Live Minutes

 1The House met, at 9 am, pursuant to adjournment. Madam Speaker (the Honourable Bronwyn Bishop) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read Prayers.

 2Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Amendment Bill 2015

Mr Truss (Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims Act 1989, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Truss presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 3Customs Amendment (Anti-dumping Measures) Bill (No. 1) 2015

Mr Macfarlane (Minister for Industry and Science), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Act 1901, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Macfarlane presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 4Customs Tariff (Anti-Dumping) Amendment Bill 2015

Mr Macfarlane (Minister for Industry and Science) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Customs Tariff (Anti-Dumping) Act 1975, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Macfarlane presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 5Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015

Mr Macfarlane (Minister for Industry and Science), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, and for other purposes.

Document

Mr Macfarlane presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 6Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment (Miscellaneous Matters) Bill 2015

Mr Macfarlane (Minister for Industry and Science) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Act 2003, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Macfarlane presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 7Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Legislation Amendment (Exit Arrangements) Bill 2015

Mr Hartsuyker (Assistant Minister for Employment), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, and for other purposes.

Document

Mr Hartsuyker presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 8Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2015

Mr Hartsuyker (Assistant Minister for Employment), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Hartsuyker presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 9Australian River Co. Limited Bill 2015

Mr McCormack (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to deal with matters relating to Australian River Co. Limited, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr McCormack presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 10Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2015

Mr K. J. Andrews (Minister for Defence), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr K. J. Andrews presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015 

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Debate resumed.

 12BILL DECLARED REFERRED TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Mr Buchholz (Chief Government Whip) declared the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015 referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.

 13Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2014-2015

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr A. S. Burke, viz.—That all the 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 2014-15 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook showed a $44 billion blow-out in the budget deficit over the forward estimates from the 2014-15 Budget, which represents a $202 million blow-out in the Budget deficit by the Government each and every day;

(2)Government debt is higher now than it was when the Government took office;

(3)the Budget bottom line in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook incorporates a series of broken promises, including: the introduction of the GP tax, increasing the petrol tax, cuts to pension indexation, $6,000 cuts to a typical Australian family, plans for $100,000 university degrees, cuts to the ABC and SBS, and a $11.3 billion cut from foreign aid;

(4)the Government continues to undermine business and consumer confidence with its unfair Budget, which are now below the levels at the 2013 Federal Election; and

(5)the Government’s failure to have a clear plan for economic and jobs growth has led to the unemployment rate increasing to its highest level since August 2002, when the current Prime Minister was the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.”—

Debate resumed.

 14Iraq and Afghanistan and operations in the Middle East—MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Mr K. J. Andrews (Minister for Defence), by leave, made a ministerial statement on Iraq and Afghanistan and operations in the Middle East and presented the following document:

 15Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the bill had been fully considered by the Federation Chamber and agreed to without amendment, and presented a certified copy of the bill.

Bill agreed to.

 16Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2014-2015

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—And on the amendment moved thereto by Mr A. S. Burke, (see item No. #, page #)—

Debate resumed.

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

 18MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

 19MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Mr Abbott (Prime Minister) informed the House that, during the absence overseas of Mr Dutton (Minister for Immigration and Border Protection), Ms J. I. Bishop (Minister for Foreign Affairs) would answer questions on his behalf.

 20QUESTIONS

Question to Speaker, Mr Pyne, re Member for Rankin tweet.

Personal explanation, Mr O’Connor.

Question to Speaker, Mr Fitzgibbon, re Hansard record.

Question to Speaker, Mr Danby, re Hansard.

 21MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL—ASSENT TO BILLS

Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were announced informing the House that His Excellency, in the name of Her Majesty, had assented to the following bills:

 22Auditor-General’s Report and Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report

The Speaker presented the following documents:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 24 of 2014-15—Performance audit—Managing assets and contracts at Parliament House: Department of Parliamentary Services.

Commonwealth Ombudsman—Activities under Part V of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979—Report for 2013-14.

Reports ordered to be made Parliamentary Papers.

 23DOCUMENTS 

The following documents were presented: 

Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry—House of Representatives Standing Committee—Report on the National Rural Advisory Council annual report 2011-12—Government response, November 2014.

Dairy Australia Limited—Report for 2013-14.

Dairy Produce Act 1986—Statutory funding agreement with Dairy Australia Limited—Report for 2013‑14.

 24DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—Child care

The House was informed that Ms Ellis  had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The importance of supporting Australian families with affordable, quality and accessible child care”.

 25ADJOURNMENT

It being 4.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

DOCUMENTS 

 The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 26 February 2015: 

 Civil Aviation Act 1988—

Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 and Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—Authorisations, approval, permission, directions and exemption—helicopter operations (Aeropower)—CASA 16/15 [F2015L00203].

Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—

Exemption—navigation and anti-collision lights (Aerorescue)—CASA EX40/15 [F2015L00204].

Main Rotor Blades—AD/R44/25 [F2015L00202].

Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991—

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code—Standard 1.4.2—Maximum Residue Limits Amendment Instrument No. APVMA 2, 2015 [F2015L00175].

Food Standards (Application A1092—Irradiation of Specific Fruits & Vegetables) Variation [F2015L00196].

Food Standards (Application A1096—Xylanase from Bacillus licheniformis as a Processing Aid (Enzyme)) Variation [F2015L00197].

Food Standards (Proposal P1022—Primary Production and Processing Requirements for Raw Milk Products) Variation [F2015L00198].

National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009—ASIC Class Order—CO 15/130 [F2015L00195].

National Health Act 1953—

National Health Determination under paragraph 98C(1)(b) Amendment 2015 (No. 2)—PB 12 of 2015 [F2015L00207].

National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Amendment Instrument 2015 (No. 2)—PB 10 of 2015 [F2015L00205].

National Health (Pharmaceutical Benefits—Early Supply) Amendment Instrument 2015 (No. 2)—specification under subsection 84AAA(2)—PB 17 of 2015 [F2015L00206].

National Health (Prescriber bag supplies) Amendment Determination 2015 (No. 2)—PB 14 of 2015 [F2015L00209].

National Health (Price and Special Patient Contribution) Amendment Determination 2015 (No. 1)—PB 11 of 2015 [F2015L00208].

Privacy Act 1988—

Privacy (International Money Transfers) Generalising Determination 2015 [F2015L00201].

Privacy (International Money Transfers) Public Interest Determination 2015 (No. 1) [F2015L00199].

Privacy (International Money Transfers) Public Interest Determination 2015 (No. 2) [F2015L00200].

Radiocommunications Act 1992—Radiocommunications Licence Conditions (Apparatus Licence) Determination 2015 [F2015L00210].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Dutton, Mr Fletcher, Ms Plibersek, *Ms Rishworth and Mr Robb.

* On leave