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

 2MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE

Message No. 335, 14 August 2024, from the Senate was reported informing the House that Senator McCarthy had been discharged from attendance on the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, and Senator Grogan had been appointed a member of the committee.

 3SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mr Dutton (Leader of the Opposition) moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Leader of the Opposition from moving the following motion—That this House:

(1)notes:

(a)that the Government has so far granted almost 3,000 visitor visas to individuals from the Gaza war zone;

(b)that in Question Time yesterday, the Prime Minister claimed that his government has done this under ‘exactly the same arrangements’ as previous offshore refugee and humanitarian visa grants;

(c)this is not true;

(d)that for the Syrian refugee intake, rigorous security checks were conducted prior to arrival in Australia at a number of key visa processing points, which included the collection and checking of biometric data against Australia’s security agencies and those of our international partners, and these checks were supplemented by an interview with Australian departmental officers where claims and identity were assessed;

(e)that these measures have not been undertaken under the Government’s change of policy to grant visitor visas, including to people who have expressed sympathy for the Hamas terrorist organisation; and

(2)therefore requires that the Prime Minister immediately attend the chamber and explain why he misled this House.

 4Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024

Mr Clare (Minister for Education), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Higher Education Support Act 2003, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Clare presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 5Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) Bill 2024

Mr Clare (Minister for Education), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Student Identifiers Act 2014, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Clare presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 6Social Media and Australian Society—Joint Select Committee—REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Claydon (Chair) presented the following document:

Social Media and Australian Society—Joint Select Committee—Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society—Interim report—Report, August 2024

In accordance with standing order 39(e) the report was made a Parliamentary Paper.

 7Future Made in Australia Bill 2024

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 Taylor, viz.—That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“the House declines to give the bill a second reading, and:

(1)notes:

(a)the failure of billions of dollars of the Government’s Future Made in Australia spending to meet the standards and processes laid out in this bill and the significant integrity concerns around these investments;

(b)the Government’s Future Made in Australia policy has been criticised by many eminent economists including the Productivity Commission’s Danielle Wood, former Productivity Commissioner Gary Banks, Australian National University visiting fellow Steven Hamilton, and University of New South Wales’ Professor Richard Holden; and

(c)this policy does not make up for the Government’s failures on economic management that are driving up the costs of manufacturing and have caused a tripling of manufacturing insolvencies since June 2022; and

(2)calls on the Government to get Australia’s economy back on track and back to basics by fighting inflation and reducing wasteful spending, reducing complexity and red tape for business, supporting affordable, reliable energy, and delivering lower, simpler, fairer taxes”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Dr Haines, viz.—That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading:

(1)notes that:

(a)the 2024-25 Budget allocated $22.7 billion in taxpayer funds to the Future Made in Australia program;

(b)this is the second largest Budget measure announced in this term of Parliament; and

(c)concerns have been raised by the Productivity Commission, the Grattan Institute, the Climate Council of Australia, BP Australia, and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that the bill contains inadequate transparency measures to ensure Australians know how their money is being spent on Future Made in Australia supports;

(2)recognises that my Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024 provides the necessary framework to help ensure the Government’s spending of taxpayer money to deliver the Future Made in Australia plan is transparent and fair; and

(3)calls on the Government to support my Accountability of Grants, Investment Mandates and Use of Public Resources Amendment (End Pork Barrelling) Bill 2024”—

And on the amendment moved thereto by Dr M Ryan, viz.—That all words after “reading” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“notes that:

(1)the Future Made in Australia National Interest framework should be configured as the foundational reference for Australia’s industry policy;

(2)a robust governance structure for the framework must be ensured;

(3)clear criteria for national funding in the national interest should be established; and

(4)there should be periodic, independent reviews to ensure that industry policy remains effective and relevant”—

Debate resumed.

 8MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements being made—

 9QUESTIONS

 10DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE—Safety and Inflation

The House was informed that Mr Dutton (Leader of the Opposition), had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “This Government’s incompetence and inability to keep Australians safe and keep inflation and costs of living under control”.

 11ADJOURNMENT

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 15 August 2024 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk): 

Currency Act 1965—Currency (Australian Coins) Amendment (2024 Royal Australian Mint No. 8) Determination 2024 [F2024L00993]. 

Defence Act 1903—Defence Regulation 2016—Defence (Shoalwater Bay—Defence Area) Declaration 2024 [F2024L00990]. 

Industry Research and Development Act 1986—Industry Research and Development (Australia–United States Partnership in Landsat Next Program) Instrument 2024 [F2024L00991]. 

Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018—Road Vehicle Standards Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Rules 2023 [F2024L00086]—Replacement explanatory statement. 

Sydney Airport Curfew Act 1995—Dispensation Report—11/24. 

Water Act 2007—Water (Indigenous Values and Uses) Repeal Direction 2024 [F2024L00992]. 

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Birrell, Ms McKenzie, Ms Scrymgour and Ms Wells.