22nd Jul 2019, 5:45 PM – Representatives Motions - Future Drought Fund Legislation - Delay consideration

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Watson MP Tony Burke, which means it was unsuccessful.

Motion text

That the House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the Government first introduced the Future Drought Fund Bill and Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill into the House of Representatives in November last year;

(b) the Government failed to prioritise the bills, with the Future Drought Fund Bill being introduced but never debated in the Senate, and the Future Drought Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill never passing the House;

(c) the Government introduced 26 bills into the House of Representatives last sitting week but these bills were not among them;

(d) today, the Government is seeking to both introduce and debate the amended bills on the one day;

(e) it is usual for bills to be introduced by the Government in one sitting week and not debated until the following sitting week to allow Members the opportunity to properly consider bills before voting on them; and

(f) the drought funding in these bills is not available to help farmers until 1 July 2020; and

(2) therefore, calls on the Government to adjourn debate on these bills immediately following the Minister's speech on the second reading to allow all Members the opportunity to properly consider these bills before debate resumes tomorrow.