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Votes & Proceedings/Thursday, 6 February 2025
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House

1

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.

2

Appropriations and Administration—Standing Committee—REPORT

The Speaker presented the following document:

Appropriations and Administration—Standing Committee—Report No. 31: Additional estimates 2024-25—Report, February 2025.

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

3

Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025

Mr Clare (Minister for Education), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to provide for a national higher education code to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and for related purposes.

Document

Mr Clare presented an explanatory memorandum to this bill and the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025 .

Bill read a first time.

Mr Clare moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Document

Mr Clare presented the following document:

Proposed National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence.

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

4

Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2025

Mr Clare (Minister for Education), pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to deal with consequential matters arising from the enactment of the Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Act 2025 , and for related purposes.

Bill read a first time.

Mr Clare moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

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

5

Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The 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. 3, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, 5 February 2025 ), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with schedules of the unresolved questions.

Unresolved question—That Government amendments (1) to (19) on sheet EZ100 be agreed to—

Question—put and passed.

Unresolved question—That Government amendment (1) on sheet AA101 be agreed to—

Question—put.

Unresolved question—That Ms Spender’s amendments (1), (11), (13) and (14) be agreed to—

Question—put and negatived.

Unresolved question—That Ms Spender’s amendments (2) to (10) and (12) be agreed to—

Question—put and negatived.

Unresolved question—That Opposition amendments (1) to (4) on sheet 3 be agreed to—

Question—put and passed.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Consideration in detail concluded.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

Mr Burke (Leader of the House) moved—That the bill be now read a third time.

Closure

Mr Burke moved—That the question be now put.

Question—That the question be now put—put.

And the question—That the bill be now read a third time—was accordingly put and passed—bill read a third time.

6

Electoral Matters—Joint Standing Committee —REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER—MOTION TO TAKE NOTE OF DOCUMENT—REFERENCE TO FEDERATION CHAMBER

Ms Lawrence presented the following document:

Electoral Matters—Joint Standing Committee—From classroom to community: Civics education and political participation in Australia—Report, incorporating dissenting reports, January 2025.

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

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

Ms Lawrence moved—That the House take note of the report.

In accordance with standing order 39, the debate was adjourned, and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Ms Lawrence moved—That the order of the day be referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.

Question—put and passed.

7

Scams Prevention Framework 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 Howarth, viz.— 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 the Government’s:

(1) rushed, half-finished and last-minute approach to legislating its scams prevention policy; and

(2) failure to control homegrown inflation and address the cost of living crisis;

is leaving Australians more vulnerable to scams”—

Debate resumed.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put.

Question—That the bill be now read a second time—put and passed—bill read a second time.

Consideration in detail

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

Debate ensued.

On the motion of Ms Steggall, by leave, amendments (1) and (2) were made together, after debate.

Dr Scamps, by leave, moved amendments (1) to (4), on the sheet revised 6 February 2025, together.

Amendments negatived.

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

Question—That the amendments be agreed to—put.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

Consideration in detail concluded.

On the motion of Mr Jones (Assistant Treasurer), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

8

Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders Bill 2024 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The 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.

On the motion of Ms McBride (Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health), by leave, the bill was read a third time.

9

Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2024 —REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Speaker reported that the Federation Chamber had been unable to complete its consideration of the bill and had returned the bill with an unresolved question ( see item No. 3, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, page 2185 ), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with a schedule of the unresolved question.

Unresolved question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Question—put.

85Ayes
Agreed to
Noes54

And so it was resolved in the affirmative—bill read a second time.

Show members

Ayes (85)

It being past 1.30 pm, in accordance with standing order 43 the further consideration of the bill was made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

10

MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

11

DEATH OF FORMER MEMBER ( the Honourable Grant Ernest John Tambling )

The Speaker informed the House of the death, on 24 January 2025, of the Honourable Grant Ernest John Tambling AM, a Member of this House for the Division of Northern Territory from 1980 to 1983, and a Senator for the Northern Territory from 1987 to 2001.

As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, all Members present stood, in silence.

12

DEATH OF FORMER MEMBER ( the Honourable John Colinton Moore )

Mr Marles (Deputy Prime Minister) referred to the death of the Honourable John Colinton Moore AO, and moved—That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 22 January 2025, of the Honourable John Colinton Moore AO, a former Minister and Member of this House for the Division of Ryan from 1975 to 2001, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

Mr Dutton (Leader of the Opposition) having seconded the motion and all Members present having risen, in silence—

Debate adjourned (Mr Burke—Leader of the House), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

Mr Burke declared the order of the day referred to the Federation Chamber for debate.

13

QUESTIONS

Questions without notice were asked.

14

Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 22 of 2024-25—Financial statements audit—Audits of the financial statements of Australian Government entities for the period ended 30 June 2024.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

15

DOCUMENT

Mr Burke ( Leader of the House ) presented the following document:

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 —Statement relating to the delay in presentation of periodic report—Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council—Report for 2023-24.

16

DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE— Housing

The House was informed that Mr Sukkar (Manager of Opposition Business), had proposed that a definite matter of public importance be submitted to the House for discussion, namely, “This Government’s inaction and policy failure creating a housing crisis for Australians”.

The proposed discussion having received the necessary support—

Mr Sukkar addressed the House.

Discussion ensued.

Discussion concluded.

19

Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) 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 an unresolved question ( see item No. 3, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, 28 November 2024 ), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with a schedule of the unresolved question.

Unresolved question—That the bill be now read a second time—

Question—put.

Document

Dr Leigh (Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury) presented an addendum to the explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Dr Leigh, the bill was read a third time.

21

ADJOURNMENT

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

Debate ensued.

The House continuing to sit until 5 pm—The Speaker adjourned the House until 10 am on Monday, 10 February 2025.

DOCUMENTS

The following documents were deemed to have been presented on 6 February 2025 (An explanatory statement has been presented with each instrument unless otherwise indicated by an asterisk):

Civil Aviation Act 1988— Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998—Part 91 MOS Amendment Instrument 2025 (No. 1) [F2025L00082].

Federal Financial Relations Act 2009— Federal Financial Relations (National Partnership Payments—2024-25 Payment No. 8) Determination 2025 [F2025L00080].

National Health Act 1953— National Health (Continued Dispensing—Emergency Measure) Determination 2025—PB 12 of 2025 [F2025L00083].

Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products Levy) Act 2007— Private Health Insurance (Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products Levy) Regulations 2025 [F2025L00081].

Telecommunications Act 1997— Telecommunications (SMS Sender ID Register Industry Standard) Direction 2025 [F2025L00084].

ATTENDANCE

All Members attended (at some time during the sitting) except Mr Albanese, Mr Katter, Mr Thompson and Mr Willcox.

Claressa Surtees

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Federation Chamber

1

The Federation Chamber met at 9.42 am, a division having been called in the House.

2

MEMBERS’ CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS

Members’ constituency statements were made.

4

Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Incentives and Integrity) 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 Howarth, viz.— That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

“the House notes that:

(1) the former Government consistently delivered lower taxes for small business and families;

(2) the Coalition’s plan for the instant asset write-off will deliver a bigger tax cut for small businesses and boost investment in productive assets;

(3) there have been more than 27,000 business insolvencies under this Government; and

(4) Australians cannot afford another three years of this Government”—

Debate resumed.

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—put and not being resolved—bill to be returned to the House with an unresolved question.

5

Commonwealth Workplace Protection Orders 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.

Leave granted for the question on the report to be put immediately.

Question—That the bill be reported to the House without amendment—put and passed.

6

DEATH OF FORMER SENATOR (the Honourable Anthony (Tony) John Messner)—CONDOLENCE MOTION MOVED BY THE Prime Minister

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the motion of Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)—That the House record its deep regret at the death, on 11 October 2024, of the Honourable Anthony (Tony) John Messner AM, a former Minister and Senator for the State of South Australia from 1975 to 1990, place on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tender its profound sympathy to his family in their bereavement—

Debate resumed.

As a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, all Members present stood, in silence.

Ms Lawrence, by leave, moved—That further proceedings be conducted in the House.

Question—put and passed.

7

ADJOURNMENT

Ms Lawrence moved—That the Federation Chamber do now adjourn.

Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed.

At 12.22 pm, the Deputy Speaker adjourned the Federation Chamber until 10.30 am on Monday, 10 February 2025.

Peter Banson

Clerk of the Federation Chamber

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