13 items of private members’ business were debated on Wednesday, including one bill and five orders for papers.
Matter of privilege
In the morning, the House debated a motion, moved by the Leader of the House (Mr Tudehope), relating to the execution of search warrants by the Australian Federal Police on the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane in June 2020. The motion requested that the President write to the AFP to confirm the nature of the offences being investigated, the current status of those investigations and whether Mr Moselmane is a person of interest in any ongoing investigation. The motion was agreed to on the voices.
Bills
Work Health and Safety Amendment (Food Delivery Workers) Bill 2020
Introduced by Mr Mookhey (Labor), this bill seeks to amend the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to require food delivery workers on bicycles and motorbikes to be provided with safety clothing and equipment and to make it an offence to fail to do so.
Mr Mookhey described the bill as seeking to provide safety measures for the delivery workers who may be at higher risk of traffic-related harm in carrying out their work. According to Mr Mookhey, the interaction between the food delivery space and transport industry was compounding a ‘severe safety crisis’, as he referred to the deaths of two gig economy workers on NSW roads in recent weeks. To address these issues, this bill would require food delivery businesses to provide workers with specific safety equipment, such as a raincoat, reflective vest, lights, reflectors and helmet for bicycle riders, and boots, motorbike helmet, raincoat and reflective vest for motorcycle riders.
Debate was adjourned for five calendar days.
General motions
- Erosion at Byron Bay (Mr Shoebridge, The Greens) – Motion agreed to expressing concern at erosion at Clarkes Beach in Byron Bay.
- Animal cruelty penalties (Ms Hurst, Animal Justice) – Motion agreed to noting that penalties for animal abuse in New South Wales are among the lowest in the country and calling on the Government to increase them.
- Qantas workers (Mr Buttigieg, Labor) – Motion agreed to on division condemning the decision by Qantas to outsource labour.
- Mental Health Month 2020 (Mr Farlow, Liberal) – Motion amended and agreed to recognising that October is Mental Health Month.
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (Mr Martin, Liberal) – Motion agreed to noting the prevalence of prostate cancer.
- Victory in Europe Day (Mrs Maclaren-Jones) – Motion agreed to noting that this year marks 75 years since the end of the Second World War and paying tribute to Australian servicemen and women.
Orders for papers motions
- Interests and recommendations of Mr Daryl Maguire (Mr Latham, One Nation) – due 11 November 2020
- Operation Tepito Interim Report (Mr Shoebridge, Greens) – motion amended and agreed to on the voices – due 11 November 2020.
- Boundary clearing of vegetation (Mr Field, Independent) – motion amended and agreed to on the voices – due 4 November 2020.
- Travel by Mr Daryl Maguire (Mr Roberts, One Nation) – due 28 October 2020.
- Thematic review of writing (Mrs Houssos, Labor) – due 4 November 2020.