1The House met, at 10 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read Prayers.

 2PETITIONS—standing Committee—REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Templeman (Chair) presented the following documents:

Petitions—Standing Committee—Report 35: Petitions and Ministerial responses—

Report, 25 November 2024.

Petitions.

Ministers’ responses to petitions previously presented to the House. 

Ms Templeman made a statement in connection with petitions.

 3Doctors for the Bush Bill 2024

Mr Gee, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to ensure access to GPs in regional areas, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Gee presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 4Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2024

Ms Daniel, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Online Safety Act 2021, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Daniel presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 5Workforce shortages

Mr van Manen, pursuant to notice, moved—That this House:

(1)notes that:

(a)reform is required to retain workers in the building and construction industry; and

(b)Master Builders Australia has reported that there is a critical workforce shortage, with a 14.7 per cent decrease in the number of construction industry apprentices completing their studies since 2022, and the total number of construction apprentices also decreasing by 22.4 per cent for the same period; and

(2)acknowledges that the:

(a)Government has delivered a business insolvency crisis, with over 23,938 business insolvencies since taking office, including over 6,399 construction business insolvencies;

(b)Government’s Fee Free TAFE program has delivered a 13 per cent completion rate to date and the Government has refused to reveal the dropout rate;

(c)Government is failing Australian businesses and the construction sector; and

(d)Opposition’s Housing Infrastructure Program aims to deliver up to 500,000 additional homes and contribute to the growth in employment in the building and construction industry by direct employment to residential development infrastructure.

Debate ensued.

 6United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Ms Claydon, pursuant to notice, moved—That this House:

(1)notes that:

(a)25 November 2024 marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, beginning 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence;

(b)in Australia, it has been publicly reported that approximately 64 women have been killed by acts of violence by men as of 17 November 2024;

(c)one in three Australian women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence perpetrated by a man since the age of 15;

(d)violence against women and girls impacts everyone, of all genders, ages, ethnicities, religions and socio-economic backgrounds, it does not discriminate,  and is almost always committed by men; and

(e)there is no excuse for violence against women and girls;

(2)commends the work that the Government has done so far in taking immediate and practical steps to support women and children to escape from violence through significant investments to support the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32;

(3)recognises the following additional commitments made by the Government to end violence against women and children in a generation:

(a)$4.4 billion in new funding to address the scourge of gender-based violence and respond to the Government initiated Rapid Review into Prevention Approaches through:

(i)convening a national cabinet on gender-based violence at which the Government committed to investing $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal assistance services;

(ii)investing $351 million over five years for funding under a renewed five-year national partnership agreement to be matched by states and territories; and

(iii)allocating $169 million in targeted initiatives to support the National Plan; and

(b)$1 billion through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility for housing for women and children impacted by violence, plus other supports for housing single parents; and

(4)further recognises that there is still much more work to be done to prevent violence against women and children and to create lasting change, that it is a whole of community response, and that the Government is absolutely committed to leading this response.

Debate ensued.

 7Manufacturing

Ms Le, pursuant to notice, moved—That this House:

(1)acknowledges that:

(a)small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fundamental to the Australian economy, contributing significantly to job creation and economic resilience, particularly in the manufacturing sector where their role is vital to the national interest;

(b)manufacturing is a leading employer in the electoral division of Fowler, employing approximately 12 per cent of the local workforce, significantly higher than the national average of 5.9 per cent:

(c)hundreds of manufacturing businesses in the electoral division of Fowler produce essential goods across a variety of sectors, from food production and building materials, to medical supplies and recycling initiatives;

(d)manufacturing SMEs are grappling with rising operating costs, a shortage of skilled labour and limited access to critical resources;

(e)the Government’s Future Made in Australia plan, introduced in May 2024, does not sufficiently address the challenges facing the manufacturing sector; and

(f)manufacturing SMEs deserve a fairer share of Government support to achieve sustainable growth, scale effectively, expand employment opportunities and remain competitive amid growing domestic and international pressures;

(2)notes that the Government’s recent relief measures, such as the one-year extension of the $20,000 instant asset write-off and a $325 electricity rebate for small businesses, were positive steps, however fall short of addressing the long-term, systemic challenges faced by small and medium-sized manufacturers; and

(3)calls on the Government to provide comprehensive and sustained support for small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses by:

(a)increasing the instant asset write-off to $50,000 and extending it indefinitely, to support capital investment in small and medium-sized manufacturers and enable them to remain competitive as plant and material prices continue to rise;

(b)promoting manufacturing as a career to young Australians and migrant workers by continuing and expanding government investment in training initiatives, apprenticeships, English language training and foundational skills development to fill critical labour gaps and provide certainty for employers to boost productivity within the sector; and

(c)supporting lowering the cost of doing business by addressing the escalating costs for insurance, freight, energy and compliance, which disproportionately impact small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Debate ensued.

 8MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE—Aged Care Bill 2024

Message No. 365, 21 November 2024, from the Senate was reported returning the Aged Care Bill 2024 with amendments.

 9POSTPONEMENT OF BUSINESS

Ordered—That business intervening before order of the day No. 11, government business, be postponed until a later hour this day.

 10Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) 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—

Debate resumed.

 11Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Bill 2024

Dr Chalmers (Treasurer) presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to taxation and Indigenous Business Australia, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Chalmers presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

 12Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Bill 2024

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), by leave, presented a Bill for an Act to authorise Commonwealth entities to charge and collect payment surcharges, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Leigh presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill, the Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Tax (Imposition) Bill 2024 and the Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) (Consequential Provisions and Other Matters) Bill 2024.

Bill read a first time.

 13Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Tax (Imposition) Bill 2024

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) presented a Bill for an Act to impose a tax relating to payment surcharges, and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

 14Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) (Consequential Provisions and Other Matters) Bill 2024

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), by leave, presented a Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Commonwealth Entities (Payment Surcharges) Act 2024 and with certain payment surcharges, and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

 15Suspension of standing and sessional orders—Time and Order of Business for 25 and 26 November 2024

Mr J Wilson (Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy), for Mr Burke (Leader of the House), pursuant to notice, moved—That:

 (1)for Monday, 25 November 2024:

 (a)standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) be suspended; and

 (b)so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to business:

 (i)in the House, notwithstanding standing order 31, at 8 pm the adjournment debate being interrupted and government business having priority until:

 (I)business concludes, if earlier than 10 pm; or

 (II)10 pm; or

 (III)a later time specified by a Minister prior to 10 pm;

 at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Tuesday, 26 November at 12 noon; and

 (ii)in the Federation Chamber, at the conclusion of private Members business, government business being given priority until the Federation Chamber adjourns at no later than 9.30 pm;

 (2)for Tuesday, 26 November 2024:

 (a)standing order 33 (limit on business after normal time of adjournment) be suspended; and

 (b)so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring in relation to business:

 (i)in the House, notwithstanding standing order 31, at 8 pm the adjournment debate being interrupted and government business having priority until:

 (I)business concludes, if earlier than 10 pm; or

 (II)10 pm; or

 (III)a later time specified by a Minister prior to 10 pm;

 at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Wednesday, 27 November at 9 am; and

 (ii)in the Federation Chamber, government business being given priority until the Federation Chamber adjourns at no later than 9.30 pm; and

 (3)any variation to this arrangement being made only on a motion moved by a Minister.

 16Aged Care Bill 2024—SENATE’S AMENDMENTS

The order of the day having been read for the consideration of the amendments made by the Senate—

 17Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) 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—

Debate resumed.

 18SUSPENSION OF STANDING AND SESSIONAL ORDERS MOVED

Mr Gee moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the private Members’ business order of the day relating to the Doctors for the Bush Bill 2024 being called on immediately and be given priority over all other business for final determination of the House.

 19Migration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) 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—

Debate resumed.

 20MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements being made—

 21QUESTIONS