The 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.

Selection Committee

The Speaker presented the following document:

Report No. 32 relating to the consideration of committee and delegation business and private Members’ business on Monday, 18 November 2024.

Navigation Amendment Bill 2024

Ms C King (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Navigation Act 2012 , and for related purposes.

Document

Ms C King presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

Ms C King moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Debate adjourned (Mr Pearce), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

PUBLIC WORKS—PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE—REFERENCE OF WORK— Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water—Davis Station critical infrastructure works.

Question—put and passed.

PUBLIC WORKS—PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE—REFERENCE OF WORK— Department of Defence—Facilities to support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Department of Defence—Facilities to support LAND 8113 Phase 1 Long Range Fires.

Question—put and passed.

PUBLIC WORKS—PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE—REFERENCE OF WORK— Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at Caroline Chisholm Centre, 57 Athllon Drive, Greenway, ACT

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of existing leased premises at Caroline Chisholm Centre, 57 Athllon Drive, Greenway, Australian Capital Territory.

Question—put and passed.

PUBLIC WORKS—PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE—REFERENCE OF WORK— Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 158-186 Walker Street, Townsville, QLD

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury), pursuant to notice, moved—That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Services Australia—Proposed fit-out of new leased premises at 158-186 Walker Street, Townsville, Queensland.

Question—put and passed.

AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Mr Georganas presented the following document:

Australian Parliamentary Delegation to the thirty-first annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, Manila, the Philippines, 23 to 26 November 2023—Report, October 2024.

Mr Georganas, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Treaties—Joint Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Chesters (Chair) presented the following document:

Treaties—Joint Standing Committee—Report 222: Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation—Report, October 2024.

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

Ms Chesters, by leave, made a statement in connection with the report.

Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) 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.

Question—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General

Message No. 213, 24 June 2024, from His Excellency the Governor-General was announced recommending an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Mr Keogh (Minister for Veterans’ Affairs), the bill was read a third time.

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders—Consideration of the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024

Mr Butler (Deputy Leader of the House), for Mr Burke (Leader of the House), pursuant to notice, moved—That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following from occurring on Wednesday, 6 November:

(1) notwithstanding standing order 31, if the second reading debate on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 has not concluded earlier, at 8 pm the adjournment debate being interrupted and the bill being called on for further consideration, with the second reading debate continuing until:

(a) a division is called; or

(b) 10 pm; or

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

at which point, the debate being adjourned and the House immediately adjourning until Thursday, 7 November at 9 am; and

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

Question—put and passed.

Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) 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.

Mr Joyce addressing the House—

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43, Mr Joyce was granted leave to continue his speech when the debate is resumed, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice being asked—

Member directed to leave

At 2.53 pm the Member for Fisher ( Mr Wallace ) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

Questions without notice continued.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Anindilyakwa Land Council—Report for 2023-24.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies—Report for 2023-24.

Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation—Report for 2023-24.

Northern Land Council—Report for 2023-24.

Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation—Report for 2023-24.

Wet Tropics Management Authority—

Report for 2023-24.

State of Wet Tropics—Report for 2023-24.

Tiwi Land Council—Report for 2023-24.

Torres Strait Regional Authority—Report for 2023-24.

The documents were made Parliamentary Papers.

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Women’s Health

The House was informed that Ms Sharkie had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “The need for the Government to urgently address gaps in research, diagnosis, funding and services associated with women’s health”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Ms Sharkie addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the Federation Chamber had been unable to complete its consideration of the bill and had returned the bill with unresolved questions ( see item No. 4, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, page 1987 ), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with schedules of the unresolved questions.

Unresolved question—That Ms Tink’s amendments be agreed to—

Question—put and negatived.

Unresolved question—That Ms Daniel’s amendments be agreed to—

Question—put and negatived.

Bill agreed to.

Consideration in detail concluded.

On the motion of Mr Dreyfus (Attorney-General), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) 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.

ADJOURNMENT DEBATE

It being 7.30 pm—The question was proposed—That the House do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024

It being 8 pm—In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting—

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.

It being 10 pm, debate was adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

At 10 pm, the Speaker adjourned the House until 9 am tomorrow, in accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier this sitting.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 6 November 2024 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Medical Research Future Fund Act 2015— Medical Research Future Fund (Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities 2024-2026) Determination 2024 [F2024L01401].

Parliament Act 1974 —Parliamentary Zone—Proposal, together with supporting documentation, for Senator Neville Bonner AO commemorative sculpture and associated works.

Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973— Remuneration Tribunal Amendment Determination (No. 6) 2024 [F2024L01402].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Dr Gillespie, Mr Hastie, Mr Khalil, Ms Le, Ms Mascarenhas and Mr Wood.

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

The Federation Chamber met at 9.30 am.

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

Migration Amendment (Strengthening Sponsorship and Nomination Processes) 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.

Document

Mr Thistlethwaite (Assistant Minister for Immigration) presented an addendum to the explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Question—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Ms Spender, by leave, moved amendments (1) to (3) together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put and not resolved.

Mr Tehan, by leave, moved Opposition amendments (1) and (2) together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put and not resolved.

Ordered—That the bill be returned to the House with unresolved questions.

Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024

The order of the day having been read for the consideration in detail of the bill—

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Question—That the bill be agreed to—

Debate ensued.

Ms Tink, by leave, moved amendments (1) to (4) together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put and not resolved.

Ms Daniel, by leave, moved amendments (1) and (2) together.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put and not resolved.

Ordered—That the bill be returned to the House with unresolved questions.

Better and Fairer Schools (Funding and Reform) 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.

Suspension of meeting

At 1 pm, the Deputy Speaker left the Chair.

Resumption of meeting

At 4 pm, the Deputy Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ms Watson-Brown moved, as an amendment—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 is of the opinion that the Government should raise the Commonwealth contribution to public schools to at least 25 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard, so as to ensure that all public schools in Australia are fully funded in 2025”.

Debate ensuing—

Suspension of meeting

At 4.18 pm, a division having been called in the House, the proceedings were suspended.

Resumption of meeting

At 4.34 pm, the proceedings were resumed.

Dr Scamps moved, as an amendment to the amendment proposed by Ms Watson-Brown—That all words after “reading” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“, the House notes that:

(1) the bill enables the Commonwealth to provide a pathway to full and fair funding for Australian schools, as an investment in a better and fairer education system;

(2) that investment is provided by way of funding under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (BFS Agreement), to which the bill gives effect;

(3) a fair system is one which strives for equity;

(4) the definition of equity in the BFS Agreement is inadequate, stating only that an equitable outcome is one where ‘all students are provided access to high-quality, evidence-based teaching that is inclusive, where young Australians of all backgrounds and levels of need are supported to achieve their full educational potential’;

(5) the concept of a ‘dual equity target’ proposed in the 2011 Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling is more robust than the BFS Agreement definition of equity, and requires that:

(a) all students should complete a level of education that enables them to participate in the workforce and lead successful lives, which means completing high school; and

(b) differences in student outcomes should not be the result of differences in wealth, income, power or possessions, and low-income, Indigenous, regional, remote area and other disadvantaged student groups should achieve similar outcomes to more advantaged students; and

(6) the BFS Agreement should be amended to adopt the Gonski definition of ‘equity’, to ensure maximum improvement in quality and fairness in Australian education”.

Debate ensued.

Ms Chaney moved, as an amendment to the amendment proposed by Dr Scamps—That all words after “House” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“:

(1) notes previous recommendations of the National School Resourcing Board regarding improving transparency of Schooling Resource Standard loadings; and

(2) urges the Government to strengthen transparency and accountability measures regarding Schooling Resource Standard loadings, so that the implementation and effectiveness of allocations and expenditure can be assessed at a sector and school level”.

Debate ensued.

Question—That the amendment moved by Ms Chaney to the amendment proposed by Dr Scamps be agreed to—put and negatived.

Question—That the amendment moved by Dr Scamps to the amendment proposed by Ms Watson-Brown be agreed to—put and negatived.

Question—That the amendment moved by Ms Watson-Brown be agreed to—put and not being resolved—bill to be returned to the House with an unresolved question.

Aged Care 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.

Ms Chaney addressing the Federation Chamber—

Debate adjourned, Ms Chaney was granted leave to continue her speech when the debate is resumed, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

ADJOURNMENT

On the motion of Ms Belyea, the Federation Chamber adjourned at 7.30 pm, until 9.30 am tomorrow.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber