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1980-81 THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS No. 68 WEDNESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 1981 1 The House met, at 1.45 p.m., pursuant to adjournment. Mr Speaker (the Right Honourable Sir Billy Snedden) took the Chair, and read Prayers. 2 PETITIONS: The Clerk announced that the following Members had each lodged petitions for presentation, viz.: Mr Birney, Mr Bungey, Mr Carlton, Mrs Child, Mr Coleman, Mr Dawkins, Mr Fry, Mrs Kelly, Mr Morris, Mr West and Mr Young-from certain citizens praying that funding of children's services be restored to at least 1975-76 levels, budget allocations for children's services be spent in full for the purposes designated and a means test not be imposed on the users of child care services. Mr Adermann, Mr Birney, Mr Bowen, Mr Bradfield, Mr Braithwaite, Mr D. M. Cameron, Mr E. C. Cameron, Mr Free, Mr Jull and Mr Mildren-from certain citizens praying that the Senate's requested amendments to the Sales Tax Bills be supported. Mrs Child, Mrs Darling, Dr Everingham, Mr Free, Mr Hurford and Mr Wallis- from certain citizens praying that the proposed sales tax on books, magazines and newspapers be withdrawn from the Budget proposals. Mr Beazley, Mr J. J. Brown, Mr Dawkins, Mr Duffy and Mr Mildren-from certain members of the Australian Postal and Telecommunications Union praying that action be taken to seek the resignation or dismissal of the Minister for Communications because of the effects of staff ceilings imposed at his direction. Mr Bowen, Mr Humphreys, Dr Klugman, Mr McLeay and Mr Morrison-from certain citizens praying that the proposed 171 per cent sales tax on manufactured pet foods be withdrawn. Mrs Child and Dr Theophanous-from certain citizens praying that insulin syringes for diabetics be made available on the National Health Scheme and insulin prescriptions revert to 10 bottles. Mrs Darling and Mr Falconer-from certain citizens praying that the value of family allowances be restored and then indexed and the spouse rebate be increased to $1,342 per year. Mrs Darling and Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that requests for export permits covering mineral sand products from Moreton Island, Qld, be refused. Mr Duffy and Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that any proposal to legislate for the establishment of plant breeders' rights in Australia be rejected. Mr Armitage-from certain citizens praying that positive policies be adopted to reduce unemployment and that certain social security benefits be granted. Mr Armitage-from certain citizens praying that the decisions of the Committee of Review of Commonwealth Functions to dismanltle depots of the Department of Housing and Construction and replace long-serving workers be reversed. No. 68-18 November 1981 Mr Armitage-from certain citizens praying that financial support be provided for the Save the Children Fund Family Care Centre at Shalvey, N.S.W. Mr Beazley-from certain citizens praying that the relevant taxation Acts be amended to provide for deductions of home loan interest payments with the necessary adjustments to pay-as-you-earn deductions. Mr Beazley-from certain citizens praying that Australian military participation in the proposed Sinai peacekeeping force not be ratified unless that force is fully controlled by the United Nations. Mr Bradfield-from certain citizens praying that the Commonwealth funding of health services be continued at an improved level and the recommendations of the Committee of Review of Commonwealth Funztions not be proceeded with. Mr E. C. Cameron-from certain citizens praying that any ordinance to authorise the establishment of a gambling casino in Canberra be disallowed. Mrs Child-from certain citizens praying that the proposed changes to assistance to the passenger motor vehicle and components industries after 1984 as recom- mended by the Industries Assistance Commission not be given effect. Mrs Child-from certain citizens praying that funding in the area of child care not be reduced and certain other action be taken to ensure that funds are allocated for part-time occasional care centres. Mr Coleman-from certain citizens praying that funds not be allocated for the development of roads or dams in South-West Tasmania but be provided instead for the preservation of the area. Mr Coleman-from certain citizens praying that there be no sales tax on books. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that tie proposal to transfer funding of women's refuges to the States not be proceeded with and Federal funding levels for women's refuges be increased. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that telegram services be retained at a standard and cost that will not disadvantage the: ordinary citizen. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that the drug Pancrease be evaluated by the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee of the Department of Health as a matter of high priority. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that no approval be given to the application of Trans Australia Airlines or any other airline for a relaxation or withdrawal of the curfew at Eagle Farm Airport, QId. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that post-secondary tuition fees not be re-introduced, visa charges upon private overseas students be removed, the decision to introduce a loans scheme be reversed and the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme be increased and extended. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that t!he widows pension and supporting parent benefit be increased, the guardian, child and family allowances be indexed, the tax-free threshold for income tax be raised and the sales tax increases on essential items be removed. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that the means test for pensions be increased to the same relative level as applied in 1972. Mrs Darling-from certain citizens praying that the recent decisions made with respect to tertiary education be rescinded and no steps be taken towards the re-introduction of fees for tertiary education. Mr Drummond-from certain citizens praying i:hat sufficient funds be provided to State education systems to ensure the maintenance of the current high quality of education. Mr Fry-from certain citizens praying that Narellan House, A.C.T., be leased to the Canberra College of Technical and Further Education as a student residence. No. 68-18 November 1981 Mr Hicks-from certain electors of the Electoral Division of Riverina praying that steps be taken to ensure the educational courses offered by the W.S. and L.B. Robinson College of the University of New South Wales at Broken Hill are maintained and expanded and new enrolments are accepted for 1982 and thereafter. Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that the Theatre Board's general grant of $20,000 to La Boite Theatre, Brisbane, be re-instated without delay. Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that the proposal to extend the existing curfew at Brisbane's International Airport be refused and siting plans for the proposed new runway be reconsidered. Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that the 1981 Budget amendments to sales tax legislation be repealed and the Sales Tax Amendment Bills be withdrawn. Mr Humphreys-from certain citizens praying that until legislation is enacted ensuring that animals are exported humanely a total ban be placed on the export of animals for slaughter. Mrs Kelly-from certain citizens praying that State-like self-government on a sound financial basis be conferred on the Australian Capital Territory. Mr Kent-from certain citizens praying that any proposal to sell Trans Australia Airlines be rejected. Mr Kent-from certain citizens praying that immediate and positive action be taken to avert further poverty and suffering in the community by raising the level of all pensions and benefits to the poverty line and by reconsidering the recent Government decisions taken in relation to the health system. Mr Kent-from certain citizens praying that post-secondary tuition fees not be re-introduced and visa charges upon private overseas students be removed immediately. Mr Lloyd-from certain citizens praying that steps be taken to prevent the Australian Postal Commission implementing any plan which will downgrade postal and mail services. Mrs Darling and Mr Wallis-from certain residents of the Electoral Divisions of Lilley and Grey, respectively, and Mr Sainsbury--fi'om certain residents of the Illawarra region, N.S.W., in similar terms to the last preceding petition. Mr Macphee-from certain citizens praying that refugee status be granted to the 2 Chilean refugees, Fernando Del Carmen Cerda Labarca and Pedro Jose Belmar Aguilera. Mr Milton-from certain citizens praying that immediate and positive action be taken to avert any further effects of increases in interest rates on home mortgage loans. Mr Mountford-from certain citizens praying that disabled people be recognised as citizens who should have equal rights and that certain actions be taken to enable adequate planning of services needed by partially or totally disabled people to be undertaken. Mr Scott-from certain citizens praying that any proposal to increase sales tax on white goods and shelf goods be rejected. Mr West-from certain residents praying that the decisions announced by the Committee on the Review of Commonwealth Functions which adversely affect migrants and refugees not be proceeded with. Mr West-from certain citizens praying for the prohibition of oil exploration within the Great Barrier Reef region and that the entire region be declared a marine park. Petitions received. 3 QUESTIONS: Questions without notice were asked. No. 68-18 November 1981 4 PAPERS: The following papers were presented: By command of His Excellency the Governor-General: Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation-Interim report, for year 1980-81. Australian Capital Territory Architects Board-Report for year 1980-81. Australian Capital Territory Bush Fire Council-R.eport for year 1980-81.
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