Higher education is of great value and demand in Australian society but in recent years university attendance rates are dropping. With the addition of the cost-of-living crisis, university and higher education is becoming unaffordable and for many young people, further education is falling out of the picture.
… start the change that can make universities accessible and affordable not only for our generation but future the generations of Australia.
National Broadband Network Companies Amendment (Commitment to Public Ownership) Bill 2024
My answer is simple, In the next 10 years, I want our community to be a place where mental health is openly discussed, where everyone feels supported. My name is Araminta, and this is a piece of my story.
For years, I struggled with anxiety and depression, feeling lost in a world too complex for me to comprehend.
I thought there was something wrong with me.
I'd wake up feeling like a lead weight was on my chest, and my mind would race with worries all day long.
Sometimes the world felt like it was closing in, and I just wanted to disappear for a while.
But here's something crucial: I wasn't alone.
Youth mental health has been an ongoing crisis.
In the last year, 38.8% of Australians aged 16 to 24 have experienced a mental health disorder.
Suicide is the leading cause of death among young Australians, more than 350 young people aged 18 to 24 take their own lives every year.
I want people to understand, these are not just figures, not just numbers, these are people, these are children, with real lives, and real struggles.
They are our classmates, our friends, our family.
This issue is more prevalent than we often acknowledge or wish to believe and should deeply concern us all.
I want people to understand, mental health is not just crucial—
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Intelligence Services Act 2001, Ms Swanson be appointed a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
Cyber Security Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Intelligence Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Cyber Security) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Security of Critical Infrastructure and Other Legislation Amendment (Enhanced Response and Prevention) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Sydney Airport Demand Management Amendment Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a second time.
Help to Buy (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023 [No. 2]
That this bill be now read a second time.
That in accordance with section 59F of the P arliamentary Workplace Support Service Act 2023 (the Act) matters relating to the powers and proceedings of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards shall be as follows:
(1) members appointed in accordance with subsections 59B(2) and (3) of the Act be nominated by:
(a) the Leader of the Government, the Leader of the Opposition or any crossbench Senator in the Senate; and
(b) the Government Whip or Whips, Opposition Whip or Whips, or any crossbench Member in the House;
(2) every nomination of a member of the committee be notified in writing to the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
(3) in addition to the chair elected in accordance with subsection 59C(1) of the Act, the committee elect a deputy chair in accordance with subsection 59CA(1) who shall act as chair of the committee at any time when the chair is not present at a meeting of the committee;
(4) at any time when the chair and deputy chair are not present at a meeting of the committee, the members present shall elect another member to act as chair at that meeting;
(5) when acting as chair, the deputy chair or other member presiding at a meeting of the committee shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equally divided vote, a casting vote;
(6) three members of the committee constitute a quorum of the committee, provided that in a deliberative meeting the quorum shall include one Government member of either House and one non-Government member of either House;
(7) the committee:
(a) have power to appoint subcommittees consisting of three or more of its members and to refer to any subcommittee any matter which the committee is empowered to examine; and
(b) appoint the chair of each subcommittee who shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equally divided vote, a casting vote;
(8) at any time when the chair of a subcommittee is not present at a meeting of the subcommittee, the members of the subcommittee present shall elect another member of that subcommittee to act as chair at that meeting;
(9) two members of a subcommittee constitute a quorum of that subcommittee, provided that in a deliberative meeting the quorum shall include one Government member of either House and one non-Government member of either House;
(10) members of the committee who are not members of a subcommittee may participate in the proceedings of that subcommittee but shall not vote, move any motion or be counted for the purpose of a quorum;
(11) the committee or any subcommittee have power to:
(a) call for witnesses to attend and for documents to be produced;
(b) conduct proceedings at any place it sees fit;
(c) sit in public or in private;
(d) report from time to time;
(e) adjourn from time to time and to sit during any adjournment of the Senate or the House of Representatives; and
(f) consider and make use of the evidence and records of the former Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards;
(12) the provisions of this resolution, so far as they are inconsistent with the standing orders, have effect notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders; and
(13) a message be sent to the Senate acquainting it of this resolution and requesting that it concur and take action accordingly.
Question agreed to.
That standing order no. 216 be amended as follows:
216 Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests
(a) A Committee of Privileges and Members' Interests shall be appointed to:
(i) inquire into and report on complaints of breach of privilege or contempt which may be referred to it by the House under standing order 51 or by the Speaker under standing order 52, or any other related matter referred to it by or in accordance with a resolution of the House;
(ii) consider and report on serious breach findings which may be referred to it by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission;
(iii) inquire into and report on the arrangements made for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of a Register of Members' Interests;
(iv) consider proposals by Members and others on the form and content of the Register of Members' Interests;
(v) consider specific complaints about registering or declaring interests; and
(vi) consider possible changes to any code of conduct adopted by the House; and
(vii) consider whether specified persons (other than Members) ought to be required to register and declare their interests.
(b) The committee shall consist of 13 members: the Leader of the House or his or her nominee, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition or his or her nominee and 11 other members (six government Members, four opposition Members and one crossbench Member). When the Opposition is composed of two parties, the non-government Members shall consist of at least one member of the smaller opposition party.
(c) The committee may call for witnesses and documents, but when considering a matter concerning the registration or declaration of Members' interests it must not exercise that power or undertake an investigation of a person's private interests unless the action is approved by at least seven members of the committee other than the Chair.
(d) The committee may report when it sees fit, and must report to the House on its operations in connection with the registration and declaration of Members' interests during the year as soon as possible after 31 December each year.
… the Australian Government develop and implement the establishment of a fully funded, independent collaborative institution for research and data collection and analysis related to migration policy, and associated policy impacts in social cohesion, employment, health, and any other relevant policy and portfolio considerations.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a third time.
That the House take note of the report.
That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.
Customs Tariff Amendment (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Expansion) Bill 2024
That this bill be now read a third time.
Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024
Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Charges) Bill 2024
Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2024
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 notes that:
(1) the bill prioritises ideology over outcome by failing to be technology-agnostic;
(2) the bill shows a clear bias against hydro in favour of wind and solar which will disproportionately impact Tasmania and threatens to increase the cost of certificates for industry;
(3) in exempting technologies the Government doesn't like, such as blue and pink hydrogen, the bill does not align with overseas schemes;
(4) the bill risks being a Trojan horse for a broader economy-wide carbon price; and
(5) the bill bears little resemblance to the policy of the former Government".
That government business orders of the day Nos 2 and 3 be postponed until a later hour this day.
Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Treasury Laws Amendment (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions and Other Measures) Bill 2023
(1) Schedule 1, item 15, page 10 (after line 17), after section 296-40, insert:
296-42 Large superannuation balance threshold
The large superannuation balance threshold is:
(a) for the 2025-26 financial year—$3 million; or
(b) for a later financial year—the amount worked out by indexing annually the amount mentioned in paragraph (a).
Note 1: Subdivision 960-M shows how to index amounts. However, annual indexation does not necessarily increase the amount of the cap (see section 960-285).
Note 2: The rounding amount for indexation is $100,000 (see subsection 960-285(7)).
(2) Schedule 1, page 28 (after line 10), after item 17, insert:
17A Section 960-265 (after table item 10A)
Insert:
17B Paragraph 960-285(3)(a)
After "paragraph (b)", insert "or (c)".
17C At the end of subsection 960-285(3)
Add:
; or (c) if the amount is mentioned in item 10B in section 960-265—the amount for the 2025-2026 financial year.
17D Subsection 960-285(5) (paragraph (a) of the definition of base quarter )
After "paragraph (b)", insert "or (c)".
17E Subsection 960-285(5) (at the end of the definition of base quarter )
Add:
; or (c) if the amount is mentioned in item 10B in section 960-265—the quarter ending on 31 December 2024.
17F Subsection 960-285(7) (cell at table item 3, column 1)
Repeal the cell, substitute:
(3) Schedule 1, item 18, page 29 (line 27), omit "means $3 million", substitute "has the meaning given by section 296-42".
Indexation of the threshold at which the measure applies would lead to greater certainty and promote stability and confidence in the system.
Given the long-term nature of superannuation and rising inflation, the $3 million value will increasingly capture a greater share of Australian farming assets. As such, the NFF recommends indexing the cap to inflation or the Consumer Price Index.
The House divided. [15:06]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (table items 2 and 3), omit the table items.
(2) Schedule 1, page 4 (line 1) to page 51 (line 25), omit the Schedule.
(3) Schedule 2, page 52 (line 1) to page 55 (line 24), omit the Schedule.
(4) Schedule 3, page 56 (line 1) to page 57 (line 6), omit the Schedule.
The House divided. [15:29]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Page 3 (after line 8), after clause 3, insert:
4 Review of Schedule 1
(1) The Minister must cause an independent review of Schedule 1 to be conducted as soon as practicable after this Act receives the Royal Assent.
(2) The review must include a review of the impact, or potential impact, of Schedule 1 on the startup and high-growth sector.
(3) The persons who conduct the review must:
(a) consult with the public in conducting the review; and
(b) give the Minister a written report of the review in sufficient time to enable the Minister to comply with subsection (4).
(4) The Minister must cause a copy of the report of the review to be tabled in each House of the Parliament before 1 July 2025.
(2) Schedule 1, item 15, page 7 (line 11), before "The object", insert "(1)".
(3) Schedule 1, item 15, page 7 (after line 14), at the end of section 296-5, add:
(2) The Parliament intends that the approach in this Division of taxing unrealised gains is not to be used in the design or policy considerations of future amendments of this Act.
(4) Schedule 1, item 15, page 21 (after line 10), at the end of section 296-205, add:
Deferring when tax is payable
(3) Despite subsection (1), your *assessed Division 296 tax for the income year is due and payable at the end of the later day applying under the scheme mentioned in subsection (4) if, under the scheme:
(a) you choose for the scheme to apply for the income year; and
(b) you satisfy the conditions for the scheme to apply for the income year.
(4) The regulations must prescribe a scheme that allows entities to defer their *assessed Division 296 tax for an income year if the conditions provided for in the scheme are met.
(5) Without limiting subsection (4), the scheme must provide for:
(a) the length of the deferral, which must be for at least 5 years; and
(b) how an entity may choose for the scheme to apply for an income year; and
(c) any conditions that must be met for the scheme to so apply; and
(d) whether tax payable under the scheme can be paid in instalments; and
(e) whether a separate choice needs to be made, and conditions need to be met again, for each income year that an entity wishes the scheme to apply.
The House divided. [16:00]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
The House divided. [16:09]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Superannuation (Better Targeted Superannuation Concessions) Imposition Bill 2023
The House divided. [16:17]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
That this bill be now read a third time.
The House divided. [16:25]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Schedule 1, page 36 (after line 10), after item 5, insert:
5A At the end of section 21
Add:
(3) The Governor-General must not appoint a person as an Ombudsman for the purposes of holding the office of National Student Ombudsman unless:
(a) the Governor-General is satisfied that the selection of the person for the appointment:
(i) included assessment of applications against the selection criteria by an independent panel consisting of at least 3 members and chaired by a former judge; and
(ii) included shortlisting of at least 3 persons for the appointment that are certified, in writing, by the panel to meet all of the selection criteria; and
(b) the person was shortlisted for the appointment by an independent panel in accordance with subparagraph (a)(ii).
That this bill be now read a third time.
Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024
Preparatory programs have proven to be an effective way of boosting higher education access and attainment for students from disadvantaged, First Nations and regional backgrounds. Charles Sturt University has a proven track record in providing such programs …
Charles Sturt University cannot support the measures relating to the use of the Student Services and Amenities Fees … without significant amendments. The intent of the Schedule 2 of the bill seems to be to impose a single model for SSAF across all universities regardless of their differing characters and demographics.
The model may be well suited to universities with a single major campus and a large on-site daily student presence but may not be workable for regional and/or multi-campus institutions, or those with a high proportion of part-time or online students.
Geography and our student demographics make it difficult for Charles Sturt University to foster the kind of on-campus student life envisaged by the Government's goals for SSAF, however desirable it may be.
Two-thirds of our 35,000 full-time equivalent students are online. More than half are part-time and therefore pay a proportionally smaller SSAF. Those studying on campus are spread across six main campuses in regional NSW, in numbers varying from less than 70 in Dubbo to more than 2,000 in Wagga Wagga. Two of our campuses, Albury and Port Macquarie, are almost 1,000 kilometres apart. The University's campuses are nonetheless host to around 60 sporting, cultural, recreational and discipline-focused clubs similar to those at other universities, though with much smaller memberships than is the case at metropolitan universities. The activities of these clubs are in part support by SSAF.
It is great that the Government has decided to provide payments for placements for Teaching, Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work Students; however, Veterinary Students are also struggling. They are sleeping in cars and struggling to pay rent because of a course so demanding that paid work feels like a luxury. This is devastating for our students, devasting for agriculture and exports, devastating for our pets and wildlife, devastating for our regions and devastating for our country.
The House divided. [18:06]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
The House divided. [18:13]
(The Speaker—Hon. Milton Dick)
(1) Schedule 4, page 34 (after the table), at the end of the Schedule, add:
2 Review of amendments
(1) The Minister must cause an independent review to be conducted of the operation of the amendments made by this Schedule and any Guidelines, regulations or other legislative instruments made for the purposes of those amendments.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the review must consider:
(a) the effectiveness of payments provided to students undertaking courses in teaching, nursing (including midwifery) or social work; and
(b) the appropriateness of expanding payments to students undertaking courses that require university placements, including allied health courses.
(3) The review is to start as soon as practicable after the third anniversary of the day that this Schedule commences.
(4) The persons who conduct the review must give the Minister a written report of the review within 6 months after the commencement of the review.
(5) The Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sittings days of that House after the report is given to the Minister.
(1) Clause 2, page 2 (after table item 6), insert:
(2) Schedule 1, page 4 (after line 6), after item 1, insert:
1A Paragraph 140-5(1)(b)
Omit "1 June", substitute "1 December".
1B Subsection 140-5(1) (method statement)
Omit "1 June" (wherever occurring), substitute "1 December".
1C Subsection 140-10(1)
Omit "for 1 June in a financial year", substitute "for 1 December in a financial year".
(3) Schedule 1, page 6 (before line 1), before item 6, insert:
5A Section 140-20
Omit "before 1 June", substitute "before 1 December".
(4) Schedule 1, page 6 (after line 3), after item 6, insert:
6A Section 140-20
Omit "that 1 June", substitute "that 1 December".
(5) Schedule 1, page 7 (after line 26), after item 17, insert:
17A Application of amendments
The amendments made by this Part apply on and from 1 December 2025.
(6) Page 28 (after line 10), after Schedule 1, insert:
Schedule 1A — Maximum student contribution amounts for places
Part 1 — Main amendments
Higher Education Support Act 2003
1 Section 93-10
Omit "The maximum student contribution amount for a place ", substitute "(1) Subject to subsection (2), themaximum student contribution amount for a place ".
2 At the end of section 93-10
Add:
(2) The table in subsection (1) has effect in relation to a place in a unit of study included in the Society and Culture *funding cluster as if the amount specified for the cluster was instead the amount specified immediately before the amendments made by Schedule 2 to the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Act 2020 commenced.
Part 2 — Application provisions
3 Application provision
The amendments made by Part 1 of this Schedule apply in relation to a unit of study that has a *census date that is on or after the commencement of that Part (whether the unit of study is part of a course of study commenced before, on or after that day).
Wage Justice for Early Childhood Education and Care Workers (Special Account) Bill 2024
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 notes:
(1) the Government's economic mismanagement and cost-of-living crisis has led to higher wage bills, and higher utility, rent and grocery bills for providers;
(2) the bill will place further administrative burden on providers, particularly small and medium providers;
(3) the bill will put further financial pressure on providers who will have to cover the majority of the on costs, cannot increase their fees and have to pay the wages upfront, whilst receiving reimbursement in arrears;
(4) the Government has done nothing to address child care deserts and thin markets around the country, and this bill will not increase access for parents who currently have none; and
(5) the bill is a one-off sugar hit, which will only increase inflation further contributing to current cost-of-living pressures".
The council and state Labor government aren't taking this seriously … What has this Labor government done so far? Nothing!
The sector tells me a 10 per cent wage increase usually means a seven per cent fee increase.
… … …
The biggest farce with this policy is that Labor think they can inject $3.6 billion—
into the sector and keep fees down using a cap … there's a real chance that services already paying staff 10 or 15 per cent above the award wage won't sign onto this. They'll pay their staff a little bit more and then they'll just increase their prices anyway, and that will land in families' laps. Even if some services keep fees down this year and next year, families will still be hit with eye-watering bills when the government funding dries up because providers will then be forced to pick up the wages tab and to do that they will have to increase their fees.
A union heavily involved in the early learning sector is back to its old tricks, telling educators they'll only get this pay rise if they are a member of the union. It's completely untrue, it's misleading and it's despicable behaviour from a union heavily associated with those opposite.
We will not stand by and allow the situation in Afghanistan to become a 'new normal'.
We have heard the calls of Afghan women and we are committed to defending their human rights and amplifying their voices.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mrs Archer ) took the chair at 11:30.
My name is Ally, I'm 13 years old and attend a high school in Fadden.
By 2034, I want my community to be somewhere everyone has their own home. A place that they have a roof over their heads.
I would like the Queensland community to be a place where there are no homeless people on the street. This issue is both social and economic in nature.
Every person has the basic right to have shelter. This can be achieved if the Government acts now to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Housing must be affordable for all. A home can offer safety and dignity.
Parliament can help by identifying areas that could be redeveloped and support the building of apartments or affordable housing.
The Government has the power to make changes now, to make a better tomorrow.
Without immediate action we will keep seeing more and more homeless people on the streets.
Everyone deserves a place to call home.
In the next decade, I dream of an Australia where no one is left behind—a community where every individual is treated with dignity and equality, truly embodying the values of "one and free." We are known as "the lucky country," a land of opportunity where many came seeking a better life. Yet, from my own experience with my parents—immigrants who faced tremendous obstacles—I've seen that this promise of opportunity is not always fulfilled. Our Parliament holds the power to turn this vision into reality. We must significantly enhance and expand support services for those in need, from the homeless and the elderly to those battling mental health challenges. Investing in affordable housing and accessible healthcare will lay the groundwork for everyone to succeed. We cannot afford to let our people be forgotten or marginalised, repeating the mistakes of the past. Moreover, we must rekindle the true Aussie spirit of mateship. Let's champion community-driven initiatives like food banks, community centres, and outreach programs that provide hands-on help and foster strong, supportive networks. Parliament has the opportunity to ensure that every Australian—that every person, whether they've been here for generations or who have just arrived—feels they are truly living the Australian dream. This is the fair dinkum future we must aim for: a nation where the promise of "boundless plains to share" and the legacy of being "the lucky country" are realised for everyone. Let's make sure no one is left behind.
Like many nations across the earth, the Commonwealth of Australia is founded upon a shared idea of community and identity.
No matter how far or how wide many of us will roam, we still call Australia home.
This sense of community has been created from a considerable amount of trust and goodwill over nearly 125 years of our nationhood.
However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, I fear that this sense of shared community is facing one of it's biggest tests.
As the world faces significant turmoil, people are looking for the reasons why, who to blame, which head to hound.
Social media—once heralded as a new era of democracy—has only strengthened the political divides.
With each political grouping making totems to berate, rather than building bridges with other groups.
Because of this, now more than ever, it is easier to put yourself in an echo chamber than hear someone who disagrees with you.
But this division can be reversed.
In 10 years, if we want to make a more cohesive and equal Australian society, we can start by just encouraging people to see the other sides' perspective.
If you're a leftie, read the Tele, if you're a conservative, read the Guardian.
Small changes like that in our politics can make Australia a more cohesive and informed nation.
That order of the day No. 1, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Bill 2024
Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
It is essential that Australians are protected by a legal framework that is flexible and agile enough to adapt to changes in the world around them.
Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024
The ombudsman will be independent, impartial and will provide a vastly improved complaints mechanism.
And it will go further than addressing gender based violence in universities.
It will be able to consider and address a broad range of complaints made by students about the actions of their university.
For example, complaints about a university's handling of a student safety and welfare matter, where a student is subjected to homophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia or other forms of racism or discrimination on campus …
Treasury Laws Amendment (2024 Tax and Other Measures No. 1) Bill 2024
We've made it really clear that our policy is not to knock off negative gearing or the capital gains discount.
These changes help to level the playing field between Australian and foreign investors, by ensuring foreign investors selling a real property asset (such as a residential property) are subject to the same overall tax obligations as Australians.
This measure complements the Government's initiatives to improve housing affordability for Australians.
Aged Care Bill 2024
That the debate be adjourned.
Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
That the bill be reconsidered in detail.
Aged Care Bill 2024
Regional aged care services face similar difficulties to the broader healthcare system in rural and regional Australia. There is a significant shortfall in … workforce leading to under-staffed and under resourced services, which ultimately means older people in regional areas receive a lower standard of care than their metropolitan counterparts.
There is a cost premium for delivery of regional, rural and remote aged care that needs to be recognised and addressed by government under the equity principle. This is reflected in travel costs for clinical staff and providers to deliver services to rural patients; capital and maintenance costs for regional aged care facilities and increased expense of service delivery compared to urban areas.
Solutions to this cost premium must be adopted to ensure viability of the sector in regional Australia.
… ineffective and not for purpose with geographical social and economic framing resulting in clear disadvantages for regional Australians, particularly those living in Modified Monash Model category 3 and 4 (MMM3-4)—
and fails to acknowledge the costs of workforce attraction in those regions.
The current method of determining DPA status via automatic application of MMM2-7 blankets means that of the 827 GP catchments across Australia … (85%) now have DPA status. The almost universal view of submissions and consultations suggest DPA in its current format is no longer an effective distribution lever.
… MMM should no longer be used to establish blanket rule exemptions.
… each GP catchment area would individually be accorded DPA/non DPA status.
There are too many areas within cities, and heavily populated centres outside these cities, that are classified as DWS.
Regional aged care is a poor cousin in the care economy and is a victim of sectoral competition not just with acute care, but now with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Governments must, to the greatest extent possible, remove perverse incentives which prioritise motivation to practice in other areas of the care economy in preference to aged care, for example wage differentiation between the public hospital system versus the private or public aged care system … Regional private and not for profit providers suffer, in particular, from an administrative burden from regulation—
that should be addressed by government and the regulator. A government subsidy system must be established to support not-for-profit aged care providers in a way which balances the advantage state funded public aged care facilities have in 'top-up funding' per bed per day, and a backing for running at a loss, which 70 per cent of not-for-profit facilities currently experience.
Community-led home care services represent a strong model for regional Australia, providing local residents with a sense of community, purpose and assistance from people who know the community.
While there has been a slight improvement, the silent waiting lists for elderly regional Australians—namely access to ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Teams) and the time lag between home care package approval and implementation—remains unfairly delayed in regional Australia.
2022 data shows that more than 50,000 older Australians died while waiting for approved home care since July 2017.
Access to home care packages for older indigenous Australians is a particular issue, and face-to-face information regarding ACAT assessment, provided by indigenous health services and workers, is a preferred model to the current information on the MyAgedCare website and reading materials.
The cost premium for regional services means that home care packages are not fully meeting the needs of recipients.
I love my job. I wanted to make lives better, but … we're facing a roadblock. We've got six minutes to put each resident to bed each night.
There is a challenge and a tension between the aims for a quality and humane provision of care for older Australians and the realities of funding and staffing challenges.
This could push smaller, not-for-profit providers out of business while larger providers' priorities for profit are counter to better quality care.
I would never put my parents in an aged care facility as I heard it is full of substandard care and even neglect. My parents cannot speak English well so it's more concerning.
Unless the aged care sector's financial viability improves, it will be difficult to attract investment, either as debt or equity. Improved financial viability is necessary to deliver improvements in service, quality and to address service gaps.
It is still our view that the Act should proceed, hopefully with amendments … to improve its approach and implementation.
Most civil penalties proposed in the Act will require the Commission to initiate and successfully prosecute poor practices by providers.
We are concerned by the curtailing of the Commission's ability to issue infringement notices—
compared to both their powers today, and the broader powers originally proposed through the exposure draft.
… a voice to raise issues, to have them heard and taken seriously, with the expectation that providers will work to address them or face serious consequences.
The Office does not consider the approach taken in the Bill to embed high quality care meets the standard envisaged by Royal Commissioners.
… … …
The Office considers the approach taken in the Bill to safeguard individuals' rights to be largely aspirational. In particular, the Office is concerned that it will not implement a rights-based framework as clear or as robust as Royal Commissioners envisaged, because the pathways available to individuals to understand and assert their rights lack the necessary vigour to drive real change.